1972, 1992, and 1996. The miraculous trio EL&P performed 20 performances in three Japan tours. A live album from the last night they played in Japan is now available. That “last night” was the “October 19, 1996 Urawa Cultural Center” performance. Let's take a look at the schedule for their third and final performance in Japan. ・October 8: Fukuoka Sun Palace ・October 9: Osaka Festival Hall ・October 10: Nagoya City Public Hall [October 11th off] ・October 12: Shibuya Public Hall ・October 13: Tokyo Employees' Pension Hall ・October 14th: Sendai Izumiti 21 ・October 15th: Nakano Sunplaza [October 16th off] ・October 17th: Nakano Sunplaza ・October 18th: Nakano Sunplaza ・October 19th: Urawa Cultural Center [This work] As you can see, it was a very busy schedule of 10 performances in 12 days. When he returned to Japan in 1992, there were 8 additional performances as if the 20-year blank had exploded, but the number of performances increased even more four years later. The biggest appeal of this work is not that you can listen to the final performance... Of course, it is truly the last concert of “EL&P in Japan”, but the sound that blows away its rarity is wonderful. Although this is an audience album given directly by the person who recorded it, its sound is far from what one would associate with the word "audience." The core of the musical tone is clear and the contours are clear, giving it a direct feel. Not only Keith Emerson's virtuoso skills, but also Carl Palmer's detailed cymbal work, Greg Lake's roaring bass, and singing voice. All of them are clear and well balanced, and it is a quality that I would like to call “official class audience” rather than “sound board class”. To be honest, the Japan performance in 1996... no, even if I look around the world, I have never heard the restart period from 1996 to 1998 with such an audience sound. Moreover, the live content is also wonderful. At the performance in Japan in 1992, the audience was dominated by a sense of nervousness for the first time in 20 years, but the third time they were somewhat relaxed and had time to enjoy the show itself. There was plenty of that atmosphere on this day, and the applause between songs was warm and loud. The clapping that spreads in "Knife Edge" is loud and consistent, but it is wide, and it clearly shows "fun" rather than the tension of "not missing a single note." Perhaps due to the mood and the enthusiasm for the final performance, the performance was even more exciting than usual. Even though the complex song development is very dynamic, they don't make any mistakes, and they execute it smoothly. A memorable final performance, a complete uncut recording, an amazing sound, a wonderful performance... it's a live album that seems to be perfect in everything, but unfortunately it wasn't perfect. Although the recording itself is extremely wonderful, the master itself has deteriorated over time, and there is a slight noise in the second half. Each noise itself is very small, so trivial that you wouldn't notice it if you were listening normally. However, there were so many that we were unable to fix them all. Even if the noise is at a level that doesn't bother me when I'm listening to it, I can't press it if I can't stop once it starts to bother me. It is a great recording that is too unfortunate. Even though it was one step short of becoming a historical masterpiece, it cannot be dismissed as a very clear and beautiful recording. Even more so if it becomes EL&P's last live in Japan. I want as many people as possible to know that this masterpiece existed and to remember it. That's what this release is for. It's not a flawless live album, but it's a shining live album. Please take this opportunity to enjoy it to the fullest. Live at Bunka Center, Urawa, Japan 19th October 1996 ULTIMATE SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1 1. Karn Evil 9 2. Tiger In A Spotlight 3. Hoedown 4. Touch And Go 5. Knife Edge 6. Bitches Crystal 7. Still ...You Turn Me On 8. From The Beginning 9. A Tribute To Kevin Gilbert 10. Honky Tonk Train Blues 11. Take A Pebble Disc 2 1. Lucky Man 2. Tarkus(Eruption/Stones Of Years/Iconoclast/Mars) 3. Pictures At An Exhibition(The Hut Of Baba Yaga/The Great Gates Of Kiev) 4. Fanfare For The Common Man/America-Rondo-Drums Solo 5. Finale
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