Live in Japan (Chicago album)

Last updated
Live in Japan
ChicagoLiveInJapan.jpg
Live album by
Chicago
ReleasedNovember 1972 [1]
RecordedJune 10, 11 and 14, 1972
Venue Osaka Festival Hall (Osaka)
Genre Rock
Length104:15
Label CBS/Sony Japan
Producer James William Guercio
Chicago chronology
Chicago V
(1972)		Live in Japan
(1972)		 Chicago VI
(1973)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Prog Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Live in Japan is a live album by American rock band Chicago, released in November 1972. [1] It was recorded over the course of three days at the Osaka Festival Hall on the band's tour in support of Chicago V in 1972. The group recorded Japanese-language versions of "Lowdown" and "Questions 67 And 68" to coincide with their Japan performances. They performed both songs in Japanese during their stay, which are documented on this album.

Contents

Originally, the album was released as a two-LP set (CBS/Sony SOPJ 31-32XR), and only in Japan. The album was released in the U.S. in 1996 as a two-CD set (CRD-3030) on Chicago's own label, Chicago Records.

Live in Japan does not follow Chicago's convention of numbering albums. Chicago's other early live album, 1971's Chicago at Carnegie Hall , however, is part of the canon, with the numbering for the album being 'IV'.

Sound quality

Many fans and band members alike think the sound quality of this recording is better than 1971's Chicago at Carnegie Hall . Chicago founding member James Pankow was always particularly critical of the Carnegie Hall album saying:

I hate it. The acoustics of Carnegie Hall were never meant for amplified music, and the sound of the brass after being mic'd came out sounding like kazoos. [5]

Walter Parazaider noted about the sound quality of Live in Japan:

The Japanese hooked up two eight-track machines together to make 16 tracks. The quality of the sound was excellent. [5]

Re-release

The album was reissued in March 2014 worldwide faithfully replicating the original LP design including a cardboard sleeve, booklet with photos and all the lyrics in very difficult to read small font. [6]

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Dialogue (Part I & II)" (Robert Lamm) 6:55
  2. "A Hit by Varèse" (Lamm) 4:43
  3. "Lowdown (Japanese version)" (Peter Cetera/Danny Seraphine/Osamu Kitayama) [7] 4:14
  4. "State of the Union" (Lamm) 8:14
  5. "Saturday in the Park" (Lamm) 4:19

Side two

  1. "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" (James Pankow) 14:05
    1. "Make Me Smile" – 3:17
    2. "So Much to Say, So Much to Give" – 0:59
    3. "Anxiety's Moment" – 1:02
    4. "West Virginia Fantasies" – 1:32
    5. "Colour My World" – 3:22
    6. "To Be Free" – 2:17
    7. "Now More Than Ever" – 1:36
  2. "Beginnings" (Lamm) 6:36
  3. "Mississippi Delta City Blues" (Terry Kath) 5:50

Side three

  1. "A Song for Richard and His Friends" (Lamm) 7:54
  2. "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? [Free Form Intro]" (Lamm) 6:15
  3. "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" (Lamm) 3:53
  4. "Questions 67 & 68 (Japanese version)" (Lamm/Kazuko Katagiri) [7] 4:51

Side four

  1. "25 or 6 to 4" (Lamm) 9:14
  2. "I'm a Man" (Steve Winwood/Jimmy Miller) 10:43
  3. "Free" (Lamm) 6:29

Personnel

Related Research Articles

Chicago is an American rock band formed in Chicago in 1967. The group began calling themselves the Chicago Transit Authority in 1968, then shortened the name in 1969. Self-described as a "rock and roll band with horns," and their songs often also combine elements of classical music, jazz, R&B, and pop music.

<i>Chicago Transit Authority</i> (album) 1969 studio album by Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago Transit Authority is the debut studio album by the American rock band Chicago. It was recorded and released in April 1969 and became a sleeper hit, reaching number 17 on the Billboard 200 by 1971. Chicago Transit Authority spawned several successful singles, including "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", "Questions 67 and 68" and "Beginnings". The album stayed on the Billboard chart for 171 weeks, beating the previous record for a rock album's longevity of 155 weeks and has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). For this inaugural recording effort, the group was nominated for a Grammy Award for 1969 Best New Artist of the Year. The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.

<i>Chicago III</i> 1971 studio album by Chicago

Chicago III is the third studio album by the American rock band Chicago. It was released on January 11, 1971, through Columbia Records. The album was produced by James William Guercio and was the band's third consecutive double album in less than two years.

<i>Chicago at Carnegie Hall</i> 1971 live album by Chicago

Chicago at Carnegie Hall is the first live album, and fourth album overall, by American band Chicago. It was initially released on October 25, 1971 by Columbia Records as a four-LP vinyl box set, and was also available for a time as two separate two-record sets. A Quadraphonic mix of the album was proposed, but was never made, possibly due to the band's objection to the album being released in the first place. This is the only Chicago album of the group's first ten releases not to have a Quadraphonic release in any format.

<i>Chicago V</i> 1972 studio album by Chicago

Chicago V is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Chicago. It was released on July 10, 1972 by Columbia Records. It is notable for being the group's first single album release, after having released three consecutive double albums and a four-disc box set of live material.

<i>Chicago VII</i> 1974 studio album by Chicago

Chicago VII is the sixth studio album by American rock band Chicago. It was released on March 11, 1974 by Columbia Records. It is notable for being their first double album of new material since 1971's Chicago III and remains their final studio release in that format. It features session percussionist Laudir de Oliveira, who would become a full-fledged band member for the release of Chicago VIII the following year.

<i>Chicago VIII</i> 1975 studio album by Chicago

Chicago VIII is the seventh studio album by American rock band Chicago, released on March 24, 1975 by Columbia Records. Following the experimental jazz/pop stylings of Chicago VII, the band returned to a more streamlined rock-based sound on this follow-up.

<i>Chicago IX: Chicagos Greatest Hits</i> 1975 compilation album by Chicago

Chicago IX: Chicago's Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album, and ninth album overall, by the American band Chicago and was released in 1975 by Columbia Records in both stereo and SQ quadraphonic versions.

<i>Chicago XI</i> 1977 studio album by Chicago

Chicago XI is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Chicago. It was released on September 12, 1977 through Columbia Records. It was both the last to feature guitarist and vocalist Terry Kath prior to his death in a gun accident just over four months later, and the last to be produced by longtime associate of the band James William Guercio.

<i>Greatest Hits, Volume II</i> (Chicago album) 1981 compilation album by Chicago

Greatest Hits, Volume II is the second greatest hits album by American rock band Chicago, released on November 23, 1981 by Columbia Records.

<i>The Box</i> (Chicago album) 2003 box set by Chicago

The Box is a five-CD/one DVD career-spanning box set by popular American group Chicago and was compiled and released through Rhino Records in 2003. The set was authorized by the band, who helped choose material from its entire back catalogue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Questions 67 and 68</span> 1969 single by Chicago

"Questions 67 and 68" is a 1969 song written by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their debut album Chicago Transit Authority. It was their first single release. Peter Cetera is the primary lead singer with Lamm also on vocals. In 2015, Dave Swanson, writing for Ultimate Classic Rock, listed the song as ninth in a list of top ten Chicago songs. Writing for Rock Cellar magazine, Frank Mastropolo rated the song as number 11 in a list of "Top 11 Question Songs".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free (Chicago song)</span> 1971 single by Chicago

"Free" is a song written by Robert Lamm as a part of the "Travel Suite" for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their third album Chicago III (1971), with Terry Kath singing lead vocals. It was the first single released from this album, and peaked at #20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lowdown (Chicago song)</span> 1971 single by Chicago

"Lowdown" is a song written by Peter Cetera and Danny Seraphine for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their third album Chicago III (1971). It was the second single released from this album, and peaked at No. 35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Cetera provided lead vocals while guitarist Terry Kath used a fuzzbox and wah-wah pedal for his guitar solo and Robert Lamm made prominent use of the Hammond organ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Truman (song)</span> 1975 single by Chicago

"Harry Truman" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VIII (1975), with lead vocals by Lamm. The first single released from that album, it reached number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number 23 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada, the song peaked at number 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Days</span> 1975 single by Chicago

"Old Days" is a song written by James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VIII (1975). It was the second single released from that album with lead vocals by Peter Cetera.

"South California Purples" is a song written and sung by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their debut album Chicago Transit Authority (1969).

<i>Chicago XXXIV: Live in 75</i> 2011 live album by Chicago

Chicago XXXIV: Live in '75 is a live album by the American band Chicago, their thirty-fourth album overall, recorded in 1975 and released in 2011. After releasing its eighth consecutive gold album in six years, Chicago embarked upon a stadium tour in 1975. The album includes selections from all of the group's albums through its then-current Chicago VIII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brand New Love Affair (song)</span> 1975 single by Chicago

"Brand New Love Affair" sometimes alternatively listed as "Brand New Love Affair (Parts I and II)", is a song written by James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VIII. The song peaked at #61 on the charts. Guitarist Terry Kath sings the first half while bassist Peter Cetera sings the second half. Keyboardist Robert Lamm played the distinctive Fender Rhodes electric piano on the song—the intro particularly showcases its lush vibrato bell-like sound.

References

  1. 1 2 "Chicago (2) = シカゴ* – Live In Japan = ライヴ・イン・ジャパン". Discogs (in Japanese). p. obi stripe. Retrieved 6 July 2021. ョ72年11月発表
  2. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r33028
  3. ↑ Ewing, Jerry. "Chicago: Live In Japan". Prog . Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  4. ↑ Pinfold, William. "Live In Japan / Chicago". Record Collector . Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Chicagotheband.com: "History, Section VII" Archived 2008-03-07 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ CD Japan website: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=WPCR-14472
  7. 1 2 Discogs entry for Live In Japan
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.