Live at Budokan

Asia - Live at Budokan

List Price: ~~$13.98~~
Our Price: $8.99
You Save: $4.99 (36%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Listen soundtracks from this album

Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

CD Details

Artist: Asia
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Import, Live, Original recording reissued
CD Release Date: 2007-12-15
Music Label: Superior/Digimode
Soundtracks:

The Heat Goes On
Here Comes the Feeling
Eye to Eye
Steve Howe - Guitar Solo
Only Time Will Tell
Open Your Eyes
Geoffrey Downes - Keyboard Solo
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
Wildest Dreams
Heat of the Moment
Sole Survivor

Music reviews of Live at Budokan

Music Review: Sayonara John Wetton; Konnichiwa Greg Lake!
Rating: 2 Stars

Asia In Asia, as it is usually referred to, was the only professionally-released live document of Asia's early days for a very long time. Over twenty years, in fact. The fact that John Wetton had decided to (temporarily) leave just months before the show is highly unfortunate, as this could have really blown the doors open for the band much more than they had in '83. Alpha's sales of a mere 2 million (Ha...) were seen as a failure, and with the rise of make-up heavy Euro-pop groups, Asia was living in hard times.

There's better recordings of the "Asia In Asia" mini-tour of Japan in '83, and they sound way better than this. Not only is the audio on this straight from the video, but whenever Howe or Lake would mention Westwood One or MTV, they'd edit it out of their between-song dialogue, rather abruptly too. However, musically-speaking, everything sounds fine.

Geoff Downes/Yes fans will enjoy his Oriental-style Fairlight keyboard solo (never heard this piece again on later recordings, solo or otherwise), as well as an early version of Steve Howe's "Sketches in the Sun", which later popped up in studio form on GTR's self-titled disc. Carl Palmer sounds good, although his solo was the same one he'd been doing since 1973. And still is. Greg Lake was no John Wetton. That much was clear. Lake's timbre doesn't exactly fit some of the songs, but on a few, namely "Here Comes The Feeling", he really brings a genuine passion and wistfulness to the words he's singing. Oddly enough, this marked lineup change is probably what confused fans tuning in, and when it was a different singer, they likely bailed and reached for their Duran Duran albums.

Sadly, to get the full effect of this concert, you still need to seek out bootlegs. Not only that, but they had additional songs in "Cutting It Fine/Bolero", "Time Again", and "Daylight". Some bootlegs also have "Don't Cry". The original TV broadcast began with "Time Again", but I have no idea why it was cut from the video, as the band plays with a lot of passion and sounds awesome playing it.

Packaging for Live At Budokan is okay. The quirky dragon cover is kinda cool, and there's some brief liner notes about the show. Nothing to write home about.

All in all, this is a case of mixed results. I'd recommend that only dedicated Asia fans purchase it (better yet, seek out a bootleg called Your Eyes Will Tell...); curious Yes/Crimson/ELP fans are better off staying away from this slight misstep.

More Live at Budokan free music reviews:
1

Classic Rock CDs

Music Genres

Bestsellers in Classic Rock CDs

Paul Mccartney, Wings - Wings at the Speed of Sound
Release date: 1996-09-24; Music CD
Best price: $269.99

Small Faces - Boxed
Release date: 1997-11-01; Music CD
Best price: $43.38

Dr John - Gris Gris
Release date: 1994-07-15; Music CD
Price in other shops: ~~$18.98~~

Eric Clapton: Live in Hyde Park [VHS]
Warner Bros / Wea; Release date: 1998-02-17; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.75
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

Human Highway [VHS]
Warner Bros / Wea; Release date: 1995-08-08; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $120.79

The Monkees - Head [VHS]
Rhino / Wea; Release date: 1995-01-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.42
Price in other shops: ~~$14.98~~

Ozzy Osbourne - Live & Loud [VHS]
Sony; Release date: 1993-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $3.96
Price in other shops: ~~$14.98~~

Bruce Springsteen - Unplugged [VHS]
Sony; Release date: 1992-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops: ~~$14.98~~

Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel - P.O.V. [VHS]
Virgin Records Us; Release date: 1992-06-29; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $121.90

Toto - Past to Present [VHS]
Sony; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $72.82