David Bowie – In America
Trade Mark of Quality no cat#
released c.1973
matrix numbers 2810-C and 2810-D
Transcription:
Ariston RD-11s turntable
Fidelity Research FR-12s tonearm
Nagaoka MP30 MM cartridge
Yamaha phono stage
M-Audio sound card for A-D conversion
33rpm vinyl rip @24bit/96khz resolution
Post transcription:
ClickRepair 3 Wavelet mode @37
Manual touchup on missed clicks
Manual touchup on leadin/out areas
Package peak levelled to 96.27%
WMA conversion by Easy CD-DA extractor
Personal Restore rating:
7.5/10 due to mastering issues beyond
my control
Notes:
There are multiple unofficial releases of this
concert and this item was in the earlier release
wave. TMQ released 4 versions, the full concert
on 2 vinyl records, another single LP with different
track splits, the first half of the same concert on a
single LP and and this release which was actually
sides 3 and 4 of the full concert release. The matrix
numbers reflect this, ending in C and D respectively.
Trade Mark of Quality was a bit of a story in itself.
Started by Dub and Ken, Dub's dad soon decided he wanted
in on the gravy train and Ken was fired. However, Ken
wasn't finished because he knew the lady who owned the
pressing plant where all the TMoQ was manufactured. Ken
was able to make his own stamper plates from the original
plates done by Dub. As soon as a TMoQ release would come
out (usually on coloured vinyl) the nearly identical release
(on black vinyl) would come out by Ken's TMoQ.
This copy is one of Ken's products.
This item was manufactured gapless as there is no
banding. I left the splits as S1 S2.
Since this is a one owner copy, I can attest to the
pedigree of this album. This is a well preserved copy
and this transcription is the fourth play for this album.
To say this item is scarce is an understatement, there
are not many units available for sale any more.
You can hear Bowie on electric guitar in the right
channel on D3. So much for Ken Scott's recollection
about the Aladdin Sane album.
You can also hear Bowie get lost during D4. At least
Ronson could remember what to do.
Synopsis:
The Santa Monica concert performed by Bowie
and the Spiders in October 1972 was a widely
bootlegged concert due to a simulcast on a local
FM station. Contrary to the romantic nostalgia
on the official CD issues, this was not a well
attended concert, with ticket sales estimated
at 740 units. Tony Defries, the manager at the
time, decided it was better to have a full house
and pretend Bowie was a big star, than to have an
nearly empty auditorium. Most of the people who
witnessed the show were unpaid guests.
Because the show was recorded for FM radio, the
quality is much better than the run of the mill
bootleg recorded in the audience on a mono cassette
recorder.
Track listing:
C1 The Width Of A Circle
C2 Queen Bitch
C3 Moonage Daydream
D1 John, I'm Only Dancing
D2 Waiting For The Man
D3 The Jean Genie
D4 Suffragette City
D5 Rock 'N' Roll Suicide
Musicians:
Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar,
and Backing Vocals – Mick Ronson
Bass Guitar – Trevor Bolder
Drums – Mick Woodmansey
Keyboards – Mike Garson
Vocals, Guitar – David Bowie
Comments:
The likely source for this material was:
FM broadcast >> Reel to Reel >>
Editing >> Cutting Lathe.
There is some minor noise associated with FM radio
in the release.
All in all a historic album which gives you a peek
into what collectors had available 35 years ago.
Hope you like it as much as I do.