CHEAP TRICK – SHIZOUKA 1978 SOUNDBOARD (CD)

Description

CHEAP TRICK – SHIZUOKA 1978 Soundboard (1CD)
Sunpu Kaikan, Shizuoka, Japan 1 May 1978

　CHEAP TRICK’s first visit to Japan, which produced the historically significant masterpiece “AT BUDOKAN” and changed the course of everything. A shocking soundboard album of that legendary live performance has been newly discovered and is being released urgently on a permanently preserved pressed CD!

　This release captures the “May 1, 1978: Shizuoka Sunpu Kaikan” concert, featuring a previously unreleased soundboard recording. While this is a completely new release with no overlap with “AT BUDOKAN,” it also has official connections. In fact, it’s a previously unreleased soundboard recording, unveiled by Bun E. Carlos himself. Bun E. has been archiving not only his musical activities but also live photos, posters, and videos related to Cheap Trick, and this release comes from that collection. Even now, it’s a shocking work that is shaking collectors all over the world.

　So what is the relationship between this work and “AT BUDOKAN”? Let’s look back at the schedule of their first visit to Japan, which was a major event in the history of Western music in Japan.

・April 25th: Fukuoka City Kyushu Electric Power Memorial Gymnasium
・April 26th: Nagoya City Public Hall
* April 27th: Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan ← *Official
* April 28th: ​​Nippon Budokan ← *Official
* April 30th: Nippon Budokan ← *Official
* May 1st: Shizuoka Sunpu Kaikan ← ★This work★

[Newly unearthed soundboard recording of Bun E’s first visit to Japan]
　A total of six performances. The official traditional album “AT BUDOKAN” features the “Nippon Budokan,” but the Osaka performance was the main focus. However, the Shizuoka performance on this work was the final day, immediately following the Osaka/Budokan performance. It was a completely different performance, despite being very close to “AT BUDOKAN,” and not included at all.

　This recording of such a show is a superb “official-quality unearthed recording.” As it’s a soundboard recording released from Bun E’s own archives, its origins are guaranteed. It’s unclear whether it was intended for “AT BUDOKAN,” but it seems to have been stored as is, resulting in an incredibly raw sound. While it lacks the polished, production-like clarity of “AT BUDOKAN,” the raw performance sounds, as if they flowed straight from the PA mixer, burst forth without any processing or embellishment. Robin Zander’s vocals, Rick Nielsen’s guitar, and every single instrument that was blended into the official mix on “AT BUDOKAN” come at you in their raw, unadulterated form.

　Moreover, the atmosphere of their first visit to Japan shines through. While the balance is such that the music and vocals are almost whispered on the other side of the direct, direct sound, it also captures the enthusiasm unique to 1978, and the high-pitched screams perfectly capture the mood of the Western music boom. Without losing any of the immersive feeling that only a soundboard recording can provide, it conveys the excitement of the live performance, and you can clearly feel how that further intensifies Cheap Trick’s live performance.

　Moreover, this release is the best version, pushing the already stunning soundboard recording to its absolute peak. In fact, while the original recording released online had perfect sound quality, its pitch was about 50% of a semitone too high. Of course, this release corrects it perfectly. It has resulted in a live album that faithfully reproduces the true essence of their first visit to Japan.

[A new masterpiece that allows you to experience the same potential as the great masterpiece]
　Flowing from this stunning soundboard recording is the final night of their first visit to Japan, different from ‘AT BUDOKAN’. The setlist is in the style of the 1998 expanded edition ‘AT BUDOKAN: THE COMPLETE CONCERT’, but without “Ain’t That A Shame,” and is far longer than the original ‘AT BUDOKAN’. Above all, the reality of experiencing a full show all the way through is wonderful. Let’s summarize the full set here.

●Pale Highway (8 songs)
– Hello There / Come On, Come On / Big Eyes / Downed (★) / Oh Caroline (★) / Southern Girls (★) / I Want You To Want Me / Clock Strikes Ten
●Others (4 songs + 6 songs)
– Heaven’s Trap: Surrender / Auf Wiedersehen (★) / High Roller (★) / California Man (★)
– Others: ELO Kiddies (★) / Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace (★) / Lookout / Can’t Hold On (★) / Need Your Love / Goodnight Now
*Note: Songs marked with “★” were not included in ‘AT BUDOKAN (original version)’.

…and so on. “Ain’t That A Shame” is not a recording omission, but rather it seems they didn’t play it on the final day. In fact, according to Bun E’s own recollections, a fan climbed onto the stage during the performance of “Clock Strikes Ten,” the last song on this album, so they couldn’t finish playing it. In fact, in this film, “Clock Strikes Ten” is abruptly cut off before the tape ends. That raw interruption is also historical evidence that tells the truth about their first visit to Japan.

　The final night of their legendary first visit to Japan. This never-before-seen soundboard recording, released from Bun E. Carlos’s own archives, is permanently preserved in official-quality unearthed footage. This soundboard album exudes the band’s potential and the energy of the era, just like “AT BUDOKAN,” with not a single track being duplicated. This pressed CD permanently preserves the raw intensity of the frenzy that swept through Japan in 1978, captured in its entirety. This is a historical and absolute masterpiece that you should face head-on.

★The first-ever complete soundboard recording of the legendary final night of their first visit to Japan, “May 1, 1978, Shizuoka Sunpu Kaikan.” This is a superb, official-quality unearthed master released by Bun E. Carlos himself, and of course, every track is a different take from the official “AT BUDOKAN.” The pitch, which was off in the original online version, has been accurately corrected, making this the best version permanently preserved on this pressed CD.

(79:55)
1. Intro
2. Hello There
3. Come On, Come On
4. ELO Kiddies
5. Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
6. Big Eyes
7. Lookout
8. Downed
9. Can’t Hold On
10. Oh Caroline
11. Surrender
12. Auf Wiedersehen
13. Need Your Love
14. High Roller
15. Southern Girls
16. I Want You to Want Me
17. California Man
18. Goodnight
19. Clock Strikes Ten (Incomplete)

SOUNDBOARD RECORDING