Oil On Canvas

[Bap De La Bap]

Since acquiring other live recordings by bands/artists, I see how wonderfully recorded/mixed this album is. Its one of the best I've heard with everyone getting a chance to shine.
Was anyone from here at that show?

[Silver Moon]

I sure wish I was at that show!!

I would give anything to go back in time and go to that concert.

I feel that this album sounds absolutely perfect... Like a studio recording!!

When I try and learn one of Mr. Karn's basslines... I always listen to "Oil On Canvas" to hear it.

-K-

[krausy]

Hands down, my favorite live album ev--a!!!!


Holds a permanent spot in my disc changer!!!!

[japanfan]

Its a great album thats for sure!

[Cheery Cherry]

Yes, I agree, it is the best live album that I've ever heard. I remember when I bought the record when it came out in England years ago.

I wish I was at the concert too...

[gokartmozart]

Yeah, got the remastered version a few months ago and didn't think it was so much better, until I went back to my original CD version (from the 3 CD box) and the older mastering sounds so much the worse. The best has gotten better IMHO.

Other live recordings I like (a possible thread?)

-Talking Heads "The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads"
-Iggy and The Stooges "Raw Power"
-Stray Cats "Live in Brixton"
-Motorhead "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith"
-The new Porcupine Tree DVD audio rip (have only heard it and love it)...

[sisterlondon]

-The new Porcupine Tree DVD audio rip (have only heard it and love it)...

Then you should see it, it's even better!

[The Analog Kid]

I seem to remember some tracks were dropped to fit the double LP onto a single CD - anyone here know which tracks were dropped (I could find out myself but all the vinyl is stashed on the attic)

It is the album that got me into Japan/Sylvian and yes I think it is wonderful - having said that I am not sure the Sonic quality is the best - not even by early 1980s standards. Somehow there seems to be loss in the dynamic range - it sounds 'muted' in a way to me

cheers

Eric

[heartofdavid]

The 2003 remastered cd contains all the tracks from the vinyl version - 15 in total.

There were songs not included (at all) that were part of the setlist during the last tour; Taking Islands in Africa, Alien, Life in Tokyo, European Son, Talking Drum and The Other Side of Life. Bamboo Music and Goodnight were also featured during the last Tokyo dates.

I believe there was a lot of studio fiddling done to remove as much of the audience noise as possible, and to fix any 'mistakes' that were made - that's probably what accounts for some of the muted sound.

[Bern]

I have to agree with Eric for me Oil On Canvas always lacked a bit of passion, I saw Japan twice on that final tour and they didn't seem to gel as well as they had in the past Mick Karn was trying out this new "wireless" bass which never quite sounded right to me and Masami's guitar playing come kitten strangling was a little much at times, however some good memories remain as Mick's bass failed halfway through a song and began making strange "farting" noises at the audience and Sylvian getting the keyboard intro into Nightporter hilariously wrong had the rest of the band in hysterics

[The Analog Kid]

I seem to remember some tracks were dropped to fit the double LP onto a single CD - anyone here know which tracks were dropped (I could find out myself but all the vinyl is stashed on the attic)

cheers

Eric

i see I must have gotten that wrong then (or maybe the ealrier Cd version had less tracks? hmm maybe I am mixing things up with GTE being the Cd that had less tracks than the Vinyl Double Album

This Blabbering makes painfuly clear my noob-ness here

cheers

Eric

[heartofdavid]

...or maybe the ealrier Cd version had less tracks?...

That's right, an earlier version was missing some tracks, I think 3 (4?)

This Blabbering makes painfuly clear my noob-ness here

Aw, blabber away! And btw, I don't find your comments to be blabbering, and welcome to the board.

[Sylvian's Beard]

How much of a "live" album is this really? Was alot of it re-done in the studio?

Here are some more great live albums.

Scorpions - Tokyo Tapes
UFO - Strangers In The Night
MSG - Rock Will Never Die
Yngwie Malmsteen - Live In Leningrad
Venom - Eine Klein Nacht Musik
Hanoi Rocks - "All Those Wased Years..."
Ozzy - Tribute

[Cheery Cherry]

This Blabbering makes painfuly clear my noob-ness here

cheers

Eric

Hey, if that's the case, then I will always be a noob here... . Welcome to the board, Eric.

[sisterlondon]

This Blabbering makes painfuly clear my noob-ness here

Aw Eric, no worries! You'll see what's blabbering when we go to Antwerp together, LMAO!