On May 13th, when Sal Posted his "10 X 20" Weekend mix, I commented, "YEAHHH!!! I second that emotion. Great idea". While typing, I thought Smokey's original, and Japan's 1979 cover, would have fit nicely, so I included YouTube links to both. That's when I started started planning this mix.
I emailed Sal, asking him if we'd ever discussed Japan. He replied that no we hadn't, and he'd never really listened to them either, although friends had tried convincing him to.
"A weekend mix in the near future will fix that", I said.
Originially, a kind of glam rock funk outfit, Japan was formed in 1974, by David Sylvian (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Steve Jansen- (drums), Mick Karn (bass), Richard Barbieri (keyboards), and Rob Dean (lead guitar). They released their first two albums, "Adolescent Sex", and "Obscure Alternatives" in 1978. Both albums failed to chart. Their debut was followed by a UK tour supporting Blue Oyster Cult, where they were met with hostile audiences, and negative reviews.
In 1979, the group worked with Giorgio Moroder, who cowrote and produced "Life In Tokyo", a one-off single. It didn't chart, and he was determined not be a good fit, but made a huge impact on their sound. He must have told singer David Sylvian to change his approach, as suddenly he was crooning in a lower register, rather than the obnoxious whiny snarl heard on the first two albums. They became a different band, and "Quiet Life", released in 1979, bears no resemblance to it's predecessors.
The title and cover convinced me to take a chance on "Gentleman Take Polaroids". It sounded as stylish as it looked. I was sold.
Roxy Music seemed to be past their creative peak. I'd been disappointed by everything since "Manifesto". While I liked Bowie's "Let's Dance", it was kind of a sellout, and he was about to head into his '80's nadir. Japan came exactly at the right time.
Many of my Weekend Mixes are essentially expanded versions of a favorite album with bonus tracks. At the center of this one is, "Tin Drum", their final as a band. Tracks 2-8 follow the original's sequence in it's entirety, minus "Canton" an instrumental.
Released in 1981, it brought their greatest chart success so far with "Ghosts" reaching number 5. Two other singles charted, with the album almost cracking the top ten. In 2011, thirty years after it's release, "Tin Drum" received a posthumous BBC Radio 6 'Goldie Award' for best album of 1981. Unfortunately, during it's creation, long simmering personal differences lead to rising tension in the band. Guitarist Rob Dean left during the previous album, as the band's new direction became more synthesizer oriented. It didn't help that bassist Mick Karn's girlfriend, photographer Yuka Fujii, moved in with singer David Sylvian. Her voice can be heard on "Still Life In Mobile Homes".
Joined by guitarist, keyboard player Masami Tsuchiya, their "Sons of Pioneers" tour in late 1982 included dates in Europe, UK, and Asia. At it's conclusion, they called it quits.
In 1983, a live album recorded on that tour, "Oil On Canvas" reached No.5 on the UK album charts, their highest. "I Second That Emotion", a failed 1979 single, was rereleased, and became their second top ten hit. A remixed "Life In Tokyo", hit the top 30.
Check out the bass players stage moves starting about the halfway point
With time, my appreciation for their music has only increased. The rhythm section featuring Mick Karn's fretless bass, and Steve Jansen's drums is devastating. The synthesizer and keyboard sounds have aged really well, and David Sylvian is a fine singer and lyricist, splitting the difference between Bowie, and Ferry, with a dash of Eno, without really sounding like any of them.
In late 1989, they briefly reunited as Rain Tree Crow, releasing an album in 1991. In spite of the fact that they refused any attempt by their label to mention Japan, or put their pictures on on the cover, It got generally good reviews and reached number 25 in the UK charts. I like it, but since it's not Japan, it didn't make my mix.
I'm not going to detail anything about their careers afterwards, except to say they all had one, albeit somewhat less noteworthy. I'm much better at listening to music than writing about it.
Mick Karn, unfortunately died of cancer in 2011, amid talks of another reunion.
Thanks for this wonderful post. I agree with you entirely about Japan. One of those bands that needed time to develop the sound. I am not sure that bands are afforded that luxury today.
I first got into Japan back in the early 80's while at college. A bass-playing friend was talking them up, especially Mick Karn, so I listened to Gentlemen Take Polaroids and was hooked. I've never been able to finish an entire song from the first two albums due to the terrible singing.
I still give Japan a spin now and again, but also much of David Sylvian's solo stuff, with Nine Horses's Snow Borne Sorrow being a personal favorite.
Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri have done a number of albums together that are more on the electronic/ambient side, but worth listening to. Barbieri also played (plays?) keyboards for Porcupine Tree.
I'll second BBJ's recommendation to dig into the mix.
Thank you for this , great compilation. The first two records are still my favourites , unfortunately dismissed after their new direction but still a couple of underrated gems
Nice to see some appreciation for the band on this page (so it's not just me who remembers them fondly). My Japanese friends always picked out "European Son" as a favourite, possibly because we raved about "Life In Tokyo" or "Cantonese Boy" (China, I know, not Japan) so that one sticks in my head too. Cheers for the mix.
I have never been a fan, though a friend of mine is a big fan and insists that because I love King Crimson, I should love both Japan and the side projects like Jansen/Barbieri, etc.. But whatever I've heard has always left me cold. I don't love the Smokey cover, but I do like the Rain Tree Crow record. But I will go into this mix with fresh ears!
Looking forward to this! The only song I've ever heard by Japan is one you put on a BW mix called "How I Survived The 80s" in July 2016... thanks for adding to my understanding of this band!
I'm late to the festivities per usual but need to get in on this. The drummer for Japan, Steve Jannsen, is a f*king monster player, he's masterful at playing exactly what fits using whatever tools are appropriate, and once you start listening closely to his playing in its context, you will agree - I am certain - the he's one of the best in the business. He's sort of out-flashed by the sui generis style (and fancy footwork) of his rhythm bestie Mick Karn. But damn is he one tasty percussioner.
Jannsen continued to drum for Sylvian after the band broke up (the two are brothers) and has been consistently remarkable ever since.
"Visions of China," which is in BBJ's most excellent playlist, is a good example of his early crash-boom-bang approach, while examples of his later, more subtle excellence might be Rain Tree Crow's "Blackwater" or "Wanderlust" from Dead Bees on a Cake...the latter of which seems to have been recorded with an ambient mic across the room from the drumset, and it's just so perfect and beautiful. Here, listen:
Lastly, there is some charm in the first record; it's certainly of-its-time, but so is a lot of stuff from the early 80s. Thanks BBJ for highlighting some of my favorite music, and don't sleep on the solo Sylvian stuff, there are many riches to be found there.
Listening to this now. It is really hitting the spot.
I hear lots of Talking Heads, Eno, Howard Jones (haven't heard that name in a while have ye?), New Order, Talk Talk, and most of all Roxy/Bryan Ferry for sho'.
12 comments:
Thanks for this wonderful post. I agree with you entirely about Japan. One of those bands that needed time to develop the sound. I am not sure that bands are afforded that luxury today.
I first got into Japan back in the early 80's while at college. A bass-playing friend was talking them up, especially Mick Karn, so I listened to Gentlemen Take Polaroids and was hooked. I've never been able to finish an entire song from the first two albums due to the terrible singing.
I still give Japan a spin now and again, but also much of David Sylvian's solo stuff, with Nine Horses's Snow Borne Sorrow being a personal favorite.
Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri have done a number of albums together that are more on the electronic/ambient side, but worth listening to. Barbieri also played (plays?) keyboards for Porcupine Tree.
I'll second BBJ's recommendation to dig into the mix.
- Paul in DK
Thank you for this , great compilation. The first two records are still my favourites , unfortunately dismissed after their new direction but still a couple of underrated gems
Nice to see some appreciation for the band on this page (so it's not just me who remembers them fondly). My Japanese friends always picked out "European Son" as a favourite, possibly because we raved about "Life In Tokyo" or "Cantonese Boy" (China, I know, not Japan) so that one sticks in my head too. Cheers for the mix.
Well done BBJ -- Thank You Very Much!
Great write-up, BBJ - Japan and Sylvian solo have been a staple in my listening room for a long, long time.
Sounds like we need to work on Sal to get them into his orbit.
Randy
Re: Japan
I have never been a fan, though a friend of mine is a big fan and insists that because I love King Crimson, I should love both Japan and the side projects like Jansen/Barbieri, etc.. But whatever I've heard has always left me cold. I don't love the Smokey cover, but I do like the Rain Tree Crow record. But I will go into this mix with fresh ears!
No pressure. The music is there. Good luck!
Looking forward to this! The only song I've ever heard by Japan is one you put on a BW mix called "How I Survived The 80s" in July 2016... thanks for adding to my understanding of this band!
I'm late to the festivities per usual but need to get in on this. The drummer for Japan, Steve Jannsen, is a f*king monster player, he's masterful at playing exactly what fits using whatever tools are appropriate, and once you start listening closely to his playing in its context, you will agree - I am certain - the he's one of the best in the business. He's sort of out-flashed by the sui generis style (and fancy footwork) of his rhythm bestie Mick Karn. But damn is he one tasty percussioner.
Jannsen continued to drum for Sylvian after the band broke up (the two are brothers) and has been consistently remarkable ever since.
"Visions of China," which is in BBJ's most excellent playlist, is a good example of his early crash-boom-bang approach, while examples of his later, more subtle excellence might be Rain Tree Crow's "Blackwater" or "Wanderlust" from Dead Bees on a Cake...the latter of which seems to have been recorded with an ambient mic across the room from the drumset, and it's just so perfect and beautiful. Here, listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8H6Ph0gDGg&ab_channel=Parklife13
Lastly, there is some charm in the first record; it's certainly of-its-time, but so is a lot of stuff from the early 80s. Thanks BBJ for highlighting some of my favorite music, and don't sleep on the solo Sylvian stuff, there are many riches to be found there.
"Blackwater" almost made the cut. I opted for "Life In Tokyo" instead. "My Red Guitar" from "Brilliant Trees" was also a candidate.
Listening to this now. It is really hitting the spot.
I hear lots of Talking Heads, Eno, Howard Jones (haven't heard that name in a while have ye?), New Order, Talk Talk, and most of all Roxy/Bryan Ferry for sho'.
Really enjoying this, thank you.
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