Tag Archives: Japan

Rain Tree Crow: Same

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On April 8, 1991, “Virgin” label released the self – titled, and the only Rain Tree Crow album. It was a reunion project by the members of the band Japan. It was recorded1989 -1990, at “Miravel Studios” in Le Val, France, “Condulmer Studio Zerman di Mogliano” in Italy, “Marcus Studios”, “Eel Pie Studios” and “Air Studios” in London, “The Wool Hall” in Bath, Somerset, UK, “Ropewalk Studio in Dublin, Ireland, “Mega Studios” in Paris, and was produced by David Sylvian, Mick karn, Steve Jensen and Richard Barbieri.

Personnel:

  • David Sylvian – vocal, electric guitar, Hammond organ, electric piano, treatments, treatments, organ, percussion, Indian drum, harmonium, shortwave radio, horn arrangement, mixing, art director
  • Mick Karn– bass, saxophone, brass, pipes, wine glasses, horn arrangement
  • Richard Barbieri– synthesizer, water wheel
  • Steve Jansen– drums, Moroccan clay drum, fan drums, marimba, ceramic drums, tambourine, percussion, Hammond organ
  • Bill Nelson– guitar, blue guitar
  • Phil Palmer – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Michael Brook – bass conga
  • Djene Doumbouya – vocal
  • Djanka Djabate – vocal
  • Johnny Thirkell– trumpet, flugelhorn (as Phantom Horns)
  • Gary Barnacle– saxes (as Phantom Horns)
  • Gary Barnacle– saxophones (as Phantom Horns)
  • Johnny Thirkell– trumpet, flugelhorn (as Phantom Horns)
  • Brian Gascoigne – orchestration
  • Tim Martin – engineer
  • Paonlo Carrer – assistant
  • Rupert Coulson – assistant
  • Louise McCormick – assistant
  • Bruce Davies – assistant
  • Paul Stevens – assistant
  • Steve Nye– mixing
  • Pat McCarthy – mixing
  • Richard Chadwick – co-ordinato
  • Russell Mills– design
  • Yuka Fujii – art director
  • Shinya Fujiwara– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by David Sylvian.

  1. Big Wheels in Shanty Town
  2. Every Colour You Are
  3. Rain Tree Crow
  4. Red Earth (As Summertime Ends)
  5. Pocket Full of Change
  6. Boat’s for Burning
  7. New Moon at Red Deer Wallow
  8. Black Water
  9. A Reassuringly Dull Sunday
  10. Blackcrow Hits Shoe Shine City
  11. Scratchings on the Bible Belt
  12. Cries and Whispers

Japan: Quiet Life

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On December 20, 1979, “Hansa” label released (Japan, Canada and Germany) “Quiet Life”, the third Japan studio album. It was recorded in June 1979, at “Air Studios” in London, and was produced by John Punter, Simon Napier-Bell, David Sylvian, Rob Dean, Richard Barbieri, Mick Karn and Steve Jansen.

Personnel:

  • David Sylvian– lead vocals, guitar
  • Rob Dean– guitar, backing vocals
  • Richard Barbieri– synthesizer, keyboards
  • Mick Karn– bass, saxophone, flute, backing vocals
  • Steve Jansen– drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Ann Odell – orchestration, arrangements
  • Martyn Ford– orchestral conduction
  • John Punter – engineer
  • Colin Fairley – engineer
  • Keith Bessey – engineer
  • John Punter – mixing
  • Fin Costello – art direction

Track listing:

All tracks by David Sylvian, except where noted.

  1. Quiet Life
  2. Fall in Love With Me
  3. Despair
  4. In Vogue
  5. Halloween
  6. All Tomorrow’s Parties – Lou Reed
  7. Alien
  8. The Other Side of Life

Gary Peacock: Eastward

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On May 21, 1970, “CBS” label released “Eastward”, the debut Gary Peacock  album. It was recorded in February 1970, at “Kawaguchi Shiminkaikan” in Kawaguchi, Japan, and was produced by Kiyoski Itoh.

Personnel:

  • Gary Peacock – bass
  • Hiroshi Murakami – drums
  • Masabumi Kikuchi – piano, electric piano
  • Kenichi Handa – recording
  • Eiko Ishioka – design
  • Tadayuki Naitoh – photography
  • Hiroshi Asada – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Gary Peacock, except where noted.

  1. Lessoning
  2. Nanshi
  3. Changing
  4. One Up
  5. Eastward
  6. Little Abi – Masabumi Kikuchi
  7. Moor

Herbie Hancock: Directstep

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On January 21, 1979, “CBS / Sony” label released (only in Japan) “Directstep” the twenty-fourth Herbie Hancock studio album. It was recorded October 17 – 18, 1978, and was produced by David Rubinson & Friends, Inc.

Personnel:

  • Herbie Hancock– vocals, Fender Rhodes,  clavinet,  Oberheim,  Prophet, Yamaha CS-80, Minimoog  synthesizers, Sennheiser vocoder
  • Webster Lewis- Hammond B-3 organ; Prophet, Yamaha CS-40, ARP String Ensemble and Minimoog synthesizers; Fender Rhodes, backing  vocals
  • Bennie Maupin- soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone,  lyricon
  • Ray Obiedo- electric guitar
  • Paul Jackson- electric bass
  • Alphonse Mouzon– drums
  • Bill Summers- percussion

Track listing:

  1. Butterfly – Herbie Hancock, Bennie Maupin
  2. Shiftless Shuffle – Herbie Hancock, Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason, Bill Summers
  3. I Thought It Was You – Jeffrey Cohen, Herbie Hancock, Melvin Ragin

Jaco Pastorius: Invitation

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In December 1983, “Warner Bros” label released “Invitation” the third Jaco Pastorius album. It was recorded at various venues during a tour of Japan, featuring his “Word of Mouth” big band, and was produced by Jaco Pastorius.

Personnel:

  • Jaco Pastorius— electric bass
  • Peter Erskine– drums
  • Othello Molineaux– steel drum
  • Don Alias– percussion
  • Jean “Toots” Thielemans– harmonica
  • Bobby Mintzer– soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Mario Cruz– soprano and tenor saxophone, clarinet, alto flute
  • Randy Emerick – baritone saxophone, clarinet
  • Alex Foster– alto, soprano and tenor saxophone, clarinet, piccolo
  • Paul McCandless– tenor saxophone, oboe, English horn
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Elmer Brown, Forrest Buchtel, Ron Tooley – trumpet
  • Jon Faddis– trumpet
  • Wayne Andre– trombone
  • Dave Bargeron– trombone, tuba
  • Peter Graves – bass trombone, co–conductor
  • Bill Reichenbach– bass trombone
  • Peter Gordon, Brad Warnaar – French horn

Track listing:

  1. Invitation – Bronisław Kaper
  2. Amerika – traditional
  3. Soul Intro/The Chicken – Jaco Pastorius, Pee Wee Ellis
  4. Continuum – Jaco Pastorius
  5. Liberty City – Jaco Pastorius
  6. Sophisticated Lady – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
  7. Reza/Giant Steps/Reza (reprise) – Jaco Pastorius, John Coltrane
  8. Fannie Mae – Buster Brown, Clarence Lewis, Morgan Robinson
  9. Eleven – Miles Davis, Gil Evans

Phil Collins: …But Seriously

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On November 20, 1989,”Virgin” label released “…But Seriously”, the fourth Phil Collins studio album. It was recorded April – October 1989, at “The Farm” in Chiddingfold, Surrey, UK, “A&M Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham. The album was certified 3 x Platinum in Argentina by “CAPIF”, 5 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, 2 x Platinum in Austria by “IFPI Austria”, 7 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”, Diamond in France by “SNEP”, 6 x Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”, Platinum in Hong Kong by “IFPI Hong Kong”, 3 x Platinum in Italy by “FIMI”, Platinum in Japan by “RIAJ”, 2 x Platinum in Netherlands by “NVPI”, Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”, 2 x Platinum in Portugal by “AFP”,  7 x Platinum in Spain by “PROMUSICAE”, 5 x Platinum in Switzerland by “IFPI Switzerland”, 9 x Platinum in UK by “BPI and 4 x Platinum in US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Phil Collins– vocals, drums, percussion, tambourine, keyboards, mixing
  • Eric Clapton– guitar
  • Dominic Miller- guitar
  • Daryl Stuermer– guitar
  • Steve Winwood– Hammond organ
  • Leland Sklar– bass guitar
  • Nathan East– bass guitar
  • Pino Palladino– bass guitar
  • David Crosby– vocals
  • Stephen Bishop– vocals
  • The Phenix Horns:
    • Don Myrick– saxophone
    • Louis Satterfield– trombone
    • Harry Kim– trumpet
    • Rhamlee Michael Davis – trumpet
  • Alex Brown, Marva King, Lynne Fiddmont – backing vocals
  • Tom Tom 84 – horn arrangements
  • Maurice Spears – music preparation
  • Hugh Padgham – engineer, mixing
  • Ed Goodreau, Simon Osbourne – engineer assistant
  • Trevor Key– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Phil Collins, except where noted.

  1. Hang in Long Enough
  2. That’s Just the Way It Is
  3. Find a Way to My Heart
  4. Colours
  5. Father to Son
  6. Another Day in Paradise
  7. All of My Life
  8. Something Happened on the Way to Heaven
  9. Do You Remember?
  10. I Wish It Would Rain Down

Red Hot Chilli Peppers: By the Way

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On July 9, 2002, “Warner Bros” label released “By the Way”, the eighth Red Hot Chili Peppers studio album. It was recorded November 2001 – May 2002, at “Cello Studios” and “Chateau Marmont” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Rick Rubin. The album was certified Platinum in Argentina by “CAPIF”, 5 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, Platinum in Austria by “IFPI”, 2 x Platinum in Brazil by “Pro-Música Brasil”, 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”, Platinum in Finland by “Musiikkituottajat”, Platinum in France by “SNEP”, Platinum in Greece by “IFPI Greece”, 2 x Platinum in Japan by “RIAJ”, 2 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”, 2 x Platinum in Switzerland by “IFPISwitzerland”, 6 x Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and 2 x Platinum in US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Anthony Kiedis– lead vocals, art direction
  • John Frusciante– guitar, piano, keyboards, modular synthesizer, bass, backing vocals, art direction
  • Michael “Flea” Balzary– bass, trumpet, harmonica, backing vocals, double bass, guitar, art direction
  • Chad Smith– drums, percussion, tambourine, art direction
  • Charlie Bisharat, Gerry Hilera, Peter Kent – violins
  • Evan Wilson – viola
  • Matt Funes – viola
  • Larry Corbett – cello
  • Suzie Katayama – cello, contractor
  • Joel Derouin – concertmaster
  • David Campbell – string arrangements
  • Marc Mann– arranger
  • Ethan Mates – recording
  • Jim Scott – recording, mixing
  • Jason Wormer – recording
  • Ryan Hewitt – engineer
  • Rick Rubin– engineer
  • Vlado Meller– mastering
  • Julian Schnabel – art direction
  • Lindsay Chase – production coordination

Track listing:

All tracks by Anthony Kiedis, John Frusciante, Michael “Flea” Balzary and Chad Smith

  1. By the Way
  2. Universal Speaking
  3. This is the Place
  4. Dosed
  5. Don’t Forget Me
  6. The Zephyr Song
  7. Can’t Stop
  8. I Could Die for You
  9. Midnight
  10. Throw Away Your Television
  11. Cabron
  12. Tear
  13. Oh Mercury
  14. Minor Thing
  15. Warm tape
  16. Venice Queen

Johnny Guitar Watson

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On May 17, 1996, John Watson Jr. aka Johnny “Guitar” Watson died aged 61. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, known as the pioneer of guitar feedback and reverb. His recording career spanned forty years, with biggest success in his funk era, with the albums “Ain’t That a Bitch” (1976), “A Real Mother for Ya” (1977), and “Funk Beyond the Call of Duty” (1977). Watson died of a heart attack while on tour in Yokohama, Japan, collapsing mid guitar solo.

Norah Jones: Come Away With Me

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On February 26, 2002, “Blue Note” label released “Come Away with Me”, the debut Norah Jones album. It was recorded in 2001, at “Sorcerer Sound” in New York City, “Allaire Studios”, in Shokan, New York, and was produced by Jay Newland, Arif  Mardin, Craig Street and Norah Jones. The album won “Grammy Awards” for “Album of the Year”, “Best Pop Vocal Album”, “Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical”. The song “Don’t Know Why” won “Song of the Year” and “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Argentina by “CAPIF”, 11 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, 2 x Platinum in Austria by “IFPI Austria”, 2 x Platinum in Belgium by “BEA”, Platinum in Brazil by “PRO Musica Brazil”, Diamond in Canada by “Music Canada”, 3 x Platinum in Denmark by “IFPI Denmark”, Diamond in France by “SNEP”, 2 x Platinum in Japan by “RIAJ”, 3 x Platinum in Netherlands by “NVPI”, 11 Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”, 2 x Platinum in Poland by “ZPAV”, Platinum in Spain by “PROMUSICAE”, Platinum in Sweden by “GLF”, 3 x Platinum in Switzerland by “IFPI Switzerland”, 8 x Platinum in UK by “BPI’ and Diamond in US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Norah Jones – vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electric piano
  • Kevin Breit– acoustic guitar, National guitar, electric guitar
  • Bill Frisell– electric guitar
  • Jesse Harris, Adam Levy– acoustic and electric guitar
  • Adam Rogers– guitar
  • Tony Scherr– slide and acoustic guitar
  • Rob Burger– pump organ, accordion
  • Sam Yahel– Hammond B-3 organ
  • Lee Alexander– bass guitar
  • Brian Blade– drums, percussion
  • Kenny Wollesen– drums
  • Jenny Scheinman– violin
  • Jay Newland,  Husky Höskulds – engineer
  • Mark Birkey, Dick Kondas, Brandon Mason, Todd Parker – engineer assistant
  • Arif Mardin, Jay Newland – mixing
  • Todd Parker – mixing assistant
  • Jay Newland – remixing
  • Ted Jensen, Mark Wilder – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Know Why – Jesse Harris
  2. Seven Years – Lee Alexander
  3. Cold Cold Heart – Hank Williams
  4. Feelin’ the Same Way – Lee Alexander
  5. Come Away with Me – Norah Jones
  6. Shoot the Moon – Jesse Harris
  7. Turn Me On – John D. Loudermilk
  8. Lonestar – Lee Alexander
  9. I’ve Got to See You Again – Jesse Harris
  10. Painter Song – Lee Alexander, JC Hopkins
  11. One Flight Down – Jesse Harris
  12. Nightingale – Norah Jones
  13. The Long Day Is Over – Norah Jones, Jesse Harris
  14. The Nearness of You – Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington

George Michael: Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1

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On September 3, 1990, “Columbia” label released “Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1”, the second George Michael album. It was recorded December 1988-July 1990, and was produced by George Michael. The album won the “Best British Album” award at the 1991 “BRIT Awards”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in France by “SNEP’; Platinum in Japan by “RIAJ”; Platinum in Netherlands by “NVPI”; Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”; Platinum in Spain by “PROMUSICAE”; Platinum in Switzerland by “IFPI Switzerland”; 4 x Platinum in UK by the “BPI”, and 2 x Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • George Michael – vocal, guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion, horn arrangements
  • Phil Palmer– guitar
  • Chris Cameron – keyboards, horn arrangements, string arrangements
  • Anthony Patler – keyboards
  • Deon Estus– bass
  • Danny Cummings – drums, percussion
  • Ian Thomas – drums, percussion
  • Andy Hamilton– saxophone
  • Pete Gleadall – MIDI sequencing, programming
  • Chris Porter – mixing
  • Bradford Branson – inner photography

Track listing:

All tracks by George Michael, except where noted.

  1. Praying for Time
  2. Freedom! 90
  3. They Won’t Go When I Go – Stevie Wonder, Yvonne Wright
  4. Something to Save
  5. Cowboys and Angels
  6. Waiting for That Day – George Michael, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
  7. Mother’s Pride
  8. Heal the Pain
  9. Soul Free
  10. Waiting (Reprise)