Billy Joel / Tokyo, Japan 5.21.1984 Complete Upgrade

Although it was only a one-night performance, Billy Joel’s January performance left such a strong impression on the audience that it made them wonder if the excitement of that day has not yet died down. Since then, the demand for Billy’s live items has increased more than ever, to the point where the best audience albums such as “BOSTON 1978” have actually sold out. The masterpiece “INNOCENT NIGHTS”, which contains Billy’s 1984 Japan tour, has been reevaluated in the midst of Billy fever, which has not been seen in recent times, and there have been calls for a re-release. 10 years ago when this album was released, there were almost no items containing Billy’s live performances in the 1980s, which was the peak of his career, so the appearance of “INNOCENT NIGHTS”, which coupled two days’ worth of performances from his 1984 Japan tour, was a great achievement and actually made maniacs very happy. Because it was such a masterpiece, it had been sold out for a long time, and it was already difficult to obtain even before Billy’s Tokyo Dome performance in January. Now that Billy’s popularity is back, there has been a flood of calls for a new edition. In response to this demand, the masterpiece from Billy’s 1984 Japan tour is finally being re-released. Speaking of masterpieces from Billy’s Japan tour in the 1980s, there is the 1981 “GLASS HOUSES IN JAPAN,” a super audience album that was also re-released after it sold out. It is still on sale and has been re-released in separate forms as “BUDOKAN 1981 FINAL NIGHT” and “OSAKA 1981 1ST NIGHT.” So this time, it’s not just a re-release of “INNOCENT NIGHTS” (hereinafter referred to as the “already released version”), but a re-release with each album separated and newly remastered. The 1984 Japan tour was scheduled to start and end at the Budokan, but the previously released version was recorded on the first day of the tour, the first day of the Budokan, and the day before the last day of the tour, that is, the coupling before the last day. First of all, it is the first day of the Budokan, and as was talked about among enthusiasts when the previously released version was released, this is a very wonderful sound quality. It is an audience recording of really great quality even when listening to it again now, with a delicate texture and spread, and yet the sound image is also powerful. In the first place, this audience recording was not available among traders before the release, and it was a first-time appearance sound source with excellent sound quality and conveyed the first day of the 1984 Japan tour, which caused a big stir among enthusiasts. What is most pleasing is that it captures the realism and excitement that is typical of Showa-era Western music concerts in an exquisite balance. Billy of this era was so popular in Japan that even people who are not interested in Western music know his name and songs, so the excitement is tremendous. Moreover, the tour for his previous album “NYLON CURTAIN” did not come to Japan, and Billy’s arrival came after three years of waiting. Therefore, the reaction was enthusiastic not only to the songs from his new album “AN INNOCENT MAN” at that time, but also to the repertoire from “NYLON CURTAIN” which was performed for the first time in Japan for the above reasons. In addition, “Goodnight Saigon” was not performed at the Budokan before the last show, so it is even more so. Since it was the first time that the stage in “AN INNOCENT MAN” mode was performed in Japan, the tone of the band was a little bit tentative, and the high sound quality conveyed the feeling that they were waiting for the situation to change. Instead of the repertoire from the album, they performed a relatively old song like “Stiletto” that is familiar to the audience, which is unique to the first day. Also, “Just The Way You Are”, which was not performed at the Tokyo Dome the other day, was sung as a matter of course in this era, and the Budokan’s lively atmosphere where the audience responded to it with “pan pa pan” clapping was also very Showa-like. In the first place, this was a Western music concert in Japan at a time when it was more difficult to speak English than it is today, so the reaction of the audience on this day, who reacted strongly to Billy’s every move, was very heartwarming. This is an excellent audience album that captures the nostalgic realism and excitement with the best sound quality. For all the enthusiasts who are still excited about that January Tokyo Dome performance, the famous recording from the first day of their Japan tour in 1984 is finally back. A great document of a truly happy and fun live performance! Remastering notes Although the sound quality is originally high, we have softened the mid-range hall noise to make the performance sound tighter. Live at Budokan, Tokyo, Japan 21st May 1984 TRULY PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters)*UPGRADE Disc 1 (45:38) 1. Opening (The Mexican Connection) 2. Prelude / Angry Young Man 3. My Life 4. The Stranger 5. Don’t Ask Me Why 6. Allentown 7. Goodnight Saigon 8. Pressure 9. Just The Way You Are Disc 2 (63:54 ) 1. Band Introductions 2. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant 3. An Innocent Man 4. The Longest Time 5. Stiletto 6. Sometimes A Fantasy 7. It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me 8. Uptown Girl 9. Big Shot 10. Tell Her About It 11. You May Be Right 12. Only The Good Die Young Billy Joel – Vocals, Piano David Brown – Guitar, Backing Vocals Russell Javors – Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals Doug Stegmeyer – Bass, Backing Vocals David Lebolt – Keyboards Mark Rivera – Saxophones, Flute, Backing Vocals Liberty Devitto – Drums, Percussion