{"product_id":"akiko-yano-japanese-girl","title":"Akiko Yano  -  Japanese Girl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWewantsounds is delighted to announce the release of Ryuichi Sakamoto's classic LP\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\"Ongaku Zukan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\", originally issued in Japan on his own School label in 1984.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe reissue will replicate the original Japanese release which offered two versions: a normal edition featuring the LP with a bonus 2-track 7\" EP (WWSLP71), and a limited edition which includes a 3-track 12\" EP in place of the 7\" (WWSLP72)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRemastered by Saidera Mastering in Tokyo the reissue boasts the original gatefold artwork plus an extra 2-page insert with new liner notes by Andy Beta\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe early '80s were a turning point for Japanese musician\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRyuichi Sakamoto\u003c\/strong\u003e. As a solo artist, the smash hit soundtrack he had composed for 1983's \"\u003cstrong\u003eMerry Christmas Mr. Lawrence\u003c\/strong\u003e\" (a film in which he had also acted), had put him on the verge of becoming a global superstar. Meanwhile he had called a halt to his work with\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYellow Magic Orchestra\u003c\/strong\u003e; the influential, globally successful pop trio calling it quits after the release of their 1983 album \"Naughty Boys\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgainst this backdrop, Sakamoto descended on Tokyo's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOnkyo Haus\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eStudio to record his fourth solo album, \"\u003cstrong\u003eOngaku Zukan\u003c\/strong\u003e\" (\"Musical Encyclopedia\") accompanied by a handful of musicians including his ex-YMO partners\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHaruomi Hosono\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYukihiro Takahashi\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the prolifically talented\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYasuaki Shimizu\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTatsuro Yamashita\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eToshinori Kondo\u003c\/strong\u003e. Sakamoto began with no particular plan in mind, recording 30 basic tracks over the best part of 1983. It was on his return to the studio the following year that the album truly began to take shape. Accompanied by a newly acquired\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFairlight CMI\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esampler, the musician made extensive use of the revolutionary equipment to create a wide palette of sound textures which he added to the tracks, a creatively fertile process that was captured on film for the French documentary \"\u003cstrong\u003eTokyo Melody, A Film about Ryuichi Sakamoto\u003c\/strong\u003e\".)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReleased in August 1984 the album \"Ongaku Zukan\" proved a huge success, providing Sakamoto with his first top 5 hit in Japan. Filled with inspired melodies that showcase his unique gift as a composer, it offers up a fascinating mix of styles. Asiatic electro pop nuggets (\"\u003cstrong\u003eTibetan Dance\u003c\/strong\u003e\") share space with futuristic ambient pieces (\"\u003cstrong\u003eHane no Hayashi de\u003c\/strong\u003e\"), and brilliantly creative fusions of jazz, funk, techno and reggae (\"\u003cstrong\u003eEtude\u003c\/strong\u003e\" and \"\u003cstrong\u003eTabi no Kyokuhoki\u003c\/strong\u003e.\")\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo simultaneous editions of the album were released in Japan: the regular one featuring a bonus 7\" EP with two extra tracks: \"\u003cstrong\u003eReplica\u003c\/strong\u003e\" and \"\u003cstrong\u003eMa Mère l'Oye\u003c\/strong\u003e\" while a limited edition added a 12\" EP (in lieu of the 7\") which included a third track, \"\u003cstrong\u003eTibetan Dance (Version)\u003c\/strong\u003e.\" An international version was released two years later in 1986 by 10 Records\/Virgin under the title \"\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated Musical Encyclopedia\u003c\/strong\u003e,\" but with a very different track list. Five tracks from \"Ongaku Zukan\" were dropped, namely \"Self Portrait,\" \"Tabi no kyokuhoku,\" \"Mori no Hito,\" \"A Tribute to N.J.P\" and \"Tibetan Dance (Version)\", to be replaced by two non-album singles from 1985, \"Stepping Into Asia\" and \"Field Work.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the very first time that the two 1984 Japanese editions of Ryuichi Sakamoto's classic album have been released internationally in collaboration with the artist's management and Midi Inc., with remastered audio and the original artwork faithfully reproduced, paying tribute to one of contemporary music's undisputed geniuses.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wewantsounds","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":56522967875970,"sku":"DHR-06384","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0556\/2800\/5583\/files\/a5c6d9505f178a0b929608746a617439.jpg?v=1777208557","url":"https:\/\/dreamhouseldn.com\/products\/akiko-yano-japanese-girl","provider":"Dreamhouse Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}