Name: WHO - CLOSER TO QUEEN MARY
SKU: K61125WHOQM
Availability: BackOrder

Description

Description

Master Analogue Tape Upgrade

Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, USA 10th December 1971

　”CLOSER TO QUEEN MARY” was released by the legendary label TMOQ, and as a masterpiece that conveyed the state of The Who’s latest US tour in 1971, it has not only been reissued repeatedly, but also many copies have been produced. As with previous audience recordings by TMOQ, Dub Taylor of the same label performed this release with his usual setup of a woofer deck and a Sennheiser shotgun microphone. The characteristic of this recording was that the sound image was distant.

　It is no surprise, as it has now become clear that Dub, who normally doesn’t do drugs, was literally high on cocaine that he received from a friend who attended the concert with him that day (it was America in 1971), and was unable to keep the direction of the microphone in check. However, this is only a disclaimer among the TMOQ recordings, and it is certainly one of the top audience recordings produced from The Who’s 1971 tour. This is why it has been resold and copied many times since its release in early 1972.

　The previously released “CLOSER TO QUEEN MARY” was based on this dub mono audience recording, but in order to fit on one LP, only the first half of the live performance was recorded. However, the dub recording was recorded all the way to the end.

　However, in the late 1990s, a full-length version of this dub recording was unearthed, and the nostalgic Killing Floor album “CLOSER TO QUEEN MARY” was released with a design that imitated the old TMOQ stamp cover. For enthusiasts, it was a big impact that they could finally hear the complete version of the nostalgic TMOQ recording! However, after the Killing Floor album, the actual recording was never released. In fact, it was forgotten, and there is no other recording that enthusiasts have been waiting for as long as this one to be released as a new item.

　Among them, the master recording of Dub’s “CLOSER TO…” was provided by an overseas enthusiast! The Killing Floor version was released during the cassette trade era, so it sounds obviously rougher and thinner than this version. It is likely based on the trade version that was dubbed two or three times on cassette.

　In that respect, this version was recorded directly from the dub master, and the depth and clarity of the sound is completely different. As expected, the quality could only be achieved by the master. The day has finally come when the Killing Floor version, which has been a long-term successor and has been loved by enthusiasts, including the package, will be no longer of use.

Speaking of this day, the audience was noisy right from the start of the live performance, and Roger couldn’t hide his confusion in front of such an audience. Pete, who was fed up with this situation, finally shouted at the audience, “Everyone, standing, sitting, and lying down, shut up! This is what a rock concert is all about!” This scene of Pete screaming was the opening scene of the official box set “MAXIMUM R&B”, but it was dropped from the TMOQ LP, and it even had scratch noises.

　This scene was also one of the happenings that made “CLOSER TO QUEEN MARY” a masterpiece, but ironically, the Who’s performance only got more exciting rather than rotten. The improvisational development centered on Pete in “Bargain”, and “Baby Don’t You Do It”, which was revived for the first time since the 1960s on this tour, are also impressive with their long and high-tension performances.

　And the best of all is “Magic Bus”. Currently, the show just before San Francisco, which is included in the Super Deluxe Edition of the official “WHO’S NEXT”, is this Long Beach show, but the performance is so explosive that it’s almost unbelievable. Especially Pete’s repeated strange voices are amazing! I see… It’s only one thing to say that this spectacular performance was not included on the LP.　

　Once again, the TMOQ Dub Taylor recording, which is sure to overwhelm you with the high tension of this day, has finally been upgraded from the master!

Disc:1 (64:33)
1. I Can’t Explain
2. Substitute
3. Summertime Blues
4. My Wife
5. Baba O’Riley
6. Bargain
7. Behind Blue Eyes
8. Won’t Get Fooled Again
9. Baby Don’t You Do It

Disc:2 (59:48)
1. Magic Bus
2. Overture
3. Amazing Journey
4. Sparks
5. Pinball Wizard
6. See Me, Feel Me
7. My Generation
8. Naked Eye