Fifty years ago, WAR might have reached their creative peak, touring on the crest of “The World Is A Ghetto” wave and reaping the success of the record which made people forget that the American ensemble began their rise in the company of Eric Burdon. But while Western acclaim of the album – which recently saw its anniversary reissue – seemed obvious even at the time of the platter’s release, its acceptance in the East was totally unexpected, and the musicians must have been surprised by the reception they experienced in Japan. Still, given the strength of their performances, there’s nothing strange about the heated reaction of the crowds in Shizuoka, Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe – and now the best moments of those concerts are ready to see the light of day.
To be out on January 29th as two-CD or two-LP sets, “Live In Japan 1974” – compiled from freshly uncovered and restored tapes – is rather different from 1973’s “War Live” that documented the band’s 1972 road trek, because their repertoire of the date got expanded thanks to the inclusion of numbers from “Deliver The Word” and because there’s no vinyl-space limit now. The result is an important report from the stage – and not for nothing the veterans will spent the night of the record’s release in Tokyo.
Live In Japan 1974
CD 1:
1. The World Is A Ghetto
2. Southern Part Of Texas
3. The Cisco Kid
4. So
5. All Day Music
6. Don’t Let No One Get You Down
CD 2:
1. Lotus Blossom
2. Gypsy Man
3. Band Intro
4. Intro To Slippin’ Into Darkness: Lee Oskar
5. Slippin’ Into Darkness
6. Me And Baby Brother
7. Shizuoka Chant
8. Where Was You At
