Tokyo Tapes (album)
Encyclopedia
Tokyo Tapes is a live album
by German
heavy metal
band Scorpions
.
"Tokyo Tapes" was Scorpions' first live album, recorded at Nakano Sun Plaza
(Tokyo's Nakano Ward, Japan) on April 24 and 27, during the band's Japanese tour in 1978.
These shows were guitarist Uli Jon Roth
's last performances with the band, who had announced his departure after the release of Taken by Force
.
Tokyo Tapes includes songs from all Scorpions' albums released before 1978.
The songs "Hell-Cat", "Catch Your Train" and the Japanese national anthem ("Kimi ga yo
") were also performed during these shows but were not included in the official album. On the 2001 EMI re-mastered CD, "Polar Nights" was omitted so as to fit a single CD, although it was included on the re-mastered version of "Taken by Force". The earlier two CD release, however, is the original album in its entirety. The original release was in August 1978 in Japan only with cover artwork of a Scorpion on a platinum rose as opposed to a live shot of the band when it was eventually released in Europe in late 1978. It was released in January 1979 in the U.S.A..
Roth commented about the recording of the album:
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
.
"Tokyo Tapes" was Scorpions' first live album, recorded at Nakano Sun Plaza
Nakano Sun Plaza
is a hotel in Nakano, Tokyo. The hotel includes a concert hall, the Nakano Sun Plaza Hall.- Nakano Sun Plaza Hall :Built in 1973, this concert hall seats 2,222 people and attracts performers from around the world...
(Tokyo's Nakano Ward, Japan) on April 24 and 27, during the band's Japanese tour in 1978.
These shows were guitarist Uli Jon Roth
Ulrich Roth
Ulrich Roth , more commonly known as Uli Jon Roth, is a Germanguitarist and one of the earliest contributors to the neo-classical metal genre. He is also the founder of Sky Academy and inventor of the Sky Guitar. He is the older brother of fellow guitarist and artist Zeno Roth.-Career:In the early...
's last performances with the band, who had announced his departure after the release of Taken by Force
Taken by Force
Note that most versions of this album feature an edited version of 'The Sails of Charon'. The editing removes a "psychedelic" like sound-effects introduction. The intro doesn't actually contain any music performed by the band...
.
Tokyo Tapes includes songs from all Scorpions' albums released before 1978.
The songs "Hell-Cat", "Catch Your Train" and the Japanese national anthem ("Kimi ga yo
Kimi ga Yo
is the national anthem of post-1868 Japan. It is also one of the world's shortest national anthems in current use, with a length of 11 measures and 32 characters. Its lyrics are based on a Waka poem written in the Heian period , sung to a melody written in the imperial period...
") were also performed during these shows but were not included in the official album. On the 2001 EMI re-mastered CD, "Polar Nights" was omitted so as to fit a single CD, although it was included on the re-mastered version of "Taken by Force". The earlier two CD release, however, is the original album in its entirety. The original release was in August 1978 in Japan only with cover artwork of a Scorpion on a platinum rose as opposed to a live shot of the band when it was eventually released in Europe in late 1978. It was released in January 1979 in the U.S.A..
Roth commented about the recording of the album:
Tokyo Tapes was a peak time, we have played together for all these years and it all came together at that time. Particularly on the first show, which unfortunately wasn't recorded. There were three shows in Tokyo, the first one was by far the best, but the second one was good too. Those are the ones on the album, the second and the third that were used. The first one I thought was a lot better and I was disappointed that it wasn't recorded.
Side one
- "All Night Long" (Uli Jon Roth, Klaus MeineKlaus MeineKlaus Meine is a German singer, best known as the lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the heavy metal band Scorpions...
) – 3:44 - "Pictured Life" (Rudolf SchenkerRudolf SchenkerRudolf Schenker is a German guitarist and founding member of heavy metal band Scorpions, being the rhythm/lead guitarist and one of the main song-writers of the band...
, Meine, Roth) – 3:12 - "Backstage Queen" (R. Schenker, Meine) – 3:44
- "Polar Nights" (Roth) – 6:43
- "In Trance" (R. Schenker, Meine) – 5:25
Side two
- "We'll Burn the Sky" (R. Schenker, Monika DannemannMonika DannemannMonika Dannemann was a German figure skater and painter, mainly known as the last girlfriend of US rock guitarist/singer Jimi Hendrix and later the wife of german guitarist Uli Jon Roth.-Figure skating:...
) – 8:07 - "Suspender Love" (R. Schenker/Meine) – 3:38
- "In Search of the Peace of Mind" (R. Schenker, Michael SchenkerMichael SchenkerMichael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
, Meine, Lothar Heimberg, Wolfgang DzionyWolfgang DzionyWolfgang Dziony was born in 1949 in Elze, Germany. He was a drummer and percussionist with the German heavy metal/hard rock band The Scorpions from 1964 to 1973.He appeared on:* Lonesome Crow * History Of German Rock 1972 - 1976...
) – 3:02 - "Fly to the Rainbow" (M. Schenker, Roth) – 9:39
Side three
- "He's a Woman, She's a Man" (R. Schenker, Meine, Herman RarebellHerman RarebellHerman 'Ze German' Rarebell is a German drummer, best known for his time in the band Scorpions from 1977 to 1995, playing on 8 studio albums...
) – 5:22 - "Speedy's Coming" (R. Schenker, Meine) – 3:40
- "Top of the Bill" (R. Schenker, Meine) – 6:45
- "Hound DogHound Dog (song)"Hound Dog" is a twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton in 1952. Other early versions illustrate the differences among blues, country, and rock and roll in the mid-1950s. The 1956 remake by Elvis Presley is the best-known...
" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) – 1:14 - "Long Tall SallyLong Tall Sally"Long Tall Sally" is a rock and roll 12-bar blues song written by Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, Enotris Johnson and Richard Penniman , recorded by Little Richard and released March 1956 on the Specialty Records label....
" (Enotris Johnson, Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, Richard PennimanLittle RichardRichard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
) – 2:50
Side four
- "Steamrock Fever" (R. Schenker, Meine) – 3:41
- "Dark Lady" (Roth) – 4:18
- "Kōjō no TsukiKojo no tsukiis a Japanese song written in the Meiji period.Japanese pianist and composer Rentarō Taki composed the music as a music lesson song without instrumental accompaniment in 1901. The song was included in the songbook for Junior High School students. The music of the song was inspired by the ruins of...
" (Rentarō Taki, arr. Francis BuchholzFrancis BuchholzFrancis Buchholz is a German bassist best known as a member of the rock/hard rock band, the Scorpions....
, Meine, Rarebell, Roth, R. Schenker) – 3:35 - "Robot Man" (R. Schenker, Meine) – 5:47
Credits
- Klaus MeineKlaus MeineKlaus Meine is a German singer, best known as the lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the heavy metal band Scorpions...
- Lead Vocals - Ulrich RothUlrich RothUlrich Roth , more commonly known as Uli Jon Roth, is a Germanguitarist and one of the earliest contributors to the neo-classical metal genre. He is also the founder of Sky Academy and inventor of the Sky Guitar. He is the older brother of fellow guitarist and artist Zeno Roth.-Career:In the early...
- Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals on "Polar Nights", "Fly To The Rainbow" and "Dark Lady" - Rudolf SchenkerRudolf SchenkerRudolf Schenker is a German guitarist and founding member of heavy metal band Scorpions, being the rhythm/lead guitarist and one of the main song-writers of the band...
- Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals - Francis BuchholzFrancis BuchholzFrancis Buchholz is a German bassist best known as a member of the rock/hard rock band, the Scorpions....
- Bass, Backing Vocals - Herman RarebellHerman RarebellHerman 'Ze German' Rarebell is a German drummer, best known for his time in the band Scorpions from 1977 to 1995, playing on 8 studio albums...
- Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
- Produced by Dieter DierksDieter DierksDieter Dierks is a German record producer mostly known for his collaboration with the rock band Scorpions.- Youth :...