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Review
by Collectors
music reviews
Queen second tour of Japan, after they scored
their biggest worldwide hit with single ”Bohemian Rhapsody” and
LP A Night At The Opera, began on March 22nd in Tokyo and covered
ten shows in six cities. Nine of the shows were taped and in
circulation and were the source for many titles on both vinyl and silver
pressed disc with the second night of the tour in Nagoya
on March 23rd the earliest. The opening night in Tokyo was the
missing link.
Get Your Knickers Off on
Tarantura is the first time the opening night has been made available.
It is a Mr. Peach recording of the entire show, including the long
audience-cheering encore interludes. Compared to other Peach
recordings it is slightly distant from the stage but still very clear and
detailed.
Eleven days followed the
final show of their US tour in San Diego on March 12th and the band sound,
during the initial numbers, well rehearsed and enthusiastic to be in Japan
again. The Kenny Everett opening tape leads into the already famous
operatic middle of “Bohemian Rhapsody” before the band come on stage
for the hard rock final verse.
Queen give the audience a heavy metal attack. The new song “Sweet
Lady” is very powerful, quickly inciting the audience into a
frenzy. Afterwards Freddie laughs, thanks the audience for the warm
welcome, and drinks a toast to Tokyo before introducing the next number
“White Queen.”
Brian May breaks a string
during “White Queen” and has to switch to a spare guitar in
the middle of the song. It comes close to ruining what is an
otherwise excellent performance. Afterwards May tells Tokyo
“it’s good to back. It’s been too long. We’ve been away too
long” before introducing “Flick Of The Wrist” from Sheer Heart
Attack.
The medley is fraught with problems. May botches the guitar
part in the “Bohemian Rhapsody,” playing a strange out-of-tune melody,
and Roger Taylor’s mic cuts out (or he misses a cue) in “The March Of
The Black Queen” (the “my love is in your hand” part).
Things improve afterwards. “Brighton Rock,” which Freddie
introduces by saying “is a song that we didn’t do last time, but
we’re gonna do it now,” is extremely heavy and powerful. The
guitar solo segues into the well-worn “Son And Daughter” riff and that
song’s climax.
“The Prophet’s Song” is May’s second epic played in a row.
Freddie duplicates his vocal gymnastics effectively before the song segues
into “Stone Cold Crazy.” The contrast between the finesse of the
former and heavy metal crunch of the latter is startling.
“Liar” is notable for the utter enthusiasm of the Tokyo audience,
clapping along and responding to Freddie’s “I’m gonna be your
slave…” with “ALL NIGHT LONG.” It is a very big, long and
loud sing-along. May’s introduction to “In The Lap Of The
Gods…Revisited” is cut. “Now I’m Here” and the oldies
medley close the show.
Tarantura package Get
Your Knickers Off in a gatefold cardboard sleeve with several rare
photographs from the 1976 tour of Japan. It’s a very nice release,
a true gem, that is highly recommended for Queen collectors. |
