Neil Young & Crazy Horse (2/Cd) Definitive Budokan 1976 2nd Night / JAPAN IMPORT

Like ZEP and Pink Floyd, Neil Young & Crazy Horse also made the first visit to Japan at its peak. Not only that, the blessed environment of having high-quality audience recordings for all performances conveyed the wonderful performances. Among them, the masterpieces produced from the Osaka performance in the first half of the tour are “OSAKA 1976 2ND NIGHT” and “OSAKA 1976 3RD NIGHT”, which are still on sale with great popularity. In this way, when the Kansai sound source of the first visit to Japan is released, the next naturally required Budokan in the second half of the tour. Neil & Crazy Horse’s first performance in Japan was held on an unusual schedule with more performances in Osaka than in Tokyo. The two Budokan performances were held under such circumstances, but especially on the first day, there was an audience recording that had the closest sound image among the first performances in Japan, so it was a familiar presence among traders. More than ten years ago, an item called “WE LOVE YOU” was released, but while the sound quality of this sound source was excellent, the pitch was high. It is. Also, since it was released more than 10 years ago, it is also true that the equalization was done in a rather flashy, crunchy state. However, this time, while making full use of the latest technology based on the newly provided low-generation cassette, as a result of carefully recording so as not to impair the texture of the original sound source, it is incomparable to the already released board. It became possible to enjoy the first day of Neil & Crazy Horse’s Budokan with a listening feeling that was reborn in a natural state. Needless to say, the pitch is well adjusted.

The sound image of the audience recording this time is close, so when it comes to a band set with Crazy Horse, the performance becomes more powerful, but as the performance progresses on the already released board, it becomes a state that sticks in the ear. It was closed. However, this time it is a big advantage that you can enjoy Neil & Crazy Horse’s explosion performance in a really natural state without being tormented by such unnaturalness. If you actually listen to “Like A Harricane” and “Drive Back”, the difference from the existing board is obvious. Furthermore, the great thing about this sound source is that even Neil’s singing part in the first half of the live is captured with a splendid sound pressure. In a stage like his where acoustic and electric are mixed, the difference in sound output tends to be extreme when recording. In that respect as well, this sound source is an outstanding recording state, and that is why it was an essential sound source to be recorded in an accurate pitch and natural state.

Even so, Neil & Crazy Horse’s first performance in Japan was the first tour in 1976 with the new song “Like A~”. . The ultimate peak period that there is really only a masterpiece. As I have repeated, this sound source is an audience recording that boasts an outstanding sound image, so the explosion in the set with Crazy Horse is transmitted as if you were picking it up. Therefore, the best performance is heard on this day as well, but it was also the day when many Americans living in Japan flocked as you can hear this sound source. It may have been the result of relaxing Neil and others who were already in the best condition.

And some performances have been adopted from this day on the “ODEON BUDOKAN” disc recorded in “NEIL YOUNG ARCHIVES VOL.2” released two years ago, but in “Drive Back” the second guitar solo Listening to the sound source this time, you can understand the fact that unnecessary care was taken to cut it short by nearly 1 minute. It is fortunate that such processing was not applied to “Cortez The Killer”, which has a longer performance, but such a shortening was given to the fact that the take of the Budokan was officially released. It hurts that it’s gone. Ironically, not only was the value of the audience recording left solid due to such processing, but the content of the “ODEON BUDOKAN” disc was far from the complete live recording in the first place. Moreover, the greatest advantage of the audience recording, the vividness of the air on the day of the Budokan, fully conveys the legendary performance. It is the same not only for “Like A ~” but also for “Down By The River” performance. Please enjoy the sound source that boasts the best sound quality in such a first visit to Japan with a natural and accurate pitch to your heart’s content!

Disc 1 (30:35) 1. Tell Me Why 2. Mellow My Mind 3. After the Gold Rush 4. Too Far Gone 5. Only Love Can Break Your Heart 6. A Man Needs a Maid 7. No One Seems to Know 8. Heart of Gold

Disc 2 (59:02) 1. Country Home 2. Don’t Cry No Tears 3. Down by the River 4. Lotta Love 5. Like a Hurricane 6. The Losing End 7. Drive Back 8. Southern Man 9. Cortez the Killer 10. Cinnamon Girl

Neil Young – Vocals, Guitar Frank Sampedro – Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals Billy Talbot – Bass, Vocals Ralph Molina – Drums, Vocals