Rainbow "Monsters of Rock Live at Donington 1980" Japanese editions

As you probably already know, Rainbow's
"Monsters of Rock - Live at Donington 1980"
is to be released as 1CD+1DVD set on Apr. 22 in US and UK
from Eagle Rock Entertainment.


Japan's Ward Records will release it in several different editions on Apr. 15
which have 2 CDs of the concert.




There are 4 variations (with links to Amazon Japan when possible):

• 2CD standard edition
• 2CD+DVD limited edition
• 2CD+DVD+T-shirt edition (Limited to 5000 copies): T-shirt is L-size only on Amazon.
• Super Premium Box (Limited to 500 copies): only available at Ward Records website.
  
  • 2CD of the concert
  • 1CD of radio interviews of the band members (Blackmore / Powell+Airey / Powell)
  • 1DVD
  • 3LP of the concert (same content as 2CD)
  • Reproduction of the concert booklet (excerpt, Rainbow-related pages only)
  • Reproduction of the press pass (from the actual pass used by Japanese rock critic Masayuki Itô)
  • T-shirt (S/M/L/XL)

(Personally I wish there were 3CD+1DVD edition without T-shirt etc.)


Ward Records claims their CDs have
"some parts cut from the international editions."



The tracklistings are as follows:

CD 1:

1. Opening: Pomp and Circumstance (*)
2. Intro /
   Eyes Of The World
3. Since You Been Gone /
   Over the Rainbow (*)
4. Stargazer
5. Catch The Rainbow
6. Don Airey keyboard solo (*) /
   Lost in Hollywood /
   A Light in the Black (excerpt) (*) /
   Ritchie Blackmore guitar solo
7. Difficult To Cure /
   Don Airey keyboard solo
8. Cozy Powell drum solo (1812) /
   Lost in Hollywood (reprise)

CD 2:

1. Lazy (excerpt)
2. All Night Long
3. Blues
4. Will You Love Me Tomorrow
5. Long Live Rock n Roll
6. Ritchie Blackmore guitar crash (Kill the King) (*)
7. Long Live Rock n Roll (reprise) (*)

DVD:

1. Lazy (excerpt)
2. All Night Long
3. Catch The Rainbow
4. Eyes Of The World
5. Ritchie Blackmore guitar solo
6. Difficult To Cure
7. Will You Love Me Tomorrow
8. Long Live Rock n Roll
9. Ritchie Blackmore guitar crash (Kill the King) (*)
10. Long Live Rock n Roll (reprise) (*)

*-marked ones are not listed in the international editions.

But, it seems to me the differences can be mostly attributed to how you describe medleys and solos.

For example, the last 3 "tracks" of CD2,
may be same as the one Long Live Rock n Roll
in the international edition.

The only significant difference may be the opening.
But I'm not sure if it makes 2CD necessary.
There may be more differences actually.

Too bad they don't mention track length, or total time of each disc.
(They say DVD is approx. 30 mins, though.)


BTW, Ward Records explicitly states 2 songs played in the concert -
Love's No Friend and Man on the Silver Mountain - have been lost,
and this is the "as full version as possible today."

The Doors - Japanese "Singles Box" released

On Jun. 23, 2013, Warner Music Japan (WMJ) released a boxset entitled
"The Doors Singles Box".

Buy at Amazon JP


This strictly limited, Japan-only boxset compiles all the Doors singles released in Japan
from 1967 to 1972 (originally from Victor Records),
as a collection of 14 "maxi" CDs in paper sleeve replicas of the original releases.

WMJ's catalog info is here.

Cat. #: WPCR-14801/14
Discs: 14

• Newly digitally remastered in 2013
• Bonus alternate sleeve of "Light My Fire"
• Gorgeous booklet
• Original lyrics and Japanese translations

Tracklisting:

Disc 01
1 - Light My Fire (mono, Single Ver.) +
2 - The Crystal Ship (mono) +

Disc 02
1 - People Are Strange (mono) +
2 - Unhappy Girl (mono) +

Disc 03
1 - Love Me Two Times (Original Album Ver./Different with US Ver.)
2 - Moonlight Drive (Original Album Ver./Different with US Ver.)

Disc 04
1 - The Unknown Soldier (mono, Single Ver.) +
2 - We Could Be So Good Together (mono, Single Ver.) +

Disc 05
1 - Hello, I Love You (Original Album Ver.)
2 - Love Street (Original Album Ver.)

Disc 06
1 - Touch Me (Single Ver.) +
2 - Wild Child (Original Album Ver.)

Disc 07
1 - Tell All The People (Original Album Ver.) +
2 - Easy Ride (Original Album Ver.)

Disc 08
1 - Runnin' Blue (Original Album Ver.)
2 - Do It (Original Album Ver.)

Disc 09
1 - Land Ho! (Different Mix) +
2 - You Make Me Real (Original Album Ver.)

Disc 10
1 - Love Her Madly (Different Mix) +
2 - (You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further (Different Mix)

Disc 11
1 - Riders On The Storm (Edited Short Ver.) +
2 - Changeling (Single Ver.) +

Disc 12
1 - Tightrope Ride (Single Ver.) +
2 - Variety Is The Spice Of Life (Single Ver.) *

Disc 13
1 - Get Up And Dance (Single Ver.) *
2 - Treetrunk (Single Ver.) *

Disc 14
1 - The Mosquito (mono, Single Ver.) +
2 - It Slipped My Mind (Single Ver.) *


*: Previously unreleased ‘SONGS’ on CD
+: Previously unreleased ‘VERSIONS’ on CD



Buy at Amazon JP

Chicago Live in Japan - a Japanese engineer's recollection

As I wrote before, Warner Music Japan recently re-released
Chicago's "Live in Japan" album (1972) in mini-LP replica style CD.



To promote this release, Warner Music Japan's official YouTube channel
has 2-part interview with Tomoo Suzuki, the recording engineer of the album.
He also supervised the remastering of this reissue.

Part 1.

Part 2.

Since it's in Japanese only and there's no CC available,
I'm afraid it's useless for most foreigners.

However each part has a sample audio from the remastered album near the end,
"Low Down" (Japanese version) (at 6:20 of Part 1) and
"25 or 6 to 2" (at 5:40 of Part 2).

Also, after "25 or 6 to 2", they look at the actual mini-LP and shows what's inside (at 8:16).

FYI, here are some tidbits from the interview:

• When they asked the live recording, Japanese side didn't expect the band would agree, especially after the Carnegie Hall live album.
• The band asked Japanese side to prepare all the equipments, while they would bring American producer and engineer(s) to Japan.
• The recording was done with a pair of 8-track 1/2 inch tape recorders.
• While the tour started in Tokyo, Japanese team deliberately chose Osaka for the recording.
  They expected Tokyo would be a "good rehearsal" for the band, which would make them feel much comfortable in Osaka.
  Also, they figured audience in Osaka would show more excitement and appreciation honestly than those in Tokyo, who often behave too well-mannered and stay calm.
• Japanese-language version of "Low Down" was a complete surprise for Japanese, including the recording crew.
• While many live albums have "fixes" (especially today), it's not possible for this album, simply because the band had returned home.
  Suzuki also said "equipments those days were much simpler, there's less room for manipulations. So you get what the band performed".
• At the time, Suzuki was 25 years old and only one year experience as a recording engineer/mixer, and mostly served as an assistant. He was very surprised when James William Guercio personally told him to do the mixing down.
• After Wayne Tarnowski examined the recording at Roppongi sutdio and gave general directions, he returned home. The rest was up to Japanese crew.
• When mixing down was finished, they sent the result as a laquer disc to America, and it was accepted for the release.
• Some time later Suzuki visited America for study and met Guercio again, who told him it was very good. "I felt very happy," Suzuki said.
• The success of this album led Suzuki to many other "Live in Japan" projects, suh as Beck, Bogart & Appice, Santana, Mountain, Bob Dylan, Cheap Trick.
  "Without this album, my life would have been completely different," Suzuki said.
  
  
  

Warner Music Japan's soft rock/fusion mini-LP/SHM-CD reissues

Warner Music Japan is currently doing a promotion entitled "Light Mellow 2012"
which is a series of reissues of adult contemporary/fusion titles from 1970s-80s,
all newly remastered, SHM-CD pressing, packaged in mini-LP papersleeves.
(Some of them were previously available as SHM-CD and/or mini-LP in the past, though.)

March 21

Stuff

• Stuff WPCR-14403
• More Stuff WPCR-14404
• Stuff It WPCR-14405
• Live Stuff WPCR-14406
• Live in New York WPCR-14407

April 25

Christopher Cross

• Christopher Cross WPCR-14438
• Another Page WPCR-14439

Michael Franks

• The Art of Tea WPCR-14428
• Sleeping Gypsy WPCR-14429
• Burchfield Nines WPCR-14430
• Tiger in the Rain WPCR-14431
• One Bad Habit WPCR-14432
• Live (with Crossfire) WPCR-14433
• Objects of Desire WPCR-14434
• Passionfruit WPCR-14435
• Skin Dive WPCR-14436
• The Camera Never Lies WPCR-14437

May 23

Al Jarreau

• We Got By WPCR-14474
• Glow WPCR-14475
• Look to the Rainbow WPCR-14476
• All Fly Home WPCR-14477
• This Time WPCR-14478
• Breakin' Away WPCR-14479
• Jarreau WPCR-14480
• High Crime WPCR-14481

The Manhattan Transfer

• Extensions WPCR-14462
• Mecca for Moderns WPCR-14463
• Bodies and Souls WPCR-14464

[Update Jun. 22, 2012: Added links to the titles below, and corrected release date of RLJ titles]

June 13

George Benson

• Breezin' WPCR-14497
• In Flight WPCR-14498
• Weekend in L.A. WPCR-14499
• Livin' Inside Your Love WPCR-14500
• Give Me the Night WPCR-14501
• In Your Eyes WPCR-14502
• 20/20 WPCR-14503
• Collaboration (with Earl Klugh) WPCR-14504

Cornell Dupree

• Teasin' WPCR-14505

June 27

 

Rickie Lee Jones

• Rickie Lee Jones WPCR-14508
• Pirates WPCR-14509
• The Magazine WPCR-14510

July

TBA (I'll add them when announced)

My Bloody Valentine remasters will be Blu-spec CDs in Japan

The Japanese editions of My Bloody Valentine's reissues
remastered by Kevin Shields will be Blu-spec CDs, due May 30.

• Isn't Anything: Mini-LP paper sleeve, limited.
• Loveless (2CD): Mini-LP paper sleeve, limited.
• EP's 1988-1991 (2CD): Digipack for initial press only.

Sony Music Japan doesn't have information on these releases as of this writing.

Chicago Live in Japan - remastered mini-LP CD

On May 23, Warner Music Japan will release mini-LP replica CD of
Chicago's "Live in Japan" album (1972) which has been OOP for some time.





Here's Warner Music Japan's official product page.
According to the description,
this edition will use the latest 2012 remaster.

And this is the first time it's released as mini-LP replica.

[Added June 10: related post is here]

The Byrds on Blu-spec mini-LP CD: Update

A little update on the Blu-spec mini-LP CD reissues of
the Byrds albums I wrote about here.

It appears the release date has been delayed to May 30 from the original May 2.

And now tracklisting of the albums are available at Sony Music's website.

• Mr. Tambourine Man (tracklist)
• Turn! Turn! Turn! (tracklist)
• Fifth Dimension (tracklist)
• Younger Than Yesterda (tracklist)
• The Notorious Byrd Brothers (tracklist)

Also, on the same day Sony will release
The Original Singles As & Bs 1965-1971
2-CD/Blu-spec CD (but not mini-LP style, it seems)



According to the advertisement, the concept of this compilation is to offer all the singles
"in the versions as the fans heard them on the radio back then."

So, unlike previously available compilations that mainly used stereo album versions,
this compiles exact versions issued as the singles.

The set will also include the songs that were planned to be but not actually issued as singles,
as well as some alternate versions.

Exact tracklisting is not available as of this writing.

Yes mini-LP reissues in April

Yes' albums have been released as mini-LP replicas in Japan several times.
(As I recollect they were among the first ones reissued in mini-LP style back in 1980s.)

Most recently they were released in 2009 on SHM-CD,
featuring new remasters and bonus tracks.
(It seems they had the same bonus tracks as 2003 Rhino reissues.)

On April 4, 2012, those 2009 editions of mini-LP SHM-CDs will be reissued,
to tie-in with Yes' upcoming Japan tour.
So if you missed any of them in 2009, here's a chance.

• Yes
• Time and a Word
• The Yes Album
• Fragile
• Close to the Edge
• Yessongs
• Tales from Topographic Oceans
• Relayer
• Going for the One
• Tormato
• Drama
• Yesshows
• 90125
• 9012Live: The Solos
• Big Generator

Note: Amazon doesn't distinguish the new pressings from the 2009 issues.
So, if you follow the links above, you may find some of them listed as "In stock"
while others are "In stock on April 5, 2012".

Manfred Mann & related mini-LP SHM-CD in May

To tie in with the Manfreds' Japan tour in June,
Universal Music Japan will release
paper sleeve mini-LP style SHM-CD editions of
Manfred Mann's and related albums on May 23, 2012.

[Update May 3: These releases appear to be delayed to June 20.]

All will use the latest remasters and include bonus tracks.

Manfred Mann's albums:

• Mannerisms
• As Is
• Mighty Garvey!
• Up the Junction
• What a Mann

Ex-members' albums:

• Paul Jones - Crucifix in a Horseshoe
• Mike D'Abo - D'Abo
• Mike D'Abo - Down at Rachel's Place
• Mike D'Abo - Broken Rainbows
• Mike Hugg - Somewhere
• Mike Hugg - Stress & Strain
• Hug - The Neon Dream

Bell Antique label's March mini-LP releases

On March 25, Japan's Marquee will release following albums on their Bell Antique label,
all as SHM-CD packaged in mini-LP paper sleeve.

Australian band Sebastian Hardie's first album in 36 years: Blueprint


French progressive rock band Pulsar's late 1970s works (remastered):
Pollen, The Strands of the Future, and Halloween:


French King Crimson follower Shylock's Ile de Fièvre
remastered, with one instrumental bonus track.


Samples of Sebastian Hardie and Shylock are available:

Steve Hackett & GTR reissues on HQCD mini-LP

On March 28, 2012, WHD Entertainment will release 2 Steve Hackett-related albums
remastered with K2HD technology, manufactured as HQCD, packaged in mini-LP replica.

• GTR - GTR (WHD page)
• Steve Hackett - Tokyo Tapes (WHD page)

While mini-LP CDs of both albums were already released some years ago,
this is the first time as K2HD+HQCD.

Amazon Japan and several other sources claim GTR is to include 5 bonus tracks (details unknown),
but they are not mentioned on the WHD website, as of this writing.

[UPDATE (Apr. 9): According to Amazon Japan's customer reviews,

GTR actually has only one bonus track, which is the single version of "When The Heart Rules The Mind" sourced from analog vinyl because the master tape has been lost.

Strangely, WHD website doesn't list this bonus track on their official site.]

The Byrds on Blu-spec mini-LP CD in Japan

[Edit (Apr. 14): I've added updated informations here]

On May 2, 2012, Sony Music Japan will release the Byrds albums on Blu-spec CD,
in paper sleeve mini-LP replica package.
The albums will feature both stereo & mono versions,
with some bonus tracks.

• Mr. Tambourine Man
• Turn! Turn! Turn!
• Fifth Dimension
• Younger Than Yesterday
• The Notorious Byrd Brothers

This may upset some fans though,
since Sony had just re-released Mr. Tambourine Man
in mini-LP style (albeit not Blu-spec CD) in this January.

Neu! - remastered mini-LP replica CDs in Japan

On March 21, 2012, P-Vine will release 4 remastered CDs of German experimental band Neu!
in miniature LP-replica paper sleeve packages.

Namely Neu!, Neu! 2, Neu! 75 and Neu! 86, as seen below:

EW&F on Blu-spec mini-LP CD in Japan

On March 7, 2012, Sony Music Entertainment Japan will release
15 Earth, Wind & Fire titles from the Columbia years
on limited editions of Blu-spec CD in mini-LP replica package.

• Last Days And Time (SICP20351)
• Head To The Sky (SICP20352)
• Open Our Eyes (SICP20353)
• That's The Way Of The World (SICP20354)
• Gratitude (SICP20355/6)
• Spirit (SICP20357)
• All'N All (SICP20358)
• Best Of Earth,Wind & Fire Vol.1 (SICP20359)
• I Am (SICP20360)
• Faces (SICP20361/2)
• Raise! (SICP20363)
• Powerlight (SICP20364)
• Electric Universe (SICP20365)
• Touch The World (SICP20366)
• Heritage (SICP20367)

It's planned to use new DSD remastering.

Sam Cooke's RCA titles on Blu-spec mini-LP CD in Japan

On March 7, 2012, Sony Music Entertainment Japan will release
9 Sam Cooke titles from the RCA years on limited editions of
Blu-spec CD in mini-LP replica package,
6 of which are previously not available on CD in Japan.

• Cooke's Tour (2006 & 2011 remasters)
• Hit of the 50's
• Sam Cooke
• My Kind of Blues
• Twistin' the Night Away
• The Best of Sam Cooke (2006 remaster)
• Mr. Soul
• Night Beat (2006 remaster)
• One Night Stand: Live at the Harlem Square (2006 remaster)

They use 2011 remasters, except where stated otherwise.

Millennium Godzilla Best - Japanese CD

Composed and arranged by Akira Ifukube

Cat.#: TYCY-10043
Release date: Dec. 6, 2000
Publisher: Toshiba EMI
Audio remastered by Shûji Kitamura

cover illustrated by Yûji Kaida

Basically, this is a "best-of" compilation of music by Akira Ifukube from the soundtracks of Toho's kaijû/tokusatsu/sci-fi movies in the 1950s-70s.

In Japan, there are so many compilations of this kind that it's hard to pick one.
But this CD is a good single disc compilation.
If you are a casual fan of Toho's monster/sci-fi movies, and just want one CD that compiles "the best of" Ifukube's music from those movies' original soundtracks (not covers), along with Godzilla's roars and footsteps - then perhaps this CD will do a decent job for you.


Track list:

01-03 from "Godzilla" (1954):

• Footsteps - Main Title (2'09")
• Godzilla Lands (1'55")
• Ending (1'42")

04-06 from "Rodan (Sora no Daikaijû Radon)" (1956):

• Main Title (2'35")
• Supersonic Chase - Chase to Rodan (2'32")
• Rodan Attacks Fukuoka I (3'22")

07-08 from "The Mysterians (Chikyû Bôeigun)" (1957):

• Main Title (1'45")
• The First Battle (5'40")

09-10 from "Varan the Unbelievable (Daikaijû Baran)" (1958):

• Main Title (1'48")
• The Shipwreck of a Fishing Boat - The Depth Charge Attack Begins (3'10")

11-12 from "Battle in Outer Space (Uchû Daisensô)" (1959):

• Main Title (1'24")
• Battle in Outer Space (2'51")

13-16 from "King Kong vs. Godzilla" (1962):

• Main Title (2'04")
• Godzilla Revives (1'43")
• Transportation of King Kong (2'15")
• King Kong vs. Godzilla I (2'44")

17-18 from "Atragon (Kaitei Gunkan)" (1963):

• Atragon Trial Run I - Atragon Trial Run II (3'19")
• The Volunteer Corps in Action (2'17")

19-20 from "Mothra vs. Godzilla" (1964):

• The Recollection of Twin Fairy (1'48")
• Ending (1'11")

21-22 from "Dogora, the Space Monster (Uchû daikaijû Dogora)" (1964):

• Dogora's Natural Enemy (1'33")
• Air Force Begins Attack (2'10")

23 from "Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (San Dai Kaijû: Chikyûaidai no Kessen)" (1964):

• The Birth of King Ghidrah (1'43")

24 from "Frankenstein Conquers the World (Frankenstein tai Chitei Kaijû Baragon" (1965):

• An Incident in the Mountain Forest - The Searching March (3'05")

25-26 from "Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero) (Kaijû Daisensô)" (1965):

• Kaijû Daisensô March (3'09")
• Kaijû Daisensô (2'19")

27 from "The War of the Gargantuas (Frankenstein no Kaijû Sanda tai Gaira)" (1968):

• Operation L March I (3'53")

28 from "Destroy All Monsters (Kaijû Sôshingeki)" (1968):

• Toho logo - Main Title - Title Credits (2'03")

29-30 from "Terror of Mechagodzilla (Mekagojira no Gyakushû)" (1975):

• The Revival of Godzilla (3'40")
• Ending (1'20")

The track titles are, of course, not official. Just my translation.


The Booklet (in Japanese only, of course) has liner notes explaining the concept of this compilation.

It also includes basic informations about the movies, with theatrical posters printed in B&W. Not bad.

For each track there's a brief description, where in the movie it's used, etc.
For a few tracks that have lyrics, they are printed too.


Audio:

The booklet explicitly states it's pseudo-stereo made of mono.

Personally I don't like this approach. If the original material is recorded in mono, I want to listen it in mono.
But, to be honest, practically it's not a problem at all - for me at least.

The advertisement slip claims it's "digitally remastered with the latest digital technology." (Remember the CD was released in 2000.)
But in the liner notes, the writer claims that technology was used to restore the sound, and get the full potential of the source magnetic tapes.

In terms of audio quality, this disc would never blow anyone away.
This sounds very much like what I expect from old Japanese movies, as good as it gets.