Japan songs and versions checklist

This index features all the songs and versions included on official or licenced releases only. For information about unreleased songs please visit this page

Please note that running times sometimes differ from release to release; the times listed here are those that the CD versions display in my computer.

Adolescent Sex

1. Album version (3.47) on "Adolescent Sex".
2. Re-recorded version (4.15) on "Assemblage". 
3. Radio edit (3.08) on the K-Tel various artists album "Action Replay". This version was also used by Japan for some TV performances and as the soundtrack to the music video.
4. K-Tel edit (3.00) on the K-Tel various artists album "Disco Mania". This is not as polished as the version above and was likely made by K-Tel to fit on to the compilation album. 
   

A Foreign Place


B-side of "Quiet Life" in the UK. It is now included in the remastered CD of "Quiet Life", but can also be found on the Japanese 2-CD "Exorcising Ghosts", "The Singles" (Japanese 2-CD set) and "The Other Side of Japan".

Ain't That Peculiar

1. Album version (4.41) on "Gentlemen Take Polaroids".
2. Alternate version (4.49) first released in 1981 on the various artists compilation "Cash Cows" and later became the 7" b-side of "Nightporter" in 1982. It has never been released on CD.
   

Alien


On the album "Quiet Life", also on the b-side of "European Son" and various compilations. 

All Tomorrow's Parties

1. Album version (5.44) on "Quiet Life".
2. Alternate version (4.14) on "Assemblage". 
3. 7" Single version (3.34) appears on "The Very Best of Japan" and "The Singles" (Japanese 2-CD set)
4. 1983 remix by Steve Nye (5.18) appears on "The Singles" Japanese 2-CD set and the remastered "Quiet Life" album as a bonus track. 

Automatic Gun

1. On "Obscure Alternatives" and various compilation CD's.
2. Edited version on some cassette versions of "Obscure Alternatives" - this was to omit the tape spool sound effect that might have lead some people to believe the cassette or their players were faulty. 

Burning Bridges

1. Album version (5.22) on "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" and the "Cantonese Boy" double pack single.
2. Single version (3.59), produced by David Sylvian, on the "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" double pack single and Japanese 7" b-side. This version has never been on CD.
   
3. Short version on the video "Oil On Canvas" and "The Very Best Of Japan" DVD.
   

Canton

1. On "Tin Drum" and the US promotional 12" single of "Visions Of China".
2. Live version on "Oil On Canvas" and the 12" single.
3. Shorter live version (4.05) on the 7" single.

Cantonese Boy

1. On "Tin Drum" and all formats of the single.
2. Live version on "Oil On Canvas".
3. TV Edit (3.17) on the various artists compilation "Modern Heroes". This version is edited in several places to allow the sudden ending with David's vocal to remain intact.
   

Communist China


On "Adolescent Sex" and "Assemblage"

Despair


On the "Quiet Life" album and "The Best Of Japan" compilation.

Deviation

1. On "Obscure Alternatives" and the Dutch 7" single. 
2. Live version on the "Live In Japan" EP, the 12" single of "All Tomorrow's Parties", the remastered "Quiet Life" album, "The Other Side Of Japan" and several other compilations.

Don't Rain On My Parade


On the "Adolescent Sex" album, 7" single A side, Spanish "Adolescent Sex" b-side and various compilations.

European Son

1. On "Assemblage" and "The Very Best Of Japan" (3.38). First released in 1980 as the b-side of "I Second That Emotion" in Japan. 
2. John Punter 12" mix (5.00) first released as the 12" b-side of "Life In Tokyo" in 1981 (HANSA-124). On the remastered "Assemblage" and "The Singles" Japanese 2-CD set.
3. 7" single remix (3.49), an A side in the UK and Europe. Remixed by Steve Nye.  On the Japanese "The Singles" 2-CD set. 
4. 12" remix by Steve Nye (5.35), on the UK 12" single and Japanese "The Singles" 2-CD set. 
5. "In Vogue" version (5.35). This is an incorrectly mastered version of Steve Nye's mix which misses the main synth melody throughout the song. Only on the compilation "In Vogue".

Fall In Love With Me


On the "Quiet Life" album, 12 inch b-side of "Quiet Life" and various compilations.

Gentlemen Take Polaroids

1. Album version (7.05) on "Gentlemen Take Polaroids", the 3-inch CD single and the "Cantonese Boy" 12" single, plus various compilations. 
2. Single version (3.28), 7" single A side and also included in the "Cantonese Boy" double pack. Available on two various artists compilation CD's - Poptronica Romance (1999) and Electropop Essentials (2002), both US releases on Rhino. 
3. Edited version (5.14) on the compilation CD "Catch The 80's (EMI Hong Kong CD/CDV set). Also includes the music video. The edit is nothing special - the song fades out before the coda that is on the album version.
   
4. Live version on "Oil On Canvas".

Ghosts

1. Album version on "Tin Drum".
2. Single version (3.55) on "The Very Best Of Japan" and all formats of the single. 
3. Another version on the US "Japan" album. This omits some of the synth noises that are on the album version, but is longer than the single. 
4. Live version on "Oil On Canvas".
5. New vocal version on "Everything & Nothing" by David Sylvian. This uses the Japan backing track but David re-recorded the vocals in 2000. 

Halloween


Originally on the album "Quiet Life", subsequently the b-side of the single "Quiet Life" in Japan, and in the UK it was the b-side of the remixed "I Second That Emotion". That release says the track is remixed but it is not. 


I Second That Emotion

1. Original version (3.48) was first released as a single A side in the UK and Japan in 1980, later appearing on "Assemblage" and nearly every other Japan compilation album!
2. Remixed single version (3.52) was a hit in 1982, but it's only appearance on CD has been on the Japanese 2-CD "The Singles" set.
3. Extended remix (5.15) is on the UK 12" single and is included in the remastered "Assemblage" CD as well as several other compilations. 

In Vogue

1. On the "Quiet Life" album as well as compilations
2. Live version, recorded in Tokyo in 1980, on the "Live In Japan" EP, the remastered "Obscure Alternatives" CD and was the b-side of the 7" "All Tomorrow's Parties". It has also appeared on several other compilation CD's - in fact more often than the studio recording.

Life In Tokyo

1. Short version (3.30) - the original 7" version, on "Assemblage".
2. Part 2 (3.29) - the original 7" b-side. This has appeared on the Japanese 2-CD version of "Assemblage" and "The Singles" Japanese 2-CD set.
3. Long version (7.05) - the original 12" version. This was called the "Disco Version" in some countries. Has appeared on the Japanese "Assemblage" 2-CD version and "The Singles". It also appears on the early pressings of the remastered "Assemblage" CD. 
4. Remix (6.19) - first released on the Japanese "Assemblage" album and UK double play cassette. Now available on the remastered "Assemblage" - but not on the first pressing. This mix is also on the compilation "In Vogue" but it is in mono.
5. Special Remix (4.03) - the 7" single version in 1982 that was a hit. On the remastered "Assemblage" and "The Very Best Of Japan". Very obvious fretless bass overdubs by Mick Karn that were not on the original recording!
6. Extended Remix (7.05) - on the 12" single in 1982 and the Japanese "The Singles" 2-CD set plus the 2001 Camden label CD of "Quiet Life". It is a longer version of the "Special Remix" (No5 above). 
7. "Theme" (3.54). This is the slow version that plays at the correct pitch at 78RPM. On the Japanese "The Singles" 2-CD set.
8. "Souvenir From Japan" version (4.14) - only on the CD of that name. This is similar to the Remix (6.19) but features some additional percussion from the second verse onwards.
9. "K-Tel mix" (2.54) - similar to the above but edited, on the various artists compilation "Street Scene" (1982).
10.  "Sanny X Mix" - this is a late 80's mix with really cheesy sounding synth overdubs. It is an official mix and was on a DMC remix album.

Life Without Buildings

First released as the b-side of "The Art Of Parties", this brilliant track is currently available on the "Exorcising Ghosts" CD.


Love Is Infectious


On the "Obscure Alternatives" album, this song was also the b-side of "Sometimes I Feel So Low" in the UK and Japan, and the b-side of "Life In Tokyo" in the USA.

Lovers On Main Street


On "Adolescent Sex" and the b-side of "The Unconventional" in Japan.

Methods Of Dance

1. On "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" and "The Very Best Of Japan", plus "Exorcising Ghosts"
2. Live version on "Oil On Canvas".

My New Career


This track was first released on "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" and was later the b-side of "The Art Of Parties" in Japan and Australia.

Nightporter

1. Album version on "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" and "The Very Best Of Japan"
2. Single version (5.02) on the UK 7" single and Japanese 12" EP. Available on the various artists CD "A Kick Up The 80s". 
3. DJ edit (3.38) on the promotional 7" single, and it is also the soundtrack to the music video. Available on the various artists CD "Into The Blue".
4. Steve Nye remix (6.49) on the UK 12" single, the European "Japan Sylvian Sakamoto" EP and "The Best of 12" Synth Gold Vol.2" various artists CD. 
5. "Live" version on "Oil On Canvas". It is not really a live version, as anyone who has bootlegs will know, as it is quite different to the way the song was played in concert.
6. Exorcising Ghosts version - this is the same as the original version but has an earlier fade.
   

Obscure Alternatives

1. Original version on the album of the same name
2. Live version on the "Live In Japan" EP, now included on the remastered "Obscure Alternatives" CD.

Oil On Canvas


Only on the album "Oil On Canvas".

Performance


On the album "Adolescent Sex"

Quiet Life

1. Full length version (4.52) on the albums "Quiet Life", "Assemblage" and also the 12 inch single (called "Extended version"). 
2. "Fade" single version (3.52). This was the single version in Europe, and is also the soundtrack to the music video. Includes Rob Dean's magnificent guitar solo but fades out about two thirds into the song. Now available on the remastered "Quiet Life" album and "The Very Best Of Japan". 
3. Japanese 7" version (4.14). Also available on the Japanese "Singles" mini LP and tape. This version omits the guitar solo but has the full ending of the song. 
4. UK 7" version (3.35). This is the version performed on "Top Of The Pops". It appeared on the 2001 edition of the "Quiet Life" CD and is on the Japanese "The Singles" 2-CD set. 
5. Another edited version (4.24) on various artists compilations released by the Crimson label, including  "Our Friends Electric" and "Goth".
   
6. Live version on "Oil On Canvas".

...Rhodesia

The same version of this song appears on "Obscure Alternatives" and "Assemblage".


Some Kind Of Fool


This song appears on the David Sylvian compilation CD "Everything & Nothing". David remixed the track and recorded a new vocal for this release. The original is not available - you may notice the song listed on vinyl copies of "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" but all play "Burning Bridges".

Sometimes I Feel So Low

1. Original version on "Obscure Alternatives", the 7" single and various compilations.
2. Live version on the "Live In Japan" EP and the remastered "Obscure Alternatives" CD.

Sons Of Pioneers

1. On "Tin Drum"
2. Live version on "Oil On Canvas".

State Line


First released as the b-side of "Don't Rain On My Parade", later on "Assemblage".


Still Life In Mobile Homes

1. On "Tin Drum"
2. Live version on "Oil On Canvas"

Suburban Berlin


First released on "Obscure Alternatives", this song was the b-side of the Dutch "Deviation" single and later appeared on "Assemblage".

Suburban Love


On "Adolescent Sex".

Swing

1. On "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" and the 12 inch single of "Visions Of China.
2. Live version on "Oil On Canvas".
3. Short version on the video "Instant Pictures" and DVD "The Very Best Of Japan"
   

1. Original version (5.20) appears on "Gentlemen Take Polaroids".
2. Steve Nye remix (4.57) was the 7" b-side of "Visions Of China", now available on "The Very Best Of Japan" and the remastered version of "Gentlemen Take Polaroids".

Talking Drum

1. Original version (3.35) on "Tin Drum". 
2. Version with different drum intro (3.34) on "Exorcising Ghosts".

1. Single version (3.49) on the 7" single in all countries except Spain. Available on the various artists CD "Dance The Alternative Vol.2".
2. 12" version (6.45) is on "The Very Best Of Japan" and "Exorcising Ghosts". 
3. "Tin Drum" version (4.12) is on the album of that name and also the Spanish 7" single. 
4. A Live version (5.36) recorded in 1981 was the b-side of "Ghosts". You can find it on the 3-inch CD single and as a bonus track in the boxed version of "Tin Drum". 
5. Live version (5.28) on "Oil On Canvas".

1. Single version (3.35) is also on "Tin Drum" and "The Very Best Of Japan"
2. Extended version (4.20) on the various artists compilation "Kult Klassix Vol. 4". 
3. Live version on "Oil On Canvas" and the live single with "Canton". 

1. On "Oil On Canvas", the beginning includes some crowd noise
2. On the original vinyl LP and Japanese 2-CD "Exorcising Ghosts" the track has a "clean" intro with no crowd noise.
3. Short, alternate mix on the video "Oil On Canvas" and "The Very Best Of Japan" DVD.