Comments on: Black Sabbath – Exstased In Fresno (Godfatherecords G.R. 635)

By: aleebee

aleebee — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:02:09 +0000

He was kind enough to make his cut after the singer had announced a song, apparently, so we know what is missing. Alternatively, he may have done it that way just so we know he’s one up on us! :)

However, better one song short that all songs short, so I thank him for that good job!

By: Cliff

Cliff — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 07:00:24 +0000

Sorry aleebee, I should have read your comment thoroughly – it would make more sense to cut a song from a tape for this purpose rather than simply not tape it. Essentially, however, my point remains – what SabbraCadabra789 writes supports your contention that the absence of Snowblind is the responsibility of the taper rather than Godfather.

By: chambau

chambau — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 02:44:47 +0000

It’s a great title. If you like Black Sabbath and Technical Exstase, go get it before it’s too late.

By: aleebee

aleebee — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:23:19 +0000

Actually no, the taper (Robert Clayton) got it. However, when he finally passed the tape on (in 2005 IIRC) he’d edited out ‘Snowblind’. It sems he taped lots of stuff in Fresno, most of which hasn’t seen the light of day – at least it hadn’t back then in 2005 – but those that he had passed on were generally missing a song: it was his ‘thing’, apparently. That is to say, ‘Snowblind’ was missing because dropping a song that was HIS ‘trademark’. In reference to other posts, yes, it is high time those Sabbath KBFH from 1976 and 1978 are given the silver treatment.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:13:50 +0000

As stated by SabbraCadabra789, who uploaded the songs from the show onto YouTube, “the Taper didn’t get Snowblind, because of some trademark or something according to Sabbathlive.com,” which would seem to agree with aleebee’s earlier comment.

By: Argenteum Astrum

Argenteum Astrum — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:40:14 +0000

I have a low gen for this date and it also lacks Snowblind…any idea?

By: gsparaco

gsparaco — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:09:46 +0000

“I guess it opens the door for some enterprising label to issue an ultra-complete super-definitive re-remastered version in the future, thus forcing us all to buy it again ;)”

That’s awfully generous of Godfather to help out another label like that.

By: aleebee

aleebee — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:43:19 +0000

AFAIK, and from what I gleaned from sabbathlive.com, to which I contributed here-and-there, the original circulated TAPE of this was missing Snowblind. I’d be happy to be proven wrong, needless to say.

By: robert green

robert green — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:39:22 +0000

It CAN keep the cost down for the consumer. But the flipside is that the release is more attractive for less-seasoned or knowledgeable consumers (1CD=cheaper) and therefore is more likely to sell successfully–which (obviously) benefits the label.
I guess it opens the door for some enterprising label to issue an ultra-complete super-definitive re-remastered version in the future, thus forcing us all to buy it again ;)

By: gsparaco

gsparaco — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 02:36:59 +0000

I don’t really doubt you. I don’t know anything about this tape and whether it’s complete or not. I can’t find it on Wolfgang’s Vault either.

And I know Godfather sometimes drop songs from their releases. They did that with a Madonna title.

But the reason why they did it was to cut costs and not to charge customers a higher price for a 2CD set, but to keep it an affordable 1CD title.

I don’t like that either because I like tapes to be as complete as possible no matter the cost. But Godfather’s practice in the past has been to omit songs to keep costs down for the consumer.

By: mott

mott — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 02:25:02 +0000

gsparaco,
I respect your reviews here and HW.Email me privately and I will explain how I know what I know.I LOVE music first and foremost and helped release some high profile Van Halen cds out of FRUSTRATION with the major labels like GF not releasing what seasoned collectors like yourself and I want.I am just saying they edited it for $$$$ and it kept it from being complete.:)Tom

By: mott

mott — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 01:54:42 +0000

Yes.Godfather has edited songs out before.This would have been a nice 80 minute single disc or a double disc with the 1976 King Biscuit tape available on Wolfgang’s Vault Radio to fill out the second disc.Hardcore collectors respect this label for new tapes,but groan at hatchet jobs like this.Still recommend it even with the editing though.

By: gsparaco

gsparaco — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 01:48:08 +0000

I wouldn’t point the finger at Godfather. Are there other versions of this show and/or tape in circulation with the missing song?

By: mott

mott — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 01:45:00 +0000

My copy of this timed out at 72:23 which is standard time length for cds.I am convinced Godfather omitted “Snowblind”
and made this a single disc to avoid paying the extra cost of pressing it on an 80 minute disc.They HAVE done this before in the past.That being said,it is a great tape.

By: Argenteum Astrum

Argenteum Astrum — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:59:58 +0000

I’d love to see more Sabs titles from the Godfather, even if any will be just a rerelease; most of albums are hard to find and good sounding/improved reissues could bring more attention to new fans and people who weren’t able to pick up them before.

By: aleebee

aleebee — Mon, 30 May 2011 23:42:50 +0000

Thanks for the review. When I first saw this advertised, I was pleased, but not overly excited. After all, I had Fresno 1978 already. It was only when I put it in the CD player, without having read the tracklist, that I realised it was Fresno 1976, and in marvellous quality. I then got very excited! In my defence, the 1978 promo-shot of the Sabs on the front had thrown me, but it made it all a lovely surprise, actually. According to the sadly now-defunct sabbathlive.com, this was recorded by a chap called Robert Clayton, who also gave us the 1978 Fresno gig. That recording is available as ‘One For the Nose’ (CD, Airdance) and ‘Fresno 1978′ (2CD, Zeus).
‘Snowblind’ is likely deliberately omitted, as it was apparently a ‘trademark’ of this taper to cut a track from the tape he circulated. It’s been postulated some tapers would omit a track to ‘mark’ the tape (if later versions are also missing ‘Track X’, yours was likely the source tape, so point in attempting an upgrade), and/ or to ensure that only they had the complete version as recorded. For many collectors, having something that no-one else has is part of the thrill. Pity then, that this is not complete, but don’t let it stop you getting a copy: you owe it to yourselves to have this in your collection, Sabs fans.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Thu, 26 May 2011 08:14:33 +0000

Thanks for the kind comment on the review, relayer67. Woodruffe’s contribution was certainly in my thoughts as I composed this review, especially as I was also listening to Technical Ecstasy, and he deserved a mention. Upcoming work commitments meant that I wrote the review rather more quickly than I normally do, which proably led to this oversight – thanks for giving Woodruffe his due. Unfortunately, of course, the “forward sound” was not widely appreciated at the time. I was a big Sabbath fan in the early/mid 70s and I was most disappointed with Technical Ecstasy – it has, however, grown on me a great deal since. Finally, thanks for the book recommendation – I shall seek out a copy.

By: relayer67

relayer67 — Wed, 25 May 2011 20:59:37 +0000

Nice review and a killer release, again Godfather releases an excellent hard rock / heavy metal title worth having. It should be noted that the addition of Jezz Woodruffe on keyboards both on the Technial Extasy record and tour helped flesh out the newer songs and helped give the band that forward sound they were looking for. The first couple times I listened to this CD I could not help but pull a book that I can easily recomend as something to read while you listen; Black Sabbath Doom Let Loose by Martin Popoff. The chapter on the T E record provived much insite to the band during this period.