Cheap Trick - Budokan! (DVD, 2008, DVD/3-CD Collectors Edition)

This package charmingly captures Cheap Trick's legendary 1978 Budokan performance and more. For those who don't know, CT, a band from Rockford IL, was an opening act for major bands like Kiss and Queen, till their live show at Budokan, was made into an album for Japanese fans because, the kids in the orient went absolutely wild over the Trickster's music. Many think that was the best live album ever made. The Budokan album made it's way stateside and catapulted CT's career into the stars. CT became major headliners. To this day, with platinum and gold records under their belt, the band continues to create excellent music.

The first disk is a 5.1, Dolby sound, DVD covering the April 28, 1978 Budokan show that was broadcast on Japanese TV. The band's live stage antics are gloriously caught...Rick kissing his guitar, ricocheting all over the place, kicking, spinning, making cartoon faces, and bouncing on his platform, Tom flashing a perfect smile and headbanging as his guitar scarf sways, Robin's dramatic expression and hair flicking, sets off thousands of Japanese girls into hysterics, and Bun E. smoking as he beats the drums, looking like he is planning the grocery list, in his head. There are two videos from the 2008 Budokan show, a "Come On, Come On," video from 1978 and a 15 minute band interview from 2008. In the interview, Robin tells of the band's plane landing in Japan, for their first tour, of that country. CT did not know they were stars in Japan. When they peered out the windows in coach, they saw thousands of people and they wondered if someone famous was in first class. "When we got off the plane, we found out...it was us," recalls Robin.

The second disk is a CD that covers April 1978 shows. It's high intensity, heavy rock from a band that always delivers brilliantly but, their enthusiasm was especially fiery during the Japanese tour, when they headlined for the first time. The songs are all awesome. Many think this is CT's best album.

Disks 3 & 4 are CD's that cover the album, 'AT Budokan: The Complete Concert.'

In this Sony, 30th Budokan anniversary set, you also get an attractive, Budokan & band, poster and a colorful, 38 page booklet with photos, band quotes and more. While the packaging is stylish, it's not very practical. Many fans complained the disks got scratched in the cardboard holder. I will put my disks in jewel cases to protect them. The DVD kept freezing till I cleaned it with a cloth. Don't clean the disks unless you know how, or read how to clean them on-line.

Disk 1, DVD:
HELLO THERE
ELO KIDDIES
SPEAK NOW (OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE)
LOOKOUT
DOWNED
CAN'T HOLD ON
OH CAROLINE
SURRENDER
AUF WEIDERSEHEN
SOUTHERN GIRLS
I WANT YOU TO WANT ME
CALIFORNIA MAN
GOODNIGHT
AIN'T THAT A SHAME
CLOCK STRIKES TEN
Bonus Features:
COME ON, COME ON (From 1978)
VOICES (Budokan 2008)
IF YOU WANT MY LOVE (Budokan 2008)
Band Interview, 2008

Disk 2, CD:
HELLO THERE
COME ON, COME ON
ELO KIDDIES
SPEAK NOW (OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE)
BIG EYES
LOOKOUT
DOWNED
CAN'T HOLD ON
OH CAROLINE
SURRENDER
AUF WIEDERSEHEN
NEED YOUR LOVE
HIGH ROLLER
SOUTHERN GIRLS
I WANT YOU TO WANT ME
CALIFORNIA MAN
GOODNIGHT
AIN'T THAT A SHAME
CLOCK STRIKES TEN

Disk 3 & 4, are CDs that cover the album, At Budokan: The Complete Concert.