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The Very Best Of Japan
''The Very Best of Japan'' is a compilation album by the British band Japan, released worldwide in 2006 by EMI Music. Although not the first Japan compilation to collect recordings from the band's career on both Hansa Records and Virgin Records, it is certainly the most comprehensive and includes all nine of their UK top 40 hit singles as well as two other singles that made the top 50, released between the years 1981 and 1983; "The Art of Parties" (#48, 1981), "Quiet Life"(#19, 1981), "Visions of China" (#32, 1981), "European Son (Remix)" (#31, 1981), "Ghosts" (#5, 1982), "Cantonese Boy" (#24, 1982), "I Second That Emotion (Remix)" (#9, 1982), "Life in Tokyo (Remix)" (#28, 1982), "Nightporter (Remix)" (#29, 1982), "All Tomorrow's Parties (Remix)" (#38, 1983) and "Canton" (Live) (#42, 1983). ''The Very Best of Japan'' includes both the single and album versions of their biggest commercial hit "Ghosts", the 12" mix of "The Art of Parties" as well as the Steve Nye remix of "Takin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Japan (band)
Japan were an English new wave band formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn (bass guitar), joined by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean (lead guitar) the following year. Initially a glam rock-inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look to incorporate electronic music and foreign influences. The band achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, releasing nine UK top 40 hits, including the 1982 top 5 hit single " Ghosts", and scoring a UK top 5 with the live album ''Oil on Canvas'' (1983). The band split in December 1982, just as they were beginning to experience commercial success in the UK and abroad. Its members went on to pursue other musical projects, though they reformed briefly in the early 1990s under the name Rain Tree Crow, releasing an album in 1991. History The band began as a group of friends in the early 1970s. Brothers (birth surname Batt) David S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oil On Canvas
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments with a medium of drying oil as the binder. It has been the most common technique for artistic painting on wood panel or canvas for several centuries, spreading from Europe to the rest of the world. The advantages of oil for painting images include "greater flexibility, richer and denser colour, the use of layers, and a wider range from light to dark". But the process is slower, especially when one layer of paint needs to be allowed to dry before another is applied. The oldest known oil paintings were created by Buddhist artists in Afghanistan and date back to the 7th century AD. The technique of binding pigments in oil was later brought to Europe in the 15th century, about 900 years later. The adoption of oil paint by Europeans began with Early Netherlandish painting in Northern Europe, and by the height of the Renaissance, oil painting techniques had almost completely replaced the use of tempera paints in the majority o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tin Drum (album)
''Tin Drum'' is the fifth and final studio album by English band Japan, released in November 1981 by record label Virgin. It peaked at No. 12 on the UK charts, and featured the top 5 single " Ghosts". It has received acclaim as the band's best and most original work. Content ''Tin Drum'' continued the band's now-established mix of electronic elements with traditional instrumentation, but leans far more towards Far Eastern influences than any of their previous albums. Lead guitarist Rob Dean had departed in May 1981 and vocalist/songwriter/second guitarist David Sylvian had taken on his duties, which had been very greatly reduced by the band's change of musical direction. ''Brooklyn Rail'' writer Paul Grimstad described the album's sound as "mannered cubist pop". Musically, ''Tin Drum'' was a meticulously crafted blend of complex rhythms, keyboard textures, and Mick Karn's bass playing. Keyboardist Richard Barbieri recalled that recording the album "was a very laborious proc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942October 27, 2013) was an American musician, songwriter, and poet. He was the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades. Although not commercially successful during its existence, the Velvet Underground became regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of underground and alternative rock music. Reed's distinctive deadpan voice, poetic and transgressive lyrics, and experimental guitar playing were trademarks throughout his long career. Having played guitar and sung in doo-wop groups in high school, Reed studied poetry at Syracuse University under Delmore Schwartz, and had served as a radio DJ, hosting a late-night avant garde music program while at college. After graduating from Syracuse, he went to work for Pickwick Records in New York City, a low-budget record company that specialized in sound-alike recordings, as a songwriter and sess ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
All Tomorrow's Parties
"All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by the Velvet Underground and Nico, written by Lou Reed and released on the group's 1967 debut studio album, ''The Velvet Underground & Nico''. Inspiration for the song came from Reed's observation of Andy Warhol’s clique—according to Reed, the song is "a very apt description of certain people at the Factory at the time. ... I watched Andy. I watched Andy watching everybody. I would hear people say the most astonishing things, the craziest things, the funniest things, the saddest things." In a 2006 interview Reed's bandmate John Cale stated: "The song was about a girl called Darryl, a beautiful petite blonde with three kids, two of whom were taken away from her." The song was Andy Warhol's favorite by The Velvet Underground. The song has notably lent its name to a music festival, a William Gibson novel, and a Yu Lik-wai film. Recording The song was recorded at Scepter Studios in Manhattan during April 1966. It features a piano motif playe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nightporter
"Nightporter" is a song by English new wave band Japan. The song originally featured on the band's fourth album ''Gentlemen Take Polaroids'' in 1980. However, it was then remixed by Steve Nye and released as a single in November 1982. The single peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart. Inspiration and composition The title of the song takes its inspiration from the 1974 film ''The Night Porter''. This influence can also be seen on the ''Gentlemen Take Polaroids'' album cover, with its inspiration taken from the character played by Dirk Bogarde in the film. "Nightporter" is also influenced by French composer Erik Satie, specifically his piano compositions ''Gymnopédies'', with David Sylvian stating "I was influenced an awful lot by Satie, but I've milked him dry after 'Nightporter'". The song has also been described as "a direct descendant of '' Obscure Alternatives'' "The Tenant" and ''Quiet Life''s "Despair"". The song "marked the first real example of Sylvian using fir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Giorgio Moroder
Giovanni Giorgio Moroder (, ; born 26 April 1940) is an Italian composer, songwriter, and record producer. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Disco", Moroder is credited with pioneering euro disco and electronic dance music. His work with synthesizers had a large influence on several music genres such as Hi-NRG, Italo disco, new wave, house and techno music. When in Munich in the 1970s, Moroder started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records. He is the founder of the former Musicland Studios in Munich, a recording studio used by many artists including the Rolling Stones, Electric Light Orchestra, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Queen (band), Queen and Elton John. He produced singles for Donna Summer during the mid-to-late 1970s disco era, including "Love to Love You Baby (song), Love to Love You Baby", "I Feel Love", "Last Dance (Donna Summer song), Last Dance", "MacArthur Park (song)#Donn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cantonese Boy
"Cantonese Boy" is a song by English new wave band Japan, released in May 1982 as the fourth and final single from their 1981 album '' Tin Drum''. The single peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart. The song refers to the enlistment of a Cantonese boy to the Chinese Red Army. Release "Cantonese Boy" was released with the B-side "Burning Bridges" on the 7-inch single, taken from the band's previous album ''Gentlemen Take Polaroids''. The 12-inch single two different B-sides: "The Experience of Swimming" and "Gentlemen Take Polaroids", which were originally released on the "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" single in October 1980. A double 7-inch single was also released: the 7-inch single of "Cantonese Boy" and the two 12-inch B-sides, switched around, making it exactly the same as the "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" single. Reception Reviewing the song for ''Record Mirror'', Sunie Fletcher described it as "a skillful, fluent and textured piece of music" and that as a single "it's a less ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
European Son (Japan Song)
"European Son" is a song by the British band Japan. The song was written by David Sylvian in 1978 following the band's US tour. It was intended to be the title track of Japan's third album and Sylvian intended to record it with disco producer Giorgio Moroder. However, this did not happen as Moroder preferred the song ''Life in Tokyo''. Japan then recorded the song with Simon Napier-Bell and it was mixed by John Punter. "European Son" was first released in Japan as the B-side of the single "I Second That Emotion" and on the Canadian ''Special Edition EP''. In 1981 it was released as the B-side of the UK single "Life in Tokyo" and was included on the album '' Assemblage''. In January 1982 a version remixed by Steve Nye was released as a single and became a hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 31. Track listings 7": Hansa / HANSA 10 (UK) #European Son (Remix) – 3:48 #Alien – 4:59 12": Hansa / HANSA 12-10 (UK) #European Son (Extended Remix) – 5:33 #Alien – 4:59 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ryuichi Sakamoto
is a Japanese composer, pianist, singer, record producer and actor who has pursued a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). With his bandmates Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, Sakamoto influenced and pioneered a number of electronic music genres. Sakamoto began his career while at university in the 1970s as a session musician, producer, and arranger. His first major success came in 1978 as co-founder of YMO. He concurrently pursued a solo career, releasing the experimental electronic fusion album '' Thousand Knives'' in 1978. Two years later, he released the album ''B-2 Unit''. It included the track "Riot in Lagos", which was significant in the development of electro and hip hop music. He went on to produce more solo records, and collaborate with many international artists, David Sylvian, Carsten Nicolai, Youssou N'Dour, and Fennesz among them. Sakamoto composed music for the opening ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steve Jansen
''yes'Steve is a masculine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Steven or Stephen Notable people with the name include: steve jops * Steve Abbott (other), several people * Steve Adams (other), several people * Steve Alaimo (born 1939), American singer, record & TV producer, label owner * Steve Albini (born 1961), American musician, record producer, audio engineer, and music journalist * Steve Allen (1921–2000), American television personality, musician, composer, comedian and writer * Steve Armitage (born 1944), British-born Canadian sports reporter * Steve Armstrong (born 1965), American professional wrestler * Steve Antin (born 1958), American actor * Steve Augarde (born 1950),arab author, artist, and eater * Steve Augeri (born 1959), American singer * Steve August (born 1954), American football player * Stone Cold Steve Austin (born 1964), American professional wrestler * Steve Aylett (born 1967), English author of sati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gentlemen Take Polaroids (song)
"Gentlemen Take Polaroids" is a song by English new wave band Japan, released as a single from the album of the same name in October 1980. It was the band's first charting single in the UK, peaking at number 60. Reception The single was the band's first release under Virgin Records and "established a clever music bridge between the refined groove of ''Quiet Life'' and the band's forthcoming LP". The song was popular with club DJs: Nick Rhodes regularly played it at the Rum Runner, and Rusty Egan played it at the Blitz. It has been described as a "dynamic masterpiece alternating between the experimental, free-floating middle parts, and the casual pop chorus found throughout the song". However, reviewing the song for Record Mirror, Ronnie Gurr described the single as having an "awful title and mellifluously nondescript Roxy rip-off A-side. Elsewhere Eno's school of modern bland-out muzak that's so dull and nondescript, one can't ignore the fact the damn stuff takes hold". ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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