GiGinJapan Artwork of Japanese CDs (mostly) Billy Joel / Madison Square Garden May 2023 / 2CDR / Uxbridge
Madison Square Garden, New York, USA 5th May 2023
Play sample :
Billy Joel’s Madison Square Garden show, which continues at his own pace, has undergone an interesting change this year. At the garden on April 25th, the world was astonished by the first live performance of “Los Angelenos” since 1981.
For many maniacs, it may be better to call it a song from the live album “SONGS IN THE ATTIC” rather than a hidden masterpiece that was included in the album “STREETLIFE SERENADE”.
In fact, the last time this song was performed on stage was at a club gig set up for recording the album.
Therefore, it was a great shock that the song, which had not been performed for a long time, was revived in 2023, but I am happy to say that it has continued to be performed in this month’s latest performance.
Then, it’s only natural that even non-maniacs would want to hear about the revival of “Los Angelenos” after about 40 years. Initially, we planned to release the performance on April 25, but we switched to the release of the latest performance because the audience recording of the sound quality far exceeding that was released. In fact, the sound quality is a wonderful word.
It is no longer the fastest release of press CD-level recordings in the form of CD-R, but by equalizing the overall balance, the sound quality that is already easy to hear has finally become a familiar state for everyone. evolution.
That’s why the sound source this time has a very clear sound quality, and from “Zanzibar” the sound image becomes even closer and wonderful.
The joy of listening to the latest “Los Angelenos” with such sound quality. As expected, the key was lowered because it was the first live performance in 40 years, but above all, Billy’s singing voice has not declined at all, so the hard performance that shines on the stage for the first time in a long time is the best.
The performance and sound quality of this song alone make it the latest live sound source that I would like to recommend to all Billy fans, but this day is even more special.
In memory of Canadian songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, who passed away just before the show at MSG, Billy was seen mourning him. Gordon Lightfoot’s most famous song is “Early Morning Rain”, which has been covered by many artists, but Billy shows off “Sundown”, which makes him feel respect.
Unfortunately, the performance ends when the second verse is sung, but the performance with the band and the chorus team is a perfection that exceeds the level of improvisation. Above all, it is impressive because the audience begins to sing in chorus.
And in the second half of the live, the spectacular “GLASS HOUSES” competition that started with “Sleeping With The Television On”. In the first place, “Don’t Ask Me Why” and “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” are regular repertoire, so this day is a fulfilling set list that can be called “GLASS HOUSES” night, and “Los Angelenos” You can hear valuable scenes such as resurrection and the memorial of Gordon Lightfoot with the highest sound quality.
Until now, UXBRIDGE has continued to release Billy’s latest live performances, and this year they have already released “MADISON SQUARE GARDEN FEBRUARY 2023”, which is full of rare cover songs and has excellent sound quality, but this time it’s amazing again!
マイペースに続けられているビリー・ジョエルのマディソン・スクエア・ガーデンでのショーは今年に入って面白い変化が続いています。4月25日のガーデンでは何と「Los Angelenos」の1981年以来となるライブ演奏が世界中をアッと言わせました。
アルバム『STREETLIFE SERENADE』に収録されていた隠れた名曲…というよりも多くのマニアにとってはライブアルバム『SONGS IN THE ATTIC』収録曲といった方が通りはいいかもしれません。
実際、本曲が最後にステージで披露されたのが同アルバム収録用にセッティングされたクラブ・ギグでの演奏だったのですし。
よって久しく演奏されなかった同曲が2023年になって復活を遂げたことは大きすぎる衝撃だった訳ですが、嬉しいことに今月の最新公演でも継続されて演奏されています。
となればマニアでなくとも「Los Angelenos」約40年ぶりの復活を聞きたいのは当然の事。当初は4月25日公演のリリースを企画していたのですが、それをはるかに上回る音質のオーディエンス録音が公開されたことから最新公演のリリースへと切り替えたのです。実際その音質は素晴らしいの一言。
もはやプレスCDレベルの極上録音をCD-Rという形で最速リリースする訳ですが、イコライズによって全体のバランスを整えたことで、ただでさえ聞きやすい音質がいよいよ万人向けなほど親しみやすい状態へと進化。
それほど今回の音源は大変にクリアーな音質でして、さらに「Zanzibar」からは音像がより近くなっていよいよ素晴らしい。
これほどの音質で最新の「Los Angelenos」が聞ける喜び。流石に40年ぶりのライブ演奏という事でキーこそ下げられていたのですが、何よりビリーの歌声がまったく衰えていないので久々とは思えないほどステージ映えするハードな演奏が最高。
この曲の演奏と音質の良さだけでもすべてのビリーファンに推したい最新ライブ音源な訳ですが、この日はさらなるスペシャルが。
MSGでのショウの直前に亡くなられたカナダのソングライター、ゴードン・ライトフットを追悼してビリーは彼を追悼する場面が見られたのです。ゴードン・ライトフットのもっとも有名な曲と言えば多くのアーティストにカバーされた「Early Morning Rain」でしょうが、そこはビリー、彼へのリスペクトを感じさせる「Sundown」を披露。
残念ながら二番まで歌い上げたところで演奏を終えてしまうのですが、それでもバンドやコーラス隊も一緒になった演奏は即興のレベルを超えた完成度。何より観客も合唱し始めるのだから感動的というもの。
そしてライブ後半は「Sleeping With The Television On」から始まる見事な『GLASS HOUSES』大会。そもそも「Don’t Ask Me Why」や「It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me」はレギュラー・レパートリーですので、この日は『GLASS HOUSES』ナイトと呼べるほどの充実したセットリストな上、「Los Angelenos」の復活とゴードン・ライトフットの追悼といった貴重な場面が最高の音質で聞けてしまう。
これまでもUXBRIDGEはビリーの最新ライブをリリースし続け、今年に関しても既に『MADISON SQUARE GARDEN FEBRUARY 2023』というレアなカバー曲満載かつ極上音質を大好評リリース済みですが、今回がまた凄いのなんの！
Disc:1 (69:16)
1. Intro : The Natural (The End Title)
2. Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
3. My Life
4. Everybody Loves You Now
5. Just the Way You Are
6. Zanzibar
7. An Innocent Man
8. Don’t Ask Me Why
9. Los Angelenos
10. The Entertainer
11. Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
12. Sundown (verses 1 & 2 only) * Gordon Lightfoot cover R.I.P.
13. The Downeaster Alexa
14. Allentown
Disc:2 (77:24)
1. New York State of Mind
2. Sleeping With the Television On
3. All for Leyna
4. Sometimes a Fantasy
5. Only the Good Die Young
6. The River of Dreams
7. Nessun dorma
8. Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
9. Piano Man
10. We Didn’t Start the Fire
11. Uptown Girl
12. It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me
13. Big Shot
14. You May Be Right
Billy Joel – Lead Vocals, Piano, Guitar, Harmonica
Dave Rosenthal – Keyboards
Mark Rivera – Saxophones, Percussion, Vocals
Crystal Taliefero – Percussion, Saxophone, Vocals
Tommy Byrnes – Guitars, Vocals
Andy Cichon – Bass, Vocals
Chuck Burgi – Drums
Carl Fischer – Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone
Mike Delguidice – Guitar, Vocals
Uxbridge 1921
