U2start.com | Shows | 1984-12-03 - New York, New York

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Audience microphone

Origins: Audience microphone
Lineage: [unknown recording gear] > analogue master > [1st gen copy] > Dak's Wave Editor > wav > flac > [re-edit] > fre:ac > mp3@256kb/s
Downloads: 104

View info file

U2
Radio City Music Hall
New York City, NY
December 3, 1984

RECORDED from 1st Balcony by "unknown" (recorder 2)*
LINEAGE: [unknown recording gear] > analogue master > [1st gen copy]* >
Dak's Wave Editor > wav > flac > [re-edit of tracks 5,6,9,10,12&13]# >
fre:ac > mp3@256kb/s

TRACK LIST

01-11 O'Clock Tick Tock
02-I Will Follow
03-Seconds
04-MLK
05-The Unforgettable Fire
06-Wire^
07-Sunday Bloody Sunday
08-Cry-The Electric Co.
09-A Sort Of Homecoming
10-Bad
11-October
12-New Year's Day
13-Pride (In The Name Of Love)
14-Party Girl
15-Gloria
16-"40"

^ joined in progress due to tape-flip (see ORIGINAL NOTES)
# re-edit of tracks: track split at tape-flip + fade beween ASOHC & Bad removed.

*ORIGINAL NOTES:
"There have been requests for this show so here it is. There is a version of
this show in circulation but I'm not sure if it's the same source.
Any commentary and comparisons would be appreciated.^^
What I can tell you about this version is we were in the 1st balcony and noticed
the taper. After the show we exchanged addresses and made a trade.
This version is either 1st or 2nd generation. Overall very listenable, Wire is cut
a little on the flip and there is a chirp between NYD & Pride from another flip.
Clapping and crowd is a little accentuated because of the ceiling above but the
recording is very clean with very little tape hiss.
The crowd was nuts at this show. The show was stopped on several occasions to
restore order. Enjoy..."

^^ THIS recording differes from the "Sony Handheld Cassetter Recorder" (recorder 1),
recorded from "Approx 5th row center." That source was also used for the 2014
"30th Anniversary REMASTER." There is also a version in circulation with "FLAC files
re-converted to correct SBE's by CTU2fan." I believe, however, that those files
originate from an UAG instead of the availlable master.

NB: THIS "recorder 2" = SAME SOURCE as [john52il] 4th gen. Maxell XLIIS > Nakamichi
BX-125 [...], with comment: "I got this cassette in a trade in the mid-80s. It says
it's 4th generation, so it must be." (And it does indeed sounds like a lower gen.)

- re-edit, compiled notes, and comments by BIGGIRL for u2start [2015]

Audio / MP3

Bit rate: 256, bit depth: 16, sample rate: 44100, channels: 2

Download via Mega.nz

Download this recording

Audio samples

"RCMH '84 - 30th Anniversary REMASTER"

Origins: Audience microphone
Credits: comfortzone (Remasterer)
Lineage: [Sony Handheld Cassette Recorder] > analogue master > Refurbished Kenwood Deck > Audacity > FLAC > fre:ac > mp3@256kb/s
Quality based on reviews:
Downloads: 70

View info file

Audio / MP3

Bit rate: 256, bit depth: 16, sample rate: 44100, channels: 2

Download via Mega.nz

Download this recording

Audio samples

Audience microphone

Origins: Audience microphone
Lineage: Sony Handheld Cassetter Recorder > CDR > FLAC > fre:ac > mp3@256kb/s
Quality based on reviews:
Downloads: 396

View info file

U2
Radio City Music Hall
New York City, NY
December 3, 1984

LINEAGE: > Sony Handheld Cassetter Recorder^ > CDR > FLAC
> WAV > [alternate track split]# > Frontend FLAC (6) >

^Taping location: Approx 5th row center.

TRACK LISTING

01-4th Of July#
02-11 O'Clock Tick Tock
03-I Will Follow
04-Seconds
05-MLK
06-The Unforgettable Fire
07-Wire
08-Sunday Bloody Sunday
09-Cry-The Electric Co.
10-A Sort Of Homecoming
11-Bad
12-October
13-New Year's Day
14-Pride (In The Name Of Love)
15-Party Girl
16-Gloria
17-"40"

# taper's introduction removed, see also below.

*ORIGINAL NOTES [WORLD DEBUT]:
"This is the first time this show has been mastered from the
ORIGINAL MASTER CASSETTE. I was the travelling companion of
the taper. He was notorious for losing things, so I made sure
this was in my possesion for the future.
The show was unsual in many regards. It was their first "big"
show in New York. It was a benefit for Amnesty International.
Also there were several disturbances during the show. The crowd
was in an absolute frenzy. I had never felt such electricity.
Check out "I Will Follow". A fan tries to jump onstage and a
scuffle ensues, resulting in Edge's Gibson Explorer being
snapped at the neck. They broke his fucking guitar!
There were a few more crazy stoppages.
The sound at the show raised the hair on the back of my neck.
HUGE...powerful, electric...concert sound today SUCKS!! When the
first few notes of "11 O'clock" hit, I knew I had entered a new
realm. The guitar was like a giant reverberated church bell, the
bass was throbbing but precise, the drums were snapping and the
voice was clear as a trumpet. The record out at the time,
"Unforgettable Fire", had completely absorbed me. But live, oh boy,
what an experience. I saw them about 5 more times on the UF tour
around NY, but this was the best, apart from front row seats at
the Nassau Colloseum in 85. Yeh, I'm bragging a bit. :)

The sound:
I despise audience recordings in general, but I will tolerate it
for rare Hendrix or Doors, but this one blows me away. The clarity
comes and goes for the first 3 songs, but then it stays big and
detailed for the rest. Enjoy."

# ORIGINAL TRACK LISTING:

1-11 O'Clock Tick Tock
2-I Will Follow
3-Seconds
4-MLK/The Unforgettable Fire
5-Wire
6-Sunday Bloody Sunday
7-The Electric Co.
8-A Sort Of Homecoming (Tape Flip)
9-(Tape Flip) Bad
10-October/New Year's Day
11-Pride (In The Name Of Love)
12-Party Girl
13-Gloria
14-40

NB: Track 1 includes 4th Of July + taper's introduction.
Lot's of long drop-outs within the songs.

Audio / MP3

Bit rate: 256, bit depth: 16, sample rate: 44100, channels: 2

Download via Mega.nz

Download this recording

Audio samples

Here you can find and post reviews of this show. We encourage everyone that either attended or listened to this show to write a review. Currently we have 4 reviews for you to read.

review by Claude

14 years ago

Performance

The gig became infamous because RCMH's security people began roughing up fans early into the show. From that point on it was open warfare between the band and the bouncers, with Bono frequently having to stop the show mid-song. These interruptions actually make this arguably the most riveting show in the winter 1984 North American tour. It's the moment when the band became too big for theaters.

Sound

This part is only rated, not commented on
Recording: Audience microphone - 3 stars

Audience

Fans' incredible enthusiasm led to the conflict with the stagehands. The crowd went nuts for U2, and the results were catastrophic.

Overall

A very important and dramatic show, well worth hearing. Other gigs on the Unforgettable Fire tour may be more technically perfect, but the Radio City performance will have you n the edge of your seat.

all reviews

show	performance	audience	sound	overall
Claude
patou2
Azady
BigGiRL

1984-12-03 - New York, New York - Radio City Music Hall

setlist

songs per album

show attendees: 6

review by Claude

all reviews

useful links

contribute

support us

Audience microphone

Audio / MP3

Download via Mega.nz

Audio samples

"RCMH '84 - 30th Anniversary REMASTER"

Audio / MP3

Download via Mega.nz

Audio samples

Audience microphone

Audio / MP3

Download via Mega.nz

Audio samples

what they said

did you know

you

U2start

1984-12-03 - New York, New York - Radio City Music Hall

setlist

songs per album

show attendees: 6

review by Claude

all reviews

useful links

contribute

support us

Audience microphone

Info file

Audio / MP3

Download via Mega.nz

Audio samples

"RCMH '84 - 30th Anniversary REMASTER"

Info file

Audio / MP3

Download via Mega.nz

Audio samples

Audience microphone

Info file

Audio / MP3

Download via Mega.nz

Audio samples

what they said

did you know

you

U2start