Van Halen '78 Spades

[voivod]

Three shows from the '78 tour..
All soundboard recordings.

Manchester Apollo 5/22/78
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5OHL597W

Victoria Hall 5/23/78
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DEL8WUL0

Ipswich 5/28/78
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=F447FFIM

According to vhboots, they all have the same set list:

1. On Fire
2. I'm The One
3. Bass Solo
4. Runnin' With The Devil
5. Atomic Punk / Drum Solo
6. Little Dreamer
7. Feel Your Love Tonight
8. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
9. Guitar Solo
10. You Really Got Me
11. D.O.A.

All A/A+ sound quality from low-gen cassette

[FatStrat85]

Thanks! Just listening to I'm The One and his solo off the Manchester gig and his playing was amazing. Anyone who thinks he still is in full form, listen to that and then listen to some 2004 boots or the new tracks. Not even close.

I think the early years, especially '78, has some of his best playing. His style was so natural and smooth. It didn't sound as mechanical as say '86 or '95 which are usually regarded as some of his best playing years. His early playing was more raw and really honest.

Wow, he really nailed the palm muting on ATAL too. Awesome find!

[willy4pres]

Thanks! Just listening to I'm The One and his solo off the Manchester gig and his playing was amazing. Anyone who thinks he still is in full form, listen to that and then listen to some 2004 boots or the new tracks. Not even close.

I think the early years, especially '78, has some of his best playing. His style was so natural and smooth. It didn't sound as mechanical as say '86 or '95 which are usually regarded as some of his best playing years. His early playing was more raw and really honest.

Wow, he really nailed the palm muting on ATAL too. Awesome find!

Not to be a dick or anything but I have one question for you. Are you sure your an Eddie Van Halen fan? I know I am, and yes I would rather listen to '78 Ed then '04 Ed, but I still like '04 Ed just fine.

Try not to get all bent out of shape, you only have 88 post's so I don't know you, and it's just a question.

[FatStrat85]

I'm a huge EVH fan. I'm also a guitarist. I think his recent playing is good but not amazing.

In my opinion, his playing has really gone down hill since around '98. His playing on Balance and that tour was really impressive. His playing in 2004 and on the new tracks was not that impressive to me.

I think he might be out of practice. Maybe he's been focusing on piano, drums, or cello. Maybe he's just getting old. I know I'm not the only one who has this opinion. Many people post similar comments. This is nothing new.

My comment was mostly about my preference between a few of his best eras of playing. I like his early '78 era style best. It's very fluid. He was also amazing in '95 but I prefer his sound in '78.

[smithjc]

Thanks for the tuneage!

God I miss that guy.

But I'll take whatever I can get my grubby paws on.

[willy4pres]

I'm a huge EVH fan. I'm also a guitarist. I think his recent playing is good but not amazing.

In my opinion, his playing has really gone down hill since around '98. His playing on Balance and that tour was really impressive. His playing in 2004 and on the new tracks was not that impressive to me.

I think he might be out of practice. Maybe he's been focusing on piano, drums, or cello. Maybe he's just getting old. I know I'm not the only one who has this opinion. Many people post similar comments. This is nothing new.

My comment was mostly about my preference between a few of his best eras of playing. I like his early '78 era style best. It's very fluid. He was also amazing in '95 but I prefer his sound in '78.

Im a guitarist as well (have been for the last 18 years), im not sure what that qualifies us for.

You could say the same thing about a lot of other guitar players as they age. Your only 20 so your not going to know this, there has been talk of Ed going down hill since 1986. ED drinks to much and it effects his playing in a VERY negative way but for those of us that caught the band on a good night back in 2004, the man can still blow you away faster then most guitar players playing today.

Jeff Beck went through a scary period back in the early to mid 80's, watch him today and say he's gone down hill. Same thing goes for Eric Clapton, he went through a low period (it lasted about 15 years) but he's playing great these days (though his tone sucks). Some people go through what Ed is going through and die, but most of them don't. Hopefully soon we will get him back where he's normal Ed all the time but that's all up to him.

Again, please don't take this the wrong way. I went to see Van Halen play in St. Louis back during the OU812 tour and Ed didn't play very good. All my buddies where talking about how Ed just didn't have it anymore and I kinda believed them. Well 1991 came around and I got to see Van Halen again before I shipped off to boot camp, Ed (and the band) kicked more ass then I care to count. I went to the show with basically the same friends for both shows, all these dudes could talk about after the '91 show was how good Ed was back during the 0U812 show and how they thought Ed didn't have it anymore. Go figure.

[FatStrat85]

Thanks for the insight willy. I think this dip is a lot more extreme and longer than any previous ones, but hopefully he'll come back stronger than ever.

[Rebel67]

I agree with FatStrat. Ed was really hungry in the early days. His later stuff sounds lazy and bloated. His amp sound also became more watered down and processed.
He has gotten back to the heavy guitar sound, but nothing compares to his Early Marshall with pedals ducktaped to a board. I listen to my Pasadena '77 show on a daily basis and it doesn't get any better than that IMO. By the way, I am also a guitar player and a guitar teacher.

[willy4pres]

Thanks for the insight willy. I think this dip is a lot more extreme and longer than any previous ones, but hopefully he'll come back stronger than ever.

Yeah, I hope so to FatStrat. He came out of the gates so strong it's hard for most of us to deal with any changes he might make. Some of those boots from the '04 tour are hard for me to watch, but you can tell "it" is still in there, even on his bad nights. It's amazing how much of an improvement there is if he's just a little bit sober, how can he not see it?

[Majestic]

I disagree with Willy.

Ed's playing sounds like sh*t. His tone sounds like sh*t, and his playing sounds like sh*t.

I think Ed got "tastier" in the mid/late 80's.....the "fire" was gone, but the sneaky/clever "zip" was still there, and it was more mature, so I was fine with that.

His playing now is just sustainiac-ed sh*t, piped through an overly gainy and overly compressed rig. His blues licks are gone, his cross-picking is gone, his "tasty" tapping & string zips are gone....it's just sh*t.

It's got nothing to do with being a fan. You're still a fan even if you log on here and haven't liked a SINGLE NOTE played since the 2nd album.

I agree with the original post.

[mistere]

His tone is somewhere between VHs I & II, but his playing is awesome here.
That's the Ed that changed gtr overnight. What's interesting is how you can
really see his influences here. From a lot of ZZ Top in Im the One to a VERY
Hendrixy Eruption. Very Cool. Thank you.

[ZachenFoot]

Are these shows in FLAC, wav or mp3?

[voivod]

MP3

[The J Man]

http://www.jamtothis.com/showthread....ht=Soundboards

Didn't think these were supposed to be spread in mp3 at the request of the seeder. This is the reason why more shows aren't liberated.

[mistere]

BTW - haven't checked out Ipswich yet, but they add Bottoms Up to the
Victoria Hall set.
...Victoria Hall... my first girlfriend in college...