Live at Budokan (Dream Theater album) explained

Live at Budokan is the fourth live album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on October 5, 2004, available on either 3 CDs, 2 DVDs, or 1 Blu-ray Disc. It was recorded at the Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan on April 26, 2004.

Due to time constraints, the songs "The Great Debate", "Under a Glass Moon" and "Caught in a Web", which was set to include an extended drum solo, were removed from the setlist at the last minute, although it can be seen recorded in Osaka as part of the extra features of the DVD and Blu-ray versions. Additionally, during the credits, an instrumental version of the song "Vacant" is played in the background.

According to the Commentary Track on their "When Dream And Day Reunite" Official Bootleg Live DVD, Jordan Rudess had an equipment malfunction during the first few minutes of the live concert that played either the incorrect sound, no sound at all, or random notes a half step upward in pitch. Nevertheless, Rudess mimed playing the correct parts as he realized they would have to be re-recorded during post-production. This technical error may be the reason for the additional 8-minute improvised jam section during the evening's performance of "Beyond this Life". Rudess played his Kurzweil K2600 as a master keyboard in live shows up to this point, but he began using a Korg OASYS for subsequent Dream Theater album cycles from Octavarium until Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Ironically, he would encounter the same problem in 2009 with a Roland keyboard on what would end up to be .

The live DVD was re-released on Blu-ray, on October 18, 2011.

Track listing

All music by John Petrucci, John Myung, Jordan Rudess, Mike Portnoy except where noted.

CDDisc one

Disc two

Disc three

DVDDisc oneThe entire Budokan concert:

1. "As I Am" – 8:34
2. "This Dying Soul" – 12:12
3. "Beyond This Life" – 19:34
4. "Hollow Years" – 9:19
5. "War Inside My Head" – 2:30
6. "The Test That Stumped Them All" – 4:53
7. "Endless Sacrifice" – 11:20
8. "Instrumedley" – 12:09
9. "Trial of Tears" – 13:58
10. "New Millennium" – 7:59
11. "Keyboard Solo" – 3:59
12. "Only a Matter of Time" – 7:25
13. "Goodnight Kiss" – 6:14
14. "Solitary Shell" – 5:51
15. "Stream of Consciousness" – 10:55
16. "Disappear" – 5:55
17. "Pull Me Under" – 9:00
18. "In the Name of God" – 17:36
19. Credits – 3:11

Disc twoDocumentary and Extra Features:

• "Riding The Train Of Thought": Japanese Tour Documentary – 29:46
• John Petrucci "Guitar World" – 6:27
• Jordan Rudess "Keyboard World" – 6:43
• Mike Portnoy Drum Solo – 12:08
• "The Dream Theater Chronicles": 2004 Tour Opening Video – 5:43
• "Instrumedley" Multiangle Bonus – 12:03

Blu-ray

Contains all content from the DVD set on one Blu-ray Disc, with the concert being presented in 1080p and remastered audio and the extra features largely in 480p.

Personnel

• James LaBrie – Lead vocals, percussion
• John Petrucci – Guitar, backing vocals
• Jordan Rudess – Keyboards
• John Myung – Bass guitar, Chapman Stick
• Mike Portnoy – Drums, backing vocals

Production

• Produced By John Petrucci & Mike Portnoy
• Recorded & Engineered By Nigel Paul
• Assistant Engineer: Jon Belec
• Mixed By Kevin Shirley
• Digital Editing: Patrick Woodward
• Mastered By Howie Weinberg

RIAA Certifications

These statistics were compiled from the RIAA certification online database.^[1] They only apply to the DVD.

• Gold - January 26, 2005
• Platinum - January 26, 2005

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gold and Platinum database . . 2008-01-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH . 2007-06-26 .