The Camera Eye

The Wall Live, 1980 at Nassau Coliseum and Earls Court

By Richard Mahon

NOTE: The following concert videos are being graded as a guide to documenting the live performance history of Pink Floyd and Roger Waters.

In keeping with this issue's theme of The Wall, I will review two videos that have surfaced from the 1980 concert performances

Pink Floyd-Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, NY February, 27, 1980

Legend has it that two Pink Floyd roadies taped this video. One was located in the back of the arena; the other was on the right side. The tape was kept under wraps for almost 10 years. In that time, the master VHS tape began to form defects. If the tape could be traced back to its master source, the quality is not likely to show noticeable improvement over the copies in circulation. The cameras seem to be on tri-pods and are very steady. The biggest problem with the video is its darkness. The back camera provides an excellent overall view of the stage. The side camera is used to get close-ups but the zoom lens never seems to get close enough. The picture is also slightly grainy due to the erosion of the master VHS tape. The sound is from the soundboard so the quality is very good. Overall, the video captures what it was like to be in the audience. The Wall is built up through the course of the first set. In the 2nd set, the band performs behind the wall except for cases where certain bricks are removed to see a member of the band (Gilmour during "Is There Anybody Out There?" and Waters during "Nobody Home") and the Surrogate Band sequence. I grade this video "B" and the audio "VG-E."

Pink Floyd-Earls Court, August 1980

Pink Floyd Lighting Director Mark Brickman directed this video. Over a half dozen cameras were used and Brickman spent 6 months editing the video in his home. When editing was completed, the band took the videos back where they were placed in storage. Years later, a very high generation copy surfaced among collectors. The video was barely watchable (I graded it a "D" at the time.)

Some time later, an improved version began to circulate. The camera angles and close-ups on this video are extraordinary. The problem is loss of picture quality due to multiple generations down from the master tape. The audio from this tape is also from the soundboard. The video becomes enjoyable to watch when you look at the screen and imagine how good it would look if it were the master copy. Close-ups include Gilmour & Waters' face filling the screen, the inflatables and puppets used during the show and a very nice shot of Gilmour's fingers on the guitar neck during "Another Brick In The Wall part 1." I grade the video "C" and the audio "VG-E."

I recommend both videos to capture the best of what each has to offer. The New York video has a much clearer picture but the London video offers extraordinary close-ups. More than anything else both provide an excellent documentation of these legendary concert performances.

VIDEO QUALITY RATINGS
A Broadcast quality
B Very good, typically a well shot, low generation single camera
recording
C Fair, watchable but with defects, color distortion or loss of clarity
due to high generation
D Poor, difficult to watch

Videos are compared to broadcast quality standards. All videos are subject
to loss of quality through multiple generations. Single camera recordings may be dark, obstructed, unstable, out of focus and distant. "B+" is the top rating for a single camera video though on rare occasions an exceptional single camera video may receive an "A" or "A-."

AUDIO QUALITY RATINGS
E Broadcast quality
VG Average audience recording
G Difficult to listen to

Audios are compared to FM broadcast quality standards. Audio audience
recordings may lack clarity or include excessive crowd noise. "VG-E" is usually the top rating for an audience recording.

Richard Mahon is a staff writer for Spare Bricks.