Queen / Definitive Nishinomiya 1982 / 2CD

Queen / Definitive Nishinomiya 1982 / 2CD / Wardour
Live at Hankyu Nishinomiya Stadium, Nishinomiya, Japan 24th October 1982

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QUEEN In 1982, the first outdoor stadium performance in Japan was realized. The former master of the legendary recording that tells the scene is a new miracle excavation.
The performance recorded in this work is “October 24, 1982: Hankyu Nishinomiya Stadium”. It is the finest audience recording. Speaking of coming to Japan in 1982, it is a memorable place in the official video “LIVE IN JAPAN”, but this work is a different concert. In order to know the positional relationship, let’s first look back at the schedule at the time.

・October 19: Fukuoka City Kyuden Memorial Gymnasium
・October 20: Fukuoka City Kyuden Memorial Gymnasium
・October 24: Hankyu Nishinomiya Stadium ←★This work★
・October 26: Nagoya City International Exhibition Center “DEFINITIVE NAGOYA 1982”
・October 29: Hokkaido Prefectural Industrial Promotion Center
・November 3: Seibu Stadium “DEFINITIVE SEIBU STADIUM 1982” & official video
*Note: Only representative works each day.

[A new version of the complete version of the world-famous legendary recording] This is a Japanese performance that was realized in 1982. The official “LIVE IN JAPAN” was filmed at Seibu Stadium on the final day, but this work was a Hyogo performance that can be said to be the West Japan edition. This show has been known for recording since the analog era, and has been loved as a masterpiece of “HOT SPACE TOUR 1982”. Moreover, the recording is neither “the best of this day” nor “the best of Japanese performances”. It was a masterpiece among the masterpieces that are considered to be “one of the best” in the whole world. The masterpiece is the two-disc analogy masterpiece “GET DOWN (140rc)”, and this masterpiece is the former master. It’s a complete version that even includes “We Will Rock You,” which was thought to have been lost over the years!
≪Legend board “GET DOWN” has been a symbol for a long time, and after that, a large number of reprinted CD boards were born. “STADIUM ROCK”, which was supplemented by another recording at our shop, was very well received. Since it is a former master/complete version, I think that those who have already experienced it have already decided their mind, but for those who do not, the quality of this work is superb with “super” audience. Above all, the very thick core that is extremely powerful. Anyway, there is no sense of distance, it is powerful, and it does not chatter. There is no sound echo only at the outdoor venue, and the sound board sound emitted by the on-site PA is directly picked up. Of course, there is a risk in the open air, and it is ruined if it is separated from the PA or if it is swept away by the wind. In fact, the typhoon is approaching and the wind is strong on this day as well, and there are recordings affected by it. However, this recording doesn’t even have that kind of presence. Although the clapping is lively and the chorus is wide, the audience recording is proof, but the performance sound and Freddie’s singing voice are astonishingly clear going on the “sound board”.

[Finishing in pursuit of perfection as a musical work] Former master of such legendary recording. .. .. The impact is running around the world at this moment, but this work further brushes up the net original sound. We are also achieving the longest and highest peaks you can currently expect. First, “longest”. This new excavation master is the first complete version, but it is a “complete recording version”. Of course, all the performance parts are recorded, and there is no lack of call and response with Freddie. However, it was unavoidable to change tapes only in the cassette era, and there were cuts before the performance and between songs. In this work, such a part is complemented with another sound source as much as possible. It’s the longest live album ever.
And the quality is also improved. Of course, the original sound is the ex-master of the legendary recording, so the freshness is outstanding. Although there were no complaints in terms of sound quality, there was room for improvement in the degree of perfection. Various adjustments have been made, but the biggest one is the pitch. In the original sound of the net, it was published as inaccurate and low, and it was not constant but changed randomly. In this work, such pitches have been thoroughly corrected, and the sound pressure, which tended to be blurred in the early stages (about 4 songs), has also been adjusted. I didn’t touch the beautiful and natural sound at all, and pursued only the degree of perfection as a musical work.

[Great performance not comparable to the official video] A full show that easily surpasses even the official work “LIVE IN JAPAN” is drawn with such a sound. First of all, the number of songs is different. In the first place, I’m disappointed to compare it with the excerpted piece “LIVE IN JAPAN”, but it’s a good opportunity, so let’s organize it.

70’s (11 songs)
・Sheer Heart Attack: Now I’m Here
・Night at the Opera: Love Of My Life/Bohemian Rhapsody
・A splendid race: Somebody To Love (★)/Tie Your Mother Down
Dedicated to the world: We Will Rock You (fast) (★)/Get Down, Make Love (★)/Spread Your Wings (★)/We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions
・Jazz: Fat Bottomed Girls (★)
● 80s (9 songs)
・The Game: Dragon Attack/Save Me/Crazy Little Thing Called Love/Another One Bites The Dust (★)
・Hot space: Action This Day (★)/Calling All Girls (★)/Put Out The Fire/Body Language (★)/Under Pressure
●Others: Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) (★)/Jailhouse Rock (★)/Rock’n’ Roll Medley (★)
*Note: The “★” marks are songs that cannot be seen in the official video “LIVE IN JAPAN”.

…And this is how it looks. It is a volume that can not be pointed out one by one because it is full of “★” marks. Among them, the hottest new songs are “Hot Space”. “Action This Day” with a colorful synth sound, “Calling All Girls” with a light melody, “Body Language” that brings back shocking memories, “Put Out The Fire”… There are many rare songs that you can’t listen to on subsequent tours or projects. Also, before the medley of “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) / Bohemian Rhapsody”, a strange “Spread Your Wings” pops out, but there Freddie yelling “I forgot my code!” Night’s Alrifgt For Fighting”. Furthermore, the medley connecting “Another One Bites The Dust” to “Jailhouse Rock” is also extremely rare.
Great performance that is more than such a set is not comparable to “LIVE IN JAPAN”. Speaking of “HOT SPACE TOUR”, it is famous for the miracle-like hot performances that took place on the European tour, but when we arrived in Japan, the tiredness of the tour peaked. It’s obvious when you compare “QUEEN ON FIRE” and “LIVE IN JAPAN”. However, the tension at this Nishinomiya performance was high enough to be mistaken, and the lady flew from the beginning with “Hello, osaka! How about? Is Everybody OK tonight? Yeah, yeah! yeah!!”. It makes me listen to the tension that goes on even the miracle European tour.
A legendary name recording that has continued to convey masterpieces of a dimension different from the innocent official video. It is a complete version of the miracle by that former master. A supreme live album that has polished up a new excavation that should be commemorated. Please enjoy it with the permanent preservation press 2CD!

(Remastered memo)
★Original sound is crazy all over the place at random, especially Body Language / Under Pressure / Fat Bottomed Girls are terrible → all corrected. Fix for the tape shaking of Fat Bottomed Girls.

★Equalize the sound pressure of the first four songs as much as possible

★ For the missing parts, the existing “STADIUM ROCK” (Wardour-028) is used.

 

QUEEN来日史でも初となる野外スタジアム公演が実現した1982年。その現場を伝える伝説録音の元マスターが奇跡の新発掘です。
そんな本作に記録されているのは「1982年10月24日：阪急西宮スタジアム」公演。その極上オーディエンス録音です。1982年の来日と言えば、オフィシャル映像『LIVE IN JAPAN』でも思い出深いところですが、本作はそれとは異なる別コンサート。その位置関係を知る意味でも、まずは当時のスケジュールから振り返ってみましょう。

・10月19日：福岡市九電記念体育館
・10月20日：福岡市九電記念体育館
・10月24日：阪急西宮球場　　←★本作★
・10月26日：名古屋市国際展示場『DEFINITIVE NAGOYA 1982』
・10月29日：北海道立産業共進会場
・11月３日：西武球場『DEFINITIVE SEIBU STADIUM 1982』＆公式映像
※注：各日とも代表作のみ。

【世界的にも高名な伝説録音の完全版が新発掘】
これが1982年に実現した日本公演。公式『LIVE IN JAPAN』は最終日の西武球場で撮影されましたが、本作はその西日本編とも言える兵庫公演でした。このショウはアナログ時代から録音が知られ、“HOT SPACE TOUR 1982”の代表作として愛されてきました。しかも、その録音は「この日のベスト」でも「日本公演のベスト」でもない。全世界的にも「ベストの１つ」とされる名作中の名作だったのです。その名作こそアナログ２枚組の大名盤『GET DOWN（140rc）』であり、本作はその元マスター。長年に渡って失われてきたと思われていた「We Will Rock You」まで収録した完全版なのです！
伝説盤『GET DOWN』は古くから象徴でしたし、その後も復刻CD盤が多数生まれた定番中の大定番。当店でも別録音で補填した『STADIUM ROCK』が大好評を賜りました。その元マスター／完全版なのですから、既発を体験された方なら既に心を決められていると思いますが、そうでない方のために申しますと本作のクオリティは「超」の付く極上のオーディエンス。何よりも素晴らしいのは強力極まる極太の芯。とにかく距離感がなく、力強く、それでいてビビリもしない。野外会場だけに音の反響がまったくなく、現場ＰＡが吐き出すサウンドボード音をそっくりダイレクトに拾っている。もちろん、野外は野外でリスクがあり、ＰＡと離れていたり、風に流されたりすると台無し。実際、この日も台風が近づいていて風が強く、その影響を受けた録音も存在します。しかし、この録音にはそんな風の存在さえもまったく感じられない。手拍子の生々しさ、大合唱の広さにオーディエンス録音の証が刻まれているものの、演奏音もフレディの歌声も「まるでサウンドボード」を地で行く凄まじいクリアさなのです。

【音楽作品としての完成度を追究した仕上がり】
そんな伝説録音の元マスター。。。その衝撃は今この瞬間も世界を駆け巡っていますが、本作はそんなネット原音をさらにブラッシュアップ。現在望みうる最長・最高峰を実現してもいます。まず「最長」。今回の新発掘マスターは初の完全版ではありますが、それは「録音の完全版」という事。もちろん、演奏パートはすべて収録していますし、フレディとのコール＆レスポンスにも欠けはない。しかし、カセット時代だけにテープチェンジは避けがたく、開演前や曲間部にはカットもありました。本作ではそうしたパートも別音源で可能な限り補完。過去最長のライヴアルバムになっているのです。
そして、クオリティもアップ。もちろん原音は伝説録音の元マスターですから、鮮度はバツグン。音質面では文句なしだったものの、完成度では向上の余地があったのです。いろいろと微調整が行われておりますが、一番大きいのはピッチ。ネット原音では不正確で低めなまま公開されており、しかも一定ではなくランダムに変化もしていました。本作では、そうしたピッチを徹底的に補正しており、さらに序盤（４曲ほど）でブレ気味だった音圧も均整に調整。美しくナチュラルな鳴りには一切手を付けず、音楽作品としての完成度のみを追究したのです。

【公式映像とは比較にならない大名演】
そんなサウンドで描かれるのは、公式作品『LIVE IN JAPAN』さえも軽々と凌駕するフルショウ。まず何より曲数が段違い。そもそも抜粋作の『LIVE IN JAPAN』と比べるのも気が引けますが、良い機会ですので整理してみましょう。

●70年代（11曲）
・シアーハートアタック：Now I’m Here
・オペラ座の夜：Love Of My Life／Bohemian Rhapsody
・華麗なるレース：Somebody To Love（★）／Tie Your Mother Down
・世界に捧ぐ：We Will Rock You (fast)（★）／Get Down, Make Love（★）／Spread Your Wings（★）／We Will Rock You／We Are The Champions
・ジャズ：Fat Bottomed Girls（★）
●80年代（９曲）
・ザ・ゲーム：Dragon Attack／Save Me／Crazy Little Thing Called Love／Another One Bites The Dust（★）
・ホットスペース：Action This Day（★）／Calling All Girls（★）／Put Out The Fire／Body Language（★）／Under Pressure
●その他：Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)（★）／Jailhouse Rock（★）／Rock ‘n’ Roll Medley（★）
※注：「★」印は公式映像『LIVE IN JAPAN』でも観れない曲。

……と、このようになっています。やたらと「★」印だらけでいちいち指摘しきれないほどのボリュームです。その中でも注目なのは『ホット・スペース』の新曲群。カラフルなシンセサウンドの「Action This Day」、メロディも軽快な「Calling All Girls」、とにかくショッキングな想い出が蘇る「Body Language」、指折り数えられるくらいしか演奏されなかった「Put Out The Fire」……。その後のツアーやプロジェクトでも聴けない激レア曲がたぷりです。また、「Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) / Bohemian Rhapsody」のメドレーの前にはちょっと変わった「Spread Your Wings」が飛び出すのですが、そこではフレディが「コードを忘れた！」と叫びながら「Saturday Night’s Alrifgt For Fighting」へ移っていく。さらには「Another One Bites The Dust」から「Jailhouse Rock」へと繋ぐメドレーも激しくレアです。
そんなセット以上なのが『LIVE IN JAPAN』とは比べものにならない名演ぶり。“HOT SPACE TOUR”と言えば、欧州ツアーで奇跡のような熱演が連発した事で有名なものの、日本にたどり着く頃にはツアー疲れもピーク。それは『QUEEN ON FIRE』と『LIVE IN JAPAN』を見比べれば一目瞭然です。しかし、この西宮公演は見違えるほどテンションが高く、レディも冒頭から「Hello, osaka!　いかがですか？　Is Everybody OK tonight? Yeah, yeah! yeah!!」と飛ばしまくり。奇跡の欧州ツアーにも肉薄するテンションを聴かせてくれるのです。
不甲斐ない公式映像とは次元の違う名演を伝え続けてきた伝説の名録音。その元マスターによる奇跡の完全版です。記念すべき新発掘を磨き上げた至高のライヴアルバム。どうぞ、永久保存プレス２CDで存分にご堪能ください！

（リマスター・メモ）
★原音は、全体を通してかなり遅くランダムに狂っており、特にBody Language / Under Pressure / Fat Bottomed Girlsは酷い→全て修正。Fat Bottomed Girls はテープ揺れが激しいが修正。

★冒頭4曲の音圧をなるべく平準化

★欠落分の補填は既発「STADIUM ROCK」(Wardour-028)を使用。

 

Disc 1 (65:52)
1. Flash Intro. ★0:00 – 0:28 既発同音源をイコライズして補填
2. The Hero
3. We Will Rock You (fast)
4. Action This Day
5. Somebody To Love
6. Calling All Girls
7. Now I’m Here
8. Put Out The Fire
9. Dragon Attack / Now I’m Here (reprise) ★3:59 – 4:21 別音源既発イコライズして補填。
10. Love Of My Life ★4:10 – 最後まで既発同音源をイコライズして補填
11. Yeah Yeah Yeah
12. Save Me
13. Get Down, Make Love
14. Guitar Solo
15. Body Language

Disc 2 (43:20)
1. Under Pressure
2. Fat Bottomed Girls ★5:31 – 5:58 別音源既発イコライズして補填。
3. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
4. Spread Your Wings
5. Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)
6. Bohemian Rhapsody
7. Tie Your Mother Down
8. Another One Bites The Dust
9. Jailhouse Rock
10. Rock ‘n’ Roll Medley
11. We Will Rock You ★★初登場!!!
12. We Are The Champions
13. God Save The Queen

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