DESCRIPTION:
This is an audience recording made so many years ago at what was then called the Seattle Center Opera House (now the renovated McCaw Hall). I had saved up what I could to buy a used Uher 4000 reel to reel recorder and an AKG mic just for this concert, and I was lucky no one threw me out of the venue, as it was pretty obvious the bulky tape equipment I had with me (not at all like the small i-phones we have today!). Laura's performance this concert is absolutely beautiful, with musicality, warmth, tenderness and infused with the fire, passion and depth of emotion she was famous for. Her music and singing can hold up to lifetimes of listening.
I had been and remain to this day a huge fan of Laura, so I also was determined to meet her after the concert, but was somewhat nervous about doing so. But I needn't worried because after the concert, I was blessed to meet her, and the little autograph with the flower at the end of the video is what I received. She was so warm, and had a wonderful laugh. She also looked so beautiful. Unforgettable.
The encounter was brief, but I was able to meet her again 5 years later at the same place during her incredible April 28, 1976 concert series with her band.That time, the first thing she asked me was "How did you like the band?" You could tell she was very proud of them. I had about 6-8 photos that are included in this video, and I asked if she might choose one to autograph, and because I didn't have a silver pen, she signed the back of one of the photos. I still listen to her music nearly every day, and even sometimes sing along in my car. Also, I should mention that it was a high school kid I met after the concert who took the photos you see in this video. Sadly, I cannot recall his name. (edited: I now know he is Howie Wahlen from a recent post! [Other River Music Video] Thank you very much Howie!) I had a darkroom at the time, so he let me use the negatives to make prints, and even gave me the few color slides now in the video.
The audio tape of this concert was misplaced for over 40 years when I finally found it and took the tape to Precision Audio to make an archival cd. After that, another Laura fan contacted me, and he made some audio improvements. But it was Tony Sclafani who detected that the tape was running too slowly and he speed corrected the concert to the proper pitch. What a difference! Tony also fixed some awful drop outs that were very troublesome, especially in the song Up On the Roof. Thank you so much Tony! I've now taken the improved audio that Tony did, and added more photos from that concert for this upload. Btw, the baby softly crying during Brown Earth was not a problem for Laura, as she later dedicated a song to the little one. Such a good, tender heart she had. I hope you enjoy the concert.

Rick Sakoda

The Concert songlist:
Stoned Soul Picnic
Brown Earth
Buy and Sell
I am the Blues (introduced by Laura as new this concert)
And When I Die
Stoney End
Map to the Treasure
Christmas In My Soul
Save the Country
Medley - Timer, Ooh Child
Up on the Roof
Mother Earth (introduced by Laura as new this concert)