Live in Japan - Bay City Rollers

Live In Japan was the Rollers' first and only live album, which is a shame, because an earlier recording would have featured a very different, and far more representative live set. Wherefore "Shang A Lang"? Wherefore "Remember", wherefore "Summerlove Sensation"? Not even reserved for the encores, the band's greatest hits have been filed under futile, to be replaced by... an Incredible String Band cover. "It's A Game", the last of the Rollers' even vaguely memorable 45s, opens a show which has Serious Musicians stamped all over it. The handful of "oldies" which do survive are, without exception, the ones which have a degree of classic class stamped on them. "Wouldn't You Like It" and "Saturday Night" alone hail from the days of true tartan terrorism; "Rock'n'Roll Love Letter" and "Yesterday's Heroes" represent the Dedication album, "Money Honey" and "I Only Wanna Be With You" are the only prime-era hits.
There's also a sterling version of David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel", spiraling out with even more aplomb than its (already unexpectedly superlative) studio counterpart. But the heart of Live In Japan is unremittingly grim. No matter how solid the wall of screams behind them, there's no denying that the Rollers lost a lot more than a few catchy choruses when they finally stopped chewing the bubblegum. They also lost heart, and songs like "Don't Let The Music Die", "Don't Stop The Music", "You Made Me Believe In Magic" and "Eagles Fly") are barely memorable AOR noodles. But the final word falls at the dawn of the disc, as they launch into {$the Easybeats' "Yesterday's Hero". When the Rollers first recorded it, in 1975, Rollermania was at its peak, and the irony was lost on no-one. Now the scenario had come painfully true, but it wasn't the kids who had deserted the band. It was the band who'd deserted the kids. Live In Japan captures them in full flight. ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide