Rainbow / Spotlight Night / 2CD

Rainbow / Spotlight Night / 2CD /Darker Than Blue

Live At Budokan, Tokyo, Japan 26th August 1981.

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1981 Japan tour of RAINBOW, is appeared in August 26, Budokan performances of Tokyo first day is finally full version! RAINBOW is Japan tour associated with “DIFFICULT TO CURE” release went to the ’81 year, from Tokyo Budokan performance of August 28, which falls on the last day, determine the full version of audience recording and “TOTAL SURRENDER” of the sound board sound source edition “DEFINITIVE SURRENDER DOCUMENTS” has been released one after another the other day, both gave overwhelming support from everyone of the fans. With the advent of the “TOTAL SURRENDER”, an unknown part in the Budokan three consecutive performances of this year, but now only a small latter part was unreleased already issued of August 26 in the “NOWHERE TO HIDE”, the new It is finally the dark zone Tokiakasa by excavation sound source!

Sound source that appeared this time due to the taper, which records a “TOTAL SURRENDER”, in the last day as well great record in this work, it was me left behind a unique document. However, this new excavation material was There are several places where the deterioration of the tape state is conspicuous unfortunately. Where it is to appoint the master tape of its outstanding “NOWHERE TO HIDE” was carried out a bold restoration work against the treatment, in the form of a hybrid of New master and masterpiece sound source, we reproduce this historic Budokan performances first day as a full version !

Is subjected to one min after Zoletile injection of “Over The Rainbow” from “Land Of Hope And Glory” in the opening intro This is the sound from the new master. It sounds rich curtain before the fresh excitement you can taste the Ngong the first time in the same feelings as the “TOTAL SURRENDER”. Splendor of live of the day there is a feeling that has been exhausted word in many professional journals and fan site. The performance of “Spotlight Kid” from high motivation to full Richie and bands of opening, fans will have everyone numbness! Its but is compensated by its outstanding until 0:40 of “Spotlight Kid”, the scene switched the sound from there to New master in the natural, it is impressive, such as equipment that had been hidden rather was uncovered. Here I think we can feel even a stretch break into sunshine such exhilarating feeling cloudy sky is? In addition to outstanding realism and sound field outlook worked in clean, vocals of Joe has a clear three-dimensional effect, Ritchie of guitar than the sound is superb captured by the sound Kosi what, of the New Master recording state is past the best condition compare favorably to any name recording. (During a performance of around taper audience noise even not worried. Soredakeni it was not good the status of the tape is Kaesugaesu also sorry!) “Love’s No Friend” 5:23 to 5:28 of, and the same song 7 : Since the deterioration of the tape is noticeable through 07 than the show in the middle “Catch The Rainbow” 0:52, we also supplemented by remastered while closer the sound source of “NOWHERE TO HIDE” to the sound of the new master. This “NOWHERE TO HIDE” is “environmental sound surrounding sound output properly accepted until the (sense of air)” also in professional journals have been, it was highly acclaimed as a sound which can taste the stride of Richie guitar. Also pay the largest of homage to the sound in the current restoration work, while in mind so as not to impair the name record of quality, it is finished and to each other melt together such a sound image by increasing the affinity of the New Master . “Love’s No Friend” after the end, Ritchie and scene set on fire the audience by playing the glanced “Woman From Tokyo” during tuning, fed out at the highest tone “Lazy” and “Man On The Silver Mountain”, the “Man On The Silver Mountain “to Joe emitted” I you like “such as the service spirit strong MC called, also served in the sound that is well-equipped in a more clear familiar scenes in its outstanding. “Catch The Rainbow” of finally New Master from 0:52 will really shines. Although fluctuations and bias of the sound derived from the tape state is seen, trim sound and clear outlook of “Catch The Rainbow” is the line class. Yet spread of wide sound of “Can not Happen Here” has exquisite texture you do not enjoy it if it is not a high-quality audience recording, it will give us moments like a dream in hand listening. These are the speaker output rather than a headphone, it is the scene in which I would like you to enjoy the sound of the Budokan unique. Show the second half of tape of state also upward, large compensation point of “A Light In Black” 1:59 to 2:05, “Difficult To Cure” of 0:23 to 0:54, “Long Live Rock ‘N’ It becomes 5:07 three places – 5:04 of Roll “. (Also a moment to other drum solo, keyboard solo, there is a point that compensates for the slight missing, but it will not be hearing on most care about.)

Existing airport had been finished recording Omotte “Long Live Rock’N’Roll”, this work is a barrage of listening stations from this immediately after the encore break. To start in response to the celebrations in the fan “All Night Long” is comfortably Chorus and applause, such as in the venue to boil, you can indulge in the mood to hand also became one of the audience to hear. Audience is large chorus the full-length (!) “Smoke On The Water” In what was also struck indeed of Richie in too much hot air, usually with a slightly different guitar solo, let me hear the eccentric play this time unique . “Maybe Next Time” to than Kanpatsu Irezu “Since You Been Gone” and medley specific flow that leads to the “Blues” is also a major feature of the day. Especially of Don Airey of keyboard and Roger Glover on entering the song of the “Blues” Joe base of the last has a very conspicuous work! And you can listen to the very unusual deployment even in the “Blues” … This kind of performance of improvisation singing Joe starting from 3 min after Zoletile injection uncommon Rainbow history in Japan. Ritchie also, the charming soulful power of can respond Joe also to improvisation, what not wanted to show off at the last minute to first Tokyo performance of the concert? Unique atmosphere is not the way to end of whack and tighten “formal beauty” wind in the song of the explosive climax, live this day to be concluded within the best of mood, such as the free jam, it does not taste the other day there is! After the Blues the show, only it is a little even hear but closing SE “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” Gachiratto, is unbearable not is the moment for the fans! Finally we hear the full version of this day! Such impression is you’ll be too in the listeners!

Budokan performances of ’81 year tour unknown part there were many far also, entirety finally was Tokiakasa the advent of this work! And one of the best climax also show, it is not great, each full of personality of the one-of-a-kind, but this work especially this 26 are stand out one head in terms of playability, that reproduces the appearance at the highest quality , it asserts that it is all of Ritchie Blackmore and hard rock fan must-have must listen. The last day was complete recording of “TOTAL SURRENDER” and constitute a matchless people, RAINBOW’81-nenrainichikoennoshihoodozootanoshimikudasai! It is the release of a complete limited press CD not to be missed absolute if fans!

RAINBOWの1981年来日公演より、東京初日の8月26日・武道館公演がついに完全版で登場です!RAINBOWが’81年に行った「DIFFICULT TO CURE」リリースに伴う来日公演は、最終日に当たる8月28日の東京・武道館公演より、オーディエンス録音の完全版「TOTAL SURRENDER」とサウンドボード音源の決定版「DEFINITIVE SURRENDER DOCUMENTS」が先日相次いでリリースされ、いずれもファンの皆様から絶大な支持を頂きました。この「TOTAL SURRENDER」の登場によって、この年の武道館3連続公演で不明な部分は、8月26日の既発「NOWHERE TO HIDE」で未収録だったショウ後半部分のみとなりましたが、新たな発掘音源によっていよいよそのダークゾーンが解き明かされます!

今回登場する音源は「TOTAL SURRENDER」を記録したテーパーによるもので、本作でも最終日同様に素晴らしい録音で、唯一無二のドキュメントを遺してくれました。しかしこの新発掘素材は残念ながらテープ状態の劣化が目立つ場所が幾つかありました。そこでトリートメントに当たって既発「NOWHERE TO HIDE」のマスターテープを起用して大胆なレストア作業を実施し、ニューマスターと傑作音源のハイブリッドという形で、この歴史的な武道館公演初日を完全版として再現しました!

オープニングイントロの「Land Of Hope And Glory」から「Over The Rainbow」の一分目にかけてはそのニューマスターからのサウンドです。開演前の生々しい興奮に富んだ音は「TOTAL SURRENDER」と同様の気持ちの昂ぶりを味わう事ができます。この日のライヴの素晴らしさは多くの専門誌やファンサイトで語り尽くされた感があります。オープニングの「Spotlight Kid」から高いモチベーションに満ちたリッチーそしてバンドの演奏に、ファンは皆痺れてしまうでしょう! その「Spotlight Kid」の0:40までは既発による補填ですが、そこからニューマスターへ音が切り替わる場面はナチュラルで、むしろ隠されていた機材が覆いを外したような印象です。ここでは曇り空が一気に晴れ渡るような爽快感すら感じるのではないでしょうか?抜群の臨場感とクリーンで見通しが効いた音場に加え、ジョーのヴォーカルは明瞭な立体感を持ち、何よりもリッチーのギターがコシのある音色で捉えられたサウンドは絶品で、本ニューマスターの録音状態は過去のいかなる名録音にも引けを取らない最高のコンディションです。(演奏中はテーパー周囲のオーディエンスノイズすら気になりません。それだけにテープの状態が良くなかった事は返す返すも残念です!)「Love’s No Friend」の5:23から5:28、そして同曲7:07よりショウ中盤の「Catch The Rainbow」0:52にかけてはテープの劣化が目立つため、「NOWHERE TO HIDE」の音源をニューマスターの音像に近づけつつもリマスターして補填しています。この「NOWHERE TO HIDE」は専門誌でも”出音にまつわる環境音(空気感)まできちんと採録”しており、リッチーのギターの本領を味わえるサウンドとして高い評価を受けました。今回のレストア作業においてもそのサウンドには最大級の敬意を払い、名盤の品位を損なわないよう留意しつつ、ニューマスターとの親和性を高めてお互いが溶け合うような音像へと仕上げられています。「Love’s No Friend」終了後、リッチーがチューニング中にちらっと「Woman From Tokyo」を弾いて観客を沸き立たせる場面や、最高の音色で繰り出される「Lazy」と「Man On The Silver Mountain」、その「Man On The Silver Mountain」にジョーが発する”私はあなたが好きです”というサービス精神旺盛なMCなど、既発でおなじみの名場面もよりクリアで整ったサウンドで楽しめます。「Catch The Rainbow」の0:52からはいよいよニューマスターがその本領を発揮します。テープ状態に由来する音の揺らぎや偏りが見られるものの、「Catch The Rainbow」の均整が取れたサウンドやクリアな見通しはライン級です。それでいて「Can’t Happen Here」のワイドな音の広がりは高品位オーディエンス録音でなければ味わえない極上の質感があり、聴き手に夢のようなひと時を与えてくれるでしょう。これらはヘッドホンではなくスピーカー出力で、武道館ならではの音響を楽しんでいただきたい場面です。ショウ後半はテープの状態も上向きで、大きな補填個所は「A Light In Black」の1:59 – 2:05、「Difficult To Cure」の0:23 – 0:54、「Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll」の5:04 – 5:07の3箇所になります。(その他ドラムソロやキーボードソロにも一瞬、僅かな欠落を補っている個所がありますが、聴覚上ほとんど気になりません。)

既発は「Long Live Rock’N’Roll」をもって録音が終了していましたが、本作はこの直後のアンコールブレイクからが聴き所の連発です。ファンの大歓声を受けてスタートする「All Night Long」は、会場中が沸騰するような拍手と合唱が心地よく、聴き手も客席の一人になった気分で浸れます。オーディエンスが全編(!)を大合唱する「Smoke On The Water」ではあまりの熱気にさすがのリッチーも打たれたのか、普段とやや違ったギターソロで、この時ならではのエキセントリックなプレイを聴かせてくれます。「Maybe Next Time」より間髪いれずに「Since You Been Gone」そして「Blues」に至るメドレー的な流れもこの日の大きな特徴です。特にラストの「Blues」ではジョーの歌が入る上にドン・エイリーのキーボードやロジャー・グローヴァーのベースも非常に目立った仕事をしています!そして3分目から始まるジョーの歌う即興の「Blues」・・・こういったパフォーマンスは珍しく日本でのレインボー史においても非常に珍しい展開を聴くことができます。リッチーも、アドリブにも魅力的に対応できるジョーのソウルフルな実力を、コンサートの最後の最後に初の東京公演で披露したかったのではないでしょうか?爆発的な盛り上がりの曲でバシッと締まる「様式美」風の終わり方ではありませんが、フリージャムのような極上のムードのうちに締めくくられるこの日のライヴは、他の日では味わえない独特の雰囲気があります!Blues終演後、ほんのちょっとですがクロージングSE「Somewhere Over The Rainbow」がちらっと聞こえるのも、ファンにとっては堪らない瞬間です!遂にこの日の完全版を聴けた!そんな感動が聴き手の中で過ぎることでしょう!

これまで不明な部分が多かった’81年ツアーの武道館公演も、本作の登場によって遂に全容が解き明かされました! いずれのショウも最高の盛り上がりと、それぞれがオンリーワンの個性に満ちた素晴らしいものですが、特にこの26日はプレイアビリティの面で頭ひとつ抜きん出ており、その様相を最高のクオリティで再現した本作は、全てのリッチー・ブラックモア及びハードロックファン必携必聴だと断言します。最終日を完全収録した「TOTAL SURRENDER」と双璧をなす、RAINBOW’81年来日公演の至宝をどうぞお楽しみください!ファンなら絶対見逃せない完全限定プレスCDでのリリースです!

Disc 1 (40:49)
1. Land Of Hope And Glory 2. Over The Rainbow 3. Spotlight Kid 4. Love’s No Friend
5. I Surrender 6. Lazy Intro 7. Man On The Silver Mountain 8. Catch The Rainbow

Disc 2 (61:45)
1. Can’t Happen Here 2. Keyboard Solo 3. Lost In Hollywood 4. Guitar Solo
5. A Light In Black/Guitar Solo 6. Difficult To Cure 7. Jam 8. Drum Solo
9. Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll 10. All Night Long 11. Smoke On The Water 12. Maybe Next Time
13. Since You Been Gone 14. Blues

Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar Joe Lynn Turner – Vocal Roger Glover – Bass
Don Airey – Keyboards Bob Rondinelli – Drums

Darker Than Blue 100/101

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