Date: Tue, 14 Nov 1995 10:51:10 +0500 From: xyx Subject: DEEP BENEATH THE WAVES vol 15 ALTERNATIVES TO MAXELL MANIA (or HOW I BECAME A BOOT CD COLLECTOR) Characters: Flo, CD boot collector Eddie, Tape elitist Flo: Hey Eddie, check out this new boot CD I got called "You Figure It Out" Eddie: Nah, probably just another one of those bullshit-sounding audience analog recordings Flo: No, no, this is really good, it's from a board tape..on the Hawk label Eddie: Yeah, right. From when? Flo: sometime in 1988, a guy on the internet said it was from the first Jones Beach show in 1988 Eddie: (Laughs) No way, man, no board tapes exist of that show. Flo: I don't know, Eddie, this sounds awfully good to me... Eddie: Listen, Flo, it ain't no board tape. If a board tape was available I'd have it, believe me. I am the fuckin' tape master, dude. Flo: (puts CD in & cues up "Subterranean Homesick Blues") Check this out Eddie, you can really understand the words, and listen to how the instruments are really clear and bright, just EQ the bass down a little and it's really excellent.... Eddie: (In other room) No way, Flo, that's just a copy of Lake Compounce you've got in there, quit pullin' my leg, man... Flo: (cues up "Tom Thumb's) it's not, I swear, this is better than that ragged version on Lake Compounce, listen to how much clearer it is, how "warmer" and natural sounding it is... Eddie: Kiss off Flo, I told you if it was a board I'd have it. Boards don't just show up on CD without circulating first Flo: Well, this one did (cues up a killer "I Shall Be Released") Eddie: (Still from other room) See, that proves it, same trax as Lake Compounce. You're full of shit Flo. Flo: (smiling as he cues up "Lakes of Pontchartrain") Hey Eddie, is this gorgeous version of "LOP" on your precious Lake Compounce tape? Man this sounds good, listen to that acoustic playing, clear as fine crystal, and Bob's vocals are oh so sharp, so detailed he could teach a course in vocal expression. Come in and check it out, (snidely) tape master (he cues up "Hard Rain..."). I don't believe Zimm did this on Lake Compounce, pal. Oooh man, this is right up there with that tape from Radio City, but a little less hiss on this one, eh Eddie. Better performance, too. Eddie: (Enters room) Alright, douche-head, lemme see that thing (sits listening to the 7:59 "Hard Rain", begins to get red-faced, runs to his room to get Krosgaard, flips through to '88, gets redder, skips to "Boots of Spanish Leather", beauty of it makes him wide- eyed and smiling, remembers he's the fuckin' tape master and loses the smile. Sits chagrined through rockin' "LARS", elegant "Times" and kick-ass "Maggie's." Skips back to "Big Girl" and "Silvio", all the while mumbling about how good it sounds, how clear the vocals are, how Aaronson's bass is booming, picks up Krosgaard again and grits teeth upon realizing they passed over "Gates" and "Eileen Aroon." Re-cues "Hard Rain", shoulders slump with resignation, turns to Flo and says...) Hey Flo, can you make me a tape? Love & Mercy - xyx