Allan Holdsworth Allan Holdsworth/Tokyo,Japan 1984

On May 11, 1984, the first day of their first tour in Japan, the performance at the Postal Savings Hall in Tokyo, was recorded using the original master cassette. It is hard to believe that it was recorded at that time, and the separation of the instruments is wonderful, and the interaction with the audience, which is unusually excited, is recorded with a very well-balanced and outstanding sound quality! (Unfortunately, the sound is cut off at 2:23 of Shallow Sea, 7:42 after Material Real, and 8:00 after the first four bars of the Metal Fatigue intro are cut.) There have been several items released in the past that recorded the second day of the Tokyo performance, such as “I.O.U. Live”, which contains 9 tracks from the second day of the Tokyo performance on May 14, which was released half-officially, and “TOKYO DREAM”, which contains 12 tracks familiar from laser discs, but this is the first time that a package of the first day has been released, so it can be said that it is a long-awaited release for fans! Anyway, it is nothing but moving to be able to listen to this masterpiece of Holdsworth’s best period in history, complete with Up Country and Shallow Sea. “I.O.U” (released in 1982) – “Road Games” (1983) – “Metal Fatigue” (1985) were the most wild and rock-oriented period of his solo career, and unlike his recent calm, flawless, beautiful and fluent playing, the set list was ideally put together from these three albums, and Holdsworth’s overwhelming power as he plays it down is astounding. The audience who witnessed this transcendental play on this day must have been truly amazed! Of course, the rhythm section also has a great groove (before coming to Japan, it was Gary Willis and Gary Husband). Chad’s “Was There?” has a tricky combination of bass drum and snare drums with excellent timing (after this tour in Japan, he joined Frank Zappa’s tour from July 1984, and you can hear his amazing playing on “Does Humor Belong In Music?”). Jimmy’s exquisite chords in the backing of Holdsworth’s solo part on “White Line”, and his fearsome bass solo on “Letters Of Marque” and “Up Country” are definitely must-listens! In any case, Holdsworth was respected by many guitarists as a musician’s musician at the time, and the miraculous groove played by Chad and Jimmy, who made an overwhelming impact with their original and flexible combination, will surely impress even those who are not fans! This is the long-awaited item for fans, a luxurious package of the first day’s performance in Tokyo, where you can enjoy the ultimate ensemble, the best songs, of Holdsworth’s ultimate ensemble, which is unrivaled in the history of Holdsworth! Live at Yubin Chokin Hall, Tokyo, Japan 11th May 1984 TRULY AMAZING SOUND DISC 1 1. MC 2. Shallow Sea 3. Tokyo Dream 4. Road Games 5. White Line 6. Panic Station 7. Letters Of Marque 8. Home DISC 2 1. Davil Take The Hindmost 2. Material Real 3. Metal Fatigue 4. The Things You See 5. Was There ? 6. Up Country Allan Holdsworth – Guitar Paul Williams – Vocals Jimmy Johnson – Bass Chad Wackerman – Drums