[no title]JEMS Date: 21 Jan 1981 Location: Maple Leaf Gardens Concert Bowl, Toronto, Canada Format: – Duration: –
Disc 1:
01- NIGHT
02- OUT IN THE STREET
03- TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT
04- DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
05- INDEPENDENCE DAY
06- WHO'LL STOP THE RAIN
07- PROVE IT ALL NIGHT
08- TWO HEARTS
09- THE PROMISED LAND
10- THE PRICE YOU PAY
11- THE RIVER
12- BADLANDS
13- THUNDER ROAD
Disc 2:
01- CADILLAC RANCH
02- SHERRY DARLING
03- HUNGRY HEART
04- FIRE
05- YOU CAN LOOK (BUT YOU BETTER NOT TOUCH)
06- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
07- GROWIN' UP
08- FADE AWAY
09- STOLEN CAR
10- WRECK ON THE HIGHWAY
11- CANDY'S ROOM
12- RAMROD
13- BACKSTREETS
Disc 3:
01- ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)
02- I'M A ROCKER
03- JUNGLELAND
04- BORN TO RUN
05- DETROIT MEDLEY
06 RAISE YOUR HAND
Disc 1, track 05: 10 second patch
Disc 3, track 01: 7 second patch
mackeck master via JEMS
Recording Gear: handheld portable cassette recorder with built-in mic
Known faults:
-Independence Day: 7 seconds patched with Recorder 2 (pitch corrected)
-Rosalita: 10 seconds patched with Recorder 1 (pitch corrected)
-Several recorder bumps were removed, 1 or 2 remain that could not be seamlessly removed
JEMS is pleased to present a previously uncirculated and complete master recording of the second night of Toronto '81. It's also the second show from the work of the taper(s) mackeck.
d.j.mackeck reached out earlier this year to report that his dad had recorded several Bruce shows between 1978 and 1984 in their hometown of Toronto, as well as cities within spitting distance like Detroit and Buffalo. He was kind enough to ship an initial batch of three masters, from which we made fresh transfers here at JEMS South.
The shows were recorded on a small portable recorder with built-in mic (likely a Toshiba or Sony, but memories have faded) in mono. As with the Buffalo '80 recording, mackeck manages to avoid most audience chatter or noise, yielding a recording that is clear, relatively close, consistent and highly listenable. It only needed two small patches as noted above.
The only material flaw in this new Toronto recording was again micro gaps, like those found on the Buffalo master, only this time there were even more of them. In 50-60 random spots across the three hours, the recorder cuts out momentarily leaving an audible gap.
On the Toronto recording, the micro gaps are all well under a second in length, though absolutely noticeable. But happily for us, it isn't 1981 but 2013 and audio technology has come a long way. Using iZotope RX and its magical "Spectral Repair" plug in, JEMS was able to repair the gaps in a manner that should make most of them inaudible to all but the most committed and headphone-wearing trainspotter. It was a more challenging tape to repair than Buffalo, but the end result is still quite remarkable. Samples provided.
As for the show itself, the second night of Toronto is obviously not nearly as well known as the first, for which there is an extant 90 minute soundboard recording (we will be doing mackeck's 1/20/81 recording next). But like a lot of second nights, it is probably the more spirited performance. These would prove to be the fading days for some River classics, as this would be one of the last ten outings for "The Price You Pay" and "Fade Away," both of which are sublime here, as are other tour stalwarts, "Stolen Car" and "Wreck on the Highway." This early in '81 it is still a classic River tour show, just one you haven't heard very often.
To take this one the last mile and provide the patching is our comrade and the unchallenged king of multiple source recordings, MJK5510. Thanks to him for final finishing and prepping.
Big big thanks to d.j. mackeck and his dad for loaning JEMS their masters and recording the show in the first place.
BK for JEMS
Recorder Information
Recorder 1: River Floor Version / 'From Asbury Park In Love'
Recorder 2: Incomplete 14 song tape transfer (mjk5510)
Recorder 3: 'Mackeck' Master Tape Transfer
![[no title] (21 Jan 1981)](bootlegs/aud_live1980/5367.jpg "[no title] (21 Jan 1981)")