Sendai '89
2 CD
Label : Sabotage Records
Catalogue : #SAB 185-186
Disc Length : 76:58 / 54:23
Source : Soundboard Recordings
Sound Quality : EX+
Year Of Release : 2003
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Lovesexy Tour
Gym, Sendai
1st February 1989
Disc 1
1. Intro   2. Housequake (including Take The A-Train)   3. Slow Love   4. Adore   5. Delirious   6. Jack U Off   7. Sister   8. Do Me, Baby   9. Adore   10. I Wanna Be Your Lover (intro)   11. Head   12. Girls And Boys   13. A Love Bizarre   14. When You Were Mine   15. Little Red Corvette   16. Controversy   17. U Got The Look   18. Superfunkycalifragisexy - Controversy   19. Bob George   20. Anna Stesia   21. Cross The Line   22. Eye No   23. Lovesexy   24. Glam Slam   25. The Cross   26. I Wish U Heaven   27. Kiss   28. Dance On - Sheila E Drum Solo (including Transmississippirap)
Disc 2
1. Let's Go Crazy   2. When Doves Cry   3. Purple Rain   4. 1999   5. Audience   6. Alphabet St.
Rehearsal : 1987/1988
7. Rebirth Of The Flesh
Saturday Night Live : 24th September 1989
8. Electric Chair
Saturday Night Live Rehearsal : 24th September 1989
9. Electric Chair (Take #1)   10. Electric Chair (Take #2)   11. Electric Chair (Take #3)   12. Electric Chair (Take #4)   13. Electric Chair (Take #5)   14. Electric Chair (Take #6)
COMMENT
One of the three widely circulating soundboard recordings from the 1989 Japanese leg of the Lovesexy tour (not including the Osaka soundcheck), and one of the finest soundboard recordings there is. The quality of this (and the other Japanese soundboards) is astonishingly clear with barely any audible audience noise. Prince's vocal level is to the fore in the recording and every breath, grunt and noise is perfectly captured. I'm all too aware of the complaints that the audience level is too low on the Japanese soundboards, but it's not an issue for me. Quality like this is such an extreme rarity that I cannot help but praise it. The show itself is the opening night of the Japanese leg, and is perhaps the least interesting. There is very little in the way of spontaneity, and the show is rather short and sweet in comparison to many others. The extra material included on this Sabotage release is a nice touch and a welcome addition to the set. The rehearsal version of 'Rebirth Of The Flesh' has been listed by Sabotage as being a Lovesexy Tour Rehearsal from December 1988, however I feel this is incorrect. Greg Brooks and Wally Safford are all over the song, yet they parted company with Prince in early 1988 - so the rehearsal this song was lifted from either took place in late 1987 or very early 1988, and certainly not December 88. The various rehearsal takes of 'Electric Chair', whilst being a little tedious are enjoyable. Once again the packaging and artwork by Sabotage is stunning. The booklet includes some fantastic Japanese-style cartoons of the whole Lovesexy band and a passage lifted from Uptown/The Vault. One tiny other criticism I have to make about this release is the tracklisting on the reverse states 'U Got The Look (intro)' was played prior to 'I Wanna Be Your Lover (intro)', however this is incorrect and should have been spotted and corrected by Sabotage before it was released. Overall, whilst this is the least interesting of the 3 Japanese soundboards released by Sabotage, the near-flawless quality of the recording is every bit as good as the other 2. Unmissable stuff.
 
WHAT YOU GET?
2 x CDR
THE FULL ARTWORK
Double CASE 
LABEL FACE WITH IMAGE
HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS USED THROUGHOUT PROCESS