Various Artists Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Blackmore’s Night, Bangles, Heart, Cyndi Lauper, Whitesnake/Japanese Broadcast Treasures

This is a collection of footage featuring Western musicians appearing on Japanese TV programs. An official release would likely be impossible due to the immense difficulty of clearing the necessary rights. It opens with a surprising clip of Blackmore’s Night appearing on a TV Asahi news program 15 years ago; if I recall correctly, this was the kind of music Ritchie had always wanted to play. It is a simple acoustic performance, yet it packs a powerful punch. Next comes a surprising 1994 appearance by Page & Plant performing “Stairway to Heaven”; despite being a shortened version, they deliver a solid performance with passionate vocals. The lineup continues with nostalgic acts essential to the 80s, such as Eighth Wonder, Berlin, Heart, Marilyn Martin, and The Bangles. Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” sounds amazing no matter how many times you hear it! From the hard rock category, we have the nostalgic Y&T and a fantastic Whitesnake performance from MTV Live! Tracklist: 01 BLACKMORE’S NIGHT / SPIRIT OF THE SEA (Tokyo, Oct 30, 1997) 02 JIMMY PAGE & ROBERT PLANT / STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN (Tokyo, Nov 10, 1994) 03 EIGHTH WONDER / STAY WITH ME (Tokyo, Apr 23, 1986) 04 HEART / NEVER (Seattle, May 28, 1986) Satellite Broadcast 05 HEART / NOTHIN’ AT ALL (Tokyo, June 25, 1986) 06 CYNDI LAUPER / TRUE COLORS (Tokyo, Sept 10, 1986) 07 MARILYN MARTIN / NIGHT MOVES (Los Angeles, 1986) Satellite Broadcast 08 BERLIN / LIKE FLAMES (Tokyo, Mar 18, 1987) 09 Y&T / FACE LIKE AN ANGEL (Tokyo, Jan 22, 1986) 10 THE BANGLES / WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN (MTV Live, 1987) 11 WHITESNAKE / STILL OF THE NIGHT (MTV Live, 1987)