Very Best Of Japan, The - Japan

Advantages: 7 great songs
Disadvantages: sometimes hard to hear some lyrics

...The CD, Made In Japan is in my opinion the best CD that Deep Purple have released. The tracks are taken from three concerts in August 1972 which took place in Osaka and Tokyo. The songs on the CD are Highway Star, Child In Time, Smoke On The Water, The Mule, Strange Kind Of Woman, Lazy and Space Truckin'. For me, the songs are better towards the beginning of the CD although you will never get tired of any of them. This is a must buy CD for all Deep Purple fans. If you are in to heavy rock and have not experienced the sounds of Deep Purple, this would be a good CD to buy to sample their music.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Perfectly formed
Disadvantages: NOne

...Tin Drum, the second album Japan released on Virgin, in 1981, went gold, confirming the band’s best selling status, and in 1982 they enjoyed two top ten singles, Ghosts (from the album) and a re-release by their former record company Ariola of their version of the old Motown classic I Second That Emotion. Tin Drum was also Japan’s most successful album musically and, with its Maoist inspired cover, emphasised their oriental influences. It includes Ghosts, Cantonese Boy, The Art of Parties, Talking Drum, Still Life In mobile Homes and Sons of Pioneers. It is the best work that Japan ever recorded and is the one you should buy if you only want to own one album by Japan. Unfortunately it marked the beginning of the end for the badn and shortly afterwards they were to be no more as the individual members started to fall out and go... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: An Excellent re-issue of a fantastic album
Disadvantages: None

...This is the first album that really got me into Japan.It's atmospheric,haunting and timeless.The remastered version is just the icing on the cake.It starts of with the title track Gentlemen Take Polaroids.Which is a stand out track on the album showcasing Dave Sylvians voice perfectly.Slightly moody but just perfect and at 7.09 long a great introduction to the album. Other superb tracks include a bizarre cover of Marvin Gaye's Ain't That Peculiar.It shouldn't work but it does. Nightporter is a beautiful,haunting and incredible ballad.The piano is truly mesmerizing.Then onto to Taking Islands in Africa.To me this is Japan at their best.A truly outstanding track.This is everything you expect Japan to be.Listen to this track in the dark,completely relaxed and just float away. The bonus tracks are The Experience Of Swimming,The Width... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful