BLACK SABBATH – DUMFRIES 1969 (2 CD)

Description

Rugman’s Youth Club, Dumfries, Scotland 16th November 1969
Queens Hotel, Silloth, England 13th July 1968

　A secret recording of the unknown “Sabbath before their debut” has been brushed up! The ultimate definitive edition, polished by meticulous mastering by “GRAF ZEPPELIN,” will be released on a 2-CD press!

　This work permanently preserves two legendary audience recordings. This two-disc set features Black Sabbath’s “November 16, 1969 Dumfries performance” on Disc 1 and his predecessor band, Mythology’s “July 13, 1968 Siroos performance” on Disc 2. These are the only pre-debut Tony Iommi live recordings in existence. What were the timing of each show? Let’s begin by unraveling the unknown details of his activities in the 1960s.

●1968
July 13: Mythology’s final performance ←★Disc 2★
{August 18: Polka Tulk Blues Band formed (six-piece formation)}
August 24+27: UK #1 (2 performances)
{September 1: Name changed to Earth (changed to four-piece formation)}
September 15-November 30: UK #2 (12 performances)
{December 11-13: Iommi temporarily joins Jethro Tull
} December 21-27: UK #3 (4 performances)
●1969
January 3-August 26: Europe #1 (47 performances)
{August 30: Name changed to Black Sabbath
} August 30-October 18: Europe #2a (13 performances)
October 16th: Black Sabbath Sessions
October 18th – December 26th: Europe #2b (16 shows) ←★DISC 1★

　This was the story of 1968/1969. Mythology was the band Tony Iommi and Bill Ward were in, and they disbanded on July 13th. The two formed a new six-piece group called Polka Tulk Blues Band with Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Jim Phillips, and Alan Clarke. Polka Tulk Blues Band changed its name to Earth after just two shows, and Jim and Alan left, completing the original four-piece group. They continued to perform under the name Earth for a while, before changing their name again to Black Sabbath in August 1969.

　Among them, the two performances included in this work were the final performance of Iommi & Ward’s predecessor band MYTHOLOGY and the sixth performance of “Europe #2b” immediately after the production of their debut album “Black Sabbath”. Let’s introduce them individually.

[DISC 1: The Only Pre-Debut Live Album]
　The centerpiece of this album is the legendary audience recording of the “November 16, 1969 Dumfries Concert.” This open-reel master, suddenly released 10 years ago, was a massive shocker that sent collectors all over the world into a tailspin. It allows you to experience a previously completely unknown pre-debut live performance. While the newly recorded “Black Sabbath” numbers take center stage, unreleased tracks from the EARTH era and never-before-heard blues covers burst forth. Even now, 10 years later, it’s a deluge of extremely rare tracks that can only be heard on this recording. Let’s take a look at the set contents.

●Originals (5 songs + 1 song)
Black Sabbath: Black Sabbath / Wicked World / Behind The Wall Of Sleep / NIB
/ EARTH era: Song For Jim (★)
●Covers (4 songs)
Let Me Love You Baby (★: Buddy Guy) / Warning (Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation) / Early One Morning (★: Elmore James) / Blue Coat Man (Eddie Boyd)
*Note: “★” indicates repertoire that can only be heard on this recording. ( ) indicates artists featured in the cover.

…And that’s how it goes. Not only is it valuable, but “Song For Jim” features flute playing reminiscent of Ian Anderson, and “Blue Coat Man” reveals the influence of Django Reinhardt. Each song is a rich listen.

　Despite being such a treasure, the sound was also amazing. It’s not the kind of thing you’d mistake for a soundboard, but it’s definitely within the realm of vintage audiences, but the direct feeling is powerful. Apparently, there were only roughly 80 people (!) in attendance at the “Rugman’s Youth Club” on-site, so they were able to record right next to the amp. The powerful sound captures the drums so tightly that they almost over-peak.

[DISC 2: The only surviving live recording of MYTHOLOGY]
　Chronologically speaking, DISC 2 features the band’s predecessor, Mytology. The band consisted of Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Neil Marshall, and Chris Smith, and this is a clear audience recording of their final gig, “Silhouettes Performance, July 13, 1968.”

　It was recorded by someone named Keith Jefferson, and one passage is said to have been left as a memento by the band themselves, saying, “Because this is the last time.” The clear sound makes this anecdote easy to understand. While it lacks the directness of Disc 1, the performance and vocals take center stage, almost like a rehearsal, and above all, the fresh beauty is exquisite. There are no traces of dubbing or aging, and the fine details reach straight through, transcending distance.

　The show itself is simply invaluable and entertaining. Since the songs are all covers, I won’t go into detail about the set, but it’s packed with classics from the British blues boom. It’s a generous display of Chicago blues that makes you think Eric Clapton selected the songs, and Iommi’s guitar playing is truly masterful. While the heavy riffs of their Sabbath days aren’t there, their technique and improvised solo phrases have already reached a level of perfection.

These two incredibly impressive
　recordings are more than just a reissue. They are the highest quality, updated versions, meticulously mastered by GRAF ZEPPELIN.

　The GRAF ZEPPELIN mastering was a perfect fit for this album in particular. Even though GRAF ZEPPELIN is popular, it’s not a panacea, and some recordings may be more or less suitable depending on the individual characteristics of the recording. For the two recordings on this album, it was the perfect solution. Specifically, these two recordings had noise reduction applied when they were released online, giving them a digitally processed feel from the start. This is where GRAF ZEPPELIN’s natural approach came into play. While utilizing every technique, this restoration-style mastering focused on “reproducing the sound from the live performance” rather than processing. This significantly reduced the processed feel of the original sound from the internet, realistically recreating the priceless “60s live performance.”

　This work, revived with such a top-notch updated sound, is also a new masterpiece that joins the “9 Best Audience Recordings.” In our shop, we have selected the best audiences from each tour of the 1970s and introduced them as “8 Selections” corresponding to studio albums. In the future, this work will be added to the list, making it “9 Selections.” Finally, let’s list them.

●9 of the original Sabbath’s greatest audience recordings
*Pre-debut “DUMFRIES 1969 DEFINITIVE EDITION” ←★This work★
・1st era “DEFINITIVE LAUSANNE 1970”
・2nd era “DEFINITIVE SHEFFIELD 1971”
・3rd era “BEGGARS’ BANQUET DANCE 1971”
・4th era “BRESCIA 1973”
・5th era “DEFINITIVE PROVIDENCE 1974”
・6th era “DEFINITIVE LONG BEACH 1975”
・7th era “COMPLETE FRESNO 1976”
・8th era “DEFINITIVE FRESNO 1978”

　The journey of the original BLACK SABBATH, written through audience recordings. This is the absolute prologue. This is the highest peak update, meticulously mastered from the only two remaining 1960s recordings. Please enjoy it anytime, anywhere with this 2CD press, which will never lose its luster.

REMASTERED BY GRAF ZEPPELIN

Disc 1 originally had a lowered high frequency range, so I’ve boosted it.
This will be the best until a master direct sound source is released.

Disc 2 was originally pseudo-stereo processed, resulting in a harsh, harsh sound, so I’ve returned it to a more comfortable mono source, and further softened the harshness with EQ processing.

This two-disc set features a legendary audience recording from before their debut. Disc 1 features the November 16, 1969 Dumfries performance, while Disc 2 features the July 13, 1968 Siroath performance by their predecessor band, Mythology. Both are masterful recordings that are hard to believe were recorded in the 1960s, and have been meticulously remastered by Graf Zeppelin to create a truly updated, top-of-the-line album. This album is an absolute cultural heritage, permanently preserving rare live performances that can only be heard here, including the unreleased “Song For Jim” from their Earth days and numerous blues covers.

Disc 1
Rugman’s Youth Club, Dumfries, Scotland 16th November 1969
1. Black Sabbath
2. Let Me Love You Baby ←★Very Rare★
3. Song For Jim / Drum Solo ←★Very Rare★
4. Warning
5. Wicked World
6. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
7. Early One Morning ←★Very Rare★
8. NIB
9. Blue Coat Man

BLACK SABBATH
Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals
Tony Iommi – Guitar, Flute
Geezer Butler – Bass
Bill Ward – Drums
＿＿

Disc 2: MYTHOLOGY
Queens Hotel, Silloth, England 13th July 1968
1. Steppin’ Out ←★Very Rare★
2. Top Of The Hill ←★Very Rare★
3. All Your Love (I Miss Loving) ←★Very Rare★
4. Help Me ←★Very Rare★
5. Dust My Broom ←★Very Rare★
6. All That Jazz ←★Very Rare★
7. Room With A View ←★Very Rare★
8. Morning Dew ←★Very Rare★
9. Spoonful ←★Very Rare★