BIG UPGRADE - soundboard master
Oak Mountain AmphitheatrePelham, AL
Sept. 5, 1986
soundboard recording (quality: EX master tape transfer)
artwork, revised from original post, is included
AUDIO SAMPLE: Driver 8 - upgraded version
ROB SEZ: UPGRADE - MASTER TAPE SOURCE, REVISED. The source for this recording is Buren Fowler (R.I.P.), the band’s guitar tech and second guitarist for live performances in 1986 & 1987. (Michael introduces Buren briefly after Driver 8.) Fowler gave the FOH sound guy a C-90 and asked him to record as much of the show as would fit. Apparently, he held onto the tape as a keepsake of his time with R. E. M. Later, Buren gave it and other live tapes to his friend, T. Patton Biddle (“Pat the Wiz”) for safe keeping. A friend of Pat's digitized the master tape, revised it with subtle-but-significant enhancements made with high-end equipment, and kindly shared it with me. My debt of gratitude lies with Mr. Anonymous, Buren, and Pat — all behind-the-scenes heroes who played their part in the phenomenon that was R. E. M. As for the performance, you can feel the pent-up energy of the band, which hadn't played together for many months after completing Lifes Rich Pageant. After a week of tour rehearsals in Knoxville, TN, the guys obviously were ready to roll. The lucky fans in attendance witnessed the live debut of 9 songs, including 6 from the new album. This recording does not represent the entire performance: it's missing 6 songs played that night, including the first 4. You can hear 5 of the missing songs, in fairly good audience quality, in this recording.
Stay tuned; more to come.
