Disc One: 1. Band Announcements, 2. Jumping Jack Flash, 3. Intermission, 4. Prodigal Son, 5. You Gotta Move, 6. Carol, 7. Sympathy For The Devil, 8. Stray Cat Blues, 9. Love In Vain, 10. I m Free, 11. Under My Thumb, 12. Midnight Rambler, 13. Live With Me, 14. Little Queenie, 15. (I Can t Get No) Satisfaction, 16. Honky Tonk Women, 17. Street Fighting Man.

Disc Two: 1. Band Announcements, 2. Jumping Jack Flash, 3. Carol, 4. Sympathy For The Devil, 5. Stray Cat Blues, 6. Prodigal Son, 7. You Gotta Move, 8. Love In Vain, 9. I m Free, 10. Under My Thumb, 11. Midnight Rambler, 12. Live With Me, 13. Gimme Shelter, 14. Little Queenie, 15. (I Can t Get No) Satisfaction, 16. Honky Tonk Women, 17. Street Fighting Man.

This release is new from Tarantura who had previously issued another 2 cd set featuring both Oakland 69 shows 20 years ago (TCDRS-1-1,2) and now offers what is labelled as the definitive version of the Stones Oakland 69 shows, in their words from the accompanying insert:

“This is the most definitive version of these shows, completed from genuine 1^st gen. analog copies. Recorded by legendary Dub & Ken, TMOQ team, the early show due to some problems with electricity near the start was released several years after its succeeder which was immortalized on a single vinyl bootleg titled Liver Than You’ll Ever Be. There are some distortions throughout due to  the age of these tapes, of which most notable are the ones near the end of Jumpin’ Jack Flash and some time after the song. The band changed the set just a little bit, and played the acoustic set just right after the first two songs due t mentioned issues. Gimme Shelter was dropped out from the setlist. The second show is the one that was used for Liver bootleg that was released just few weeks after the show. Part of the beginning announcements and start of Under My Thumb weren’t captured (as they have been omitted on the original vinyl) and both here are taken from the November 8^th concert in Los Angeles as well as from the 1st Oakland show to complete this version. No serious distortion occurred here, the band played regular setlist here”. Zepster & Aldo 2017 (?)

So, about the review of this set, which is provided with an outstanding packaging, must begin saying that for sure each disc is the longest in terms of duration with regards to any predecessor, the second show even has some music after the show ends. The early show itself is an excellent recording, but what is called Band Announcements is in fact Sam Cutler’s introduction in its entirety; the sound is full and rich and although in mono it is easily the best the first Oakland recording has ever been heard. It is interesting to hear in between songs Jagger comments, most having been edited out in other versions. The late show is just as powerful and possibly better sounding with the drums more upfront and the classic 69 setlist.

Packaging is excellent as in Tarantura tradition, including a 4 pages booklet which reproduces Rolling Stone February 7^th, 1970 article on the original Liver vinyl bootleg where it was written that the only way to top such recording would have been to release the unedited Altamont tapes! While praising the album’s sound quality it also says it was stereo, a mystery that has not been solved, and that most likely the tapes were made on stage by someone involved in setting up the Stones own sound system. It shall also be noted that the reviewer (Greil Marcus) then reversed sides claiming Carol opened Side Two and that the original vinyl album sold enough to qualify for a gold record RIAA certification, with 250.000 copies made by TMOQ and another 150.000 by other labels, probably also helped by the abovementioned RS review. Talking about rumours there was even some source that claimed the tapes came from Bill Graham himself or the band, since the quality was so high. Not many people know that renowned German filmmaker Wim Wenders, who shot Summer in the City a film dedicated to the Kinks, said in 1970 that Liver was the best Stones album ever.

The label then reports tracks listings and the reason why it had called it the Definitive version of Liver in English and in Japanese; what is weird is that here too the date reported is marked as 2017, maybe the label planned to release it at those times? The front cover artwork reproduces the classic shot of Charlie Watts on a donkey with drums, unfortunately marred by a printed OBI on its left side; anyway, this artwork is recent since reports Charlie Watts departure date, more clearly seen on the inside cover. From the back cover we are informed that the tapes were remastered by Enigma and the set produced by Zero-Fighter at Pignosis; for some reasons the label states it was released in August 2021 while it came out in October. Anyway for all those that still lobe the Stones 69 tour, this is really Oakland definitive version, a real treasure and a pleasure to listen to.