The third in a series looking at US albums compiled by cherry-picking a couple of already released UK albums to create something else – we started with O.M.D. by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, then on to Heaven 17 – this time it’s yet another Virgin records act and again a self-titled compilation, with Japan.
It is largely based around the late 1981 album ‘Tin Drum’, but with some precision alterations stitched in from the ‘Gentlemen Take Polaroids’ album too, producing a pretty strong selection all in all. Does it all hang together nicely? I came to this as a later curiosity, so as ever I don’t have a perspective on what this was like for ears new to Japan and am always keen to hear contemporary takes on what it was like at the time, via the comments section.
Tracklisting:
Side One:
- The Art Of Parties (4’09”)
- Talking Drum (3’30”)
- Ghosts (4’18”)
- Gentlemen Take Polaroids (7’02”)
Side Two:
- Still Life In Mobile Homes (5’30”)
- Visions Of China (3’36”)
- Taking Islands In Africa (4’51”)
- Swing (6’18”)
- Cantonese Boy (3’46”)
Of note, on this album, the song ‘Ghosts’ has a shorter intro, but it is not the same mix as the shortened UK single – so, it is unique to this LP. Other than that, the remaining tracks are largely left alone as the familiar original LP versions. It’s worth noting two points though – ‘The Art Of Parties’ is the more oriental styled, less white funk take, not the single recording. The version of ‘Taking Islands In Africa’ meanwhile is the Steve Nye remix that had appeared as the B side of the late 1981 ‘Visions Of China’ 7” single.
