Japan | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Japans evolution from rather humble glam rock beginnings into stylish synth pop (and beyond) made the British group one of the more intriguing and successful artists of their era. Formed in London in 1974, Japan began its existence as a quintet comprised of singer/songwriter David Sylvian, bassist Mick Karn, keyboardist Richard Barbieri, drummer (and Sylvians brother) Steve Jansen and guitarist Rob Dean. In their primary incarnation, the group emulated the sound and image of glam rockers like David Bowie and the New York Dolls; Sylvians over-the-top vocals, much in the vein of Bryan Ferry, also earned Japan frequent (if derisive) comparisons to Roxy Music. After winning a label-sponsored talent contest, they were signed to Germanys Ariola-Hansa Records in 1977 and debuted a year later with a pair of LPs, Adolescent Sex and Obscure Alternatives, which received little notice at home or in the U.S. but did find favor among Japanese audiences. With 1979s Quiet Life, Japan made a tremendous leap into more sophisticated stylistic and subtle territory; a subsequent hit single covering Smokey Robinsons "I Second That Emotion" further underscored the newfound soulfulness of their music. 1980s Gentlemen Take Polaroids continued to broaden Japans scope, incorporating a variety of exotic influences into their increasingly atmospheric sound. With 1981s Tin Drum (recorded minus Dean), the band peaked: tapping sources as diverse as funk and Middle Eastern rhythms, the album moved beyond pop confines into experimental tones and textures, and scored a U.K. smash with the single "Ghosts." However, Tin Drum also proved to be Japans swan song: long-simmering differences among the bandmembers came to a head when Karns girlfriend moved in with Sylvian, and the group disbanded in 1982. The individual members quickly forged ahead with their projects: Sylvian began a successful solo career and also entered into a series of collaborations with performers like Ryuichi Sakamoto, Holger Czukay and Robert Fripp, while Karn issued a 1982 solo LP, Titles, before founding the short-lived duo Dalis Car with Bauhaus Peter Murphy. In 1986, meanwhile, Jansen and Barbieri issued Worlds in a Small Room under their own names before recording together as the Dolphin Brothers. In 1987, Karn released Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters, a solo LP which featured contributions from Sylvian and Jansen, spurring rumors of a reunion which came to fruition in 1989 when the four principal members re-teamed under the name Rain Tree Crow. By the time an eponymously-titled album appeared in 1991, however, relations had again dissolved in acrimony, and the musicians went their separate ways; while Sylvian continued working independently, as the decade wore on Karn, Jansen and Barbieri occasionally reunited in various projects while also maintaining solo careers. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 19 Title: Adolescent Sex Released: 1978-03 Tracks: 10 Duration: 47:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Transmission (04:48) 2 The Unconventional (03:03) 3 Wish You Were Black (04:49) 4 Performance (04:36) 5 Lovers on Main Street (04:09) 6 Don’t Rain on My Parade (02:55) 7 Suburban Love (07:29) 8 Adolescent Sex (03:45) 9 Communist China (02:44) 10 Television (09:14) |
| Adolescent Sex : Allmusic album Review : Although Japan later became one of new romantics poster children, their 1978 Adolescent Sex LP predated the movement by two years. A remarkable debut, the set snarls with leftover punk intent, a few glam rock riffs, and a wealth of electronics that not only reach back to the bands youth, but also predate much of what would explode out of the next wave of British underground. Sounding absolutely nothing like MTVs mainstream Japan, the quintet snarls across the opener "Transmission," all snotty lads and frazzled hair, setting the stage for what follows. Except, rather than toeing that line, the band pull some remarkable tricks out of their admittedly tight sleeves. The "wow factor" of an incredibly funky bass and guitar on "The Unconventional," repeated again on "Wish You Were Black," is not only a surprise but leaves one wondering if the band were closet Chic fans -- especially in light of the seven-minute jam "Suburban Love" that follows a little later on. Elsewhere, though, the band play closer to their roots while defining their own style, which includes David Sylvians wonderfully sexy, tousled vocals -- most notably on the epic, and sexy, post-punker "Television" and a cover of the vintage showstopper "Dont Rain on My Parade." A more exciting album than just about anything else theyd ever record, Japan were young, hungry, and more than a little rough around the edges. Despite the slick R&B; work twined in, its important to remember that this band were in the sonic foothold of an early edgy era -- groundbreakers at their own inception. The sound, that look -- it fit them well. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 19 Title: Obscure Alternatives Released: 1978-08 Tracks: 8 Duration: 41:22 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Sometimes I Feel So Low (03:49) 2 Automatic Gun (04:06) 3 …Rhodesia (06:49) 4 Love Is Infectious (04:12) 5 Obscure Alternatives (06:49) 6 Deviation (03:23) 7 Suburban Berlin (05:01) 8 The Tenant (07:12) |
| Obscure Alternatives : Allmusic album Review : Their second album to hit the shelves in 1978, Japans sophomore effort, Obscure Alternatives, found the band dropping most of their debuts funk fringe in favor of guitar-oriented fuzz and quirk -- scooping up the glitter left behind by all the scenes other nascent Siouxies and Adam Ants. Although the set isnt quite up to par with its predecessor, Obscure Alternatives is still a challenging listen. David Sylvian is snotty, snotty on "Automatic Gun" -- a spit-shined punk shocker backed by bright pop guitar -- and ironically playing into all the guises they eschewed. Both the wonderfully atmospheric and slightly menacing title track and "Love Is Infectious" put the band completely into discordant post-punk art house-dom, the latter including a twisted piano solo in the middle of the guitar crunch. "....Rhodesia," on the other hand, brought the funk back and infused it with a Caribbean essence. While there is no doubt that Obscure Alternatives paled in the shadow of Adolescent Sex, Japan had obviously, in their eyes, broken through to find their style, their groove. Still eons away musically from their more commercial Tin Drum heyday, the band were nevertheless cultivating a breathtaking crop of kernels. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 19 Title: Quiet Life Released: 1979-12 Tracks: 8 Duration: 44:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Quiet Life (04:51) 2 Fall in Love With Me (04:35) 3 Despair (05:59) 4 In Vogue (06:32) 5 Halloween (04:24) 6 All Tomorrow’s Parties (05:43) 7 Alien (05:01) 8 The Other Side of Life (07:26) |
| Quiet Life : Allmusic album Review : Quiet Life is the album that transformed Japan from past-tense glam rockers into futuristic synth popsters, though theyd been leaning in that direction for a while. Its also a solid proto-New Romantic synthesizer record, enhanced by Mick Karns superb fretless bass work and David Sylvians smooth, sneering vocals spread over pop hits like the title track and "Fall in Love with Me." | ||
 | Album: 4 of 19 Title: Special Edition - Five Song - Extended Play Released: 1980 Tracks: 5 Duration: 19:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 I Second That Emotion (03:45) 2 European Son (03:39) 3 Life in Tokyo (03:31) 4 State Line (04:46) 5 Adolescent Sex (04:14) |
 | Album: 5 of 19 Title: Gentlemen Take Polaroids Released: 1980-11-15 Tracks: 8 Duration: 46:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Gentlemen Take Polaroids (07:06) 2 Swing (06:25) 3 Burning Bridges (05:20) 4 My New Career (03:54) 5 Methods Of Dance (06:53) 6 Aint That Peculiar (04:40) 7 Nightporter (06:57) 8 Taking Islands In Africa (05:15) |
| Gentlemen Take Polaroids : Allmusic album Review : The last album with Rob Dean, Gentlemen Take Polaroids was also unquestionably the album in which Japan truly found its own unique voice and aesthetic approach. The glam influences still hung heavy, particularly from Roxy Music, but now the band found itself starting to affect others in turn. Even the back cover photo says as much -- looking cool in glossy, elegant nightwear, the quintet had a clear impact on Duran Duran, to the point where Nick Rhodes obviously was trying to be Sylvian in appearance. Musically, meanwhile, the swooning, hyper elegant Euro-disco sheen of Quiet Life was polished to an even finer edge throughout, the title track and the obvious descendant of "Quiet Life" itself, "Methods of Dance," in particular sheer standouts. Sylvians sighing, luscious croon is in full effect on both, and the arrangements are astonishing, Karns fretless purring between Jansens crisp, inventive, and varied drumming, Barbieris icy keyboards filling out the corners. What makes Gentlemen Take Polaroids even more of a success is how the group, having reached such a polished peak, kept driving behind it, transforming their exquisite pop into something even more artistic and unique. "Swing," in particular, is an astounding showcase for the Karn/Jansen team; snaky funk at once dramatic and precisely chilled, brass section blasts adding just enough wry, precise sleaze, Sylvian delivering with focus and intensity while not raising his voice at all. "Nightporter," meanwhile, is a hyper ballad and then some; a slow-paced semi-waltz with Barbieris piano taking the lead throughout with wonderful results. Further hints of the future come with the album closing "Taking Islands In Africa," which Sylvian co-wrote with future regular collaborator Ryuchi Sakamato, and which wraps up the whole experience with a gliding, supple grace. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 19 Title: Assemblage Released: 1981-09-11 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:04:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Adolescent Sex (04:14) 2 State Line (04:46) 3 Communist China (02:44) 4 …Rhodesia (06:49) 5 Suburban Berlin (05:01) 6 Life in Tokyo (03:31) 7 European Son (03:42) 8 All Tomorrow’s Parties (04:15) 9 Quiet Life (04:51) 10 I Second That Emotion (03:45) 11 European Son (John Punter 12" mix) (05:02) 12 I Second That Emotion (12" version) (05:17) 13 Life in Tokyo, Part 2 (special remix) (04:03) 14 Life in Tokyo (1982 mix) (06:15) |
| Assemblage : Allmusic album Review : The 1981 compilation Assemblage gives a skewed, incomplete picture of Japans early career; this is not necessarily a bad thing, as Japans early career frankly wasnt very good, and it certainly had little to do with the mature, studied art-pop of their later albums. For example, the glammy disco thump of the opening "Adolescent Sex" has more to do with the Sweet than Brian Eno, and the version of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles "I Second That Emotion" taken from a 1980 single sounds more like a failed attempt at chart success than an artistic experiment. Furthermore, David Sylvians voice is completely different on the early tracks here, a nasal whine thats difficult to listen to for more than a few minutes at a time. That said, there are a few not-bad tracks here. "Communist China" is intriguing post-punk that hints at the loud-soft dynamic of Gentlemen Take Polaroids, and "Rhodesia," a not entirely successful reggae experiment, at least introduces the use of world music forms, atmospheric production, and smoother, more controlled singing that would characterize their later career. That later career starts on side two, where, after the electro-disco sidetrack of the Giorgio Moroder collaboration "Life in Tokyo," Japans sudden left turn into artsy soft rock begins with the original "European Son" and an imaginative reworking of the Velvet Undergrounds "All Tomorrows Parties." Assemblage isnt entirely essential, but with its singles and previously unreleased tracks, its a better starting point than either of Japans first two albums. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 19 Title: Tin Drum Released: 1981-11-28 Tracks: 8 Duration: 38:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Art of Parties (04:12) 2 Talking Drum (03:36) 3 Ghosts (04:32) 4 Canton (05:28) 5 Still Life in Mobile Homes (05:34) 6 Visions of China (03:39) 7 Sons of Pioneers (07:09) 8 Cantonese Boy (03:50) |
| Tin Drum : Allmusic album Review : Partially growing out of their success in the country they were named after, as well as growing friendship and affiliation with such bands as Yellow Magic Orchestra, Japan, on Tin Drum, made its most unique, challenging, and striking album. It was also the final full studio effort from the group, and what a way to bow out -- there was practically no resemblance to the trash glam flailers on Adolescent Sex anymore. Rather than repeat the sheer restraint on Gentlemen Take Polaroids, Tin Drum is an album of energy, Sylvians singing still the decadently joyful thing it is, but the arrangements and performances tight, full, and active. The fusion of exquisite funk courtesy of Karn and Jansens joined-at-the-hip rhythm section and a range of Asian music influences, from instrumentation to subject matter, combined with an even wider use of technological approaches to create the dramatic, sly songs on offer. Only the Talking Heads showed the same attempt at reach and variety at the time, at least in the Western rock world, but Japan arguably outstripped the New York band with its sheer sense of theatrical style. To top it all off, the band was more popular than ever, with "Ghosts," an appropriately haunting ballad notable for its utterly minimal arrangement, almost entirely eschewing beats for Barbieris textures and Jansens work on marimba, becoming a Top Ten hit in the U.K. The wound-up dancefloor art grooves of "The Art of Parties" and especially "Visions of China," the latter featuring what has to be Karnand Jansens eternal highlight performance (check out Jansens jaw-dropping drum break) were also notable efforts. Meanwhile, the evocation of Chinese culture in general continued with such songs as "Canton," a slightly martial, stately march with clear inspiration from the countrys classical music tradition, and the concluding "Cantonese Boy." | ||
 | Album: 8 of 19 Title: Japan Released: 1982 Tracks: 9 Duration: 43:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Art of Parties (04:09) 2 Talking Drum (03:30) 3 Ghosts (04:18) 4 Gentlemen Take Polaroids (07:02) 5 Still Life in Mobile Homes (05:30) 6 Visions of China (03:36) 7 Taking Islands in Africa (remix) (04:51) 8 Swing (06:18) 9 Cantonese Boy (03:46) |
 | Album: 9 of 19 Title: Oil on Canvas Released: 1983-06 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:12:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Oil on Canvas (01:25) 2 Sons of Pioneers (04:59) 3 Gentlemen Take Polaroids (06:42) 4 Swing (05:36) 5 Cantonese Boy (03:45) 6 Visions of China (03:35) 7 Ghosts (06:23) 8 Voices Raised in Welcome, Hands Held in Prayer (03:30) 1 Nightporter (06:49) 2 Still Life in Mobile Homes (05:37) 3 Methods of Dance (06:07) 4 Quiet Life (04:34) 5 The Art of Parties (05:28) 6 Canton (05:43) 7 Temple of Dawn (01:47) |
| Oil on Canvas : Allmusic album Review : The final Japan release was sold and marketed as a live album, though actually its a bit of a catchall -- it is indeed mostly from concerts, but also includes a variety of studio instrumentals and a re-recorded version of "Nightporter" mixed in to sound like its part of the show. The various re-releases of the albums over the years confused matters further, with re-sequencings, the excision of cuts, and more adding to general confusion about the release (not to mention the fact that some reissues completely omitted where the shows were recorded anyway!). Two of the instrumentals, "Oil on Canvas" itself and "Temple of Dawn," are brief, gentle pieces by Sylvian and Barbieri respectively. "Voices Raised in Welcome, Hands Held in Prayer" is a more involving effort, combining a quiet, gamelan-inspired rhythm with found-sound samples from what appears to be a religious ceremony. As for "Nightporter," its a nice enough new version but isnt notably different or varied from the earlier studio take. The remaining live cuts show that the exquisite tension and serene sounds in the studio were easily transferred to the stage in all their elegant complexity. The Tin Drum selections, which make up most of the release, make the case even more that Japan was as much a prog band as a glam one, Sylvians captivating vocals flowing over Asian-derived scales and melodies, the guitar parts handled by guest performer Masami Tsuchiya, who also plays some keyboards. "Visions of China" sounds especially grand, Jansens entrancing drumming seemingly impossible to be created and yet clearly existing. The extended introduction to "Ghosts," Karns saxophone welling up from the distance like a siren call, is another highlight, along with the slightly rocked-up -- but only just -- "Methods of Dance." | ||
 | Album: 10 of 19 Title: Exorcising Ghosts Released: 1984-10-01 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:01:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Methods of Dance (06:50) 2 Gentlemen Take Polaroids (07:03) 3 Quiet Life (04:51) 4 Nightporter (06:48) 5 My New Career (03:52) 6 The Other Side of Life (07:26) 7 Visions of China (03:39) 8 Ghosts (04:32) 9 Life Without Buildings (06:38) 10 Talking Drum (03:31) 11 The Art of Parties (06:46) |
| Exorcising Ghosts : Allmusic album Review : Its not a true career overview, and given that the band only released two albums during its stint on Virgin, a collection that includes at least half of each of those efforts is ultimately a strange exercise in superfluity. That all said, though, if one needs to have a useful enough starting point for what made Japan so great, Exorcising Ghosts is a reasonable way to start. The emphasis is entirely on the moody, melancholic but energetic phase of Japans career -- theres nothing earlier than a couple of cuts from Quiet Life, and any hint of the bands trash glam rock start is carefully and quietly ignored. Tasteful is the word here instead, and, to be sure, the album cover and design, a beautifully striking effort from regular Sylvian artistic partner Russell Mills, is one of the best ever done. Sylvian himself oversaw the compilation, which leads to an important note: if theres a version of the album to get, appropriately enough its the Japanese one. As the collection was apparently meant to be geared towards the bands namesake country first and foremost, that version includes a slew of extra tracks that create not only a better picture of the bands work, but provides more rarities of interest to fans. Besides such wonderful album cuts as "Swing" and "Sons of Pioneers," other Japanese-only songs include the single version of "Taking Islands in Africa," which features co-writer Ryuchi Sakomoto actually performing on the track, and which has otherwise not yet appeared on an album. Still, the stripped down U.K. edition does have a couple of less familiar takes: the 12" version of "The Art of Parties" and a take on "Talking Drum" which has different opening drums. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 19 Title: Souvenir From Japan Released: 1989-10 Tracks: 12 Duration: 54:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Second That Emotion (03:45) 2 Life in Tokyo (04:02) 3 Deviation (03:18) 4 Suburban Berlin (05:01) 5 Adolescent Sex (04:14) 6 European Son (03:39) 7 All Tomorrow’s Parties (04:15) 8 Communist China (02:44) 9 State Line (04:46) 10 …Rhodesia (06:49) 11 Obscure Alternatives (06:47) 12 Quiet Life (04:51) |
| Souvenir From Japan : Allmusic album Review : Japans first label, Hansa, got a little hyperactive when it came to re-releases and re-packagings from the first three albums in the bands career. Souvenir from Japan falls squarely into that category, drawing from the earliest trash glam roots of the group to the more elegant, wistful sounds of its mid-period, all without much regard for chronology or interesting liner notes or anything particularly new. As a starter kit for the beginning Japan fan, though, its a reasonable enough release. The sound is quite good, the delicate textures and production skill of the group and its collaborators especially noteworthy when it comes to the later songs, and the choice of tunes is generally on the money. Besides the attractive covers of Smokey Robinsons "I Second That Emotion" and the marvelous revamp of the Velvet Undergrounds "All Tomorrows Parties," ten other band originals make up the contents. The groups obvious fascination with non-U.K. glamour, or least images of same, make up much of the collection, thanks to the singling out of such cuts as "Life in Tokyo" and "Suburban Berlin," not to mention the ultimately prophetic fascination with "Communist China." Hearing Sylvians all-too-arch sleaze and sneer on the earliest stuff still raises a smile, considering how much better he would get in the future -- its hard not to laugh at the extremes he cooks up on "Deviation" and "Adolescent Sex." Collectively the group was still working out its obsessions with first the New York Dolls then Roxy Music at its most beautifully dissipated, but Sylvians deliciously luscious croon and Karns increasingly evident skill with fretless bass make Souvenir worth having for the newcomer, if unnecessary for the hardcore fan. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 19 Title: The Other Side of Japan Released: 1991 Tracks: 12 Duration: 58:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Wish You Were Black (04:49) 2 Television (09:12) 3 The Unconventional (03:03) 4 Transmission (04:48) 5 Automatic Gun (04:06) 6 Love Is Infectious (04:12) 7 Sometimes I Feel So Low (03:49) 8 The Tenant (07:12) 9 In Vogue (06:32) 10 Halloween (04:24) 11 A Foreign Place (03:14) 12 Don’t Rain on My Parade (02:55) |
| The Other Side of Japan : Allmusic album Review : Still more Hansa-era sides were assembled. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 19 Title: In Vogue Released: 1996-08-24 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:12:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Unconventional (03:03) 2 Lovers on Main Street (04:09) 3 Transmission (04:48) 4 I Second That Emotion (03:45) 5 All Tomorrows Parties (12" version) (05:47) 6 Alien (05:01) 7 Halloween (04:24) 8 Suburban Berlin (05:01) 9 Quiet Life (04:51) 10 Love Is Infectious (04:12) 11 Fall in Love With Me (04:35) 12 Adolescent Sex (04:14) 13 European Son (extended remix) (05:36) 14 In Vogue (06:17) 15 Life in Tokyo (12" version) (06:18) |
| In Vogue : Allmusic album Review : In Vogue is a particularly ironic title, considering that these 1978-1980 recordings date from the period during which David Sylvian and company could barely have been less fashionable. Unreconstructed glam rockers during a period of post-punk urgency, Japan for the first two years of their recorded existence could only manage naff singles like "Adolescent Sex" and "Lovers on Main Street." However, as on earlier Japan comps like 1981s Assemblage, In Vogue rights itself about halfway through with tracks from the far-superior 1980 album Quiet Life and its associated singles. During this period, Japan finally found their artistic voice, and the jump in quality is remarkable. (Theyd get even better starting with 1981s Gentlemen Take Polaroids, but alas, their later albums were on another label and therefore inaccessible.) For die-hard fans, In Vogue contains the longer -- but not necessarily better -- 12" mixes of "European Son" and the Giorgio Moroder collaboration, "Life in Tokyo," but those who are happy with their copies of Assemblage may not need to upgrade. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 19 Title: The Singles: Japan Released: 1996-09-04 Tracks: 34 Duration: 2:27:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Don’t Rain on My Parade (02:55) 2 State Line (04:46) 3 The Unconventional (03:03) 4 Adolescent Sex (04:14) 5 Sometimes I Feel So Low (03:49) 6 Love Is Infectious (04:12) 7 Life in Tokyo (short version) (03:30) 8 Life in Tokyo, Part 2 (03:17) 9 I Second That Emotion (03:48) 10 Quiet Life (03:52) 11 Life in Tokyo (03:31) 12 European Son (03:39) 13 Quiet Life (03:35) 14 A Foreign Place (03:14) 15 European Son (03:48) 16 Alien (05:01) 17 I Second That Emotion (03:54) 18 Halloween (04:24) 1 Life in Tokyo (04:03) 2 Life in Tokyo (Theme) (03:54) 3 All Tomorrows Parties (03:34) 4 In Vogue (live in Tokyo) (06:12) 5 Life in Tokyo (12" extended version) (07:08) 6 European Son (05:00) 7 Sometimes I Feel So Low (03:49) 8 Adolescent Sex (04:14) 9 Life in Tokyo (extended remix) (07:05) 10 Life in Tokyo (Theme) (03:54) 11 All Tomorrows Parties (Steve Nyes 1983 remix) (05:16) 12 I Second That Emotion (extended mix) (05:15) 13 Halloween (04:24) 14 European Son (extended remix) (05:36) 15 Quiet Life (extended version) (04:48) 16 Fall in Love With Me (04:35) |
 | Album: 15 of 19 Title: The Masters Released: 1997-09 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:05:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Quiet Life (04:51) 2 European Son (03:39) 3 I Second That Emotion (03:45) 4 Life in Tokyo (03:31) 5 All Tomorrow’s Parties (04:14) 6 Deviation (Live) (03:17) 7 Adolescent Sex (03:43) 8 Halloween (04:22) 9 Love is Infectious (04:10) 10 Communist China (02:43) 11 Lovers on Main Street (04:08) 12 In-Vogue (06:29) 13 Suburban Berlin (04:58) 14 Alien (05:01) 15 Obscure Alternatives (06:49) |
 | Album: 16 of 19 Title: The Best of Japan Released: 2002-10-02 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:15:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Adolescent Sex (04:14) 2 The Unconventional (03:03) 3 Communist China (02:44) 4 Automatic Gun (04:06) 5 State Line (04:46) 6 European Son (03:39) 7 I Second That Emotion (03:45) 8 Life in Tokyo (03:31) 9 Quiet Life (04:52) 10 Fall in Love With Me (04:35) 11 Despair (06:02) 12 The Other Side of Life (07:26) 13 A Foreign Place (03:14) 14 Deviation (live in Tokyo) (03:21) 15 Obscure Alternatives (live in Tokyo) (06:06) 16 In Vogue (live in Tokyo) (06:12) 17 Sometimes I Feel So Low (live) (04:06) |
 | Album: 17 of 19 Title: The Very Best Of Released: 2006-03-27 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:13:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Ghosts (single version) (03:59) 2 I Second That Emotion (single mix) (03:47) 3 Quiet Life (03:52) 4 Gentlemen Take Polaroids (07:08) 5 The Art of Parties (06:46) 6 Visions of China (03:39) 7 Taking Islands in Africa (Steve Nye remix) (04:57) 8 European Son (03:39) 9 Cantonese Boy (03:50) 10 Life in Tokyo, Part 1 (Special remix) (03:58) 11 Nightporter (06:57) 12 Methods of Dance (06:53) 13 All Tomorrows Parties (7" version) (03:34) 14 Canton (live) (05:30) 15 Ghosts (album version) (04:38) |
 | Album: 18 of 19 Title: The Collection Released: 2009 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:07:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Quiet Life (7″ version) (03:36) 2 Visions of China (03:41) 3 Ghosts (04:32) 4 I Second That Emotion (03:45) 5 Life in Tokyo (03:31) 6 European Son (03:39) 7 All Tomorrows Parties (7" version) (04:14) 8 Adolescent Sex (03:45) 9 Don’t Rain on My Parade (02:55) 10 In Vogue (06:32) 11 The Unconventional (03:03) 12 Communist China (02:44) 13 Suburban Berlin (05:01) 14 Halloween (04:24) 15 Life in Tokyo (12" version) (06:15) 16 All Tomorrows Parties (12″ version, 1983 remix) (05:17) |
 | Album: 19 of 19 Title: Original Album Classics Released: 2011-03-28 Tracks: 34 Duration: 2:45:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Transmission (04:48) 2 The Unconventional (03:03) 3 Wish You Were Black (04:49) 4 Performance (04:36) 5 Lovers on Main Street (04:09) 6 Don’t Rain on My Parade (02:55) 7 Suburban Love (07:29) 8 Adolescent Sex (03:45) 9 Communist China (02:44) 10 Television (09:14) 1 Automatic Gun (04:06) 2 …Rhodesia (06:49) 3 Love Is Infectious (04:12) 4 Sometimes I Feel So Low (03:49) 5 Obscure Alternatives (06:49) 6 Deviation (03:23) 7 Suburban Berlin (05:01) 8 The Tenant (07:12) 9 Deviation (live in Tokyo) (03:21) 10 Obscure Alternatives (live in Tokyo) (06:06) 11 In Vogue (live in Tokyo) (06:12) 12 Sometimes I Feel So Low (live in Tokyo) (04:05) 1 Quiet Life (04:51) 2 Fall in Love With Me (04:35) 3 Despair (05:59) 4 In Vogue (06:32) 5 Halloween (04:24) 6 All Tomorrow’s Parties (05:43) 7 Alien (05:01) 8 The Other Side of Life (07:26) 9 All Tomorrows Parties (12″ version, 1983 remix) (05:17) 10 All Tomorrow’s Parties (7″ version) (?) 11 A Foreign Place (03:14) 12 Quiet Life (03:52) |