Think Tank Media artist, Lana Lane has been a very busy lady lately with a duo of live archival releases both on the cd & dvd format. I reviewed the DVD and the setlist is pretty much the same, a career spanning live renditions of some of her greatest songs. On the CD there’s some acoustic versions of several of her songs. Basically Lana on vocals and Erik Norlander on keys. Now don’t go away thinking it’s a lounge act... they’re so not a lounge act. The songs are more intimate this way, not saying the full band isn’t good but it’s nice to hear the songs stripped down to a basic piano/ vocal combo.
My personal favorites of the acoustic versions are; Symphony of Angels, another cover, this time Aerosmith’s Dream On. Lana and Erik do justice to this classic song. Also I enjoy Autumn Leaves, Avalon and the Marillion song, Seasons End. I personally enjoy her version more than Marillion’s (ducks flying objects).
On the second disc there’s a full band version of King Crimson’s In the Court of the Crimson King and Rainbow’s Long Live Rock n’ Roll. Both of the versions pay tribute and homage to the originals while adding the special Queen of Symphonic Rock touch to it.
Again this is a recommended release for Lana fans BUT I think both Return To Japan and Storybook: Tales From Europe and Japan are to be purchased together to get the whole Lana Lane live experience!
Reviewed by Ron Fuchs on June 29th, 2004
