Journey/Tokyo,Japan 2.7.2017

A special night. It was the world’s first fully reproduced concert of “ESCAPE” and “FRONTIERS” at Nippon Budokan on February 7, 2017. A real documentary album that allows you to be present at that “special scene” has been decided to be released. This week, the four-disc “LIVE BUDOKAN 2017” containing the two days at Nippon Budokan will also be released, but this work is another famous recording. The quality is a wonderful audience sound that is not inferior to the regular release “LIVE BUDOKAN 2017”. The clear and straight musical tones, the clear vocals down to each word of the lyrics, the reality of the unique octagonal space…all of it is magnificent. “LIVE BUDOKAN 2017” was chosen as the regular release because of the special “two performances by the same recorder”, but this work is also an equally excellent piece. However, no matter how wonderful it is, if it was just “another recording of the same show”, I would not have introduced it. This work has its own charm. It’s a fierce “on-site feeling”. After all, this day was a one-night only show of famous albums, labelled as a “special performance”. Everyone gathered there was excited with anticipation. JOURNEY’s shows are always based on a chorus of super famous songs, but the special feeling of this day was more than “usual”. This work realistically captures the overflowing heat and the joy of each song turning into reality. Of course, the heat was also felt on discs 3 and 4 of “LIVE BUDOKAN 2017”, but this work has an even stronger “on-site” feeling. It’s an album that makes you want to sing along. To put it bluntly, it’s a recording with a large audience chorus. Normally, this would be a drawback, but if this is a “special night”, it’s a different story. This is a special show only for this day, and it’s a night when a famous album that has ingrained itself in your mind and body is reborn, so you want to sing along and participate. I can sympathize with that feeling to the fullest. Of course, the chorus is not just large. The one who made this work was one of the best in the Kanto region, and the musical tones of this work are truly wonderful. That master happened to be in the middle of the frenzy. The other day, GUNS N’ ROSES’ “SAITAMA SUPER ARENA 2017 DAY 1” was a document of a dangerous mood, and this work was also recorded in the same way. While GUNS was in a dangerous mood with curses flying, this work is full of joy. The world’s first and one-night only “ESCAPE” and “FRONTIERS” are completely reproduced. It was a “special night” that everyone wanted to be there, not only those who were lucky enough to get a ticket, but also those who were not. Audience recording is wonderful because you can be there. A piece that absorbs the flavor, fun, and beauty of the place. Live at Budokan, Tokyo, Japan 7th February 2017 TRULY PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1 (63:41) 1. New Intro (Walk On In the Dark) 2. Don’t Stop Believin’ 3. Stone In Love 4. Who’s Crying Now 5. Keep on Runnin’ 6. Still They Ride 7. Escape 8. Lay It Down 9. Dead or Alive 10. Solo 11. Mother, Father 12. Keyboard Solo 13. Open Arms 14. New Intro 15. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) Disc 2 (72:27) 1. Send Her My Love 2. Chain Reaction 3. After the Fall 4. Piano & MC Intro. 5. Faithfully 6. Edge of the Blade 7. Troubled Child 8. Drum Solo 9. Back Talk 10. Frontiers 11. Rubicon 12. La Raza del Sol 13. Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ 14. Band Introduction