John Wetton/Osaka,Japan 2003

In 2003, John Wetton released “ROCK OF FAITH”, co-starring with Geoff Downes for the first time in 12 years, and came to Japan for the 9th time (5th solo). A treasured original recording that conveys the scene is now available. This work includes the “September 20, 2003: Shinsaibashi Club Quattro” performance. When you think of “2003” and “Shinsaibashi”, the official excavation album “LIVE IN OSAKA” comes to mind, but that was only released in 2003, and the live performance itself was from 1997. On the other hand, this work is truly a performance in Osaka in 2003. In 1999 and 2001, the number of visitors to Japan was concentrated in the Kanto region, but in 2003, for the first time in a while, there were many visitors to Western Japan. First, let’s check the show’s position from the schedule. ・September 19th: Hiroshima Club Quattro ・September 20th: Shinsaibashi Club Quattro ←★This work★ ・September 21st: Nagoya Club Quattro ・September 23rd: Shibuya Club Quattro ・September 24th: Shibuya Club Quattro That’s all 5 performances. This is the first time they have been touring Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka since 1997, and it is the “next performance at the same venue” that has been 6 years since the official album “LIVE IN OSAKA” mentioned above. This work recorded at such a show is an audience recording with a tremendous direct feeling…I guess. No, it is definitely an audience recording because it is the original master given by the recording artist himself, but it is turned on so violently that it is hard to believe that it is a customer. It’s a synchronized feeling that doesn’t have a sense of distance or the feeling of being in a closed room at a club. If you imagine an FM broadcast soundboard or official live album style here, it’s a little different. The unprocessed, unproduced core (the bass is amazing!) is poured directly into your brain, and it’s so raw that it overpeaks in places. Although the applause was recorded, the sound of the performance was loud and thick, far surpassing it. That’s the kind of sound that makes you think, “Isn’t this IEMs being intercepted?” What is depicted with such a super direct sound is a full show typical of a solo singer before the restart of ASIA. Speaking of 2003, there are official videos such as “LIVE IN THE UNDERWORLD” and “AMORATA”, but “LIVE IN THE UNDERWORLD” is closer to this work. Let’s compare and organize them here. 70’s (4 songs)・KING CRIMSON: Book Of Saturday (★) / Starless・U.K.: In The Dead Of Night / Rendezvous 6:02 ASIA (5 songs)・Roman to Time: Wildest Dreams (★) / Heat Of The Moment・Alpha: Don’t Cry (★)/The Smile Has Left Your Eyes・Astra: Voice Of America (★) Solo and others (6 songs)・VOICE MAIL: Walking On Air/Battle Lines・ARKANGEL: After All・ROCK OF FAITH: A New Day/Take Me To The Waterline・Cover: Ticket To Ride *Note: Songs marked with “★” cannot be heard even in the official work “LIVE IN THE UNDERWORLD”. …and it looks like this. While selecting from his latest work “ROCK OF FAITH”, he summarizes his career from KING CRIMSON to U.K. Since AISA has not restarted yet, it is a wide collection of famous songs that cannot be narrowed down to anything other than ASIA. This is spelled out in that wet voice, but the performance itself was troublesome because I couldn’t say it was a “great performance!” At that time, Wetton had a huge difference in performance due to alcohol problems, but this work fluctuates even within one performance. The toughest part was “Wildest Dreams” right after the show started. I forget the lyrics, I get the lyrics wrong, my voice is rough, and it’s extremely worn out. After that, the condition gradually recovered, but even in “Don’t Cry” after “In The Dead Of Night”, a broken roar roared, and there was no beautiful melody or beautiful voice. However, from around “Voice Of America” the taste of wet voice revived and gradually recovered. The mood on set was warm, and when a male audience member shouted “Welcome to Asia!”, Wetton burst out laughing, and after “Rendezvous 6:02,” he burst out “You guys are the best” (at the Hiroshima performance on the first day) I didn’t say that). Although it is different from the best performance, this period was also a page in Wetton’s life. Now that we know what he did after that, and now that he’s no longer with us, everything feels nostalgic. A masterpiece of a live album that stirs up such emotions with its ultra-direct sound. Live at Shinsaibashi Club Quattro, Osaka, Japan 20th September 2003 PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1(46:54) 1. Pathetique (Tchaikovsky) 2. Intro 3. Wildest Dreams 4. In The Dead Of Night 5. Don’ t Cry 6. Voice Of America 7. A New Day 8. Book Of Saturday 9. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes 10. Walking On Air Disc 2(49:06) 1. Ticket To Ride 2. Rendezvous 6:02 3. Take Me To The Waterline 4. After All 5. Starless 6. Battle Lines 7. Heat Of The Moment John Wetton – Bass, Guitar & Vocal John Mitchelln – Guitar John Beck – Keyboards Steve Christey – Drums