Elvis Costello - 1983-09-18 Universal City (JEMS 2023 Transfer Remaster)

<<   1983-09-18 Universal City

Elvis Costello And The Attractions, with The TKO Horns and Afrodiziak
Universal Amphitheatre 
Universal City, CA
18 September 1983


01. Intro
02. Let Them All Talk - with the TKO Horns & Afrodiziak
03. Possession - with the TKO Horns & Afrodiziak
04. Watching The Detectives - with the TKO Horns & Afrodiziak
05. Secondary Modern - with the TKO Horns
06. (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame - with the TKO Horns
07. The Greatest Thing - with the TKO Horns
08. Man Out Of Time - with the TKO Horns
09. Kid About It
10. Mystery Dance
11. Shabby Doll
12. Heathen Town
13. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
14. The Bells
15. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
16. New Lace Sleeves
17. Shipbuilding
18. Big Sister's Clothes
19. Stand Down Margaret
20. Beyond Belief - including a line from Friday On My Mind
21. Clubland - with the TKO Horns & Afrodiziak
22. Watch Your Step - with the TKO Horns
23. Alison - including Living A Little, Laughing A Little - with the TKO Horns
24. Back Stabbers - King Horse - with the TKO Horns
25. Clowntime Is Over - with the TKO Horns
Encore 1
26. The Great Unknown - EC solo
Encore 2
27. Charm School - with the TKO Horns & Afrodiziak
28. TKO (Boxing Day) - with the TKO Horns & Afrodiziak
29. Everyday I Write The Book - with the TKO Horns & Afrodiziak
Encore 3
30. Moods For Moderns (Riff Riff Riff instrumental) - I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down - with the TKO Horns
31. Pump It Up - including Ain't That A Lot Of Love and Working In The Coal Mine - with the TKO Horns & Afrodiziak


Known faults
“The Bells” introduction is incomplete (tape flip)
“Clowntime Is Over” is incomplete (tape flip)


JEMS Master Recording

Recording Gear: Sony WM-D6 with ECM-939 stereo mic

JEMS 2023 Transfer: Master cassettes > Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1 azimuth-adjusted playback > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.3.3 (24/96 capture to .wav) > iZotope RX7 and Ozone 6 mastering > iZotope MBIT+ resample to 16/44 > FLAC > finishing with TLH

Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums

With The TKO Horns:
Dave Plews - trumpet
Paul Speare - tenor saxophone
Jeff Blythe - alto saxophone
Jim Paterson - trombone

and Afrodiziak:
Claudia Fontaine - backing vocals
Caron Wheeler - backing vocals


What do we like about this JEMS Master Recording of Elvis Costello and the Attractions at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles? Pretty much everything, from the taut, horn-infused arrangements of songs like “Watching the Detectives” and “Man Out of Time” to Costello’s reaching and impassioned vocals. He sounds impossibly good as he leads his band through the 31 song set.

This 40th anniversary file set features a fresh 2023 transfer and careful remastering of Jared Houser’s top-flight stereo capture. Compared to my 1st gen. tapes made just days after the 1983 performance, a 2011 transfer sounded a bit off; now, playback returns to the sweetest of sweet spots, with higher frequencies restored, allowing an excellent Clocking In concert to sound anew. Whether you’re a fan of the Punch the Clock era or want to try something new, this recording is a delight — Universal appeal, to be sure!

The smartly-arranged stage show encompassed new numbers, rarities, and covers. Divided into mini-suites, it flowed neatly from one song to the next. “(Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame” sets up “The Greatest Thing,” two tracks from Imperial Bedroom play nicely together, and the left/right combination of “Beyond Belief” and “Clubland” earns points on every scorecard. With “Every Day I Write the Book” making its way on the charts (here, at #45 with a bullet!) and in rotation on MTV, it seemed like Costello was closing in on new success.

Thanks to BK and Professor Goody for getting the files to sound their best and play at the right speed. To area51gm, a salute for running an advent calendar that ensures Elvis Costello recordings reach fans day in and day out. And props as always to the Elvis Costello Wiki, the kind of resource an artist or fan could hope for.

Lastly, here’s to Jared, whose taping skills and generosity knew few limits. This recording was an early addition to my growing ROIO collection, joining others of Bruce Springsteen and The Who, many of which Jared simply gave me. There’s something to pay forward. 

His voice is on the tape, along with that of our great friend A. Morg (they took in four shows altogether in ’83). Asides, remarks, and "Doc" mannerisms bring a smile to my face. Days later, I caught up with them before the show in Berkeley on September 23, continuing the adventure that had begun the year before when The Who played in Oakland. Great times, great friends (Stan!), great music, great tapes. Who could ask for more?

Share it freely, and for free!

 - slipkid68