Rolling Stones / Licks Japan Tour 2003 / 12CD Box Set

Rolling Stones / Licks Japan Tour 2003 / 12CD Box Set / Non label

Translated Text:
15th Anniversary Edition (All from DAT Original Masters),  Budokan, Tokyo 10th March 2003, Yokohama Arena, Yokohama 12th March 2003, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo 15th & 16th March 2003 & Osaka Dome, Osaka 20th & 21st March 2003.

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The 2003 tour in Japan was mixed with the CD-R items that had penetrated at the time, and it was showing a spectacular release battle. Although the release speed has been overheated, “LICKS JAPAN TOUR 2003 COMPLETE BOX” was released from the Out Of Control label which released the sound source carefully selected carefully over such Fever as a group. Speaking of 2003, the equalization wars in the midst of the midst of daring, without adding any equalization, a set of loving versions that selected the best sound sources that Taper brought together into one.
That is why Sold Out was recorded by haste, but it was made to be an item that does not quite appear in the second hand market whether it was truly able to listen among maniacs. Needless to say, the request for re-releasing has also been received considerably in the stage of 2003, and our shop has also observed the timing several times. But when I noticed it was over 10 years ago and I lost sight of the release timing at last. But this year, just 15 years have passed since the 2003 Japan tour. If there is no way to miss this timing, finally re-release will be realized. If all these years have passed, there are not many people who do not know the release at the time. Let’s talk about audiences recorded on each disc.

Budokan
Budokan performances boasting the popularity of Dantotsu during the 2003 tour in Japan. Many items are continuously being produced, and from our shop there has been a single release recently, including “ONE NIGHT AT BUDOKAN”. Budokan sound source recorded in this box is an audience recording with attractive feel different from those. The direct feeling of the performance is strong, and clear muscle clearness of Mick’s vocals is a big appeal not found in other sound sources. Thanks to this balance, the pleasures that quotes such as “Ikemenut” and “special guest, ghost” can also be heard clearly again.
The texture etc. of the whole performance is enough to make you feel brawn, and when listening with headphones it may sound like a narrow range of sounds or presence. Also, if the performance of “Midnight Rambler” is about to be tempo-up, it’s also a point of concern about the latest clapping. However, when playing with a speaker, Mick’s vocal balance and the direct feeling of the performance are more compelling sound quality. Please listen at a large volume from the speaker by all means.

Yokohama
Stones’ Gig at the Yokohama Arena only until now. Originally when the sound source that captured the pattern of this day was released in 2003, many items remembered a sense of distance on the sound image as a whole. The sound source recorded in this box is a sound image with such distance feeling exactly, compared with the best sound of “YOKOHAMA 2003” which was released very much last year and it is now feeling unsatisfactory There will be people, too.
However, despite the sense of distance, the mysterious balance that the direct feeling of the performance comes up while the gig goes forward is interesting, for example, if “Start Me Up” etc. is normal, the chuck piano that tends to be buried in the performance It sounds good. In addition, fine and mild sound quality is also good. And speaking of all this sound source’s greatest attraction, B stage sound that changes to a direct sound on image in one stroke! The powerful sound quality surpassing “YOKOHAMA 2003”, the excitement that the fans came over to see Stones in close range revived a lot.

First day of Tokyo Dome
Well, here comes from the book box. On the first day of Tokyo Dome, VGP and SYLPH produced high-level audience recording items across the board. However, as Mich’s vocal was released into the performance, there was a feeling that it was somewhat somewhat, as they were increasingly amplifying the power by equalizing it a little more or less. However, as soon as the first day of the Tokyo Dome sound box of this box, direct feeling of Mick’s voice is tremendous. Is it a soundboard if you take only there? It seems like an illusion.
Besides, although a slight change in sound quality can be seen on stage B, the intense sound quality of direct feeling continues to the last. Mick says “Un, Cocohaine” a word before the start of the performance there as if it was whispered by the ear. The freshness of the guitar of “Midnight Rambler” is also goose bumps.
On the contrary, we are not limited to B stage, and the direct feeling of each guitar will also increase from the first half of the show. It is surprising that Darryl Jones’s base can be listened firmly throughout the entire story. This sound balance is amazing with the audience recording at the Tokyo Dome in 2003! And in our shop it is a day when there is no achievement of the press CD releases only in this box, but is it enough for this sound source to be enough? I am proud of a different quality.

Tokyo Dome Day 2
Regarding this day, although two titles, “TOKYO DOME 2003 2ND NIGHT” and “LICKS TOKYO DOME 2003 2ND NIGHT” were realized separately in 2014, both of them realized a slight sense of distance with a sound image (Although it was still considerably on) there was, while the audience recording contained in this BOX is the sound quality going on them. The powerful sound image and direct feeling from the early stage are really wonderful. When this moves to the B stage, it upgrades to a sound image which is almost as if it sounds like a sound board. The sound quality impact released at that time was not completely faded.
Since it is so far a sound image so far, you can also hear clearly the happening that the sound is delayed by staff side mistake in the intro of the opening “Brown Sugar”. It will not be upset to this, but “It’s Only Rock’n Roll” says Mick’s song, “Monkey Man” Keith looks like a foreseeable second day in Osaka, and “Angie” By themselves, both of us are making mistakes, I can certainly see how I felt as if I were going to look up from the “Midnight Rambler” as they would have fallen on a strange day in the 2003 tour in Japan. The B stage “When The Whip Comes Down” and “Mannish Boy” which you can hear with the surprising sound quality mentioned earlier are also very wonderful.

Osaka Dome first day
The biggest feature of this box is Osaka ‘s two performances in the final stage. Both are amazing deep acute audience recordings that will surpass the book box Tokyo Dome for two days as well. From the first day we will knock out those who listen to a different high quality sound. It seems that it was thought that it challenged the limits of the audience recording of 2003, when the sound image and direct feeling which are too on it were born. Since only the live main feature boasts an astonishing sound image, when this shifts to the stage B, it is like a direct feeling of power as if you were wearing it on stage (seeing it).
As you can see from the fact that “Thru And Thru”, which was frequently played in 2002, was played on the Japan tour only on this day, Keith was said to have been in poor physical condition during his stay in Tokyo one day. The appearance that the playing full of momentum full of backing actually opening is caught with the highest sound quality.
Meanwhile, Mick wrongly misunderstood the lyrics of “Rocks Off”, and singing conflicts with Bernard Fowler repeatedly trying to sing the correct lyrics. Moreover, “Can not You Hear Me Knocking” is a disappointing evolution that Keith pulled the band with a gui guitarist, and it seemed that it would be a performance beyond the first day of Tokyo Dome, and Ronnie’s play would end with a slump. But after the B stage, other members are also knocked out, “Let It Bleed” was listening to a pure blue high-speed performance in 1981, and Mick’s real shout became clear in “Gimme Shelter” returned from stage B .

Osaka Dome Day 2
The last day of the 2003 Japan tour. Speaking of this day, the day that remains in the history of Japanese performance in Keith Furious Happening due to the introduction of Monkey Man’s intro. Again, the audience recording used in this box boasts extraordinary power. Excellent direct feeling is still alive here even when the sound image is on. The extraordinary recording quality was not faded at all even 15 years after its release, as it was described as a professional magazine at the time and “It will not happen again in Osaka for two days”. Moreover, on this day, it is also a masterpiece that the sound image of the sound pressure balance consistent with the main volume and the B stage is kept, and it is a magnificent recording for the extent that the sound image has moved slightly in the B stage.
“OSAKA 2003 SECOND NIGHT” which was released as a single item in the last few years was also an audience recording boasting a high level of sound quality, but this box is also a high quality above that. And although it is a day that Keith ‘s happening and the confusing performance of “Monkey Man” are often attracting attention, the quality of the performance throughout is perfect for the final day of the tour. Mick’s fight will be transmitted from the voice of “Happy” in the ending of “All Down The Line”, and Mick will be able to hear shouts of tremendous even at the ending of “Sympathy For The Devil”.

In this way, audience recording boasts a distinctive tone quality that can only be enjoyed at this box even today. After becoming Sold Out at that time, the sale of each performance was not realized, much less the copy board was produced. Fortunately the legendary boxes that have been heard only during a mania that was available at the time of 2003 re-released after 15 years passed. Of course, this time as well we do not do any extra equalization etc, and let it revive as it is the charm that that master disc had as it is. Even those who knew only the existence of items in specialty magazines and sites until now, finally got this box, and furthermore do not miss the opportunity for the first time in 15 years you can listen to each sound source thoroughly!

★ Licks Japan Tour 2003 limited release re-release plan commemorating the 15th year. All set and title which was recorded with all high-quality original original sound source. With excellent sound quality, you can enjoy all 6 performances.

2003年の来日公演は当時浸透したCD-Rアイテムも入り混じり、壮絶なリリース合戦の様相を呈していました。リリース・スピードは過熱の一途を辿ったのですが、そんなフィーバーを横目にじっくりと厳選した音源をまとめてリリースされたのがOut Of Controlレーベルからリリースされた「LICKS JAPAN TOUR 2003 COMPLETE BOX」。2003年といえばイコライズ・ウォーズ真っ只中の時代、敢えて一切のイコライズを加えず、テーパーが持ち寄った極上音源ばかりを選りすぐって一つにまとめた愛蔵版セット。
それだけに速攻でSold Outを記録したものですが、本当にマニアの間で愛聴していただけていたのか、なかなか中古市場に登場しないアイテムと化してしまいます。当然ながら再リリースのリクエストは2003年の段階でもかなり寄せられており、当店としても何度かタイミングを見計らっていたのです。しかし気が付いてみれば10年以上の歳月が経過してしまい、いよいよリリースのタイミングを見失ってしまいました。しかし今年で2003年のジャパン・ツアーからちょうど15年が経過。このタイミングを逃す手はないと、遂に再リリースが実現します。これだけの歳月が経過してしまうと、当時のリリースを知らない方も少なくない。そこで各ディスクに収録されたオーディエンス録音について触れてみましょう。

武道館
2003年の来日公演中におけるダントツの人気を誇る武道館公演。それだけに数多くのアイテムが生み出され続けており、当店からも「ONE NIGHT AT BUDOKAN」を始めとした単体リリースが近年ありました。このボックスに収録された武道館音源はそれらとは違った感触が魅力のオーディエンス録音。演奏のダイレクト感が強く、中でもミックのボーカルのくっきりとしたクリアネスは他の音源にない大きな魅力でしょう。このバランスのおかげで「イケメンヌッ」や「スペシャルゲスト、ゴースト」といった名言がまたくっきりと聞き取れる楽しさ。
演奏全体の質感などは武骨さを感じさせるほどで、ヘッドフォンで聞くとそれがかえってレンジや臨場感の狭い音へと響いてしまうかもしれません。また「Midnight Rambler」の演奏がテンポアップする辺りだと直近の手拍子が気になるところもマイナスポイントかと。しかしスピーカーで再生するとミックのボーカル・バランスや演奏のダイレクト感がより引き立つ音質なのです。是非、スピーカーから大きめな音量で聞いてください。

横浜
現在に至るまで唯一の横浜アリーナでのストーンズ・ギグ。この日の模様を捉えた音源が2003年にリリースされた当初、総じて音像に距離感を覚えるアイテムが多かったものです。このボックスに収録された音源は正にそうした距離感のある音像であり、昨年リリースされて大好評を博した「YOKOHAMA 2003」の極上サウンドと比べると、今となっては物足りなさを感じてしまう方もおられることでしょう。
ところが距離感があるのに、ギグが進むうちに演奏のダイレクト感が浮き上がってくるという不思議なバランスが面白く、例えば「Start Me Up」などでは通常ですと演奏の中に埋もれがちなチャックのピアノが良く聞こえるという。さらには細やかでマイルドな音質もいい。そして何と言ってもこの音源最大の魅力と言えば、一気にダイレクトでオンな音像へと豹変するBステージ・サウンド!「YOKOHAMA 2003」をも凌ぐ迫力の音質、ファンが駆け寄ってストーンズを至近距離で観られたあの興奮がまざまざと蘇ってきます。

東京ドーム初日
さて、ここからが本ボックスの本領発揮なのです。東京ドーム初日はVGPやSYLPHから軒並みハイレベルなオーディエンス録音アイテムが生み出されました。とはいっても、それらが大なり小なりイコライズを施して迫力を増幅させていた分、演奏にミックのボーカルが追いやられ気味な感があったのです。ところが本ボックスの東京ドーム初日音源ときたら、何よりミックの声のダイレクト感が凄まじい。そこだけを取ってみたらサウンドボードか?と錯覚しそうになるほど。
おまけにBステージでは若干ながら音質の変化が見られますが、あくまでダイレクト感の強烈な音質が続きます。そこでの演奏開始前にミックが発した「ウン、ココハイイネ」という一言など、まるで耳元で囁かれたかのごとし。「Midnight Rambler」のギターの生々しさも鳥肌モノ。
それどころかBステージにとどまらず、ショー前半から既に各ギターのダイレクト感も増していきます。全編を通してダリル・ジョーンズのベースがしっかりと聞けるのも驚き。2003年の東京ドームでのオーディエンス録音でこのサウンド・バランスは凄い!そして当店では本ボックスでしかプレスCDリリースの実績がない日でもありますが、この音源だけで事足りてしまうのでは?というほど別格のクオリティを誇ります。

東京ドーム二日目
この日に関しては2014年に「TOKYO DOME 2003 2ND NIGHT」と「LICKS TOKYO DOME 2003 2ND NIGHT」と二タイトルも単体リリースが実現していましたが、それらがどちらも若干の距離感を含んだ音像で(それでも相当にオンではありましたが)あったのにし対し、このBOXに収められたオーディエンス録音はそれらの上を行く音質。序盤からオンな音像とダイレクト感の迫力が本当に素晴らしい。これがBステージに移動すると、まるでサウンドボードかと錯覚しそうなほど近い音像にまでバージョンアップ。2003年当時リリースの音質インパクトがまったく色褪せていません。
これほどまでにオンな音像ですので、オープニングの「Brown Sugar」のイントロでスタッフ側のミスによって出音が遅れてしまうというハプニングもはっきりと聞き取れます。これに動揺した訳でもないでしょうが「It’s Only Rock’n Roll」ではミックの歌が、「Monkey Man」ではキースがまるで大阪二日目を予見させるかのようなミスを、そして「Angie」に至っては二人がそれぞれにミスを犯しており、このまま2003年来日公演における迷演な日に堕ちるかと思いきや「Midnight Rambler」からみるみる調子を上げてみせた様子がはっきりも伺えます。先に触れた驚きの音質で聞けるBステージの「When The Whip Comes Down」や「Mannish Boy」も非常に素晴らしい。

大阪ドーム初日
このボックス最大の目玉と呼べるのが終盤の大阪二公演。どちらも本ボックス東京ドーム二日間すら凌いでしまう驚異のド迫力オーディエンス録音。初日からして別格の高音質ぶりが聞く者をノックアウトします。そのあまりにもオンな音像やダイレクト感たるや、2003年のオーディエンス録音の限界に挑戦したのではと思えるほど。ライブ本編だけでも驚異的な音像を誇りますので、これがBステージに移ると、まるで自分がステージにかぶりついて観て(聞いて)いるかのような迫力のダイレクト感。
2002年には頻繁に演奏されていた「Thru And Thru」がジャパン・ツアーではこの日に限って演奏されたことからも解るように、東京滞在時には体調がすぐれなかったと言われるキースが絶好調だった一日。実際にオープニングから勢いに溢れたバッキングを弾きまくっている様子が最高の音質で捉えられています。
一方でミックは「Rocks Off」の歌詞を間違えまくってしまい、正しい歌詞を歌おうとするバーナード・ファウラーと何度も歌がかち合ってしまいます。また「Can’t You Hear Me Knocking」はキースがバンドをグイグイと引っぱり、このまま東京ドーム初日を超える演奏になるかと思いきや、ロニーのプレイが尻すぼみで終わってしまう残念な展開。しかしBステージ以降は他のメンバーもノッており、「Let It Bleed」では1981年も真っ青な高速演奏が聞かれ、さらにBステージから戻った「Gimme Shelter」ではミック迫真のシャウトが冴えわたりました。

大阪ドーム二日目
2003年ジャパン・ツアーの最終日。この日と言えば「Monkey Man」のイントロ見切り発車によるキース激怒ハプニングで日本公演史上に残る一日。ここでも本ボックスに使われたオーディエンス録音は別格の迫力を誇ります。音像がオンで抜群のダイレクト感がここでも健在。当時の専門誌をして「大阪二日間だけで再発してもらえないだろうか」と評されたほど、驚異的な録音クオリティはリリースから15年を経た今でもまったく色褪せていません。おまけにこの日は本編、Bステージと一貫した音圧バランスの音像が保たれているのも圧巻で、Bステージで若干ながら音像が動いてしまった程度の見事な録音ぶり。
ここ数年の間に単体アイテムとしてリリースされた「OSAKA 2003 SECOND NIGHT」もハイレベルな音質を誇るオーディエンス録音でしたが、本ボックスはそれをも上回るクオリティの高さ。そしてキースのハプニングや「Monkey Man」の混乱した演奏ばかりに注目を浴びがちな日ではありますが、全体を通した演奏のクオリティの高さはツアー最終日に相応しいもの。「All Down The Line」のエンディングで発した「ハッ」という声からミックの気合が伝わってきますし、「Sympathy For The Devil」のエンディングでもミックが凄まじいまでのシャウトを聞かせてくれます。

このように、どの日も今なお本ボックスでしか味わえない独特の音質を誇るオーディエンス録音ばかり。当時Sold Outになってしまった後、各公演のばら売りが実現することなく、ましてやコピー盤すら生み出されなかった。幸運にも2003年当時に入手できたマニアの間だけで聞き継がれてきた伝説のボックスが15年の歳月を経て遂に再リリース。もちろん今回も余計なイコライズなど一切施さず、あの原盤が持っていた魅力そのままに蘇らせます。今まで専門誌やサイトなどでアイテムの存在だけを知っていた方にも、遂にこのボックスを手にし、さらに各音源をじっくりと聞いてもらえる15年ぶりのチャンスをどうぞお見逃しなく!

★Licks Japan Tour 2003 より15年目を記念しての限定再リリース企画。全て高音質オリジナル音源で収録された、唯一無二のセット・タイトル。素晴らしい音質で、全6公演を楽しめます。

Live at Budokan, Tokyo 10th March 2003

Disc 1 (68:41)
1. Intro. 2. Jumping Jack Flash 3. You Got Me Rocking 4. Live With Me 5. Let It Bleed
6. No Expectations 7. Rocks Off 8. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love 9. Worried About You
10. Midnight Rambler 11. Band Introductions 12. Slipping Away 13. Before They Make Me Run

Disc 2 (54:23)
1. Start Me Up 2. It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll 3. Rock Me Baby 4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. Honky Tonk Women 6. Tumbling Dice 7. Brown Sugar 8. Satisfaction

Live at Yokohama Arena, Yokohama 12th March 2003

Disc 3 (61:57)
1. Intro. 2. Street Fighting Man 3. It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll 4. If You Can’t Rock Me
5. Don’t Stop 6. Monkey Man 7. You Got Me Rocking 8. Ruby Tuesday 9. Loving Cup
10. All Down The Line 11. Tumbling Dice 12. Band Introductions 13. Slipping Away 14. Happy

Disc 4 (49:05)
1. Sympathy For The Devil 2. Start Me Up 3. Honky Tonk Women 4. Satisfaction
5. B-Stage SE 6. Mannish Boy (B-stage) 7. When The Whip Comes Down (B-stage)
8. Brown Sugar (B-stage) 9. Jumping Jack Flash

Live at Tokyo Dome, Tokyo 15th March 2003

Disc 5 (70:17)
1. Intro. 2. Brown Sugar 3. Start Me Up 4. You Got Me Rocking 5. Don’t Stop 6. Rocks Off
7. You Can’t Always Get What You Want 8. Bitch 9. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
10. Tumbling Dice 11. Band Introductions 12. Slipping Away 13. Before They Make Me Run

Disc 6 (64:45)
1. Sympathy For The Devil 2. B-Stage SE 3. It’s Only Rock’n Roll (B-stage)
4. Little Red Rooster (B-stage) 5. Midnight Rambler (B-stage) 6. Gimme Shelter
7. Honky Tonk Women 8. Street Fighting Man 9. Jumping Jack Flash 10. Satisfaction

Live at Tokyo Dome, Tokyo 16th March 2003

Disc 7 (67:27)
1. Intro. 2. Brown Sugar 3. Start Me Up 4. It’s Only Rock’n Roll 5. Don’t Stop
6. All Down The Line 7. Angie 8. Monkey Man 9. Midnight Rambler 10. Tumbling Dice
11. Band Introductions 12. Slipping Away 13. Happy

Disc 8 (58:50)
1. Sympathy For The Devil 2. B-Stage SE 3. When The Whip Comes Down (B-stage)
4. Mannish Boy (B-stage) 5. You Got Me Rocking (B-stage) 6. Gimme Shelter
7. Honky Tonk Women 8. Street Fighting Man 9. Satisfaction 10. Jumping Jack Flash

Live at Osaka Dome, Osaka 20th March 2003

Disc 9 (70:58)
1. Intro. 2. Brown Sugar 3. You Got Me Rocking 4. Start Me Up 5. Don’t Stop 6. Rocks Off
7. You Can’t Always Get What You Want 8. Bitch 9. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
10. Tumbling Dice 11. Band Introductions 12. Thru and Thru 13. Before They Make Me Run

Disc 10 (63:43)
1. Sympathy For The Devil 2. B-Stage SE 3. It’s Only Rock’n Roll (B-stage)
4. Let It Bleed (B-stage) 5. Midnight Rambler (B-stage) 6. Gimmie Shelter
7. Honky Tonk Women 8. Street Fighting Man 9. Satisfaction 10. Jumping Jack Flash

Live at Osaka Dome, Osaka 21st March 2003

Disc 11 (69:00)
1. Intro. 2. Brown Sugar 3. Start Me Up 4. It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll 5. Don’t Stop
6. All Down The Line 7. Wild Horses 8. Monkey Man 9. Midnight Rambler 10. Tumbling Dice
11. Band Introductions 12. Slipping Away 13. Happy

Disc 12 (61:22)
1. Sympathy For The Devil 2. B-Stage SE 3. Mannish Boy (B-stage) 4. Like A Rolling Stone (B-stage)
5. You Got Me Rocking (B-stage) 6. Gimme Shelter 7. Honky Tonk Women 8. Street Fighting Man
9. Satisfaction 10. Jumping Jack Flash

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