The Big One

Victoria Apollo

London, U.K.

18 - December - 1983.

Attendance: 2.000 (sellout) - Line-up: Hazel O'Connor, Mari Wilson, Ian Dury and Chas Jankel, Elvis Costello, Paul Weller & The Style Council, The Alarm, U2

Disc 1 (43:54)

01. I Will Follow

02. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock

03. Seconds

04. Sunday Bloody Sunday

05. Knockin' on Heaven's Door

06. New Year's Day

07. "40"

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08. All Along the Watchtower

09. Angel of Harlem

10. When Love Comes to Town

11. Love Rescue Me

Comments

The Big One concert was organized by the Campaign of Nuclear Disarmament (CND) to protest against Americna nuclear missiles at Greenham Common. All ticket proceeds went to CND. U2 played a short but strong set, the last on the bill. Mike Peters from The Alarm joined the band onstage on Knockin' on Heaven's Door.

This tape brings a pretty muffled sound, but still enjoyable. There are a few dropouts throughout the recording, the most noticeable occurs during I Will Follow at 0:31, as it lasts four seconds. Seconds and Sunday Bloody Sunday contain little dropouts, too. "40" fades out early, as it only lasts 0:57.

Tracks 8 to 11 feature the set U2 played at the 'Smile Jamaica benefit concert', in London (U.K.) at Dominion Theatre on October 16th, 1988. This concert was arranged for the victims of the Hurricane Gilbert, that ransacked the island. Angel of Harlem contains horns by 'The Rumour Horns Section'. Moreover, Keith Richards joined the band onstage to add guitar to When Love Comes to Town and Love Rescue Me, while Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers also joined in this last song to add a verse. This recording comes from the master cassette of a stereo cable feed, excellent sound quality. See comments here.