Rainbow/Tokyo,Japan 3.13.1984

From the 1984 “BENT OUT OF SHAPE” Japan tour, which was a special visit to Japan for all RAINBOW fans, the 2-day premiere at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, March 13th, will be performed for the first time using audience sources. It’s made into a music disc! This work, which directly uses the same taper master as “LIVE BETWEEN AT BUDOKAN”, can be said to be a must-listen for fans! “BENT OUT OF SHAPE”, the third album after Joe Lynn Turner joined the band, was a masterpiece that brought together the best of Richie and Joe’s melodic sense at the time, aiming for catchiness aimed at the American market. did. The tour that started in the fall of 1983 was due to the fact that although several items were known in the UK and Europe, the American tour was only held for a short period of time, and above all, it was special because it was the band’s last tour. , the Japan tour left a strong impression on fans. Among them, the “final performance” on March 14th is etched in the history of Western music concerts in Japan as an unavoidable live concert for all hard rock fans (including the existence of an official video). However, the Budokan premiere on March 13th, which took place just before that, was also a live show that had an important meaning for fans who love RAINBOW. Until now, excellent sound sources such as “HELLBENT DRIVER” have been released. This newly discovered sound source is a reconstruction of that March 13th live show from a new angle (at this time, the taper was recorded from “Arena R Row No. 98”) in front of the fans. Although it has a certain brightness, the sound image has a mellow texture unique to tape recording, making it possible to enjoy a live performance filled with the excitement and realism of an arena! Recording of this sound source started about 10 minutes before the live performance. The excitement in the arena is amazing, already at its peak even before the performance begins. The announcements made by Japanese officials warning the audience before the performance begins are also captured with great realism, and listeners will feel as if they are one of the audience members as they listen to the recording. Eventually, the BGM of the venue moves to “Flame Runner”, and when it ends, “Land Of Hope And Glory” finally flows. The explosive excitement when a band appears here is truly thrilling! The live performance included a rock-solid performance and set, including the promised “Spotlight Kid,” “Miss Mistreated,” “I Surrender,” and “Can’t Happen Here.” The performance is a little diffused because it was recorded at the rear of the arena, but Joe’s vocals can be heard with a clear outline, and Richie’s guitar is also well-closed up in the solos of each song. The listening point of the first half was “Catch The Rainbow” which was revived in the set. Although the turbulent second half that could be heard at live performances in the 1970s has been omitted, the arrangement pursues a fantastical song idea and delicate emotions that is unique to this time. In addition, “Street Of Dreams”, which can be said to be the highlight of the performance in Japan, will let you thoroughly enjoy the splendor of the melody. Even with the harder songs, such as “Fool For The Night”, “Stranded”, and “Fire Dance”, the symphonic mood that made use of David Rosenthal’s keyboard was excellent, and I can’t help but wonder how wonderful the songs and performances were at this time. I am reminded of this. The highlight is definitely “Difficult To Cure”. Just hearing the audience’s surprise and excitement when the orchestra appears is overwhelming! The encore, in which popular songs such as “All Night Long” and “Stone Cold” are played in quick succession, also brings together the stage and the audience, creating a wonderful live performance. From Joe’s vocals to the ballad-like climax of “Smoke On The Water,” this work spans nearly 130 minutes and lets you relive every detail of the live performance! After this Japan tour, Richie talked with Ian Gillan and Jon Lord, and realized DEEP PURPLE’s reunion with the second lineup. As a result, “BENT OUT OF SHAPE” ended up being a “last album.” However, in RAINBOW’s history of about 10 years, this work and the final performance in Japan have become legendary enough to decorate the band’s final days. This work, which reenjoys the live show just before the final performance with a new perspective and high-quality recording, is a must-see for RAINBOW fans. Live at Budokan, Tokyo, Japan 13th March 1984 TRULY AMAZING SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1(56:53) 1. Opening 2. Land Of Hope And Glory 3. Over The Rainbow 4. Spotlight Kid 5. Miss Mistreated 6. I Surrender 7. Can’t Happen Here 8. Catch The Rainbow 9. Power 10. Keyboard Solo 11. Street Of Dreams Disc 2(71:55) 1. Fool For The Night 2. Difficult To Cure Intro. 3. Difficult To Cure (with Orchestra) 4. Guitar Solo 5. Drums Solo 6. Stranded incl. Woman From Tokyo 7. Blues 8. Death Alley Driver 9. Fire Dance 10. All Night Long 11. Maybe Next Time 12. Stone Cold 13. Since You Been Gone 14. Smoke On The Water 15. Over The Rainbow Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar Joe Lynn Turner – Vocals Roger Glover – Bass David Rosenthal – Keyboards Chuck Burgi – Drums