2 Nights In Dome (no label)
The deepening rift and the breakup of the Rolling Stones in the late eighties can in part be attributed to the modest success Mick Jagger’s frist solo album She’s The Boss enjoyed in 1985.
Primitive Cool, the follow up released late in 1987, didn’t have the same success, reaching #26 in the UK and #41 in the United States. Live performance for the new album was thus restricted to only twenty four shows. Eight in Japan in March and the rest in Australia and New Zealand in October.
Because the Stones themselves didn’t tour Japan until Steel Wheels and with Jagger’s set list leaning heavily upon Stones classics, it can be argued that these are the first Rolling Stones concerts in Japan. The two Tokyo shows in the middle of the tour were recorded, filmed, and were edited together for a telecast on Japanese television on March 27th, “Mick Jagger In Tokyo Dome.”
2 Nights In Dome presents the two Tokyo shows in excellent stereo DAT recordings. They were produced by the same taper sitting in the same location so both have a very similar feel to them. This release presents the opportunity to hear both Tokyo shows complete for the first time on silver.
Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan – March 22nd, 1988
Disc 1 (74:31): Opening, Honky Tonk Women, Throwaway, Bitch, Let’s Spend The Night Together, Beast Of Burden, Tumbling Dice, Miss You, Ruby Tuesday, Just Another Night, War Baby, Harlem Shuffle, Say You Will, Party Doll, Band introduction, You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Disc 2 (56:43): Radio Control, drum solo, guitar solo, Gimme Shelter, Start Me Up, Brown Sugar, It’s Only Rock n Roll, Jumping Jack Flash, Sympathy For The Devil, Satisfaction
The March 22nd show has seen several releases on silver in the past. Both Tokyo Shuffle (Golden Stars LACD 1137) and Stage Flight (Dr.Gig DGCD 005) are one disc releases with the soundboard recording taken from the telecast. Eat the Big Egg 1988 (Idol Mind Production IMP-N-012) is a three disc set with both the soundboard recording and an audience tape.
This recording is very clear and detailed with wonderful atmosphere. It’s a joy to listen to and is really an exciting show to hear. There is a cut at the beginning of “Radio Control” which is filled in with tape from another performance to provide continuity.
Bill Graham introduces Jagger before the slow build up in “Honky Tonk Woman” leads to the singer taking the stage. The Stones classic is followed by the first song on Primitive Cool “Throwaway.”
The next half hour of the show is occupied with Rolling Stones hits. Jagger’s backing band includes several musicians who have played with the Stones including Bernard Fowler and Lisa Fischer. They are joined by top notch musicians like Joe Satriani and Jimmy Rip on guitar and Simon Phillips on drums. They deliver the well known tunes professionally and with no variation for their studio counterparts. Jagger has a bit of shtick before “Beast Of Burden” tuning into a television, saying, “Let’s watch a bit of TV. You want to watch TV now? Oh no. I wanna see you….Let’s have a look.”
The Japanese are not there simply to hear the Stones classics. They are much more hip than that and Jagger receives is first big reaction for his huge hit “Just Another Night.” Jagger’s rooting of his solo material in the eighties is more apparent on “War Baby” which has much similarities with U2’s “Bad.”
Philips is given a five minute drum solo after “Radio Control.” The drums lead into a guitar solo which serves as an introduction to “Gimme Shelter” and the final round of Rolling Stones hits. “Jumping Jack Flash” is the set closer. Tsutomu Yamashita on percussion joins the band for the encores “Sympathy For The Devil” and “Satisfaction.” It is a satisfying performance which yielded twelve songs to the television special (all but “Brown Sugar” and “It’s Only Rock And Roll.”)
Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan – March 23rd, 1988
Disc 3 (74:48): Opening, Honky Tonk Women, Throwaway, Bitch, Let’s Spend The Night Together, Beast Of Burden, Tumbling Dice, Miss You, Ruby Tuesday, Just Another Night, War Baby, Harlem Shuffle, Say You Will, Party Doll, Band introduction, You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Disc 4 (57:08): Radio Control, drum solo, guitar solo, Gimme Shelter, Start Me Up, Brown Sugar (with Tina Turner), It’s Only Rock n Roll (with Tina Turner), Jumping Jack Flash, Sympathy For The Devil, Satisfaction
The setlist is identical for the second night. Bill Graham once again introduces Jagger before the opening song “Honky Tonk Women” and “Throwaway.” Before “Beast Of Burden” he does the television bit, but this time mentioning Godzilla on the screen.
The band is tight and well rehearsed, but Jagger still directs them throughout the performance. It is especially evident in songs like “Miss You” and “Brown Sugar” where his directions are very loud over the music.
Highlights of this show are again the loud and warm reception of the solo material at the midway point in the set. “Just Another Night” rocks and “War Baby” is given a poignant performance. After “Party Doll” Jagger tells the Tokyo audience he’s happy to play for them finally after all these years.
Joining Jagger onstage is Tina Turner for both “Brown Sugar” and “It’s Only Rock And Roll.” Her appearance is not announced and the audience cheer loudly when she becomes visible. She’s had a long association with Jagger dating back to when she opened for the Stones in 1969 up to her performing with him at Live Aid three years before. Her throaty alto serves as a good counter to the other female singers on stage. These two tracks were featured in the television program.
2 Nights In Dome is packaged these two shows in a fatboy jewel case with various live shots from the shows including pics of Jagger onstage with Tina Turner from the March 23rd concert on the back. This is an interesting document for the Stones collector to have. There haven’t been many Jagger silvers issued in the past couple of years. Given the historic importance of these shows makes this set worth having.
