Gillan/Japan Tour Collection 1978

"GILLAN" returned to hard rock and hit Japan in 1978. This is a compilation of their best records. This work contains three live performances. A set of four superb audience recordings of the "October 18, 1978: Nagoya City Public Hall" performance and the "October 20: Osaka Welfare Pension Hall" performance, and one TV program pro shot recorded during their visit to Japan. It is a huge epic set of five discs in total. First, let's understand the position of each performance from the schedule of their visit to Japan at that time. ・October 17: Shibuya Public Hall ・October 18: Nagoya City Public Hall [This work disc 1-2] ・October 19: Shibuya Public Hall ・October 20: Osaka Welfare Pension Hall [This work disc 3-4] 《October 22 TV appearance》 [This work disc 5] ・October 23: Shinjuku Welfare Pension Hall All five performances + α. Anyway, this 1978 Japan tour was brilliant. They had come to Japan in 1977 as the "IAN GILLAN BAND", but their music was a jazz fusion style for connoisseurs. Even though they didn't want to imitate DEEP PURPLE, it was too far off from expectations. However, Ian later disbanded the band. All members were replaced except for Colin Towns. In addition to the giant John McCoy, Steve Bird, who was only there at this time, and Pete Barnacle, who later joined GIRL, were rare, and they pursued a straighter and harder rock than in the PURPLE era. The new band immediately produced a new album, "GILLAN" (this first album was mainly distributed only in Japan, so it is commonly known as the "JAPANESE ALBUM"). They performed in Europe as a warm-up, and then landed in Japan. This work is a big title that compiles the second visit of such a "hard Gillan" to Japan. [Disc 1-2: Live album from Nagoya City Public Hall] First up is the full live album from Nagoya, the second performance. This is already a truly wonderful audience sound. This sound source was once released as "BACK IN THE GAME" on the Power Gate label, but this time it has been digitized again from the original master. What is particularly wonderful is the fiercely on-power. It is recorded from the moody "Second Sight", but even the SE-like intro sound is so thick that it tramples on the clapping and cheers. And when the band explodes with "Secret Of The Dance", the robust performance sound and singing voice dominate everything. Judging from the extension of the shout, there seems to be a slight distance, but the on-power sound with almost no sense of distance is wonderful. Such a vivid sound explodes with fiercely fresh and thorough hard rock. IAN GILLAN BAND's repertoire is completely abolished, and the "JAPANESE ALBUM" number is a big deal. Eight of the album's 10 songs were performed, and the rest were only the familiar DEEP PURPLE songs "Child In Time", "Smoke On The Water" and "Lucille". It is truly a "JAPANESE ALBUM IN JAPAN" and the epitome of straight hard rock. The PURPLE numbers are also interesting, but the most striking thing is the rush of new songs, and the performance and selection thoroughly declare "New Band!" [Disc 3-4: Live Album from Osaka Welfare Pension Hall] Next is the Osaka performance two days later. This is a superb audience recording at the "Osaka Welfare Pension Hall", the place where the second period of DEEP PURPLE ended. This is also a reprint of the master of the famous Power Gate label "FIGHTING MAN", and the vivid and clear sound is amazing. While boasting a direct feeling comparable to the Nagoya performance (Disc 1-2), this one has a mid-to-high range extension. This sound is very pleasing. After all, Ian Gillan's trademark is his superhuman shout. The high notes that reach endlessly double the sharpness of the shout, and the intense beats and guitar riffs are sharply captured. Writing like this might make you think that the high notes sound kinky, but that's not the case. The bass, which tends to be a weakness in audience recordings, is absorbed with a sense of response, and the hard-driving beats are powerful enough to hit you in the stomach. The sound is so sharp that it never gets shaky or distorted, and it's the best audience sound you could hope for in the 1970s. And the show is even more powerful than Nagoya. Perhaps because they've gained confidence from their performances, they're playing even tougher and wilder hard rock. That confidence is also reflected in the set, and the number of new songs, which are already numerous, is even more. "Bringing Joanna Back," which was not performed in Nagoya, is also set in, and all songs from the "JAPANESE ALBUM" except "Not Weird Enough" will be performed. Unfortunately, it cannot be said to be a complete recording because there is no encore last "Lucille", but even so, it is definitely "the best live album of 1978". [Disc 5: TV appearance pro shot] And the last one to appear is the definitive video work. It is a super-excellent multi-camera pro shot. At that time, perhaps to spread the hard rock sound of the new start, the media was proactive and realized a studio live for television during the visit to Japan. This disc mainly includes the music program "THE POP" on "October 22nd", and also the appearance of "11PM" on "October 18th". The quality is ultimate. This video itself has been known for a long time, but in this work it has been digitized from the original master, and it is on a different level from the already released group of "VTRs". The screen is clear, refreshing and beautiful, and the sharp contours, natural coloring, and high resolution are the master quality itself. And the performance depicted with that quality is tremendous. "THE POP" features five songs, but they are short but dense. Starting with the energetic opening "Secret Of The Dance", "Bringin' Joanna Back" and "Message In A Bottle", early masterpieces unique to the band are played in high quality like the official version. The superhuman scream was fully enjoyed on the above live album, but the superb soundboard sound is even more vivid, and the wild looks are unique to the video, just like the singing voice. The members supporting such Gillan are also worth watching. Although not flashy, you can't take your eyes off Steve Bird's guitar, Pete Barnacle's drums, and above all, the skinhead big man John McCoy, who plays a hot game. Despite his large size, he is a great success with his visuals that jump lightly during the performance and his impressive bass line. His presence in "Dead Of Night" is particularly amazing. The last song, "Smoke On The Water", is as exciting as a live house in the studio, and the performance ends with great excitement. After "THE POP", there is a bonus recording of their appearance on the late-night program "11PM". Although the performance itself is only halfway through, you can witness the precious "Message In A Bottle" in the highest quality ever. The very early GILLAN was rare, dynamic, and above all, burning with enthusiasm for a new start. Its true value was in the live performance above all else. This big 5-disc set brings together the best of their fierce British hard rock. Nagoya-shi Kokaido, Nagoya, Japan 18th October 1978 PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Koseinenkin Kaikan, Osaka, Japan 20th October 1978 PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) "The Pop" TV Studio, Tokyo, Japan 22nd October 1978 PRO-SHOT Live at Nagoya-shi Kokaido, Nagoya, Japan 18th October 1978 Disc 1(45:11) 1. Second Sight 2. Secret Of The Dance 3. I'm Your Man 4. Child In Time 5. Abbey Of Thelema 6. Flute Solo 7. Bass Solo 8. Dead Of Night 9. Keyboard Solo 10. Conga & Drums Solo Disc 2(44:15) 1. Message In A Bottle 2. Fighting Man 3. Back In The Game 4. Guitar Solo/Smoke On The Water 5. Member Introduction 6. Lucille Live at Koseinenkin Kaikan, Osaka, Japan 20th October 1978 Disc 3(55:11) 1. Second Sight 2. Secret Of The Dance 3. I'm Your Man 4. Child In Time 5. Bringing Joanna Back 6. Abbey Of Thelema　7. Flute Solo 8. Bass Solo 9. Dead Of Night 10. Keyboard Solo 11. Drums Solo 12. Message In A Bottle Disc 4(38:02) 1. Fighting Man 2. Back In The Game 3. Guitar Solo 4. Smoke On The Water 5. Member Introduction DVD THE POP Studio Live, Tokyo, Japan 22nd October 1978 1. Introduction Pt.1 2. Secret Of The Dance 3. Bringing Joanna Back 4. Message In A Bottle 5. Introduction Pt.2 6. Dead Of Night 7. Band Introduction 8. Smoke On The Water 11PM Studio Live, Tokyo, Japan 18th October 1978 9. Message In A Bottle PRO-SHOT COLOUR NTSC Approx. 25min. Ian Gillan - Vocals Steve Byrd - Guitar John McCoy – Bass Colin Towns - Keyboards Pete Barnacle – Drums