JapanTin Drum

Label:

Virgin – V2209

Format:

Vinyl , LP, Album, Stereo

Country:

UK

Released:

Genre:

Pop

Style:

Synth-pop

Tracklist

A1 The Art Of Parties 4:09
A2 Talking Drum 3:34
A3 Ghosts 4:33
A4 Canton 5:30
B1 Still Life In Mobile Homes 5:32
B2 Visions Of China 3:37
B3 Sons Of Pioneers 7:07
B4 Cantonese Boy 3:44

Companies, etc.

  • Phonographic Copyright ℗Virgin Records Ltd.
  • Copyright ©Virgin Records Ltd.
  • Pressed ByCBS Pressing Plant, Aston Clinton
  • Published ByChadwick Nomis Ltd.
  • Published ByVirgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.
  • Lacquer Cut AtUtopia Studios

Credits

  • Cover [Cover Concept], Design Concept [Cover Concept]D. Sylvian*
  • DesignSteve Joule
  • Drums, Percussion, Percussion [Electronic], Synthesizer [Keyboard Percussion]Steve Jansen
  • Engineer [Engineered By]Steve Nye
  • Fretless Bass, Flute [African Flute], Suona [Dida]Mick Karn
  • Keyboards, Programmed By [Keyboard Programming], Tape [Tapes]Richard Barbieri
  • Keyboards, Programmed By [Keyboard Programming], Tape [Tapes], Guitar, VocalsDavid Sylvian
  • Photography ByFin Costello
  • Producer [Produced By]Steve Nye
  • ViolinSimon House
  • VocalsYuka Fujii
  • Written-ByS. Jansen* (tracks: A4, B2)

Notes

℗ + © 1981 VIRGIN RECORDS LTD.
℗ 1981 VIRGIN RECORDS LTD

Publishers: Chadwick-Nomis Ltd. / Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.

Some initial pressings included a limited edition free poster with slightly different matrix #s on the vinyl: Tin Drum. Furthermore, some copies were incorrectly manufactured with the A-side label on both sides.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, label): V2209A
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, label): V2209B
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 1): V·2209.A·3 ƱTOPIA Λ :〕I
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 1): V·2209.B·3 ƱTOPIA Λ
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 2): V·2209.A·3 ƱTOPIA Λ
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 2): V·2209.B·4 ƱTOPIA Λ
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 3): V·2209.A·3 ƱTOPIA Λ :〕:〕
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 3): V·2209.B·5 Λ I
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 4): V·2209.A·3 ƱTOPIA Λ I :〕
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 4): V·2209.B·6 Λ
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 5): V·2209.A·6 ƱTOPIA Λ
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 5): V·2209.B·4 ƱTOPIA Λ
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 6): V·2209.A·6 ƱTOPIA Λ :〕:〕
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 6): V·2209.B·5 Λ :〕
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 7): V·2209.A·6 ƱTOPIA Λ :〕
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 7): V·2209.B·6 Λ
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 8): V-2209-A.3 ƱTOPIA 45 Λ
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 8): V-2209-B.3 ƱTOPIA Λ
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 9): V-2209-A6 ƱTOPIA ⋀
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 9): V-2209-B-3 ⋀ ƱTOPIA
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 10): V·2209-A4 ƱTOPIA D DG
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 10): V-2209-B5 D C
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 11): V-2209-A5 4 ƱTOPIA 5A ⋀
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 11): V-2209-B6 1 U ⋀
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 12): V-2209-A5 ƱTOPIA 5A ⋀
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 12): V-2209-B5 Λ :〕
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched, variant 13): V-2209-A5 ƱTOPIA 5A I )
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched, variant 13): V-2209-B4 ƱTOPIA Λ

Other Versions (5 of 144)

View All
Title (Format) Label Cat# Country Year
Recently Edited
Tin Drum (Cassette, Album, Durations, Black Text, Grey/White Shell) Virgin TCV 2209 UK 1981
Recently Edited
Tin Drum (LP, Album, Stereo) Virgin 204 169, 204 169-320 Netherlands 1981
Recently Edited
Tin Drum (LP, Album, DJ) Virgin VL 2226 Canada 1981
Recently Edited
Tin Drum (LP, Album) Virgin V-2209, V2209 Scandinavia 1981
Recently Edited
Tin Drum (LP, Album, Stereo) Virgin 204 169, 204 169-270 Europe 1981

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Reviews

  • Shanty42's avatar
    Shanty42
    Edited 2 years ago
    In direct comparison, the Town House cut provides a smoother presentation, especially in the vocals. Less sibilant, less pronounced high frequency content overall. Slightly more dynamic as well.
    https://discogs.pelisguay.com/release/5433322-Japan-Tin-Drum
    • of.ruin's avatar
      of.ruin
      Edited 3 years ago
      With Steve Jansen's innovative drumming and Mick Karn's fretless bass, I'd hardly call Tin Drum "new wave" or "synth pop" which seem silly categorizations if played back to back with any true "new wave/synth pop" title. That is, of course, even if the band had a real drummer and/or bass player.

      If it it must be categorized, file it under "Progressive Rock" in a "World Music" style. Japan was miles ahead of most of their contemporaries with the exception being a few posty-punky type bands like Shriekback, The Pop Group and The Fall; all unique-sounding groups.
      • vm2000's avatar
        vm2000
        Edited one year ago
        Why is it that UK pressings are almost always in pristine condition when I find them? Meanwhile, most US pressings I find are of lower quality...

        Like many UK issues of synth-pop albums, this sounds extremely good. Here Japan expands their world sound by incorporating more Asian influences, especially ones related to china. Mick Karn does a great job with playing bass and the album gets quite funky at times, with more synthesizers added into the mix. It also generated 'Ghosts', which is still the only ambient song to top the UK charts (and the US).
        • Crijevo's avatar
          Crijevo
          If one ever imagined how "Japan" would sound - David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri (minus Rob Dean, who left the group at this point) did their best to provide with a weirdly beautiful provocative audio-postcard from China, confronting the modern and the traditional into one damn great, ethnically funky cocktail of sounds, in stark contrast to the karaoke-machines and expensive automated hi-gloss production of the workaholic country their name so implies on.
          • Alain_Patrick's avatar
            Alain_Patrick
            Finding an obscure Synth-Pop is deeply rewarding. It's a sensation felt when an LP such as 'Tin Drum', 'B-2 Unit' or 'Logic System' fall into your hands. Probably for the whole aesthetic concept, the Synth timbres, the melodies & surrounding atmospheric chords, the instruments interaction with vocals, and, most of all, that ability to embrace with identity the introspectiveness & the infectious dancing sides.

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