Nassau 1975 Day 2 (Sigma 43)
Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY – June 17th, 1975
Disc 1 (58:53): Raving And Drooling, You Gotta Be Crazy, Shine On You Crazy Diamond (parts 1-5), Have A Cigar, Shine On You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9)
Disc 2 (58:02): Speak To Me, Breathe, On The Run, Time, Breathe (reprise), The Great Gig In The Sky, Money, Us & Them, Any Colour You Like, Brain Damage, Eclipse
Disc 3 (24:37): audience, Echoes, audience
Nassau 1975 Day 2 (Sigma 43) serves as both a sequel to Nassau 1975 Day 1 (Sigma 22), the three disc set with the June 16th show and as a corrective for the popular yet criticized Wishes, Echoes, And Desires (Godfather GR267/268). Godfather were the first to offer a significant upgrade over Nice Live Pair (Highland HL675/676/677/678), a four disc set coupled with the June 18th Boston show and individually as Live At The Coliseum (Highland HL675/676), but that release was marred by digital clicks in the first song and at points on disc two. Sigma 43 maintains the excellent sound quality of the Godfather yet does not have any flaws on the tape whatsoever and can be considered definitive at this point.
A review was published in the New York Times after the second show which interestingly singled out Richard Wright for particular praise. The author John Rockwell writes: “While the rock world is steadily inundated by German space-rock ensembles, Pink Floyd keeps indefatigably making music that antedated the Germans and is superior to nearly all of them.
“Not that the English quartet, which played the first of two consecutive evening concerts Monday at the Nassau Coliseum, is purely devoted to rambling, hypnotic instrumentals of the sort the Germans favor. Pink Floyd can boogie, almost, what with the crunching rhythm section of Rogers Waters (bass guitar) and Nicky Mason (drums), plus a fervent saxophone player and two black women singers.
“And the group’s songs have an unusually suggestive poetic quality – great literature, even, in the context of the flatulent pseudo-mythology of so many recent space rock lyrics – and the singing isn’t half bad at all, especially that of Dave Gilmour, the lead guitarist.
“But the core of the act remains the instrumentals, and the core of those instrumentals is Rick Wright, the keyboard player. Mr. Wright makes music of a coloristic richness that is more entrancing that almost any of his competition that one can think of, and yet his flights say firmly grounded in lucidity and rhythmic directness. And for all the others’ gifts on their own, they do their best work in support of Mr. Wright.” (“Pink Floyd Plays At Rambling Best: English Quartet Is Sparked By Wright On Keyboards,” John Rockwell, June 18th, 1975)
The tape begins when the house lights go down and the band walk on stage. “Wait a minute. Just wait a minute” Roger Waters says. “Okay this is a new tune called ‘Raving And Drooling I Fell On His Neck With A Scream.'” This song would undergo minor variations in its development before being rewritten as “Sheep.” On this night Wright plays around with some unique keyboard motifs in the first half of the piece. “You Gotta Be Crazy” is sung more than narrated (as was the case in its earliest incarnation) and is missing the barking dog interlude after “dragged down by the stone….”
Waters makes the normal reference to their founder before “Shine On You Crazy Diamond Parts 1-5″ when he says, “This is the last new song tonight so make the best of it. It is partly to do with Syd Barrett who used to be in our band.” Just before the ten minute mark one of the roadies plays the money sound effects by accident, the sound of coins falling into the cash register. In the final section, during Part 8 Wright takes an interesting solo. The second half of the show is devoted to Dark Side Of The Moonand is given a flawless delivery with Gilmour’s wailing guitar in “Money” a standout. Nassau 1975 Day 2 is packaged in a standard jewel case with artwork from the tour.
9 Comments
I’m looking forward to Day 1 and hope it’s comparable to the quality of this which is very enjoyable. Thanks to the taper or tapers where ever you are today. I also would be interested in knowing what other material circulates from this source or sources.
I don’t know the taper, but I would guess that he’s the one who made many quality tapes over several years at the Coliseum and MSG for Floyd, Zeppelin, Bruce, and probably others. There is an abundance of quality tapes from these venues during the 70’s and e80’s. In fact, some cities seem to have their own personal tapers.
Was it same taper for both shows ? Is his identity known ? Did he tape other shows ? Any of his other tapes pressed ? If so what are they ? Up there with Millard .
If you don’t have any version of the show that’s on “Nassau Day 2”, then I certainly tend to strongly agree with aleebee’s comment – obtaining the Sigma 43 “Nassau Day 2” version is more likely the better way to go, but someday eventually when you might be able to afford it, upgrading your Hamilton ’75 show should be given consideration again.
Although I’d hate to be without either, personally, I’d go for Nassau Day 2.
I can’t afford getting both Hamilton and Nassau Day 2. If you were to pick only one, which would be it?
I seem to remember many debates over whether the L.A. show was superior to the NYC show in the past…that alone should be an indication that 6/17/75 is worth owning in particular. I also agree that an upgrade to “Hamilton ’75” would be a good idea if you can find it – in fact, I think I have a surplus copy of it myself if you don’t have any luck tracking it down.
I think you should at least seriously consider this Nassau 1975 Day 2. And you should also seriously consider at least trying to, if you can, upgrade your Highland’s “Holes in the Sky” to Siréne’s 3-CD version “Hamilton ’75”, which is clearly superior to it, although it may be hard to get by now in some places.
Oweing PINK MILLARD and RAVE MASTER – both by Sigma plus HOLES IN THE SKY, by Highland, do I need another ’75 show?