Gentlemen Take Polaroids
Encyclopedia
Gentlemen Take Polaroids is the fourth studio album by the British band Japan
. Released in November 1980, it was the band's first album for the Virgin Records label. It continued in the vein of their previous album, Quiet Life
, utilising a combination of electronic elements coupled with more traditional instruments, though culminating in a more sophisticated and atmospheric production than its predecessor. This was the last Japan album to feature guitarist Rob Dean
.
Although not a huge chart hit upon its initial release in the band's native UK (where it peaked at #51), the album was later certified "Gold" by the BPI in 1986 for 100,000 copies sold.
The album was preceded by the title track which was released as a single in October 1980 and peaked at no.60 (the group's first single to make the UK Top 100). No further singles were immediately taken from the album, though "Nightporter" (influenced by the works of French composer Erik Satie
, most particularly his Gymnopedies), was remixed and released as a single in November 1982, just after the band announced that they were splitting. It peaked at no.29 in the UK Singles Chart, though both the edited 7" version and the full-length 12" remix remain unreleased on CD to this day.
"Taking Islands in Africa" re-appeared as the B-side of the "Visions of China" single in 1981, then remixed by Tin Drum co-producer Steve Nye.
"Methods of Dance" was also used as the title for two Virgin Records compilation albums of new talent released in the early 1980s. The track itself was used as the B-side to the 12" single of "Nightporter" in late 1982 (the B-side of the 7" single of "Nightporter" was a remix of "Ain't That Peculiar").
An unreleased track from the Gentlemen Take Polaroids sessions, "Some Kind of Fool", was rerecorded by David Sylvian in 2000 and included on his compilation album Everything and Nothing
. The song was pulled from the Polaroids album at the last moment and replaced by the track "Burning Bridges". A number of original vinyl copies of the album have "Some Kind Of Fool" listed as the third track on the rear of the sleeve even though they play "Burning Bridges". The original recording of the song circulates amongst collectors, albeit in poor quality.
The album was reissued in 2003, with slightly different cover art (taken from the same photo session as the original cover) and three bonus tracks (see below).
Opium
Arts Ltd.), except where noted,
Side A:
Side B:
Bonus tracks on the 2003 CD reissue
Japan (band)
Japan were a British New Wave group, formed in 1974 in Catford, South London. The band achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when they were often associated with the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement .- History :The band began as a group of friends...
. Released in November 1980, it was the band's first album for the Virgin Records label. It continued in the vein of their previous album, Quiet Life
Quiet Life
Quiet Life is the third album by the British band Japan, released firstly in Japan, Germany, Canada and other countries in December 1979, then in the UK in January 1980...
, utilising a combination of electronic elements coupled with more traditional instruments, though culminating in a more sophisticated and atmospheric production than its predecessor. This was the last Japan album to feature guitarist Rob Dean
Rob Dean
Rob Dean is a British musician, who rose to prominence playing guitar as a member of the British band Japan.-Biography:He is from Clapton, Hackney, London, England.-Japan:...
.
Although not a huge chart hit upon its initial release in the band's native UK (where it peaked at #51), the album was later certified "Gold" by the BPI in 1986 for 100,000 copies sold.
The album was preceded by the title track which was released as a single in October 1980 and peaked at no.60 (the group's first single to make the UK Top 100). No further singles were immediately taken from the album, though "Nightporter" (influenced by the works of French composer Erik Satie
Erik Satie
Éric Alfred Leslie Satie was a French composer and pianist. Satie was a colourful figure in the early 20th century Parisian avant-garde...
, most particularly his Gymnopedies), was remixed and released as a single in November 1982, just after the band announced that they were splitting. It peaked at no.29 in the UK Singles Chart, though both the edited 7" version and the full-length 12" remix remain unreleased on CD to this day.
"Taking Islands in Africa" re-appeared as the B-side of the "Visions of China" single in 1981, then remixed by Tin Drum co-producer Steve Nye.
"Methods of Dance" was also used as the title for two Virgin Records compilation albums of new talent released in the early 1980s. The track itself was used as the B-side to the 12" single of "Nightporter" in late 1982 (the B-side of the 7" single of "Nightporter" was a remix of "Ain't That Peculiar").
An unreleased track from the Gentlemen Take Polaroids sessions, "Some Kind of Fool", was rerecorded by David Sylvian in 2000 and included on his compilation album Everything and Nothing
Everything and Nothing
Everything and Nothing is a compilation album by David Sylvian. Released in October 2000, the album touches on music from Sylvian's twenty years with Virgin Records.It was released in two versions...
. The song was pulled from the Polaroids album at the last moment and replaced by the track "Burning Bridges". A number of original vinyl copies of the album have "Some Kind Of Fool" listed as the third track on the rear of the sleeve even though they play "Burning Bridges". The original recording of the song circulates amongst collectors, albeit in poor quality.
The album was reissued in 2003, with slightly different cover art (taken from the same photo session as the original cover) and three bonus tracks (see below).
Track listing
All songs written by David Sylvian (CopyrightCopyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
Opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
Arts Ltd.), except where noted,
Side A:
- "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – 7:08
- "Swing" – 6:23
- "Burning Bridges" – 5:23
- "My New Career" – 3:52
Side B:
- "Methods of Dance" – 6:53
- "Ain't That Peculiar" (Smokey RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
/Warren "Pete" Moore/Marvin Tarplin/Robert RogersBobby RogersBobby Rogers is an American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a member of Motown Records' first signed act and first million selling group The Miracles from 1956 to present. He is also the grandfather of R&B singer Brandi Williams from R&B girl group Blaque-Life:Rogers is the son of the late...
; Jobete Music UK Ltd.) – 4:40 - "Nightporter" – 6:57
- "Taking Islands in Africa" (Ryuichi SakamotoRyuichi SakamotoAfter working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
/Sylvian) – 5:12
Bonus tracks on the 2003 CD reissue
- "The Experience of Swimming" - 4:04
- "The Width of a Room" - 3:14
- "Taking Islands in Africa (Steve Nye remix)" - 4:53
- "The Experience of Swimming" and "The Width of a Room" are instrumentals by Richard Barbieri and Rob Dean respectively. They were originally B-sides of the "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" single, and also appeared on a 1990s US Caroline CD issue of the album, where they were placed after "Burning Bridges" and "Nightporter" respectively.
Singles
| Year | Song | UK Chart | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" | 60 | released as a double single pack: "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" (edit)/"The Experience of Swimming" and "The Width Of A Room"/"Burning Bridges" (a Sylvian-produced version unavailable elsewhere). |
| 1982 | "Nightporter" | 29 | released edited and remixed with "Ain't That Peculiar" (remix) on the 7" single, and "Methods Of Dance" on the 12" single. |
Japan
- David SylvianDavid SylvianDavid Sylvian is an English singer-songwriter and musician who came to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead vocalist and main songwriter in the group Japan...
: vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s (ARP OmniARP OmniThe ARP Omni was a polyphonic analog electronic music keyboard manufactured by ARP Instruments, Inc. It ranks as ARP's best-selling keyboard.- Overview :...
, Oberheim OB-XOberheim OB-XThe Oberheim OB-X is an analog polyphonic synthesizer. It was the first Oberheim synthesizer that was created with internal prewired modules and not with the bulky SEM modules. Because of this, it was more functional for live performance, and therefore more portable. It was introduced in 1979 and...
, MinimoogMinimoogThe Minimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog. It was released in 1970 by R.A. Moog Inc. , and production was stopped in 1981. It was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager.The Minimoog was designed in response to the use of...
, Roland System 700), pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Rob DeanRob DeanRob Dean is a British musician, who rose to prominence playing guitar as a member of the British band Japan.-Biography:He is from Clapton, Hackney, London, England.-Japan:...
: guitar, ebow - Richard BarbieriRichard BarbieriRichard Barbieri, is an English synthesiser player, keyboardist and composer. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London...
: synthesizers (Roland System 700, MicromoogMicromoogThe Micromoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer produced by Moog Music from 1975 to 1979.The Micromoog was designed by Robert Moog and Jim Scott as a scaled-down, cheaper alternative to the Minimoog. It was designed to tap into a market of musicians who wanted an introduction to synthesis, but...
, PolymoogPolymoogThe Polymoog is a polyphonic analog synthesizer that was manufactured by Moog Music from 1975 to 1980. The Polymoog was based on divide-down oscillator technology similar to electronic organs and string synthesizers of the time, and this led to a certain lack of flexibility compared to later...
, Prophet 5, Oberheim OB-X, Roland Jupiter 4), sequencerMusic sequencerThe music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Mick KarnMick KarnAndonis Michaelides , better known as Mick Karn, was an English multi-instrumentalist musician and songwriter, who came to fame as the bassist for the art rock band Japan, from 1974 to 1982....
: fretless bass guitar, oboeOboeThe oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, recorderRecorderThe recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple... - Steve JansenSteve JansenSteve Jansen is an English drummer, percussionist, singer and composer. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London, where he failed academically, leaving at 16....
: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
(Roland System 700, Sequential CircuitsSequential CircuitsSequential Circuits Inc. was a California-based synthesizer company that was founded in the early 1970s by Dave Smith and sold to Yamaha Corporation in 1987. The company, throughout its lifespan, pioneered many groundbreaking technologies and design principles that are often taken for granted in...
Prophet 5), percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Additional Personnel
- Ryuichi SakamotoRyuichi SakamotoAfter working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
: synthesizers - Simon HouseSimon HouseSimon House is a composer and classically trained violinist and keyboard player, perhaps best known for his work with space rock band Hawkwind. His arrival in 1974 introduced a new element to the band's style...
: ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, "My New Career" - Cyo: Vocals, "Methods of Dance"
- Barry GuyBarry GuyBarry John Guy is a British composer and double bass player. His range of interests encompasses early music, contemporary composition, jazz and improvisation, and he has worked with a wide variety of orchestras in the UK and Europe...
: double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - Andrew Cauthery: oboeOboeThe oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
Production
- Produced & Mixed By John Punter
- Recorded & Engineered By John Punter, Colin Fairley, Nigel Walker & Steve Prestage
- Nicola Tyson - back cover
- Stuart McLeod - front cover