Journey/Broadcast Japan 1983

I can’t wait for their Japan tour in February next year! A masterpiece pro shot to be presented to such Western music fans has been decided to be released. This work is a TV special broadcast during the heyday of “FRONTIERS”. It is a direct DVD of the master that was treasured by a domestic recording enthusiast. The strongest thing is the scent of “1983”, but the quality that conveys it is also amazing. The master freshness that a core enthusiast recorded with the high-end equipment of the time and (probably) has never played it is overwhelming. Since it is an air check of the time, it is normal even if it is fully analog, but the vivid image beauty is beautiful even in the current sense of the digital heyday. To be honest, “Who’s Crying Now” has a noise of a few tenths of a second, so it cannot be said that there is “no white line noise”, but on the other hand, there is no deterioration or noise at all. Is it a laser disc? Is it the original master of the broadcasting station? It is a dimension. In any era, the maniacs who are passionate about the band are amazing…the quality is such that it is clearly shown off. The “1983 JOURNEY” depicted with that beautiful imagery is already the best! It’s not just the best, it’s the best. The program is structured so that three clips, “Separate Ways,” “Any Way You Want It,” and “Faithfully,” and six songs + alpha of live performances are played, with interviews with members and staff sandwiched in between. The clip of “Separate Ways” with a keyboard stuck to the wall is extremely nostalgic (when you look at it again, the actress’s pace and the beat are perfectly matched, which is amazing), and the precious professional shot live from the heyday is also wonderful. And even the editing of the program itself that connects them is elaborate. To be honest, the comments in the interviews are plain and not that great (Steve Smith starts a tour of Chicago for some reason…), but they are exquisitely combined with the music to create an indescribable emotion. Particularly amazing is “Faithfully.” In an interview just before the show, the staff and band members confessed about the loneliness of tour life and the misunderstandings with their families. Jonathan Cain said, “Sometimes I can’t see my wife for three weeks. She’s like, ‘Why didn’t you call me?’ ‘She was on a plane.'” “When I finally met her at the hotel, I gave her a song as a present.” Then the moving intro to “Faithfully” starts playing. The lyrics are, “They say a drifter doesn’t need a family,” and “Love with a band member is full of disappointments.”… Since this is a Japanese program, the interview and lyrics are subtitled in Japanese, and the content hits you right in the heart. What’s more! This clip for “Faithfully” is an original version of the program. It features scenes of offstage in Japan and the setup at the Nippon Budokan, and the sense is outstanding. As the song climaxes, the lights come on in the octagonal ceiling of the Budokan, and the Shinkansen train glides into the platform with a heart-shaking guitar obbli. The members’ playful appearance is accompanied by the singing of “We need a clown to make people smile”… Perhaps this is a scene that has only been seen at this moment in the program’s long history, but the result is so moving. The feelings of the nameless broadcasting station staff at that time are revived across time. This work not only moves you, but also makes you smile. The TV commercials from that time are also recorded uncut, and they have a suffocating “1983” smell. The person from “Chome-Chome” advertises a mosquito repellent mat, the happy couple from “Key Hunter” are eating curry, and it makes you think “Oh, a sculpture forest!?” but it’s actually a commercial for “Yukan ○ji”… The best part is the commercial for Jackie Chan’s movie “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow”. The narration overlaps with the martial arts action as “thrill and speed”, but it’s so slow. Now that I know the action that accelerated violently, it doesn’t seem like they’re fighting anymore. It’s like comparing the footage from the Rio Olympics and the “Gymnastics Nippon” era. This intense sense of the times and the smell of life. These commercials connect the youthful JOURNEY with my life at the time. Of course, these commercials and the editing are just small details. The music of JOURNEY on the main road is wonderful, and the live shots of the 6 songs + α are especially superb and valuable. It was chosen from three videos, “1978 Chicago”, “1981 Welfare Pension Hall”, and “1982 Oakland”, none of which can be seen on the official DVD “GREATEST HITS 1978-1997” (let me make a little digression here. In particular, the 1978 Chicago “Blues Session” is shocking even for a different field. Neal Schon performs with bluesmen, and the lineup is amazing. Aside from Albert King, who often performs with rock, the lineup is a tough one, with Jerry Portnoy and Pinetop Perkins from the late Muddy Band. The one who is scratching the guitar with them in the background is none other than Luther Allison! Speaking of Luther in 1978, it was just before he found his way to Europe. It’s amazing to see Luther in a pro shot during the great adversity period when he couldn’t even record, let alone perform in a club… I’m sure many people don’t get it, but in fact this is also a great treasure). Such bluesmen are just a digression. This work is thoroughly JOURNEY. This is a piece that captures their appearance in their heyday and the Japanese atmosphere that welcomed them. It’s interesting, delightful, and heartwarming, especially for a Japanese person. A masterpiece of a Japanese program that would never have seen the light of day again without this film. Just a little longer until their visit. Just a little longer until the complete reproduction of “ESCAPE” and “FRONTIERS”. For those of you who are more interested in JOURNEY than Kohaku. Broadcast in Japan 1983 (52:22) 1. Introduction 2. CM 3. Separate Ways (Promo Clip) 4. Interview (Neil Schon) 5. Don’t Stop Believin’ (Koseinenkin Kaikan, Tokyo 31st July 1981) 6. Open Arms (Day On The Green, Oakland 26th June 1982) ★Translation included 7. CM 8. Interview (Steve Perry) 9. Any Way You Want It (Promo Clip) 10. Interview (Neil Schon) 11. Blues Session with Neal Schon, Albert King, Luther Allison, Jerry Portnoy, Gregg Rolie, Pinetop Perkins (Chicago 1978) 12. Soundcheck / Interview (John Griswold (guitar tech.), Kevin Elson (Sound Engineer) & Steve Smith) (Budokan 1st March 1983) 13. Lights (Koseinenkin Kaikan, Tokyo 31st July 1981) ★Original edit with translation 14. Interview (Kenny Mednick (Lightning Design), Ross Vallory, Jonathan Cain) 15. Faithfully (Promo Clip, Stage set up at Budokan 1983, Off stage) ★Original edit with translation 16. CM 17. Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ (Koseinenkin Kaikan, Tokyo 31st July 1981) 18. Interview (Neil Schon) 19. Who’s Crying Now (Day On The Green, Oakland 26th June 1982) 20. Interview (Jonathan Cain) 21. Separate Ways (Day On The Green, Oakland 26th June 1982) PRO-SHOT COLOUR NTSC Approx.52min.