I usually keep a pretty close eye on whatever is coming out from my favorite bands, whether it’s official or unofficial material. This week, we’ve had an announcement and presale for Roger Water’s The Dark Side Of The Moon Super Deluxe Edition box set, which personally, I am looking forward to. The first 300 (or 700?) people who preordered it have also been gifted a hand signed print, which is pretty awesome. Given that the cost of the set is around 250 USD, and an authentic Roger Waters autograph goes for around 500 USD, this is a pretty good deal if you ask me. I was lucky enough to have been messing around on my phone when it was first announced, so I was able to get a copy that included the autograph before they sold out.
Even though I had a bit of fun with it in an earlier review, I really do enjoy the Redux album, and I’m especially looking forward to hearing the official version of the live show. There has been at least one great unofficial release, which I have already written about. Ever in the minority and judging by all the “laugh reacts” posted on the social media ads, I guess I am one of the few people who enjoy the record. Negative comments I have heard since the announcement of “Redux” way back in October 2023 have included accusations of a “cash grab” or Roger attempting to “replace the original album”. Neither of these are true, of course, but we should never let the truth stand in the way of good, old fashioned social media outrage.
Anyway, if you want to preorder the new Waters set, some places still have the standard copies. The limited signed print version has sold out, but even the standard boxes are limited to something in the range of 3,000 copies. Scalping of preorders has already begun on eBay, so if you are interested in the standard version, it’s best not to wait and just order it now. There are multiple sites with copies available that are just a Google search away.
Speaking of keeping an eye on new releases, sometimes things still slip by. Most recently, one of those was the Pink Floyd California Soundboard double LP that was apparently just re-released. According to Discogs, this thing originally came out in 2019 and was limited to 111 copies on varying colors of wax. It is available for sale again, albeit in another round of apparently extremely limited quantities. According to the back cover, there are 300 copies available in total: 100 each of Aqua, Orange and Blue. In addition, the first 100 of those copies are numbered, and included a second single sided LP with an etching on the back. Thankfully, the version I got is one of those first 100, and I got the extra disc.
It’s best to mention right up front that this isn’t the full show from that night. Recorded on April 21st, 1973, at the Sports Arena in San Diego, what we have here is a mostly full performance of DSOTM along with parts of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”. If you got the bonus disc, you’ll also have “Echoes”, which takes up an entire side of that LP. As I mentioned, the second side of LP 2 has an etching. If you don’t know what that is, it’s essentially a decorative blank side. In this case, it’s got the faces of all four band members etched in, and it looks great. I tried to get a picture of it, but the surface is so shiny and reflective that this turned out to be impossible. If you don’t pick up a copy, you’ll just have to use your imagination on this one.
“California Soundboard” is a “Not On Label” release, so the company that made it remains a mystery. With this being the case, I had no idea what to expect quality-wise. When I opened the package, however, I was very impressed. The records are heavy weight, and obviously of high quality. Purely from luck of the draw, I got an orange copy, and I think the color looks great. The labels themselves are full color and feature the Floyd prism artwork and the heartbeat graphic. The sleeve is standard with a single compartment, but it’s a little wider to allow room for both discs. The printing looks fantastic and is sharp and clear. I couldn’t spot a single defect or issue with the LPs themselves. The copies are numbered with a small white sticker in the top right corner on the back of the sleeve. I gave the discs a standard cleaning and popped the first one on my Rega.
I had never listened to this show before, and I have to say I found the overall performance to be stunning. There is quite a long sort of dead spot in the beginning where we hear the fans cheering and some fireworks going off, but it doesn’t take long for the music to come in. These are fantastic live versions of the songs, and the pressing itself is flawless on my copy. There is absolutely no surface noise whatsoever, and music really has room to breathe. The back of the sleeve says it’s “from the mixing desk”, and this sounds accurate to me. It also says that this is the first time it’s available. I’m assuming that they mean that this is the first time this particular recording of the show is available, rather than the first time any recording of the show is available. I have seen other versions out there, at least in digital format.
Soundboard Recording – Sports Arena, San Diego, California USA – 21st April 1975
A1 Speak To Me
A2 Breathe
A3 On The Run
A4 Time
A5 Breathe (Reprise)
A6 The Great Gig In The Sky
B1 Money
B2 Us And Them
B3 Shine On You Crazy Diamond (VIII-IX)
C1 Echoes
The recording seems to be one long piece up until we reach “Shine On”, which is spliced in. This is of course the second half of the song, with just parts VIII-IX. Of course, I have no idea why the decision was made to cut some tracks and leave others, but I would love to hear the full recording. It’s always possible there was an issue with the tape, or simply because the record label thought these were the best songs of the performance and they didn’t want to add a second or third LP. Whatever the case, I really enjoyed the material that is here, and I think any other Floyd fan would too, as long as the absence of the rest of the show doesn’t bother them too much.
For me, the real standout of this release is the bonus disc, which contains “Echoes”. I have to say, this is the first time I heard this particular version, and it’s pretty crazy. As the sleeve indicates, it features Dick Parry on the saxophone, which brings a lot of magic to the track. It’s pointless to try and describe it, because I think it’s just something you have to hear for yourself. Usually, “Echoes” prominently features Gilmour’s unearthly guitar tones along with Richard Wright’s surreal keyboard parts. In this version, however, the bass guitar also stands out. Roger lays down an absolutely thunderous and killer bass line which really adds another dimension to the piece. Anyone who says he’s not a good player is simply wrong. At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of the second disc with only one song on it, but trust me, “Echoes” deserves it.
Overall, I think California Soundboard is a great release. I think this one might be difficult to track down, but it’s worth the effort. With that being said, this one isn’t cheap for being a double LP. It’s going to depend on where you find a copy, but don’t be surprised if it’s a bit more than what you were expecting to pay. Trying to tell you a price is pointless, since it fluctuates wildly by seller. Printing and packaging are a solid 9/10 on this one, and the audio source is a 10/10. The pressing is superb, and also an easy 10/10. Is the cost worth it for an incomplete show? Well, that’s a call you’ll have to make on your own. For some people, this is going to be a dealbreaker. For me, I have to admit that I sometimes enjoy a truncated format that features only the highlights. At the same time, I am hoping someone will eventually release the rest of this wonderful source on vinyl so we can enjoy the performance in its entirety.