Duran Duran / Krakuen Stadium 1987 2nd Night / 2CDR

Duran Duran / Krakuen Stadium 1987 2nd Night / 2CDR / Uxbridge

Live At Korakuen Stadium Tokyo Japan 22nd March 1987.

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Live at Korakuen Stadium, Tokyo, Japan 22nd March 1987 TRULY AMAZING/PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters)

DURAN DURAN in 1987 made his first visit to Japan with a three-person system (Nick, John, Simon) who went through a side project. Introducing a masterpiece original recording that tells them who stood on the big stage of Korakuen.
This work was recorded on “March 22, 1987”. This is a superb audience recording recorded at the end of Korakuen Stadium before the construction of Tokyo Dome (by the way, the last concert was not DURAN DURAN, but Michael Jackson six months later). First, let’s look back on the schedule at that time.

・ March 19: Nagoya City International Exhibition Center
・ March 21: Korakuen Stadium
・ March 22: Korakuen Stadium ← ★ This work ★
・ March 24: Hankyu Nishinomiya Stadium

Above, all 4 performances. Even though there were three people, the popularity of Japan at that time was at its peak. It was a magnificent schedule for the stadium class in Higashi-Meihan, and two consecutive days of performances were realized at Korakuen Stadium. This work, which was recorded on the second day, is a clear and bold recording. Anyway, it’s super clear. It’s not mistaken for a sound board in terms of tone, but it’s likely that you’ll mistake it for close contact and fine details without a sense of distance. The reason for this is probably the venue. The later Tokyo Dome was not suitable for concerts due to its bouncy response, but it was an open space during the Korakuen Stadium era. Therefore, there are no ceilings or walls that reflect sound, and the core and details that are neither cloudy nor muddy are beautifully picked up.
Of course, it is not so simple that it will always be a famous recording at an open venue, and it is not uncommon for the sound to be blown by the wind or for the site PA to be too far away to become squishy. However, there is no need to worry about this work. It was a light rain pattern on the day, but there was no raindrops hitting the microphone, and there was no feeling of sickness whether it was right next to the PA. A female customer complains between songs, “I can’t hear my voice,” but that’s why the performance sounds and vocals that overwhelmed the loud cheers of the surroundings are overwhelming, and because the recorder is a master, even at such a loud volume Not. By chance and ingenuity, we have achieved the highest quality of sound board grade.
What is drawn with such a superb direct sound is a full show supported by the enormous Japanese spirit. Speaking of “STRANGE BEHAVIOUR TOUR”, there was also an official discontinued video “WORKING FOR THE SKIN TRADE”, but this work is incomparably long. Let’s organize by comparing here.

・ Rio: New Religion / The Chauffeur / Save A Prayer / Hungry Like The Wolf
・ Seven and the Ragged Tiger: Union Of The Snake (★) / The Reflex (★)
・ Notorious: Notorious / American Science (★) / Vertigo (Do The Demolition) / Meet El Presidente (★) / Skin Trade / A Matter Of Feeling (★) / Hold Me (★)
・ Others: Is There Something I Should Know? (★) / The Wild Boys / A View To A Kill / Election Day (★: ARCADIA) / Some Like It Hot (★: THE POWER STATION)
* Note: “★” marks are songs that cannot be heard in “WORKING FOR THE SKIN TRADE”.

… And it looks like this. Compared to “WORKING FOR THE SKIN TRADE”, which had only 9 songs, this work has 18 songs and exceeds 100 minutes. You can enjoy a large number of famous songs that cannot be mentioned one by one. Moreover, it is not only the representative song of DURAN DURAN, but also “Some Like It Hot” of THE POWER STATION and “Election Day” of ARCADIA are taken up, and the rare new songs “American Science” “Vertigo (Do The)” limited to this tour You can also enjoy plenty of “Demolition)”, “Meet El Presidente”, “A Matter Of Feeling”, and “Hold Me”. I’m singing “Rain”).
Although such a full show alone is full, this work also includes an even more extremely rare bonus. The messages of the three people are reproduced from the flexi disc “READING RECORD” at that time. The message is as simple as three and a half minutes, but the youthful voice that talks about the new song at that time also gives a sense of the times.

Above all, you can experience the best of Korakuen Stadium with a bold and super clear sound. It’s all about this. Although it is a music album with excellent sound, precious masterpieces, and performances, it is even more exciting to witness a concert that is a symbol of the 80s Western music scene. The scent of the 80’s, which is impossible at Tokyo Dome, please inhale it to your heart’s content with this work!

サイド・プロジェクトを経た３人体制（ニック、ジョン、サイモン）での初来日を果たした1987年のDURAN DURAN。後楽園の大舞台に立った彼らを伝える傑作オリジナル録音が登場です。
そんな本作が録音されたのは「1987年３月22日」。東京ドーム建設前だった後楽園球場の終末期（ちなみに最後のコンサートはDURAN DURANではなく、半年後のマイケル・ジャクソンでした）で記録された極上オーディエンス録音です。まずは、当時のスケジュールから振り返ってみましょう。

・３月19日：名古屋市国際展示場
・３月21日：後楽園球場
・３月22日：後楽園球場　←★本作★
・３月24日：阪急西宮球場

以上、全４公演。３人になったとは言え、当時の日本人気は絶頂。東名阪のスタジアム級を巡る堂々たる日程で、後楽園球場でも２日連続公演が実現しました。その２日目で収録された本作は、くっきりと骨太な名録音。とにかく超クリア。音色からしてサウンドボードと間違えたりはしませんが、距離感のない密着感と細やかなディテールは間違えてしまいそう。その要因は、何と言っても会場にあるのでしょう。後の東京ドームはボワボワ反響で決してコンサート向きとは言えないわけですが、後楽園球場時代はオープン・スペース。そのため、音を反射する天井も壁もなく、曇りも濁りもない芯とディテールが綺麗に拾われているのです。
もちろん、オープン会場なら必ず名録音になるほど単純なものではなく、音が風に流されたり、現場ＰＡが遠すぎてスカスカになる事も珍しくない。しかし、本作にその心配は不要。当日は生憎の小雨模様だったのですがマイクに雨粒が当たる事もなく、ＰＡのすぐ側だったのかスカスカ感も皆無。曲間で女性客が「自分の声が聞こえないよ」とこぼしていますが、だからこそ周囲の大歓声を制圧しきった演奏音とヴォーカルが圧倒的ですし、録音者が達人だからそれほどの音量でもビビらない。偶然も工夫も相まって、サウンドボード級の極上クオリティが実現しているのです。
そんな極上ダイレクト・サウンドで描かれるのは、絶大な日本人気に支えられたフルショウ。“STRANGE BEHAVIOUR TOUR”と言えば、公式の廃盤映像『WORKING FOR THE SKIN TRADE』もありましたが、本作は比較にならないほど長尺。ここで比較しながら整理しみましょう。

・リオ：New Religion／The Chauffeur／Save A Prayer／Hungry Like The Wolf
・セブン・アンド・ザ・ラグド・タイガー：Union Of The Snake（★）／The Reflex（★）
・ノトーリアス：Notorious／American Science（★）／Vertigo (Do The Demolition)／Meet El Presidente（★）／Skin Trade／A Matter Of Feeling（★）／Hold Me（★）
・その他：Is There Something I Should Know?（★）／The Wild Boys／A View To A Kill／Election Day（★：ARCADIA）／Some Like It Hot（★：THE POWER STATION）
※注：「★」印は『WORKING FOR THE SKIN TRADE』では聴けない曲。

……と、このようになっています。わずか９曲だった『WORKING FOR THE SKIN TRADE』に対し、本作は18曲・100分超え。いちいち挙げられないほど大量の名曲群が楽しめるのです。しかも、それはDURAN DURANの代表曲に止まらず、THE POWER STATIONの「Some Like It Hot」やARCADIAの「Election Day」も取り上げられ、このツアー限定のレアな新曲群「American Science」「Vertigo (Do The Demolition)」「Meet El Presidente」「A Matter Of Feeling」「Hold Me」もたっぷりと楽しめるのです（「Save A Prayer」の前には、当日の雨に引っかけてサイモンが即興で「Singin’ in the Rain」を歌っています）。
そんなフルショウだけでもお腹いっぱいですが、本作はさらに激レアなボーナスも追加収録。当時のソノシート『READING RECORD』から３人のメッセージを復刻しています。メッセージは３分半ほどのシンプルなものですが、当時の新曲について語る若々しい声からも時代感がたっぷりと薫ってくるのです。

何よりも骨太で超クリアなサウンドで後楽園球場を極上体験できる。コレに尽きます。サウンドも貴重な名曲群も演奏も優れた音楽アルバムではありますが、それ以上に80s洋楽シーンの象徴のようなコンサートに立ち会う醍醐味がたまらない。東京ドームではあり得ない80年代の薫り、どうぞ本作で胸いっぱいに吸い込んでください！

Disc 1(55:02)
1. A View To A Kill
2. Notorious
3. American Science
4. Union Of The Snake
5. Vertigo(Do The Demolition)
6. New Religion
7. Meet El Presidente
8. Election Day
9. Some Like It Hot
10. Skin Trade
11. A Matter Of Feeling

Disc 2(46:37)
1. The Chauffeur
2. Save A Prayer
3. Hold Me incl. Member Introductions
4. Is There Something I Should Know?
5. Hungry Like The Wolf
6. The Wild Boys
7. The Reflex

Taken from the original interview record “Reading Record” (Duran Duran In Japan 1987)

8. Simon Le Bon “Skin Trade”
9. Nick Rhodes “Winter Marches On”
10. John Taylor “Skin Trade” “A Matter Of Feeling” “Meet El Presidente”

Simon Le Bon – vocals
John Taylor – bass
Nick Rhodes – keyboards

Warren Cuccurullo – guitar
Steve Ferrone – drums
Andy Hamilton – saxophone
Stan Harrison – saxophone
Mac Gollehon – trumpet
Sybil Scoby – backing vocals
Curtis King Jr. – backing vocals

Uxbridge 1351