Doobie Brothers/Osaka,Japan 1981

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS’ superb live in Japan performance is coming soon, their first in eight years. This work includes the “October 13, 1981: Osaka Festival Hall performance.” This year marks their 11th visit to Japan, but this is their third time. First, let’s check the tour schedule, which was also their last visit to Japan before disbanding. October 5th: Nippon Budokan October 7th: Kyoto Kaikan October 8th: Fukuoka Sunpalace October 9th: Osaka Festival Hall October 12th: Aichi Welfare Pension Hall October 13th: Osaka Festival Hall [this work] October 14th: Nippon Budokan October 16th: Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium A total of eight performances. This was the most number of performances on their Japan tour, and they were at the height of their popularity in both name and reality. The Osaka performance in this work is the latter half of that concert. This is a truly wonderful audience recording. At the time, it was made by a well-known master in the Kanto region, and was made into a CD directly from the original cassette that was handed over directly to the recording artist himself. The sound is outstanding. The Osaka Festival Hall is an excellent venue that is said to be “a hall made by God,” but that alone does not explain the beautiful recording. The solid musical tones are as clear as line recordings, but the “ringing” that is slightly wrapped around the core is simply beautiful. Because it is a cassette recording, there is a tape change in “Eyes Of Silver” and a momentary sound drop in “Without You,” but other than that, the so-called “cassette recording-like” is not felt. It is a glossy and vivid superb sound even for ears accustomed to modern digital recording. The show depicted with such a sound is truly ironclad. It is the era of AOR hits featuring Michael McDonald, but the urban and sophisticated performance seems to flow. From the opening “Takin’ It To the Streets”, the band pushes forward with incredible power, but the smooth feel doesn’t break at all. On top of that, it’s also good that the rock feel is even more vivid than on the album. Before “Slat Key Soquel Rag”, you can hear “Okini”, which is typical of Japan performances. The ensemble performs the greatest hits that sum up the time. After all, 16 of the 21 songs in the set are single songs, which is a big deal, and “Can’t Let It Get Away (1981 Coca-Cola campaign song)”, which was only on the Japan commemorative single and best album, is also played. After this, the official album “FAREWELL TOUR” containing the disbandment tour will be released, but this work is from the “ONE STEP CLOSER” era that preceded it. The album contains a well-balanced lineup of classic songs from “TOULOUSE STREET” to “ONE STEP CLOSER,” as well as new songs from that time that cannot be heard on “FAREWELL TOUR,” such as “Keep This Train A-Rollin’,” “One Step Closer,” “Real Love,” and “No Stoppin’ Us Now.” It is truly a “culmination of the band before they disbanded.” This is the era when THE DOOBIE BROTHERS’ popularity was at its peak. This is a masterpiece of a live album that captures the atmosphere of Japan with the finest 100% live sound. Now that we can meet again for the first time in eight years, we would like you to remember that wonderful year of 1981. Live at Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan 13th October 1981 PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1 1. Takin’ It To the Streets 2. Jesus Is Just Alright 3. Keep This Train A-Rollin’ 4. Take Me In Your Arms 5. Dependin’ On You 6. Member Introduction 7. Can’t Let It Get Away 8. Echoes Of Love 9. One Step Closer 10. Real Love 11 . No Stoppin’ Us Now 12. Eyes Of Silver 13. Minute By Minute 14. Black Water Disc 2 1. Slat Key Soquel Rag 2. Steamer Lane Breakdown 3. Long Train Runnin’ 4. What A Fool Believes 5. I Cheat The Hangman 6. China Grove 7. Without You 8. Listen To The Music Michael McDonald – Keyboards & Vocal Patrick Simmons – Guitar & Vocal Keith Knudsen – Drums & Vocal Bobby LaKind – Percussion Cornelius Bumpus – Saxophone & Vocal John McFee – Guitar & Vocal Chet McCracken – Drums & Percussion Willie Weeks – Bass