Stevie Wonder/Tokyo,Japan 1982 Upgrade & more

14 years after his first visit to Japan, Stevie Wonder in 1982 realized his first national tour. This is the definitive edition that sets the symbolic performance with the highest peak update master. This work contains two broadcast records of one show. It is a two-disc set with the FM broadcast sound board of the “November 5, 1982: Nippon Budokan” performance on DISC 1 and the TV broadcast pro shot on DISC 2. Stevie’s first visit to Japan dates back to 1968, but basically it was mainly a one-off event-like performance. It was not until the 1980s that he began to tour the country with more than 10 performances. First of all, let’s take a bird’s-eye view of the schedule of his visit to Japan at that time and check the position of this work.・October 28: Fukuoka International Center・October 29: Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium・October 31-November 2: Osaka Festival Hall (3 performances)・November 4: Nippon Budokan・November 5: Nippon Budokan ←★This work★・November 6: Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium・November 8: Miyagi Prefectural Sports Center・November 9: Koriyama City General Gymnasium All 10 performances above. The highlight of the show was the 2DAYS Nippon Budokan, and the second performance was broadcast on radio and television and became a standard. This work is a set of both of them as the best master. Let’s introduce each one individually. DISC 1: Best master of long-length FM broadcast The first thing to appear is a soundboard album containing the FM broadcast version. The content of this live is different on radio and television, but in fact, even though it is called the “FM version”, there are several types with different broadcasts. The long-length broadcast is included in this disc. The 50-minute short broadcast is famous, but this work is about 70 minutes long. The content is also very rich. At the time, the best album “ORIGINAL MUSIQUARIUM I” was a hit, and the hit songs were played one after another, including the new songs at the time “Do I Do”, “Ribbon In The Sky”, and “That Girl”. Of course, it is longer than the TV broadcast version described below, but on the other hand, there are songs that have not been recorded on either version. Let’s organize the contents of the FM broadcast / TV broadcast set here. Songs common to both FM and TV: My Cherie Amour, That Girl (★), Sir Duke (★), Do I Do (★), Superstition (★), Master Blaster (Jammin’) (★), Happy Birthday Individual songs from each broadcast: FM broadcast version (DISC 1): Uptight (Everything’s Alright), A Place In The Sun, Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours, I Wish (★), You Are The Sunshine Of My Life (★), Ebony & Ivory TV broadcast version (DISC 2): Ribbon In The Sky (★), Living In The City (★) *Note: The “★” mark indicates songs included in “ORIGINAL MUSIQUARIUM I”. DISC 2: TV broadcast pro shots that vividly revive the golden age Long new excavation master Following the best master of the FM broadcast version is the best master of the TV broadcast version. The TV broadcast version has been popular for a long time, but this work is different from that and is a newly excavated master that is three minutes longer. Of course, not only the length but also the quality is excellent. It is the same as the air check master of the time, but there are almost no dubbing marks or twists, and no white line noise. It is a little darker in the 1980s, and it is a beautiful master that is vivid to the eyes of today’s digital heyday. And the show depicted with such beautiful images is also wonderful. As mentioned above, it is shorter than the FM broadcast version, but the persuasive power of the eyes is still strong. Stevie is supported by his partner Nathan Watts (bass), Nolan Smith (trumpet), who has also performed with Carol King and Marvin Gaye, Dennis Davis (drums), who is familiar with David Bowie and Iggy Pop, and Rick Zuniger (guitar), who is active in the jazz world, and other virtuoso players of the time. Moreover, all the members, including the female chorus, participated in “HOTTER THAN JULY”, and they performed a perfectly synchronized ensemble. During the drum solo, Stevie himself sits on a stool and battles with Dennis (the video processing is also a must-see), and in the highlight, he talks to the audience in Japanese, saying “Totemo Ai Shiteru!” In “Living For The City”, Stevie gives a passionate performance that makes him collapse, and the staff rushes over… During the last song, “Happy Birthday”, the lights of “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTIN LUTHER KING” shine in the space of the Budokan, and the audience and the show come together for a grand finale. Not only the editing that makes you suffocate with the scent of the golden age and the nostalgic commercials, but also the sense of the era that the program itself exudes is a must-see. For example, when Stevie at the Nippon Budokan starts singing “Do I Do”, the sponsor credits mercilessly interrupt and seamlessly change to a video of the desert. What’s going on? You might think, but it’s actually a cassette tape commercial… The next commercial uses “Ribbon In The Sky” as background music, and seamlessly transitions into the singing voice at Nippon Budokan. It’s interesting to see the commercial and the live performance go back and forth, but it’s a spectacular production that would be unthinkable today. There is an interview scene in the middle, where the question is just one: “Stevie! What do you think the sun is?”. The atmosphere is that Stevie Wonder was not a legend in the music world, but his message was alive and shining. And the best part is the end. The audience leaves the Budokan, and there are famous Japanese people there. Kiyoshiro Imawano, Hiroshi Kamayatsu, Ichiro Fukuda, Hisashi Kawamura, Chiemi Kai… The now deceased people’s eyes shine at the show they just saw, and they talk passionately about the excitement. Stevie Wonder in the 1980s, who reached the top of the music scene and became a symbol of Western music culture here in Japan. This is the definitive set of his FM and TV broadcasts in the best masters. This two-disc set brings not only the live performance of the golden age, but also the “Golden Age of Western Music in Japan” itself to your home. This two-disc set includes the FM broadcast soundboard and TV broadcast pro shots of the “November 5, 1982: Nippon Budokan” performance. Both are classics that have been known for a long time, but this work is the best master that has updated the longest history. In particular, the live album version is a stereo soundboard that lasts about 70 minutes, and there are plenty of masterpieces that are not available on the TV broadcast version. The video version is also extremely persuasive to watch, and the celebrity comments and nostalgic commercials that are only possible in the golden age of Western music are heartwarming. This is an absolute set that will make you choke up with the rich scent of the 80s. Budokan, Tokyo, Japan 5th November 1982 STEREO SBD/PRO-SHOT UPGRADE CD(68:52) FM BROADCAST RECORDING 01 Uptight 02 A Place in the Sun 03 My Cherie Amour 04 Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours 05 That Girl 06 Sir Duke 07 I Wish 08 You are the Sunshine of my Life 09 Ebony & Ivory 10 Do I Do 11 Superstition 12 Master Blaster 13 Happy Birthday 14 Interview STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING DVD 1. Intro 2. Do I Do / CM 3. CM / Ribbon In The Sky 4. That Girl 5. Superstition 6. Interview 7. CM 8. Living For The City 9. Sir Duke 10. My Cherie Amour 11. Master Blaster (Jammin’) 12. Member Introduction 13. CM / That Girl 14. Happy Birthday 15. Outro PRO-SHOT COLOR NTSC Approx.50min. Stevie Wonder – Vocal, Keyboards, Drums Benjamin Bridges – Guitar Richard Zunigar – Guitar Jeff Clayton – Tenor Saxophone Henry Redd – Alt Saxophone Larry Gittens – Trumpet Nolan Smith – Trumpet Nathan Watts – Bass Dennis Davis – Drums Earl Derouen – Percussion Isaiah Sanders – Keyboards Shierley Brewer – Vocals Melody McCully – Vocal Alexandria Brown – Vocal