LIVE IN JAPAN

Well, here I go again, ranting about my distaste of live albums. "Distaste" might be a bit harsh, really. Let's just say I do not think that they are essential part of my collection. Let's just leave it at that. I would like to add, though, that some live albums really are wonderful. This one is, for sure.

Chicago is a band i grew up with. My father loved them and played their albums on occasion. When I say "their albums" I mean some of the later stuff, when the music grew a bit more sophisticated and pop oriented, although with a strong jazz-rock feel to it. I, for one, have always hailed their second album as their greatest achievement. I would even call that album the greatest jazz-rock album of all time. It is that good. Apart from that, Chicago was between 1969-1972 a real force to be reckoned with, playing adventurous and hard jazz-rock wth a real gritty and raw edge. They were phenomenal.

This live album really sounds like they did in the studio, albeit a bit more free flowing and loose. It is impossible to reproduce every single aspect of a studio recording, so here they play the songs with all the talent possible in a live setting, which in parts boils the material down to their bare necessities. It is really hard rocking stuff, capable of destroying a small country. The musicianship is extremely tight and I cannot be anything but amazed at the marvelous performance.

Favorite tracks are "State of the union", "Dialogue Pt. 1 & 2" and "25 or 6 to 4". These are amazing renditions. The remainder of the album is impressive as well. Too bad this album seems to be an anonymous one. It deserves to be listened to, no matter your feelings towards live albums.

No live album is essential in my book, except for Rick Wakeman's "Journey to the centre of the Earth" which really is more than a live album. This one, however, lifts my spirits and is a great testimony to one of the greatest jazz rock bands of all time and that band's most progressive and impressive period. Top stuff.