It took 28 years, but in 1999
Live in Japan finally became available in the U.S. Recorded at Sankei Hall in Tokyo on March 4 and 7, 1971,
Live in Japan was originally released as a two-LP set in Japan. At the time,
King's superb
Live in Cook County Jail was a respectable seller for
ABC, and the label also planned to release In London -- so
ABC felt that because a fair amount of live
King albums were coming out in the U.S., it was best to release the Sankei Hall recording only in Japan. But many of
King's American fans wanted it anyway, and collectors went out of their way to find imported copies of the double LP. Parts of
Live in Japan did come out on various U.S. releases, but it was not released in its entirety in the U.S until this 1999 reissue. Backed by many of the same players heard on
Live in Cook County Jail,
King is in excellent form on spirited, gutsy performances of "The Thrill Is Gone" and "Sweet Sixteen" as well as
Sonny Boy Williamson's "Eyesight to the Blind,"
Leon Russell's "Hummingbird," and
Peter Chatman's "Every Day I Have the Blues." The instrumentals "Japanese Boogie" and "Jamming at Sankei Hall" give the band a chance to let loose and improvise, and "Lucille" (
King's name for his guitar) gets in some passionate, inspired solos. Although Live at the Regal and
Live in Cook County Jail are
King's most essential live albums,
Live in Japan is a fine CD that his fans will definitely want. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi
