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JAPAN

THE VIRGIN YEARS

10 Oct 1980 7"/2x7" Gentlemen Take Polaroids

    Gentlemen Take Polaroids 3.28 [Single Version] / The Experience of Swimming 4.04 (7": Virgin, VS 379)

    Gentlemen Take Polaroids 3.28 [Single Version] / The Experience of Swimming 4.04
    The Width of a Room 3.12 / Burning Bridges 3.59 (2x7": VS 379)

Gentlemen Take Polaroids written by D. Sylvian, produced by John Punter. The Experience of Swimming written by R. Barbieri, produced by John Punter. The Width of a Room written by R. Dean, produced by David Sylvian. Burning Bridges written and produced by David Sylvian.

24 Oct 1980 LP/MC (+ CD) GENTLEMEN TAKE POLAROIDS

  1. Gentlemen Take Polaroids 7.05
  2. Swing 6.23
  3. Burning Bridges 5.22
  4. My New Career 3.52

  5. Methods of Dance 6.53
  6. Ain't That Peculiar 4.37
  7. Nightporter 6.56
  8. Taking Islands in Africa 5.11 (Sakamoto/Sylvian) (Virgin V 2180/TCV 2180; CD: CDV 2180)

    2003 CD bonus tracks:

  9. The Experience of Swimming 4.04
  10. The Width of a Room 3.12
  11. Taking Islands in Africa (Steve Nye 1981 Remix) 4.53 (CD 15 Sep 2003: CDVX 2180)
Produced by John Punter.

late? 1980 various artists LP CASH-COWS

Different compared to the LP version. Produced by John Punter.

1 May 1981 7"/12" The Art of Parties

    The Art of Parties 3.55 [Single Version] / Life without Buildings 6.33 (7": Virgin, VS 409)

    The Art of Parties 6.41 [Extended Version] / Life without Buildings 6.33 (12": VS 409-12)

Produced by John Punter and Japan.

6 Nov 1981 7"/12" Visions of China

    Visions of China 3.37 / Taking Islands in Africa 4.53 [1981 Remix] (7": Virgin, VS 436)

    Visions of China 3.37 / Swing 6.23 [from GENTLEMEN TAKE POLAROIDS] (12": VS 436-12)

Visions of China produced by Steve Nye and Japan. Side B remixed by Steve Nye and Japan.

(1994) German various artists 3-CD KULT KLASSIX VOLUME 3

Japan expert Paul Rymer comments: "This [version] was supposed to have been released on a UK 12" along with a remixed version of "Swing" but it never happened. The track begins with drums before an instrumental section. Then the song carries on as usual until the final chorus, which is extended, then there is an extra instrumental bit before the end."

13 Nov 1981 LP (+ CD) TIN DRUM

  1. The Art of Parties 4.10
  2. Talking Drum 3.33
  3. Ghosts 4.33
  4. Canton 5.28

  5. Still Life in Mobile Homes 5.32
  6. Visions of China 3.37
  7. Sons of Pioneers 7.07
  8. Cantonese Boy 3.44 (Virgin V 2209/ TCV 2209; CD: CDV 2209)
    CD 2 in 2003 2-CD:
  1. The Art of Parties (extended version) 6.41
  2. Life without Buildings 6.33
  3. The Art of Parties (live) 5.18
  4. Ghosts (single version) 3.55 (CD 15 Sep 2003: CDVX 2209)
Produced by Steve Nye.

(2001) UK 2-DVD THE BEST OF THE OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST [Live in studio 4 March 1982]

12 March 1982 7"/12" Ghosts
    Ghosts 3.55 [Single Version] / The Art of Parties (Live Version) 5.18 (7": Virgin, VS 472)

    Ghosts 3.55 [Single Version] / The Art of Parties (Live Version) 5.18 (12": VS 472-12)

13 May 1982 7"/2x7"/12" Cantonese Boy
    Cantonese Boy 3.44 / Burning Bridges 5.20 [from GENTLEMEN TAKE POLAROIDS, 1980] (7": Virgin VS 502)

    Cantonese Boy 3.44 / Burning Bridges 5.20 [from GENTLEMEN TAKE POLAROIDS, 1980]
    Gentlemen Take Polaroids 3.28 [Single Version] [from GENTLEMEN TAKE POLAROIDS, 1980] / The Experience of Swimming 4.04 [1980 B-side] (2x7": VS 502)

    Cantonese Boy 3.44 / The Experience of Swimming 4.04 // Gentlemen Take Polaroids 7.05 [from GENTLEMEN TAKE POLAROIDS, 1980] (12": VS 502-12)

12 Nov 1982 7"/12" Nightporter [1982 Remix]

    Nightporter 5.01 [Steve Nye 1982 Single Remix] / Ain't That Peculiar 4.49 [1980 'Cash-Cow' version] (7": Virgin, VS 554)

    Nightporter 3.35 [Steve Nye 1982 Remix - DJ Edit] (DJ 7": VDJ-554) [this edit was used for the video soundtrack]

    Nightporter 6.48 [Steve Nye 1982 Extended Remix] / Methods of Dance 6.53 [from GENTLEMEN TAKE POLAROIDS, 1980] (12": VS 554-12)

March 1983 live VHS OIL ON CANVAS [Live Nov 1982]

  1. Overture: Burning Bridges [studio playback]
  2. Sons of Pioneers
  3. Gentlemen Take Polaroids
  4. Swing
  5. Cantonese Boy
  6. Visions of China
  7. Canton
  8. Ghosts
  9. Methods of Dance
  10. Still Life in Mobile Homes
  11. The Art of Parties
  12. End credits: Voices Raised in Welcome, Hands Held in Prayer [new studio recording]
Recorded live in Nov 1982. Released on DVD "Japan - The Very Best Of" in 2006.

21 May 1983 7"/12" Canton (Live) [Live Nov 1982]

    Canton (Live 1982 - Single Edit) 4.05 / Visions of China (Live 1982) 3.45 (7": Virgin, VS 581)

    Canton (Live 1982) 5.27 / Visions of China (Live 1982) 3.45 (12": VS 581-12)

June 1983 live 2-LP/MC (+ CD) OIL ON CANVAS [Live Nov 1982]
    2-LP/ 2015 2-CD:
  1. Oil on Canvas 1.23 [new studio recording]
  2. Sons of Pioneers 5.00
  3. Gentlemen Take Polaroids
  4. Swing
  5. Cantonese Boy 3.45
  6. Visions of China 3.34
  7. Ghosts 6.24
  8. Voices Raised in Welcome, Hands Held in Prayer 3.29 [new studio recording]
  1. Nightporter 6.45 [studio re-recording]
  2. Still Life in Mobile Homes 5.37
  3. Methods of Dance 6.07
  4. Quiet Life 4.35
  5. The Art of Parties 5.28
  6. Canton 5.43
  7. Temple of Dawn 1.44 [new studio recording] (2-LP: Virgin VD 2513; 2-CD 15 Sep 2003: CDVDX 2513)
    CD 1990:
  1. Oil on Canvas 1.23 [new studio recording]
  2. Sons of Pioneers 5.00
  3. Cantonese Boy 3.45
  4. Visions of China 3.34
  5. Ghosts 6.24
  6. Voices Raised in Welcome, Hands Held in Prayer 3.29 [new studio recording]
  7. Nightporter 6.45 [studio re-recording]
  8. Still Life in Mobile Homes 5.37
  9. Methods of Dance 6.07
  10. Quiet Life 4.35
  11. The Art of Parties 5.28
  12. Canton 5.43
  13. Temple of Dawn 1.44 [new studio recording] (CDV 2513)
Recorded live in Nov 1982.

Dec 1984 coll 2-LP/MC/CD EXORCISING GHOSTS [1980-1983]

    LP/MC:
  1. Methods of Dance 6.53
  2. Swing 6.23
  3. Gentlemen Take Polaroids 7.05
  4. Quiet Life 4.50
  5. A Foreign Place 3.11
  6. Nightporter 6.56
  7. My New Career 3.52
  8. The Other Side of Life 7.23
  1. Visions of China 3.37
  2. Taking Islands in Africa 4.53 [1981 Remix]
  3. Ghosts 4.33
  4. Sons of Pioneers 7.07
  5. Voices Raised in Welcome, Hands Held in Prayer [Edit?]
  6. Life Without Buildings 6.33
  7. Talking Drum 3.34 [different drum intro]
  8. The Art of Parties 6.41 [Extended Version] (Virgin, VGD 3510/VGDC 3510)
    CD:
  1. Methods of Dance 6.53
  2. Gentlemen Take Polaroids 7.05
  3. Quiet Life 4.50
  4. Nightporter 6.56
  5. My New Career 3.52
  6. The Other Side of Life 7.23
  7. Visions of China 3.37
  8. Ghosts 4.33
  9. Life Without Buildings 6.33
  10. Talking Drum 3.34 [different drum intro]
  11. The Art of Parties 6.41 [extended version] (VGDCD 3510)
The Japanese double CD includes all 16 tracks.

1988 3" CDS Ghosts

  1. Ghosts 3.55 [Single Version]
  2. The Art of Parties (Live Version) 5.18
  3. Visions of China 3.37 (Virgin, CDT 11)
1988 3" CDS Gentlemen Take Polaroids
  1. Gentlemen Take Polaroids 7.05
  2. Cantonese Boy 3.44
  3. Methods of Dance 6.53 (Virgin, CDT 32)
These two 3" CD singles were released to promote the reissue of Japan's Virgin albums on CD.

27 March 2006 UK coll-CD JAPAN - THE VERY BEST OF [1980-83]

  1. Ghosts (single version) 3.55 [March 1982]
  2. I Second That Emotion 3.45 [single March 1980] [NOT the 1982 remix]
  3. Quiet Life 3.51 [fade-out] [B-side fade-out version, NOT the 1981 3.34 single edit]
  4. Gentlemen Take Polaroids 7.05 [LP version, Oct 1980]
  5. The Art of Parties (extended 12" mix) 6.41 [April 1981]
  6. Visions Of China 3.37 [Nov 1981]
  7. Taking Islands In Africa (Steve Nye 1981 remix) 4.53 [B-side Visions of China]
  8. European Son 3.37 [1980 B-side version, NOT 1982 remix]
  9. Cantonese Boy 3.44
  10. Life In Tokyo (special remix) 3.59 [single Sep 1982]
  11. Nightporter 6.56 [LP version, NOT the 1982 single remix]
  12. Methods of Dance 6.53
  13. All Tomorrow's Parties (1983 single remix) 3.32 [March 1983]
  14. Canton (live) 5.27 [full length 12" single version May 1983]
  15. Ghosts (album version) 4.33 (EMI 357633-2/CDV 3018)
27 March 2006 DVD JAPAN - THE VERY BEST OF
    Promotional Videos:
  1. Life in Tokyo (1979)
  2. Quiet Life (1979/1980)
  3. I Second That Emotion (1980)
  4. Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980)
  5. Swing (1980)
  6. Visions of China (1981)
  7. Nightporter (1982)
    Oil on Canvas - Live from Hammersmith Odeon, 1983:
  8. Overture: Burning Bridges
  9. Sons of Pioneers
  10. Gentlemen Take Polaroids
  11. Swing
  12. Cantonese Boy
  13. Visions of China
  14. Canton
  15. Ghosts
  16. Methods of Dance
  17. Still Life in Mobile Homes
  18. The Art of Parties
  19. End credits: Voices Raised in Welcome, Hands Held in Prayer (Virgin/EMI VDVD 11/0946 3 57634 9 2)

Copyright (c) 1997-02-18 Jonas Wårstad.

Last update 2006-03-27.

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