Blue Plate Special: Japan
Japan was an English new wave band that formed in 1974 in Catford, South London. The founding members were David Sylvian (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steve Jansen (drums), and Mick Karn (bass guitar), with Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean (lead guitar) joining the following year. Initially influenced by glam rock, Japan evolved into a more sophisticated sound that blended electronic music with strong foreign influences, underscored by their androgynous image.
The band enjoyed considerable success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with their music gaining a cult following. Japan is perhaps best known for their top 5 UK hit single “Ghosts” and the live album Oil on Canvas which also reached the top 5 in the UK charts. Despite achieving six gold albums in the UK, Japan disbanded in December 1982, just as they were gaining significant recognition in the UK and internationally.
Post-breakup, the members pursued various musical projects but briefly reunited in the early 1990s under the name Rain Tree Crow, releasing one album together. Their music, particularly from the albums Gentlemen Take Polaroids and Tin Drum, is highly regarded for its innovative blend of Eastern and Western musical styles, marking them as pioneers of the new wave and synth-pop genres that defined an era.
Some of my favorites from their catalog:
The Unconventional – from the album Adolescent Sex (1978)
Quiet Life – from the album Quiet Life (1979)
The Art of Parties – from the album Tin Drum (1981)
Gentlemen Take Polaroids – from the album Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980)
…Rhodesia – from the album Obscure Alternatives (1978)
Halloween – from the album Quiet Life (1979)
Adolescent Sex – from the album Adolescent Sex (1978)
Cantonese Boy – from the album Tin Drum (1981)
Swing – from the album Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980)
