Lenny Kravitz/Sapporo,Japan 1995

Lenny Kravitz was the darling of the 90’s music scene. A valuable live in Japan that recorded his heyday is now available. It is already a valuable recording of Lenny’s visit to Japan, but this is an even more special Hokkaido performance. It is the best audience recording of the “November 3, 1995: Makomanai Ice Arena” performance. At the time, “CIRCUS” reached number one on the Oricon chart, and Japanese popularity exploded. First of all, let’s check the show’s position from the tour schedule of the heyday in order to feel its popularity. ・November 1st: Osaka Castle Hall ・November 3rd: Makomanai Ice Arena [This work] ・November 6th: Nippon Budokan ・November 7th: Nippon Budokan ・November 9th: Nippon Budokan・November 10th: Nippon Budokan ・November 13th: Nippon Budokan ・November 14th: Nippon Budokan ・November 15th: Nippon Budokan ・November 18th: Tokyo Bay NK Hall・November 21: Hamamatsu Arena ・November 22: Nagoya Rainbow Hall ・November 23: Nagoya Rainbow Hall ・November 25: Fukuoka Marine Messe ・November 28: Hiroshima Green Arena ・November 29: How about Osaka Castle Hall? Normally I would compress it as much as possible, but it was so spectacular that I listed it as is. The total number of performances (16) is the highest at Lenny, and there are many large venues representing each region. Led by an unprecedented seven consecutive performances at Nippon Budokan, he completely conquered the archipelago from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. It was a tremendous Japan tour that culminated in both number and scale without any questions asked. The Sapporo performance of this work is the second performance of the big tour that has just begun. Despite his popularity, there are almost no records left of Lenny, but this work is a superb recording that blows away even its rarity. It has been digitized directly from the original master given directly by the recording artist, and this person is a genuine master. He has released a series of rare Hokkaido/Tohoku recordings, and recently Prince’s “SAPPORO 2002” received great acclaim. This work is a masterpiece from that finest collection. In fact, the sound of this work is exquisite. The extra-thick core reaches straight without the slightest distortion, and the details are truly delicate. Although the atmosphere of the scene is absorbed, the performance sound itself is so powerful and vivid that it cannot be clouded. Yet glossy. It wouldn’t be strange if the core was so clear and strong that it over-peaked, but the beautiful sound without vibration is like velvet. Although it is not the type that can be mistaken for a sound board, the listening experience itself is no different from a radio broadcast. It’s a beautiful and powerful sound that makes you forget the fact that it’s a guest record when you’re fully immersed in headphones. Lenny Kravitz shines at his peak with such a sound. The set consisted of 5 songs each selected from their latest work at the time, “CIRCUS” and their breakthrough “MAMA SAID,” and interspersed with the numbers “LET LOVE RULE” and “ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY.” In 1995, ROCKPALAST’s professional shot has become a standard, but in addition to all of its songs, this work also shows “Blues For Sister Someone”. Moreover, most of them are singles, and there are many famous songs that were exciting the world at the time. Despite being on an active regular tour, it is a show unique to the peak of the concentration of Greatest Hits. Lenny in his prime singing such a gorgeous set can’t be bad. I thought there would be a huge cheer, but that wasn’t the case. No, there was quite a lot of excitement at the scene, but the loud cheers were far away and small. It’s like ripples that come and go beyond the thick performance sounds and singing voices. However, although the waves are vast and faint, they have an amazing presence. Especially overwhelming are the two killer songs “Are You Gonna Go My Way” and “Rock and Roll Is Dead.” A spectacle of a huge crowd writhing on the other side while that super famous riff roars. Lenny and the performance do not give up the leading role, and you can unconsciously experience the temperature of the climax…It is such an ideal live album. In the mid-1990s, global CD sales were about to reach their peak. Lenny shined as a darling in the middle of such an era. This work is a live album that captures his performance in Japan with the finest 100% real sound. Not only is this a valuable record of his, but it is also a dazzling piece full of the last brilliance in the history of Japanese Western music. Live at Makomanai Ice Arena, Sapporo, Japan 3rd November 1995 PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1(56:25) 1. Tunnel Vision 2. Stop Draggin’ Around 3. Circus 4. Instrumental 5. Always on the Run 6. Beyond the 7th Sky 7. Blues For Sister Someone 8. Believe Disc 2(53:02) 1. Can’t Get You Off My Mind 2. Fields of Joy 3. What The …. Are We Saying ? 4. Mr. Cab Driver 5. Let Love Rule 6. It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over 7. Are You Gonna Go My Way 8. Rock and Roll Is Dead Lenny Kravitz : vocal / guitar Craig Ross : guitar Cindy Blackman : drums Jack Daley : bass George Laks : keyboards Michal Hunter : trumpet Harold Todo : saxophone Todo Garner : backing vocals Troy Garner : backing vocals Michael Contratto : backing vocals