2 CDR

Label : No Label Records

Catalogue : #NR 001-002

Disc Length : 76:35 / 64:20

Source : Audience Recording

Sound Quality : EX-

Year Of Release : 2008

Love 4 One Another Charities Tour

State University Events Center Arena, San Jose

19th April 1997

• Disc 1

1. JAM OF THE YEAR   2. TALKIN' LOUD AND SAYIN' NOTHING (Including HOLLY ROCK) - ROCK N' ROLL IS ALIVE (OUTRO)   3. PURPLE RAIN   4. 17 DAYS   5. GET YO GROOVE ON (Including SIX)   6. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD   7. FACE DOWN   8. INTERLUDE   9. THE CROSS   10. ONE OF US   11. DO ME, BABY (Including ADORE - INSATIABLE - SCANDALOUS - HOW COME U DON'T CALL ME ANYMORE)

• Disc 2

1. SEXY MF   2. IF I WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND   3. CONDITION OF THE HEART   4. HOW COME U DON'T CALL ME ANYMORE (Including DIAMONDS AND PEARLS)   5. TAKE ME WITH U   6. RASPBERRY BERET   7. MR. HAPPY   8. INTERLUDE   9. THE HOLY RIVER   10. GIRLS AND BOYS   11. SLEEP AROUND   12. TAKE THE A-TRAIN   13. I FEEL ALRIGHT (JAM) (Including 777-9311)   14. JOHNNY

COMMENT

This show was released by Optimum back in 1997 as 'Free', which was a decent recording, albeit with a rather vocal audience level throughout. This is a completely different audience recording, and thankfully a vastly better, clearer one too. The audience are audible during the show, and it's fair to say they have their moments, however they don't overpower the recording in any way (as was a problem with the previous Optimum release), and what little loudness there is, is really reserved for the opening few songs - the second half of this recording, in particular, is very impressive. Other than mentioning the audience level, there's really nothing left here for me to comment on as it's of a very high standard throughout with no glitches, flaws, drop-outs or problems to be critical of. The show is good, but fairly uninspired or exciting and wouldn't rank amongst the most memorable of the tour (were there any from this tour?), however as with the majority of concerts, there are stand-out moments of brilliance. As always with 1997 shows, mention goes to 'Face Down' and the extended manic bass playing, however this time around it's tempered slightly by Sugar Blue, who makes an appearance throughout the show, playing his harmonica. The only other real point of note is the 20 minute jam on 'I Feel Alright' which begins as a freestyle 10 minute jam session before Prince even begins to play the song, with him exclaiming to the crowd, "You can go home, we just jamming". 'Talkin' Loud And Sayin' Nothing' is played rather oddly with various starts/stops and organ solo's by Prince, however a few of these seem to be down to the band not being particularly fluent with the set-list and Prince having to cover - in particular when he calls out "new part" for them to launch into 'Rock N Roll Is Alive', they miss it completely. Other than this, I find the show rather routine and if it weren't for the excellence of this particular recording, it would blend in with countless other releases of this tour. That said, this is a better recording than many pressed releases of the tour, so perhaps not so forgettable after all. Average show, above average recording just about sums it up for me.