The actual file is going to be an hour uploading, unfortunately. I made better than normal quality mp3s for this one, and they average out at about 9MB. Ouch! Hope you enjoy the extra quality!

Huge thanks to Mark and Will for the photo. I combined both photos in the end, so we have the quality of the BitL one and the height of the one that Mark found. Then I drew on some more bits on the top left as there was a bit of a gap.

Remaining Time: 00:22:34 at 583.107kbps (71.18KB/s) (Elapsed: 00:05:14)
Uploaded 21.83MB of 115.99MB

I love the way you do it

Brilliant, thanks!

Hope lots of you have downloaded this. It's just a great show, with the songs coming to life in a way that they just don't on the Freaks album. More than any other recording, it really brings home why the band were so disappointed with that record. Jarvis seems to be on good form as well, rather than monsyllabic / grumpy as he is on certain other shows from this period (see Leadmill '84 for a masterclass in how not to get a crowd on your side). And this seems to be the famous show where he knocked his specs off and had to crawl round stage looking for them, eventually finding them in the drum riser - which I think was also the first time Steve Mackey saw them play. Historic stuff indeed.

Mouthwatering fact: the band also made a soundboard recording of this show, and back in '86 there was even talk of releasing it officially.

Mark's right! Unfortunately, I don't know how many people have downloaded it now I'm using sendspace, but I hope it's a good amount.

What scuppered the plans to release the soundboard recording, Mark? Were there a few fluffs too many?

And yes, Jarvis is awful and whiny at Leadmill '84. This was the only 80s tape that I - and I think many others - had for a long time, and it really did put me off the idea of any more!

Alphi, just wondering why your only comment to be made about the uploading of these amazing gigs is to write "However only a lossless recording remains in circulation nowadays" on the relevant wiki page? Do you not have any opinions on these unearthings that we're so lucky to be able to finally hear other than to complain about the format? Why not say if you like some tracks or not? Does the gig sound fun? Which songs sound most different to the records?

I know you're frustrated that I've not uploaded any as FLAC/WAV files or whatever yet, but I will eventually get 'round to it. I've got a lot on at the moment and doing the research into finding people who have rare tapes, making contact with them and trying to oversee the whole Portfolio project takes a hell of a lot of time and effort. Putting the package together ain't quick either!

Until I do get 'round to uploading super-hi-fi deluxe versions (in which the differences are, certainly to me, unnoticeable), why not enjoy the music rather than complaining about the quality of recordings that are never gonna sound pristine anyway..?

I agree with Stephen. We all get that you want these recordings in lossless. You don't need to repeat the point continually, and the fact you are doing so (especially without making any other comment) comes across as rather mealy-mouthed and ungrateful. Perhaps you'd rather the recordings weren't made available at all?

Apologies. Didn't realise the full scale of the situation.

Ignore the moaners Stephen - I can only re-affirm that we're damned lucky to even be able to hear these tapings.

Another incredible release - thank you VERY much!

Fantastic stuff! "97 Lovers" and "Master of the Universe" are particular highlights for me. Thanks for sharing.

I agree with Stephen and Sturdy's comments re: the format. I for one am just grateful that such recordings are now available.

Hey Ian, glad to see your feelings about sharing bootlegs have changed since almost a year ago in the Request a bootleg thread. I of course also am very glad that tapes are sharing their stuff and Stephen doing all the work to get it to us.

reading back the first sentence, this sounds cynical, it's not meant that way. my english sometimes holds me back from saying things exactly like I want to