The Very Best of Japan

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The Very Best of Japan
Greatest hits album by Japan
Released	28 March 2006
Genre	Art pop new wave synthpop
Length	72:39
Label	Virgin/EMI
Japan chronology
Exorcising Ghosts (1984) The Very Best of Japan (2006) The Collection (2009)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
MusicOMH

The Very Best of Japan is a compilation album by the British band Japan, released worldwide in 2006 by EMI Music.

Although not the first Japan compilation to collect recordings from the band's career on both Hansa Records and Virgin Records, it is certainly the most comprehensive and includes all nine of their UK top 40 hit singles as well as two other singles that made the top 50, released between the years 1981 and 1983; "The Art of Parties" (#48, 1981), "Quiet Life"(#19, 1981), "Visions of China" (#32, 1981), "European Son (Remix)" (#31, 1981), "Ghosts" (#5, 1982), "Cantonese Boy" (#24, 1982), "I Second That Emotion (Remix)" (#9, 1982), "Life in Tokyo (Remix)" (#28, 1982), "Nightporter (Remix)" (#29, 1982), "All Tomorrow's Parties (Remix)" (#38, 1983) and "Canton" (Live) (#42, 1983).

The Very Best of Japan includes both the single and album versions of their biggest commercial hit "Ghosts", the 12" mix of "The Art of Parties" as well as the Steve Nye remix of "Taking Islands in Africa", originally released as the B-side of the "Visions of China" 7" single in 1981.

The album was accompanied by a DVD release, which includes seven promo videos as well as the Oil on Canvas concert recorded in 1982.

Track listing

All tracks written by David Sylvian unless otherwise noted.

1. "Ghosts" (Single Version) - 3:59
2. "I Second That Emotion" (Single Mix) (Cleveland, Robinson) - 3:47
3. "Quiet Life" (7" Version) - 3:54
4. "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" - 7:08
5. "The Art of Parties" (Single Version) - 6:46
6. "Visions of China" (Jansen, Sylvian) - 3:41
7. "Taking Islands in Africa" (Steve Nye Remix) (Sakamoto, Sylvian) - 4:57
8. "European Son" (Single Mix) - 3:40
9. "Cantonese Boy" - 3:49
10. "Life in Tokyo" - Part 1 (Special Remix) (Moroder, Sylvian) - 4:03
11. "Nightporter" - 7:01
12. "Methods of Dance" - 6:57
13. "All Tomorrow's Parties" (7" Version) (Reed) - 3:35
14. "Canton" (Live) (Jansen, Sylvian) - 5:30
15. "Ghosts" (Album Version) - 4:39

Notes

• The original album version of "Ghosts" is available on the album Tin Drum.
• "I Second That Emotion" was first released in the UK on the compilation album Assemblage.
• The original version of "Quiet Life" is available on the album Quiet Life.
• "Gentlemen Take Polaroids is taken from the album Gentlemen Take Polaroids.
• "The Art of Parties" is mistitled. The version included here is the extended 12" single version. The original version was released as a single only 7"/12". A rerecorded version is available on the album Tin Drum.
• "Visions of China" is taken from the album Tin Drum.
• The original version of "Taking Islands in Africa" is available on the album Gentlemen Take Polaroids.
• This version of "European Son" was first released in the UK on the album Assemblage.
• "Cantonese Boy" is taken from the album Tin Drum.
• This version of "Life in Tokyo" was first released in the UK on the album Assemblage.
• "Nightporter" and "Methods of Dance" are taken from the album Gentlemen Take Polaroids.
• The original version of "All Tomorrow's Parties" is available on the album Quiet Life.
• "Canton" (Live) is taken from the album Oil on Canvas. The original studio version is available on the album Tin Drum.

DVD

Promo videos:

1. "Life In Tokyo"
2. "Quiet Life"
3. "I Second That Emotion"
4. "Gentlemen Take Polaroids"
5. "Swing"
6. "Visions Of China"
7. "Nightporter"

Oil on Canvas - live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1982:

8. Overture ("Burning Bridges")
9. "Sons Of Pioneers"
10. "Gentlemen Take Polaroids"
11. "Swing"
12. "Cantonese Boy"
13. "Visions Of China"
14. "Canton"
15. "Ghosts"
16. "Methods Of Dance"
17. "Still Life In Mobile Homes"
18. "The Art Of Parties"
19. "Voices Raised In Welcome, Hands Held In Prayer"

References

1. ^ Fisher, Mark. Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures. Zero Books, May 30, 2014. 978-1-78099-226-6
2. ^ Drozdowski, Ted (May 1998). "David Sylvian: The Loner Emerges". Musician. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
3. ^ Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). Rough Guides. p. 264. ISBN 1-84353-105-4.
4. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Japan | Biography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press.
6. ^ link

v t e Japan
David Sylvian Mick Karn Steve Jansen Richard Barbieri Rob Dean
Studio albums	Adolescent Sex Obscure Alternatives Quiet Life Gentlemen Take Polaroids Tin Drum Rain Tree Crow (as Rain Tree Crow)
Live albums	Oil on Canvas
Compilation albums	Assemblage Japan Exorcising Ghosts The Very Best of Japan
Singles	"Don't Rain on My Parade" "Adolescent Sex" "Life in Tokyo" "Quiet Life" "I Second That Emotion" "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" "The Art of Parties" "Visions of China" "European Son" "Ghosts" "Cantonese Boy" "Nightporter" "All Tomorrow's Parties" "Canton"

v t e David Sylvian
Studio albums	Brilliant Trees Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities Gone to Earth Secrets of the Beehive Dead Bees on a Cake Blemish When Loud Weather Buffeted Naoshima Manafon There's a Light That Enters Houses with No Other House in Sight
Remix albums	The Good Son vs. The Only Daughter Died in the Wool – Manafon Variations
Compilations	Weatherbox Approaching Silence Everything and Nothing Camphor Sleepwalkers A Victim of Stars 1982–2012
Singles	"Red Guitar" "The Ink in the Well" "Pulling Punches" "Words with the Shaman" "Taking the Veil" "Silver Moon" "Let the Happiness In" "Orpheus" "Pop Song" "I Surrender"
Japan	Studio albums Adolescent Sex Obscure Alternatives Quiet Life Gentlemen Take Polaroids Tin Drum Rain Tree Crow Live albums Oil on Canvas Compilation albums Assemblage Exorcising Ghosts The Very Best of Japan
Nine Horses	Snow Borne Sorrow Money for All
with Ryuichi Sakamoto	"Bamboo Houses" "Forbidden Colours" "Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)" World Citizen
with Holger Czukay	Plight & Premonition Flux + Mutability
with Russell Mills	Ember Glance: The Permanence of Memory
with Robert Fripp	The First Day "Jean the Birdman" Darshan Damage: Live