GiGinJapan Artwork of Japanese CDs (mostly) Dave Mason / Tokyo 1977 2nd Night / 2CDR / Uxbridge
Live at Nakano Sunplaza, Tokyo, Japan 18th May 1977
Play sample :
Dave Mason’s first performance in Japan was realized in 1977, when he was at the height of his popularity, and it was a great success every day. For that reason, there were few items and sound sources excavated, and mania was made to feel lonely.
Meanwhile, the masterpiece “LIVE AND REHEARSAL 1977” from the nostalgic MASTERPORT label was discovered in the 21st century. It was only recorded by the staff of the record company, and it was a surprising content that even the rehearsal was recorded in addition to the live performance.
Regarding the live performance, he recorded the stage on May 17th, which is the first day of the first performance in Japan, but it was regrettable that the beginning and end of the live were not recorded.
Even so, it was a release that received high praise from enthusiasts because it was a valuable sound source for Mason’s first visit to Japan, but a new audience recording of the first performance in Japan since then has finally been unearthed!
The precious sound source that enthusiasts around the world will pay attention to is the stage recorded on May 18th, which was the second day of the performance in Japan. It was the taper of the masterpiece “TOKYO 1978” that finally unearthed Billy Joel’s first performance in Japan, which had been wrapped in a veil for many years, who made this recording last year.
The monaural cassette recording is just a vintage audience. Compared to the actual part of “LIVE AND REHEARSAL 1977”, I feel a little distance from the sound image, but it is still really easy to hear. After all, “LIVE AND ~” was the first day, but this time it is too high point that the stage of the second day, which is the first appearance, is completely recorded.
In the first place, it was the best timing that the big hit album “Flowing as it was” was released and the performance in Japan was realized one month later.
Therefore, “We Just Disagree”, which will be Mason’s representative song later, is also being performed as a new song that has just been released, and it is refreshing to finish the performance without much excitement. Only Mason, who was at the height of his popularity in the United States at that time, had conversations with Americans living in Japan around the taper, but even those people had a light reaction to the song. Rather, they didn’t make too much noise, which also helped to make it easier to hear.
And the performance of the iron wall by the same members as the live album “Passion” which also recorded a hit is impeccable, and high-quality performance is easy with “Goin’Down Slow” where the late Mike Finnigan takes lead vocals. It’s just a sigh of breath to recreate the world of the live album.
From there, “Look at You, Look at Me” was a 15-minute enthusiastic performance. The place where you can hear it again without getting bored is the place that seems to be Mason at the peak. In “LIVE AND REHEARSAL 1977”, the recording was finished because of the length of this song, but this time the value of this new sound source that was recorded firmly until the end of the live after that is too high.
And while performing live in Japan, which I visited for the first time, it was only on the second day that he told me a more relaxed stage after completing the previous day. It is a super valuable first appearance recording that you can enjoy the nostalgic Mason’s first visit to Japan to your heart’s content with a vintage sound quality!
デイヴ・メイスンの初来日公演は彼が人気の絶頂にあった1977年に実現、連日大盛況となっていたのでした。その割にアイテムや音源の出土が少なく、マニアは寂しい思いをさせられていたものです。
そんな中、21世紀に入って発掘されたのが懐かしのMASTERPORTレーベルからの名作「LIVE AND REHEARSAL 1977」。レコード会社のスタッフによって録音されただけのことはあり、ライブ本番に加え何とリハーサルまで収録した驚きの内容でした。
ライブ本番に関しては初来日公演の初日である5月17日のステージを収録してくれていたのですが、ライブ序盤と終盤が未収録という点が惜しまれたものの。
それでも貴重なメイスン初来日の貴重音源ということでマニアから高い評価を受けたリリースだった訳ですが、それ以来となる初来日公演の新たなるオーディエンス録音が遂に発掘されました！
世界中のマニアが注目するであろう貴重音源は来日公演の二日目だった5月18日のステージを収録。この録音を敢行してくれたのは昨年、長年ベールに包まれていたビリー・ジョエル初来日公演を遂に発掘してみせた名作「TOKYO 1978」のテーパー。
モノラルのカセット録音は正にビンテージ・オーディエンス。「LIVE AND REHEARSAL 1977」の本番パートに比べると少し音像に距離感を覚えるのですが、それでも実に聞きやすい。何と言っても「LIVE AND～」が初日だったのに対し、今回は完全初登場である二日目のステージを完全収録してくれているのがあまりにもポイント高い。
そもそも大ヒット・アルバム「流れるままに」がリリースされて一か月後で来日公演が実現したというのが最高のタイミングでした。
それ故、後にメイスンの代表曲となる「We Just Disagree」もリリースされたての新曲として演奏されており、さほど盛り上がるでもなく演奏し終えるのが新鮮。当時アメリカでの人気が絶頂にあったメイスンだけに、テーパーの周囲では在日アメリカンの会話が飛び交うのですが、そんな彼らですら同曲に対する反応は淡白。むしろ彼らが過度に騒ぐこともなく、それもまた聞きやすさに一役買ってくれたのです。
そしてこれまたヒットを記録したライブアルバム「情念」と同じメンバーによる鉄壁の演奏は非の打ちどころがなく、故マイク・フィニガンがリードボーカルを取る「Goin’ Down Slow」を挟んで高品位な演奏がやすやすと繰り広げられる、正にあのライブアルバムそのままの世界が再現される様にはひたすら固唾をのむばかり。
そこから続いた「Look at You, Look at Me」に至っては15分にも及ぶ大熱演。それをまた飽きさせず聞かせてくれるところが絶頂期のメイスンらしいところ。「LIVE AND REHEARSAL 1977」ではこの曲の長さゆえに録音が終わってしまっていたのですが、今回はその後のライブが盛り上がる終盤までしっかり録音された今回の新音源の価値はあまりに高い。
そして初めて訪れた日本という土地でのライブながら、前日をこなした後でよりリラックスしたステージを聞かせてくれたのも二日目ならでは。ビンテージ感たっぷりな音質と共に、懐かしのメイスン初来日を心ゆくまで楽しめる超貴重な初登場録音です！
Disc 1 (42:13)
1. Intro
2. Every Woman
3. Take It to the Limit
4. Give Me a Reason Why
5. We Just Disagree
6. Can’t Stop Worrying, Can’t Stop Loving
7. World in Changes
8. Pearly Queen
9. Show Me Some Affection
10. Headkeeper
Disc 2 (78:31)
1. Lucille
2. Goin’ Down Slow
3. Look at You Look at Me
4. Takin’ the Time to Find
5. Let It Go, Let It Flow
6. Feelin’ Alright
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Gimme Some Lovin’
9. Bring It On Home to Me
10. Only You Know & I Know
Dave Mason – guitar, vocal
Jim Krueger – guitar, vocal
Mike Finnigan – keyboards
Gerald Johnson – bass
Rick Jaeger – drums
Uxbridge 1573
