ROD STEWART – SAN ANTONIO 1993 SOUNDBOARD (CD-R)

Description

Alamo Dome, San Antonio, TX, USA 26th November 1993

　Rod Stewart, who was at the height of his glory in the 90s with the massive hit “UNPLUGGED…AND SEATED” in 1993, now has the ultimate quality soundboard album that pours his live performance into your brain.

　This release permanently preserves the “San Antonio performance on November 26, 1993,” specifically the stereo soundboard recording. Rod Stewart’s archives from this period are impressive, centered around the official classic “UNPLUGGED…AND SEATED” and the standard pro-shot recording of his Japan tour, “A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: JAPAN TOUR ’94.” This release stands alongside them as the pinnacle of soundboard recordings, forming a crucial part of a trilogy. Let’s begin by examining the schedule from that time to understand the relationships between these recordings.

● February 5, 1993 : Official “UNPLUGGED…AND SEATED” tour
; July 28 – August 21: North America #1 (16 shows)
; August 27 – September 5: Europe (6 shows)
; September 10 – December 11: North America #2 (55 shows) ←★HERE★ ● February 11,
1994 – April 5: North America #3 (33 shows) ; April 22 – 27: Japan (5 shows) ←※A NIGHT TO REMEMBER ; December 31: Rio de Janeiro performance

[Official release / One of the top three works alongside the Japanese tour pro-shot]
　This is Rod Stewart in 1993/1994. The official “UNPLUGGED…AND SEATED” is a record from February 1993, and the Japanese tour pro-shot “A NIGHT TO REMEMBER” is a record from April 1994. The San Antonio performance in this release was the 47th show of “North America #2,” right in between those two.

　This release, which captures that show, is the ultimate quality version of the classic FM soundboard recording that was broadcast nationwide on radio as part of the “Superstar Concert Series.” And I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s “ultimate.” The source of this release is the original radio show CD that was broadcast. It’s not an aircheck, and it’s not even a pre-FM master that was never broadcast; the original master itself is a CD, so it hasn’t gone through any analog processes. The master sound has been transferred digitally to digitally. The commercial breaks between DJ cues have been cut, but everything else is completely unprocessed. The sound is exactly as it was on the original CD produced by the broadcasting station.

　In fact, the sound is official-quality. While the broadcast mix doesn’t have the polished, packaged feel of the official “UNPLUGGED…AND SEATED,” it directly conveys the raw energy of the stage. The feeling of hearing the band’s raw sound is very much like an FM album. The real-time sense of “1993” is so raw that it surpasses even official releases in terms of reality.

[An absolutely fantastic album with a repertoire different from official releases]
　This album, with its official-quality sound, presents a full show that differs from both the official ‘UNPLUGGED…AND SEATED’ and the Japanese concert pro-shot ‘A NIGHT TO REMEMBER’. Let’s take a look at it here, comparing it to both works.

● 70s (8 songs)
– Kick-off to tomorrow: Hot Legs / You’re In My Heart (★★)
– Others: You Wear It Well (★★) / Tonight’s The Night / Maggie May / Stay With Me / Sweet Little Rock & Roller / This Old Heart Of Mine (★)
● 80s and later (7 songs)
– Vagabond Heart: Have I Told You Lately / The Motown Song (★)
– Others: Cut Across Shorty / Having A Party / Forever Young / Some Guys Have All The Luck (★) / Baby, Please Don’t Go (★★)
*Note: Songs marked with “★” were not included in the official ‘UNPLUGGED…AND SEATED’. Songs marked with “★★” were not included in the standard Japanese concert pro-shot ‘A NIGHT TO REMEMBER’.

…And that’s how it is. This greatest hits album not only brings together the golden 70s classics, but also the fruitful period from the 80s onward, all presented with new arrangements. In addition to quintessential classics like “Maggie May,” “Stay With Me,” and “Tonight’s The Night,” it also includes songs that were never performed officially or at Japanese concerts, such as “You’re In My Heart,” “You Wear It Well,” and “Baby, Please Don’t Go.” It’s a treasure trove of a wider range of great songs.

　The official “UNPLUGGED…AND SEATED,” the Japanese concert pro-shot “A NIGHT TO REMEMBER,” and this FM soundboard recording—this is the final piece that completely covers the “A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Tour” in a trilogy of masterpieces. With zero-degradation master sound directly transferred from the original broadcast CD, this semi-official, absolute album lets you experience Rod’s golden career. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.

(73:48)
1. DJ Cue
2. Hot Legs
3. Cut Across Shorty
4. You Wear It Well
5. DJ Cue
6. Tonight’s The Night
7. Maggie May
8. DJ Cue
9. Having A Party
10. You’re In My Heart
11. DJ Cue
12. Forever Young
13. Some Guys (Have All The Luck)
14. DJ Cue
15. Baby Please Don’t Go
16. Stay With Me
17. Sweet Little Rock and Roller
18. DJ Cue
19. Have I Told You Lately
20. This Old Heart Of Mine
21. Motown Song
22. DJ Cue

STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING