Disco de Asia: “Live in Osaka”

First, I am not one of those old timers who keeps dreaming of the days when John Wetton will return, he's out of the picture and I accept that. I've learned to adapt to what the current singer John Payne has to offer just like learning to live with Steve Hogarth after Fish jetted from Marillion. I was excited when I purchased this album, Steve Howe playing with the band and an interesting track listing, plus I was curious to hear Payne sing the older songs. The actual song performances are nicely done and it sounds like the band infuses a lot of energy when performing live... however, stay away, this is for die hard collectors only. It is an audience recording, and a bad one at that. Why they couldn't take the effort and release sound board recording is beyond me...

This cd of Asia live, is like most live Asia cds, poor. Although it is better than any Wetton Asia live cd, that's not sayng much. The recording is poor, sounds like someone out in the crowd is holding up a tape recorder. The vocals are distant, the drums hollow, and the rest all is mixed into a muddled mess. Does contain a fair look at Asia's cd up to the release of the cd, which was recorded on the AQUA tour. Sadly it's missing, their two biggest hits, THE SMILE HAS LEFT YOUR EYES & HEAT OF THE MOMENT. This cd does not fairly represent Asia in concert.

Despite the rough sound quality (this is, after all part of the "Official Bootleg" series), "Live In Osaka" is a good set for Asia fans to own. It's a particularly great performance from John Payne's first Asia tour, and their commitment is evident.

Asia-Live in Osaka is part of the John Payne era Asia official bootleg series. Of the three official bootlegs in this series, this is the least I'd recommend because the sound is not that good. It's an audience recording from the 'Aqua' tour recorded during the first leg of that tour and one of the first shows with John Payne as lead singer. The performances are good, especially on "Who Will Stop the Rain" and "A Far Cry". But the sound of the recording is not that good, making this album just for completists and hardcore fans of this band (like myself). Of the three official bootlegs in this series, the better sounding (and your best purchase) is the 'Live in Philadelphia', also from the 'Aqua' tour. And if you need a concert recording from the 'Aria' tour then 'Live in Koln' is the only known concert and the recording is passable. But if you need to have just one then go for "Live in Philadelphia'