Life
In Tokyo
A
breakthrough single in many ways, this led to the "Quiet Life" album
and greater UK success. A classic pop song with a big Giorgio Moroder
production. There are a multitude of remixes and different sleeve
variations of this song. |
Original 1979 release
Unless otherwise stated, 7" singles include:
A:
Life In Tokyo (Short Version) 3.30
B: Life In Tokyo (Part Two) 3.29
12" singles include: A:
Life In Tokyo (Long Version) 7.05
B: Life In Tokyo (Short Version) 3.30 |
|
UK
red vinyl 7" Hansa AHA-540
UK
red vinyl 12": AHAD-540
Most copies were released in the sleeve above, though some have also
been seen with an "Ariola Disco" sleeve. |
|
|
UK 7" label
with press out centre
|
UK 7" with solid centre |
UK 12" single sleeve |
UK 12"label |
|
UK
Promo 7" and 12" copies have a large A at the centre and "not for sale" above
the Ariola Hansa logo. Both promos came with the standard picture
sleeve.
|
12" promo label |
|
German
single 1979
Both 7"
and 12"
have the following article on the back sleeve (in German and English):
"JAPAN the most
individual group of the London rockscene - always keen
on experimenting - causes confusion once again: In the beginning of
this year, the branch was amazed by the news, that the young
rock-avantgardistes met an established disco-producer in a studio of
L.A.: This years winner of the "Oscar" and "Golden Globe" Giorgio
Moroder. Together they tinkered at a new song, in which the group
digested the fresh impressions of the sensational live-concert in the
Budokan Hall in Tokyo: "Life In Tokyo"."
|
German black
vinyl 7" Hansa 100.641 |
Back of the German 7" single sleeve |
|
German
black vinyl 12" Hansa 600048213.
A side
titled
"Disco Version" - it is
the same as the first UK 12" (AKA Long Version).
|
German back sleeve
|
German 12" label |
German 7" |
 French
black vinyl 7" Carerre
49.497
|
|
Spanish
7" Ariola 100.641
|
 |
Japanese
black vinyl 7" Victor
VIP-2745.
Back of the insert |
Promo label
Stock label
|
Italian 7"
Ariola Hansa/Ricordi International SIR
20213
This is very hard to
find. If you see it, even in poor condition get it! |
|
|
Canadian 12" label. AHAD
12-540.
|
Canadian 7"
AHA540X
The rear of the
Canadian sleeve includes an advertisement for "Adolescent Sex" and
"Obscure Alternatives". It's a really nice, thick card sleeve with the
band and track details printed on the spine.
|
Mexican
12" SL 7010.
Note
that it plays at 33RPM and unlike the other 12" singles here includes
"Part 2" as the second track on Side 2.
Two pressings exist
with slightly different labels
|
|
Mexican 7" S-325 |
Same tracks on this one as the UK red vinyl 7" single |
Scandanavian promo 7"ARI 600377
|
A:
Life In Tokyo (Long Version) 7.05
B: Life In Tokyo (Short Version) 3.30
|
USA
promo 7" SPRO-7724
A:
Life In Tokyo (Short Version) 3.30
B: Life In Tokyo (Mono Short Version) 3.30 |
Australian
7" RCA Victor 103406, AHA-540
Same tracks as the UK red vinyl 7"
|
USA
12" promo PRO-7756 A:
Life In Tokyo (Long Version) 7.05
B: Life In Tokyo (Short Version) 3.30 |
|
|
|
Life
In Tokyo/Love Is Infectious USA single
|
|
There are 2 versions of the 7" label with subtle
differences in the typeface and size of logos etc
|
Ariola
America 7756 (thanks to Chris Rickards for
the information)
A:
Life In Tokyo 3.30
B: Love Is Infectious 4.08 |
|
12":
A: Life In
Tokyo 7.05
B: Love Is Infectious 4.08
|
USA 12" Ariola Records America AR-9019
|
|
US 7" in Ariola America sleeve |
US 12" in sleeve
|
| 1st Reissue:
April 1981 UK, Germany & Holland
The
7" and 12" mixes of "Life In Tokyo" are the
same as on the 1979 release. The 7" mix of "European Son" is the one
found on "Assemblage" but the 12" is a rare extended version by John
Punter. A:
Life In Tokyo (Short Version) 3.30
B: European Son 3.37
|
Dutch and UK picture sleeve front and back |
|
UK
7" HANSA 4 |
Dutch
7" 103269
|
UK 12": HANSA124
A: Life In Tokyo (Long Version) 7.05
B: European Son (Long Version) 5.00 |
UK 12" label
|
German
7" 103 269-100 |
Back of the picture sleeve |
7" record |
German
12" sleeve 600377
Same tracks as
the UK 12"
|
12" A and B side labels |
|
2nd reissue:
October 1982 UK & Ireland
This
issue finally made "Life In Tokyo" a hit and it was supported by
the group themselves, with Sylvian co-ordinating the sleeve design.
Both sides are remixed and there is a new 12" remix too. The b-side,
"Life In Tokyo Theme" is a slowed down mix which could be enjoyed at
the usual speed if played on a 78rpm turntable. Listening to it again
now it sounds like an Orb remix! It's quite cool really...
Unfortunately, Radio One played this side a couple of times by mistake
during the weekly Top 40 countdown, which I believe certain contributed
to it losing a significant amount of sales. Chart position: 28.
Two slightly different 7" labels exist - the only difference is the
position of the publishing info. One is a jukebox version of the single
with a large centre hole. |
The photo on this sleeve was taken in the Keio Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku,
Tokyo. If you go there ask for a high floor room in the main tower
looking towards Shinjuku Station. Sadly the view doesn't exist exactly
as it was anymore due to more recently built skyscrapers. |
 This is a scan of
the
back of the 7" sleeve, showing the portrait of Sylvian painted by
Mulligan from the group Fashion. One of Mulligan's original portraits
was given away by Smash Hits as part of a competition. The competition
version differs from this one as it includes a Japan logo and the song
title. |
|
7"
version +
jukebox single: HANSA17
A: Life In Tokyo (special remix) 3.59
B: Life In Tokyo (Theme) 3.54
|
12" version:
HANSA1217
A: Life In Tokyo (extended remix) 7.05
B: Life In Tokyo (Theme) 3.54
|
|
Jukebox 7" with large centre hole
|
This label has the Nomis Music credit on the right instead of the left
side of the label. |
|
Irish
7" sleeve (same as the UK version) and label. Thanks to Toby for
this one. |
|
Polish postcard single from the 1980s
Tonpress
R-0971.
Extremely
rare. Thanks to Gary for providing the scan. There is a higher
resolution version here.
|
|
2005 DJ remix 12" backed with Quiet Life. This is not an official
release and has no catalogue number. Both tracks are re-edits, slightly
speeded up with heavier bass drum beats added. |
Trivia: In the
movie "Scanners" in one scene there is a crash in a
record shop where there are displays of the original "Life In Tokyo".
 |
