speed mastered at Abbey Road Studios for optimal fidelity . Horoscope may seem undercooked compared to the refined Mamouna , but having both albums in one package celebrates the fully realized album for its upcoming anniversary and offers the context of a “ lost album ” that many Ferry fans have coveted for years .
– Jeff Elbel
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Mamouna Horoscope
illinoisentertainer . com april RSD 2024
THE WHO Live at Shea Stadium 1982
( Mercury / UMG )
Live at Shea Stadium is a keepsake from the end of the Who ’ s initial era and its final run with Faces drummer Kenney Jones . This show at New York ’ s Shea Stadium was recorded on October 13 , 1982 , the second in a two-night stand . The same night , the Clash produced their 2008 live album by the same name . The Shea concerts occurred two months prior to the Who ’ s final U . S . date in Cleveland , which was documented on 1984 ’ s double-live album Who ’ s Last . That album cut the tour ’ s fresh material and suffered in comparison to 1970 ’ s bracing and essential Live at Leeds . This Shea Stadium set partially rectifies Last ’ s shortcomings by including four songs from the underrated It ’ s Hard ( although curiously omitting radio single “ Athena ,” which was performed on night one ) as well as bassist John Entwistle ’ s simmering The Quiet One from 1981 ’ s Face Dances . Of the 26 songs performed on the 13th , only Entwistle ’ s Quadrophenia feature “ 5:15 ” is missing . Torchbearers for the song can find it among the bonus tracks on this concert ’ s 2015 film release . Entwistle ’ s It ’ s Hard offering “ Dangerous ” vanished from Who sets after 1982 but is included here . The album ’ s “ Cry if You Want ” became a rarity but would eventually reappear in 2006 with a retooled structure and paired with “ My Generation .” As expected , the band seems invigorated while performing fresh material . The mature Who may not sound as feral as the relative upstarts on Leeds , but they also sound far from out of gas on this rainy night in Queens . Entwistle dazzles during a blistering “ The Punk and the Godfather ” and when exploring the full range of his bass while guitarist and principal songwriter Pete Townshend sings the moody “ Eminence Front .” Jones displays versatility and precision on songs including “ Cry If You Want .” It ’ s only when comparing the drummer ’ s reliably grounded performances to the singularly deployed chaos of the late Keith Moon that Jones wasn ’ t rated as top talent . In the absence of John “ Rabbit ” Bundrick , the band were supported by keyboardist Tom Gorman . Gorman ’ s piano is mixed hot during “ Drowned ,” which unfortunately obscures Entwistle ’ s nimble bass . Fortunately , attention shifts to Townshend ’ s spirited guitar improvisations . Alternately , Gorman ’ s rollicking playing could have stood to be louder during “ Long Live Rock .”
The band digs into deep cuts that have only been performed as special treats for fans since reuniting . Singer Roger Daltrey lashes into “ Sister Disco ” from 1978 ’ s Who Are You . The comical “ Tattoo ” from 1967 ’ s The Who Sell Out and 1974 ’ s Odds and Sods highlight “ Naked Eye ” are also included . The show concludes with the first song the Beatles played at Shea Stadium in 1965 , “ Twist and Shout .” “ Who Are You ” benefits mightily from Entwistle ’ s thundering fingers . Townshend crashes like ocean waves through Who ’ s Next classic “ Won ’ t Get Fooled Again .” Daltrey still sparks an electrical charge these days during “ Love Reign O ’ er Me .” Here , the song is a mere nine years old and Daltrey is 42 years younger , sounding ferocious . Despite Daltrey ’ s vocal trouble on “ The Punk and the Godfather ,” Shea serves as a better testament to the Who ’ s strengths than Who ’ s Last .
– Jeff Elbel 6
6 PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS Band on the Run
50th anniversary LP ( MPL / Apple / UMe )
Paul McCartney scattered enduring pop singles across the seven albums made with post-Beatles group Wings , but few fans would dispute identifying Band on the Run as the band ’ s peak . Furthermore , Band on the Run is commonly cited as McCartney ’ s best overall work outside the Fab Four . The album now receives pristine reissue treatment for its 50th birthday , with a deeper dive than given to the anniversary editions for predecessors Red Rose Speedway and Wings debut Wild Life . In addition to reissuing the original LP with improved high-end response via halfspeed mastering , Band on the Run is available in versions that offer a glimpse into its evolution . The 2xLP edition ’ s second platter includes every track except for rocker
L I S T I N G S
April 20 , 2024
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