EL & P Emerson,Lake & Palmer/Saitama,Japan 1996

The last performance in Japan by the greatest keyboard trio in history, “October 19, 1996: Urawa Cultural Center”. The scene appears with a transcendental sound. This work is a super-excellent audience recording of the Urawa performance, which was the last concert. Historically, EL&P has held a total of 20 concerts in 24 years in Japan. This is a good opportunity, so let’s take a look back at the whole story. ●1972, July 22nd + 24th (2 performances) ●1992, September 10th-19th (8 performances) ●1996, October 8th: Fukuoka Sun Palace October 9th: Osaka Festival Hall October 10th: Nagoya City Public Hall, October 12th: Shibuya Public Hall, October 13th: Tokyo Welfare Pension Hall, October 14th: Sendai Izumiti 21, October 15th-18th: Nakano Sunplaza (3 performances) )・October 19th: Urawa Cultural Center [This work] This is everything about Live in Japan by EL&P. Their first visit to Japan in 1972 left behind a legend of great riots, and in 1992 they made a comeback for the first time in 20 years. Their final tour in 1996 was four years later, and although the shock of their revival had faded, they continued to traverse the archipelago on a large-scale tour with 10 performances, the most in history. The Urawa performance of this work is the last night of “EL&P and Japan”. This work, which records a truly memorable night, has a super-excellent sound that will dissipate even those emotions. Although it is an audience recording given directly by the recording person himself, the sound is far from what you would associate with the word “audience”. The core of the musical tone is clear and the contours are clear, giving it a direct feel. Not only Keith Emerson’s virtuoso skills, but also Carl Palmer’s detailed cymbal work, Greg Lake’s roaring bass, and singing voice. All of them are clear and well-balanced, and it is a transcendental sound that I would like to call “official class audience” rather than “sound board class”. The Japan performance in 1996… No, even if I look around the world, I have never heard the restart period from 1996 to 1998 with such a wonderful audience sound. Moreover, the live content is also wonderful. The second time in 1992 was impressive because it was the first time in 20 years, but the set of this work is better. Post-resurrection numbers such as “Paper Blood” and “Black Moon” have disappeared, and the entire album is full of classic songs from yesteryear. “Bitches Crystal”, “Honky Tonk Train Blues”, “Take A Pebble”, which was not performed in 1992, and even EL & POWELL’s “Touch And Go” will be performed. These numbers were also on the official version “LIVE IN POLAND”, but in this work you can enjoy “Tiger In A Spotlight” and “Hoedown” which can not be heard there either. And even more than that is the unique mood of Japan in 1996. In 1992, the audience was dominated by a sense of nervousness for the first time in 20 years, but the third time they were somewhat relaxed and had time to enjoy the show itself. There was plenty of that atmosphere on this day, and the applause between songs was warm and loud. The clapping that spreads in “Knife Edge” is loud and consistent, but it is wide, and it clearly shows “fun” rather than the tension of “not missing a single note.” Perhaps due to the mood and the enthusiasm for the final performance, the performance was even more exciting than usual. Even though the complex song development is very dynamic, they don’t make any mistakes, and they execute it smoothly. Astonishing sound, great performance, complete uncut recording…this is a great album that has it all. It’s a live album that is simply too wonderful from a musical perspective, but even more so for us Japanese people. It’s the last night in Japan, a one-time show like no other. Super high sound quality at sound board level. (EL&P’s last performance in Japan.) Live at Bunka Center, Urawa, Japan 19th October 1996 ULTIMATE SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1(44:19) 1. Karn Evil 9 2. Tiger In A Spotlight 3. Hoedown 4. Touch And Go 5. Knife Edge 6. Bitches Crystal 7. Still…You Turn Me On 8. From The Beginning 9. A Tribute To Kevin Gilbert 10. Honky Tonk Train Blues 11. Take A Pebble Disc 2(44:19 ) 1. Lucky Man 2. Tarkus 3. Pictures At An Exhibition 4. Fanfare For The Common Man 5. Rondo 6. Drum Solo 7. Rondo (Reprise) 8. Finale