... And Bootlegs For All


Megadeth - Live in Berkeley, CA, USA, 1984 (The First Show)

Venue:	Ruthie's Inn: Berkeley, CA, USA
Date:	February 17, 1984
Time:	63:14
Size:	1 CD

Sound:	SBD, A/D (see comments), copy from master
Notes:	Taper: Doug (former Megadeth tour manager). Transfer: Shayne S. Lineage: SBD > master audio tape > Nakamichi Dragon DR8 and M-Audio Audiophile 2496 card EQ in Sony Sound Forge 10 > wav > youtube > wav > Adobe Audition (mastering) > Goldwave > TLH FLAC. Shayne’s comments: “OK, before you get real excited about the description of this one, please read this. I digitized this a couple of months ago. Something must have gone wrong with the soundboard – maybe the tape levels were too high or the output from the board was too hot - but this is pretty distorted. I took a swing at un-distorting it in Izotope and just made it worse. I reached out to people who are very good in audio software and they told me it was too distorted to fix. So, hopefully in the future, these audio AI software programs will make this better... but for now, this is it. Since it is Megadeth's first show ever and it is from the master tape, it is still worth a post. Thanks Doug!” My comments: Let me start with a disclaimer: the show originally was shared on youtube, as audio, I ripped it. So if you a lossless perfectionist this may be regarded as lossy. I just don't care. Enormous gratitude to Shayne for sharing this and other gems at his channel. Now the show itself. The band: Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, Kerry King (people in the audience shout Slayer and "Show No Mercy"!) and Lee Rausch. I first got a copy of this, a way generated copy, 20 years ago. I could not believe my ears. It sounded strange – it had lots of echoing to the parts when Dave talks, and quite a lot of distortion to the music. Mix was also quite bad cause you almost cannot hear Dave's vocals. But you surely can make out what Dave's playing! There were also some doubts if the date was correct, but I managed to conclude it was right. So finally, another 20 years later I have the ultimate source of this gig – you can NOT get any better recording of this infamous show, like Shayne has put until there’s a new AI that can clear the distortion. When Dave’s talking, jamming, the sound is surely great – soundboard – although it does have echoing, but when the band goes into shredding it becomes almost nightmare only true fans or those who collect Megadeth can listen to. I mean you can understand what song is played but never enjoy. I also have Abattoir recording from this gig, who opened for Megadeth and it sounds way better.

Disc 1:	1. Intro 2. Hook in Mouth (Instrumental) 3. Burnt Offerings (Set the World Afire) 4. The Chosen Ones 5. Skull Beneath the Skin 6. Looking Down the Cross 7. Last Rites/Loved to Deth 8. Next Victim (My Last Words) 9. Quicksand (Instrumental) 10. Bad Omen 11. Devils Island 12. Guitar Solo and Jump in the Fire Tease 13. Mechanix 14. Bass Guitar Solo 15. Rattlehead