Description

Triple vinyl on black vinyls

Early in 1978 Rainbow headed to Japan to finish their On Stage tour. The Japanese leg was massive this time with no less than 17 gigs performed. They did 3 nights at the Koseinenkin-Kaikan hall in Osaka city. This triple album features the second night in Osaka, the 17th of January 1978. The sound on this album is indeed fantastic, well balanced instruments and vocals not sounding like a typical soundboard with separation between music and audience here the audience is mixed well with the music giving the recording incredible atmosphere. The playing is top notch, after listening to quit a few of the releases from both the 1976 and 1978 tours I marvel at the consistent high calibre of musicianship that was displayed. I never tire of hearing Dorothy’s introduction and band launching into the instrumental intro that leads into the ferocious Kill The King, high drama indeed. Again the crowd is almost like the sixth member of the group as the follow the music intensively, they clap continuously during Ritchie’s slow solo in Mistreated, the beauty in this recording is they do not drown out the music and give a great cheer as the band leads back into the main parts. Except for a few shouts of “Ritchie” you can here a pin drop as he plays a beautiful and delicate version of Greensleeves and is plowed by 16th Century Greensleeves, Blackmore’s solo sounds like he is playing a slight to great effect, I love the 1978 versions of this track with the heavy endings. Catch The Rainbow is warmly greeted by the audience and is a typical version, typical from 1978 meaning incredible. I say it almost every review but Dio sang this track so passionately, with his lyric of “Straw against the lace” beautiful and haunting at the same time before Blackmore bowls you over with intensity. The crowd goes crazy as Blackmore plays the opening riff of Lazy as a prelude to Man On The Silver Mountain, again a aggressive version with a great guitar solo that leads into a great blues section and Bob Daisley bass solo. The Still I’m Sad solo and improvisation is what we have come to expect and again appreciated by the audience who are rewarded with a encore, something they did not do every night. Some great improvisation from the band provides a great introduction to the song and from the sounds a display on how to dismantle your start from one Mr. Blackmore. So if youre looking for a complete show from this tour then this fantastic sounding show should not be ignored.

Track listing:
1. Intro
2. Over The Rainbow
3. Kill The King
4. Mistreated
5. 16th Century Greensleeves
6. Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll
7. Catch The Rainbow
8. Lazy – Man On The Silver Mountain
9. Blues – Starstruck – Man On The Silver Mountain
10. Still Im Sad with David Stone Keyboard Solo
11. Cozy Powell Drum Solo – 1812 Overture
12. Still I’m Sad
13. Ritchie Blackmore Guitar Solo
14. Over The Rainbow