PETER GABRIEL – READING FESTIVAL 1979 SOUNDBOARD (CD-R)

Description

Richfield Avenue, Reading, England 26th August 1979

　Peter Gabriel performed at the iconic British festival in 1979. A newly discovered soundboard master that will pour the live performance into your brain has been released. Emergency release decided.

　This recording captures the “August 26, 1979 Reading Festival performance,” and is a stereo soundboard recording. At the time, Gabriel was working on “MELT,” and his first appearance at Reading was during the transition period between the “SCRATCH Tour” and the “MELT Tour.” First, let’s take a look at his activities at the time through a schedule to understand the position of this recording.

●1979
– May 12: Hammersmith performance
– June 23: Appearance at GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL
– August 23 – September 1: Europe #1 (4 performances) ←★HERE★
《Autumn: “MELT” completed》
●1980
– February 20 – March 16: UK (19 performances) ←※CARDIFF 1980
《May 30: “MELT” released》
– June 17 – July 12: North America (21 performances) ←※SANTA ANA 1980
– August 30 – October 8: Europe #2 (30 performances)

[A striking first-time soundboard recording showcasing the raw energy of the young generation]
　This is Peter Gabriel in 1979/1980. Gabriel had been away from live performances since December 1978, but began to return to the stage sporadically in the summer of the following year. This Reading Festival performance was the second show of their “Europe #1” tour, taking place about six months before the masterpiece ‘CARDIFF 1980 SOUNDBOARD’ and about ten months before the Millard incident recording ‘SANTA ANA 1980’.

　This Reading set was partially broadcast by the BBC, and the broadcast recording has been known among collectors. However, this release is a newly discovered soundboard master, separate from that broadcast version. Although the opening of Biko is recorded midway through (just like the original BBC broadcast), this is the complete version, including the last two songs that were cut from the broadcast—especially “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway,” which features Phil Collins.

　The recording was unearthed by the prestigious “JEMS,” a company that has delivered numerous historical recordings to collectors. The cassette had been dormant for over 25 years in the collection of a man named Michael Bierman, who lives in Northern California. Michael was friends with Gabriel’s FOH (Future of Home) engineer, and apparently received a copy of the tapes that the engineer had recorded from the mixing console. It is truly a hidden treasure.

　Apparently, this cassette isn’t the original master but rather a second-generation tape, and it’s certainly a bit rough around the edges. However, it’s still a younger generation descendant of the master, and having been dormant for over a quarter of a century, there’s no deterioration due to age. The raw, unadulterated feel is incredible, almost like listening to a live BBC broadcast, with the core of each instrument coming right at you. The vibrant voice of the young Gabriel, Joe Partridge’s edgy guitar, and the robust rhythm laid down by Preston Hayman’s percussion—this is truly a live sound worthy of being called “officially unearthed.”

[A full show featuring a collaboration with Phil Collins is also a treat]
　This sound allows you to enjoy a full 75-minute show centered around songs from his first two solo albums, with an early appearance of new songs from the then-in-production ‘MELT’. Here, let’s organize the setlist while comparing it to the masterpiece ‘CARDIFF 1980 SOUNDBOARD’ from the main “MELT Tour.”

●Solo
CAR: Hummdrum / Modern Love / Moribund The Burgermeister / Solsbury Hill / Here Comes The Flood
/ SCRATCH: On The Air / DIY (★) / White Shadow (★) / Mother Of Violence / Animal Magic (★) / Perspective (★)
/ MELT: Biko / Don’t Know How To Stop (No Self-Control) (★★) / I Don’t Remember
●GENESIS
: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (★★)
*Note: Tracks marked with “★” were not included on the masterpiece CARDIFF 1980 SOUNDBOARD. Tracks marked with “★★” are guest appearances with Phil Collins.

…and so on. What’s noteworthy is the early preview of tracks from MELT. “Biko” is used as the opener, and the early version of “No Self-Control,” “Don’t Know How To Stop,” and “I Don’t Remember” are already included in the set. In particular, “Biko” and “Don’t Know How To Stop” are very early recordings, being only their second live performance. Conversely, there are also songs that were never performed again. These five songs—”White Shadow,” “Animal Magic,” “Modern Love,” “Perspective,” and “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”—are all repertoire that were not played on tours after the “SECURITY” album.

　Even more of a highlight than the set itself was his collaboration with Phil Collins. He played drums on “Mother of Violence” and made a guest vocal appearance on the final track, “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.” This scene, where his former Genesis bandmate made a surprise appearance on his solo stage, is the legendary climax that was completely cut from the BBC broadcast.

　Prestigious label JEMS has unearthed a Peter Gabriel soundboard master from a hidden treasure chest in Northern California. The raw, vibrant sound of his youthful voice is magnificent, and this cultural heritage album even includes a performance with Phil Collins that was not heard on broadcast. Please enjoy it to the fullest.

★Stereo soundboard recording of the “August 26, 1979 Reading Festival” performance. This is the first master released by the prestigious JEMS label, and you can enjoy the entire show, including the performance with Phil Collins, “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway,” which was cut from the BBC broadcast. It is full of previews of numbers from “MELT” and early limited repertoire, and this newly unearthed, official-quality masterpiece showcases the raw, powerful voice of the young Gabriel.

(74:53)
01 Biko
02 On The Air
03 DIY
04 Humdrum
05 Don’t Know How To Stop (Early Version of No Self Control)
06 White Shadow
07 Mother Of Violence (with Phil Collins)
08 Band Introductions
09 Animal Magic
10 I Don’t Remember
11 Modern Love
12 Moribund The Burgermeister
13 Perspective
14 Solsbury Hill
15 Here Comes The Flood
16 The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (with Phil Collins)

Peter Gabriel – Vocals, Keyboards
Jo Partridge – Guitar
John Giblin – Bass
Preston Heyman – Percussion
Geoff Westley – Keyboards
David Jackson – Alto Saxophone
Guest
Phil Collins – Drums, Vocals

STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING