Live in Japan is a live album by American rock band Chicago, released in November 1972. It was recorded over the course of three days at the Osaka Festival Hall on the band's tour in support of Chicago V in 1972. The group recorded Japanese-language versions of "Lowdown" and "Questions 67 And 68" to coincide with their Japan performances. They performed both songs in Japanese during their stay, which are documented on this album.
Originally, the album was released as a two-LP set (CBS/Sony SOPJ 31-32XR), and only in Japan. The album was released in the U.S. in 1996 as a two-CD set (CRD-3030) on Chicago's own label, Chicago Records.
Live in Japan does not follow Chicago's convention of numbering albums. Chicago's other early live album, 1971's Chicago at Carnegie Hall, however, is part of the canon, with the numbering for the album being 'IV'.
Sound quality Chicago founding member James Pankow was always particularly critical of the 1971 album Chicago at Carnegie Hall, saying, "I hate it. The acoustics of Carnegie Hall were never meant for amplified music, and the sound of the brass after being mic'd came out sounding like kazoos."
Walter Parazaider said about the sound quality of Live in Japan, "The Japanese hooked up two eight-track machines together to make 16 tracks. The quality of the sound was excellent."
Re-release The album was reissued in March 2014 worldwide faithfully replicating the original LP design including a cardboard sleeve, booklet with photos and all the lyrics in very difficult to read small font.
Track listing
Personnel Peter Cetera: bass, vocals Terry Kath: guitar, vocals Robert Lamm: keyboards, vocals Lee Loughnane: trumpet, percussion, background vocals James Pankow: trombone, percussion, background vocals Walter Parazaider: woodwinds, percussion, background vocals Danny Seraphine: drums
References