Eye Records 5 CD Label : “Eye” Records / Purple Underground Catalogue : #24-25-26-27-28 5Disc Length : 77:07 / 78:44 / 78:50 / 79:05 / 78:27 Source : Audience Recordings Date/Venue : O2 Arena, London 7,11, August 2007 Sound Quality : VG+ / EX Year Of Release : 2007 |
Comments
Fink's
Comments (rates this release 4.75/5.0)
The second instalment of the "Eye" Records / Purple Underground releases
documenting the London summer 2007 shows, and in terms of sound quality the
majority of the content is as excellent as the previous release 'Down
By The River Thames' with some very impressive source recordings for the
most part. This particular release concentrates on the 2nd week with Discs 1 and
2 featuring the 7th August 2007 main concert and it's undoubtedly the best
quality audio currently circulating from this show.
The sound is superb with very minimal crowd noise outside of a few moments of
handclapping, and even then it's hardly intrusive. The show is upfront and
clear, and if I were to allow myself one tiny criticism (and it is a tiny one),
it would be that the sound is a little too sterile - but it all boils down to
personal taste. That said, I am in no way criticising the recording as it
warrants great praise. The show itself is slightly erratic and begins with a 10
minute, 5 song solo(ish) guitar medley which in all fairness is better suited
towards the end of the show. Because of the slow start, the show takes a while
to warm-up and it isn't until the aborted 'Give It To Me Baby' that Prince seems
to find his groove, followed in quick succession by the more familiar 'Play That
Funky Music'. The 7 song piano medley is a real highlight and includes a rare
performance of 'Do Me, Baby' followed by a very funky 'I Wanna Be Your Lover'
which Prince begins at the piano before being joined by the band. We tread
familiar - but enjoyably familiar - ground for the remainder of the show until
the 10 minute encore of 'Get On The Boat' which features an appearance by Grupo
Fantasma. Not a bad main show, but hardly adventurous and the excellent
recording certainly makes it far more enjoyable than it perhaps may otherwise
be.
Disc 2 moves on with 18 minutes from the 11th August main concert, and whilst
the recording is still of a very high standard, the audience are far more
audible. The usual solo guitar trio of 'Little Red Corvette / Raspberry Beret /
Sometimes It Snows In April' has been slightly altered for this concert to
include the band joining Prince for 'Raspberry Beret', however it is rather
short and the crowd take over the vocals with Prince merely strumming along.
Disc 2 ends with the opening portion of the 3121 Aftershow with Grupo Fantasma
acting as an aftershow support act (with Prince joining on guitar for a few
tracks) before Prince and the NPG join for their set, and it's at this point the
release really rises to another level. The quality of the recording used for
Prince's aftershow is of stunning clarity, sharpness and depth. If I had to find
fault with it, it would be a few audience members during both the opening 'I
Like It There' and 'Stratus' who are slightly audible, and Prince's shrieking
(in a good way) guitar on 'Stratus' is a little piercing - other than that, I
have zero complaints and it's a beauty. From the opening guitar-thrashing 'I
Like It There' through the short burst of 'Outa-Space' on to 'Superstition' -
each one better and funkier than the last. Unfortunately Mike Phillips takes
over vocals for one too many songs, namely 'Superstition' and adds pointless
add-libbing which begins to grate after a while - 'Stratus' really doesn't need
it. Clocking in at a little over 45 minutes minutes long (Prince & The NPG's set
including the closing 'Oye Mi Rumba') this is a short, but very sweet aftershow.
Discs 4 & 5 contain the 11th August (am) aftershow also featuring Beverley
Knight's support set. Previously circulating on the '...For Your Memories - 21
Nights In London Vol. O5' release in poor quality, anything better would have
been welcome, and "Eye" Records have given us a vastly superior recording here,
but it's VG+ rating at best. It's overall very heavy, and Beverley Knights set
in particular suffers from bizarrely overpowering backing vocals which on
occasion drown out the entire band and Beverley Knight herself. Unfortunately
they don't manage to drown out the ignorant cunts shouting "Get off", "We want
Prince" or "No more" - worth pointing out the accents are not all British too.
For the most part Beverley Knight's set is good, but understandably not too
interesting for anyone after this release. An added chant borrowed from 'My Name
Is Prince' of "His name is Prince, and he is funky..." along with a short burst
of the 'Housequake' drums and the tiniest of tiny snippets of 'Sexy MF' being
the only Prince-related happenings. The NPG join onstage during 'Keep This Fire
Burning' before Prince appears during both 'Keep This Fire Burning' and 'Piece
Of My Heart' - the latter guitar solo performance, alas, being almost inaudible
due to technical issues. Prince's short aftershow follows and thankfully the
recording improves and it's a solid VG+ recording bordering on EX- in places.
There is some movement during the early stages of the show, presumably the
person recording moving position, and the recording benefits greatly from the
change. The vocals are harsh throughout, but it's a vast improvement from
Beverley Knight's set with vastly reduced audience noise and is a far clearer,
cleaner recording. The 70 minute Prince & the NPG set is enjoyable, but
unremarkable due in part to a large portion given over to Shelby with Prince
blending into the background for the majority of the mid-section. Things pick up
immensely for the 'Controversy / A Love Bizarre' jam and the performance of
'Sweet Thing' is noteworthy for each of the females (Marva, Shelby and Beverley
Knight) each taking a verse. The closing section of the show is probably the
most enjoyable with a frenetic '3121' including a vast array of snippets,
horn-lines and added lyrics.
Certainly a vastly superior recording to the previous version, and even with
it's fair share of problems, they mainly only plague the Beverley Knight set.
The release includes an impressive 14 page booklet following along the same
lines of the 'Down By The Riverside' booklet with the tracklistings made to
resemble the London Underground and various 3121.com "Spy Reports" for the
corresponding shows included in the set. Overall a very high quality release.