Europe/Sweden 1985

EUROPE is counting down to their first performance in Japan in four years. A masterpiece live album that is perfect for this week is now available. This work includes “Torestorp performance on May 16, 1985”. This is a valuable masterpiece audience recording that conveys the full show. Speaking of them at the time, it had been about a year since the release of “Wings for Tomorrow,” and they were just about to begin production on “Final Countdown,” which would change their fate. It was a time when he was still just a local hero, even though he was rapidly improving his skills by performing once a day. First of all, let’s look back at the early activities from the schedule at that time and check the position of the show. ●1984《“Wings for Tomorrow” released on February 24th》・March 16th-June 20th: Sweden #1 (13 performances)・June 22nd + 23rd: Finland (2 performances)・9 March 8th – December 14th: Sweden #2 (17 performances) ●April 6th – June 5th, 1985: Sweden #3 (43 performances) ←★Here★《Production of “Final Countdown” begins in September》 This is EUROPE in 1984/1985. There are some vague points in the data from the local era, so it is impossible to determine the number of performances, but I think you can get a rough idea of ​​the outline. At that time, they were still active in their home country of Sweden, and even across the border they stopped at neighboring Finland. I had never played a show in Central Europe, let alone America. Also, since the above schedule has been condensed, it looks like they were touring in 1984, but in reality they only did it a few times a month. In the meantime, they acquired Ian Hoagland and Mick Michaeli, and it wasn’t until 1985 that they began a “tour” that involved traveling and performing shows almost every day. The Torestorp performance of this work is the 29th concert of such “Sweden #3”. It is a live performance from an era that was just starting to make a leap forward. This work that recorded such a show is a truly powerful audience recording. Anyway, what is wonderful is the on and strong core. The ensemble explodes right in front of your eyes, with the performance and singing voice giving you no sense of distance. In fact, the opening songs “Dance The Night Away” and “Ninja” are so powerful that they become a blast, but it would be premature to give up at this point. Actually, I was surprised to see that it suddenly improved with the third song “On The Loose”. The venue suddenly became clear, with the powerful core intact and even the details clearly visible. The synths sparkle and the delicate melodies dance. Although it is difficult to hope for a press CD due to the distortion at the beginning, from “On The Loose” onwards, you can enjoy plenty of the best sound of Kakuya on the sound board. The young Nordic star Kira Hoshi is depicted with such quality. The set is a concentrated reduction of “Fantastic Symphonic Poem” and “Wings for Tomorrow”…I thought it was, but it wasn’t. The only songs selected from his debut work are the killer “Seven Doors Hotel” and “Memories.” The remaining songs are “Wings for Tomorrow” and 5 songs from “Final Countdown,” which has not yet started production. In other words, it is a delicious show that has been taken out half by half from the two great albums, the 2nd & 3rd albums, and concentrated and reduced. Speaking of the early John Norum era live, the official “THE FINAL COUNTDOWN TOUR 1986: LIVE IN SWEDEN” comes to mind, but there are also plenty of famous songs that could not be heard there. Not only “Seven Doors Hotel” and “Memories” from “Fantastic Symphonic Poem” mentioned above, but also “Dreamer” and “Scream of Anger” from “Wings for Tomorrow,” and “Love Chaser” and “Danger On The” from “Final Countdown.” Track” is being performed. Although there is no symbolic song “The Final Countdown”, it is a show that seems to be the best selection of the first three albums. It’s a set that feels like it’s on the verge of a big leap, but the performance that plays it is just the night before. Already, the same golden five members as now are all together, and they are rapidly growing through the experience of touring day and night. Joey Tempest’s singing voice doesn’t have any staleness, and his performance is dignified. The ensemble with Ian Hoagland and Mick Michaeli is tight enough, and the scale is world class. They put on a performance that you wouldn’t expect from a local Swedish band. Six months later, EUROPE began producing the fate-changing “Final Countdown,” which took the world by storm. This is a live album where you can experience an intense show with 100% real sound of the golden five members. With a golden line-up, a great performance by the young EUROPE, who were about to spread their wings to the world. Live at Hjortnas, Torestorp, Sweden 16th May 1985 TRULY AMAZING/PERFECT SOUND (68:51) 1. Intro 2. Dance The Night Away 3. Improvisation 4. Ninja 5. On The Loose 6. Dreamer 7. Love Chaser 8. Seven Doors Hotel 9. Drum Solo (with Beethoven 5th by Keyboard) 10. Open Your Heart 11. Stormwind 12. Rock The Night 13. Scream Of Anger 14. Danger On The Track 15. Memories 16. Bass & Guitar Solo 17. Memories (reprise) Joey Tempest – Lead Vocals John Norum – Guitars, Backing Vocals John Leven – Bass Guitar Mic Michaeli – Keyboards, Backing Vocals Ian Haugland – Drums, Backing Vocals