Record Reviews
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  | AMAZING BLONDEL ~ LIVE IN TOKYO
TALKING ELEPHANT 144 (Barcode: 5028479014422) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1977 Released: 2009
9th and last album by the wonderful British Folk-Rock / Prog group Amazing BlondelFind albums by this artist, one of the most unique and sophisticated bands to appear on the scene in the 1970s. After recording four wonderful albums for the IslandFind albums on this label label, the band switched to the DJMFind albums on this label label, where they recorded four additional albums before disbanding. With the departure of John GaldwinFind albums by this artist, the duo of Terry WincottFind albums by this artist and Edward BairdFind albums by this artist continued to carry the band´s tradition, utilizing well-known Rock musicians as guest artists and modifying the sound to a more contemporary rockier song format. This album has nothing to do with Japan, as it was recorded in Europe, although the group was quite popular in Japan at the time. This album represents in a way a comeback to the acoustic version of the band, with just Wincott and Baird up front, accompanied by an orchestra at times, doing what they do best. In many respects it is the best effort of the later period of the band and a perfect parting gift. Worth investigation!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | AMON DUUL II ~ LIVE IN TOKYO
MYSTIC 108 ~ GERMANY ~ Progressive Rock
A superb live recording of the band from 1996 celebrating their 30`s anniversary as a unit. The singer Renate Knaup is still in great shape (perhaps even better then ever) and the players just ride with the wind. Some old and some new songs present a band still at its peak after so many years.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN TOKYO 2001
EAR MUSIC 4029759173151 (Barcode: 4029759173151) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 2001 Released: 2022
This is a reissue / remaster of two (combined into one, as the two consecutive night concerts were almost identical) of the six 2CD live albums by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, which were originally released in 2001 as the Box Set entitled “The Soundboard SeriesFind albums with this title”, which documented the group’s Australian / Japanese tour of the same year.
The album features the Mk VII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. They are supported by the Shin Nihon Philharmonic Select OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted by Paul MannFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Ronnie James DioFind albums by this artist guests on five tracks. The material includes a rare performance of the “Concerto For Group And OrchestraFind albums with this title”, some songs originating from outside of the band’s albums and of course some classic songs by the band from their entire repertoire, arranged for orchestral accompaniment, which makes this album particularly unique and special. These live recordings were amongst the last done with Jon Lord, before he retired from the group in 2002.
As usual, Deep Purple perform spotlessly, full of vigor, dedication and masterful ability, completely ignoring the passing of time. They sound perfectly synchronized and in flawless balance, with Gillan’s vocals in faultless condition. Morse’s guitar playing revitalized the group’s sound considerably and the show is just as a brilliant Classic Rock experience as imaginably possible.
Overall, this is a great live album, full of the everlasting Deep Purple energy and Classic Rock experience encapsulated for posterity. Although some of the material is repeated on almost every live Deep Purple album, each and every one of them is completely unique and for the band’s many fans indispensable.
The album is a numbered limited edition and my copy is 6,319/10,000 :)
| | Updated: 08/11/2022Posted: 08/11/2022 | CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | WEATHER REPORT ~ LIVE IN TOKYO
COLUMBIA 489208 (Barcode: 5099748920829) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2001
Following the release of their eponymous album in 1971 and in spite of the hype and show-biz brouhaha created by ColumbiaFind albums on this label at the time, which presented Weather ReportFind albums by this artist as the first ever jazz super group (a term already used in reference to rock acts), the band found it difficult to secure any US venues to perform live. Europe and Japan of course couldn’t get enough of them and WR spent most of 1971 performing there in front of ecstatic audiences. In November of 1971 WR entered the NYC CBS studios to record material for their second album. These sessions were interrupted by another Japanese tour, during which this legendary album was recorded on January 13, 1972. The music was released as a double LP immediately, but due to the usual corporate bullshit the release was intended for the Japanese market only, and it stayed this way for almost thirty years (it was released finally on CD in Europe in 2001), making the album unobtainable to most WR fans outside Japan. Well, not entirely, as heavily edited excerpts of this recording found their way to the B side of the 2nd official WR album I Sing The Body ElectricFind albums with this title, which included the a.m. November studio recordings as side A – all this probably due to the fact that Columbia was anxious to have the next WR album out ASAP and didn’t want to wait for the more studio recordings. So much for the background and now for the music. As usual with WR, the personnel changes started already at this early stage and in the cause of the very few months since the recording of the debut album the original WR drummer Alphonse MouzonFind albums by this artist was replaced by Eric GravattFind albums by this artist and original percussionist Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist was replaced by another Brazilian Master Don Um RomaoFind albums by this artist. More importantly however, the music of the band changed also quite dramatically. The debut album was an all-acoustic affair and here we have Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist using electric piano, modulators and other electronic devices, which eventually would dominate the WR sound. The overall sound is now almost identical to the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist´ In A Silent WayFind albums with this title / Bitches BrewFind albums with this title sessions, with the intensity equal to the legendary Miles’ Fillmore concerts. The music is presented in a form of four extended medleys (the longest of which lasts for over 26 minutes), mixing expanded versions of compositions present on the debut album with those recorded during the a.m. November sessions and yet others that appear only here. The group improvisations and the telepathic interplay are fearfully intense. Miroslav VitousFind albums by this artist bravely provides the steady pulsation, which cements the basis on which his companions embark into their sonic ventures. Gravatt is all over the rhythmic patterns and Romao brilliantly fills the spaces. WR strength was always in their live performances, since their studio efforts somehow lacked much of the spontaneity, drive, inspiration and vigor present on stage. This recording, in addition to its heavenly contents, has also a tremendous historic value, as it is the only one in existence documenting the early (and to many the most interesting) stage of the band. It also provides the wonderful introspective peek at the most interesting (regardless of genre) period in the history of 20th Century music, during the convoluted period where all boundaries seemed to be irrelevant and the unexpected was expected. There would be very few moments in the years that followed that either WR or any other band for that matter would reach the same level of creative genius or performance intensity. Absolutely essential!
| | | CD 2 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN WETTON ~ LIVE IN TOKYO 1997
BLUEPRINT 289 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
A 2CD live set fom John WettonFind albums by this artist and his band. Great playing and great vocals by the leader, performing some of his best known compositions through the years. Excellent sound quality. For his fans there is never enough material and this one is a valuable addition.
| | | CD 2 Recommend To A Friend |
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