THE TOKYO TAPES

As is stated at the back of the box: 'What would it sound like if occasional members of Genesis, King Crimson, Asia, Yes, Zappa & Weather Report, all got together to form a unique team just for one night?'

The Genesis reference is, of course, obvious: Steve Hackett himself on guitars, vocals and harmonica. Also six classic Genesis songs are played here: Watcher Of The Skies, Firth Or Fifth, Horizons, In That Quiet Earth, Los Endos and I Know What I like. (Some of these songs are given the treatment they got on Steve's Genesis Revisted album.) Really excellent stuff! Steve's solo albums are also well represented with The Steppes, Camino Royale and others.

The King Crimson reference is also fairly obvious; Ian MacDonald (one of the original members of that band) on flutes, sax, guitar, keyboards and vocals. To honor his presence two classic King Crimson songs are played, both from the debut album from 1969 (an album that was a massive influence on Steve and early Genesis); The Court Of The Crimson King and I Talk To The Wind. Both performed perfectly! (I don't think these songs, or any songs from that album for that matter, are available on any other professionally recorded live DVD!)

The Asia reference is John Wetton; bass, guitar and vocals. An acoustic version of the classic Asia song Heat Of The Moment is performed. This is easily the best version of that song that I have ever heard. I must admit that I am not a big fan of the original version of that song, but this one is great! Also one of Wetton's solo songs are performed here; called Battle Lines. This was the only song on this DVD that I had not heard before, and I must say that it is surprisingly good.

The Yes reference is very confusing! None of these people have ever been in Yes. However, keyboadist Julian Colbeck has played with Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. And Steve was once in another band (GTR) with Steve Howe. But, of course, that also was not Yes.

The Zappa & Weather Report reference is the drummer Chester Thompson. He has also toured with Genesis for many years.

To sum up, this DVD is amazing! Highly recommended to all fans of early Genesis, early King Crimson as well as fans of John Wetton and, of course, of Steve's solo work. This DVD is especially great keeping in mind that both Genesis and King Crimson almost completely have given up playing their older material live. There are simply no DVD's by these bands that live up to the standard of this one.

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