| Japan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 1 March 1982[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1980–1981 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 43:16 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Japan chronology | ||||
| ||||
Japan is an album by the British bandJapan, released in the United States in March 1982 on theEpic Records label. It was the first US release of the band's material recorded forVirgin Records in the UK (Obscure Alternatives, onAriola Records, had already been released in the US), and was a combination of most ofTin Drum with three tracks fromGentlemen Take Polaroids. It was released at a time when the band was beginning to break up. Despite the group's popularity in Europe and Asia, and a cult following in the US, the album did not break into theBillboard 200 chart. However, it did peak at number 204 on theBubbling Under the Top LPs chart.[2]
The album was reviewed inBillboard: "Coming in with its own version of stylish rock years ahead ofSoft Cell,Human League, etc. yet behindBowie andRoxy Music, Japan has gotten lost in the cracks. This album, though derivative, shows what Americans have been missing. This is well-played dance music which is also thought provoking because of itsFar Eastern feel."[3]
Reviewing forMusician,J. D. Considine wrote, "Instead of the cool, glassy textures and rigid rhythmic structure of mostsynth-rock, Japan has achieved a soft, almost organic sound reminiscent ofBrian Eno'sAnother Green World orBefore And After Science. At its worst, this is just high-techatmosphere music with David Sylvian's dark,Bryan Ferry-ish crooning adding just the right touch of melancholy. Mostly, though, Japan's deft mixture of synthetics, ethnic touches (like the African drums on "Talking Islands In Africa" or thedida on "Visions Of China") and unconventional dance rhythms makes for compelling listening."[4]
All tracks are written byDavid Sylvian, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Art of Parties" | 4:15 |
| 2. | "Talking Drum" | 3:30 |
| 3. | "Ghosts" (alternate edit) | 4:18 |
| 4. | "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" | 7:02 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "Still Life in Mobile Homes" | 5:30 | |
| 6. | "Visions of China" | Steve Jansen, Sylvian | 3:36 |
| 7. | "Taking Islands in Africa" (Steve Nye remix) | Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sylvian | 4:51 |
| 8. | "Swing" | 6:18 | |
| 9. | "Cantonese Boy" | 3:46 | |
| Total length: | 43:16 | ||
Musicians
Technical
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Bubbling Under theTop LPs (Billboard)[2] | 204 |
| USCash Box Top 200 Albums[5] | 157 |
| USRecord World 200 Albums[6] | 184 |
