They were such a great band and Mick Karn was a bass hero. This takes me back to seeing that gig with Mick floating about the stage. My first of many trips to the Odeon.
I was at this gig. The sound was incredible, It was so clear and set the bar extremely high for others to try follow. Hammersmith Odeon was and still is the one of the best acoustically sounding venues on the planet - ( I am a professional sound engineer )
I was also at this gig and Mick's bass playing inspired me to go and buy a fretless - never looked back since. Mick shows us how a bass should sound (and be heard). Also check out Gary Numan's Dance album on which Mick did a session. RIP buddy
REF: European Son. I was only aware of the "john Punter" mix and also the 1982 "Steve Nye" mix.The version played here is a vastly different arrangement altogether!!. The whole feel is different. VERY refreshing to hear this in this form as i had no idea they played it live this way.
Yes, neither did I, but this live version doesn't do it for me. The best version is the one they played live, in Budokan. You gotta hear it! It's so good! It goes to show you how much more they developed as a band and as individual musicians.
One of the best bands of all time, listen to those sounds, you just don't get that sort of experimentation working into such great sound, maybe once in a generation. Completely ahead of their time and one of the most underrated bands of all time !!
@@martinfrancis3733 I want to follow your discussions with Agnes! You really seem to be in tune with each other (every pun intended). I'm old enough to remember Japan from the first time around, and have rediscovered them recently via a very deep you tube wormhole started with a new discovery of Steven Wilson, that lead to Porcupine Tree, that led to rediscovery of Nick Beggs, and Steven Barbieri and then of Japan. I've really enjoyed rediscovering and expanding my musical library. Thank you for your part in this!
They really are! I've listened to so many bands over the years, trust me, and only Japan has the power to Wow me every time. I've lost interest in regular everyday bands like Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, they just don't do it for me anymore, and don't even come close to sounding as good as Japan. If you say otherwise, you're obviously lying to yourself, and really haven't delved into Japan's discography. From what I've learned, those other bands are just iconic and their music is over played and very overated. Oh, and yes, Japan is better than The Beatles, in my very not so humble opinion.
God, this band was so damn good! I feel lucky to have been young when this stuff came out. I have to shout out to George GiMarc in Dallas for bringing me to not only Japan but everything else that's was the greatness of 80s alternative music. Thank you George.
most under-rated and acknowledged band of the 1980,s. superb live - truly talented band - each & every one of them were in a class of their own . David's voice is sublime amazing amazing - wish i could have seen them play live !!!
I heard there was a disagreement between David and Rob that ended with 'If you think you're better looking than I am, you can bugger off to the West Indies' ;)
@@michaelanderson3696 Apparently, it was simply that Rob's style was staunchly rock-based, and he had trouble adapting his playing to the band's newer style.
Just relistening to this beauty, can't thank you enough. Just focused on hearing into Syl's vocals on Ain't That Peculiar, a song Japan complete melted and reconstructed into a "jam-lisicous-luscious" awesome decadence of a fascinating thing. I've long been enthralled and confused by this track, confused as to how he sang the vocals live, because the studio version made it seem like he sang the vocals on different tracks because it's just...gymnastics all the way down... What an album that is. And this is so great to be able to listen in and hear into how he did it live. What an unheralded freaking art rock god he achieved.
I can't think of a more diverse guitarist honestly than Rob Dean, i'm sure he could have played Tin Drum material too- He played an important part in the Japan legacy
@@dirtypearl they just didnt sound right without him to me. I love Tin Drum but it's very rhythmic and could do with a bit of Dean's guitar work in there to balance things out.
Unsurpassed indeed! Not too many bands can hold a candle to them. They're just too talented. Move over Beatles, Japan is the best band of all time. Trust me, people just don't realize it yet, but they will.
Phil, thanks a million for posting this....I'm staggered at how amazing this sounds as well as the band being on such top form....Oil on Canvas is such a poor representation of just how great the boys were as Japan.
@@DonHaka now i have got some headphones on i gotta agree with you, i'm limited sometimes and as you know being a japan fan thesedays is like xmas morning, videos, bootlegs, interviews, i recall in 81 buying Japan live at Manchester Apollo ( off my mate who smuggled the mono recorder in lol too, it was on a Maxwell tape so i didn't mindf the £2 ) collecting was hard work for Japan fans , now it's amazing to come across archive footage....... I messaged an old pal, i sent him this MOD link, it's gotta be up there as either n1 or a close 2nd th-cam.com/video/fuiRBLa7pdA/w-d-xo.html
Was lucky enough to see them live live in Sheffield on their final tour... The Oil On Canvas concert is exactly how I remember it, stunning... Been a fan since '79 and been listening to all the solo projects since...
Listening to this again I realize what a unique band they were. Still treasure their albums. Gentleman take Polaroids a all time classic album for me , tin drum too.
Thanks for sharing. Great quality. I recently bought Quiet Life special additon which included Live at Budokan 27.03.1980 and the sound quality on that is awful, so bad i could not finish listening to it!
MUST comment further...This version has such a wonderful "floaty" synth intro as opposed to the previous mentioned versions with their drum intros. Also, that guitar is SO "Scary Monsters" Robert Fripp!. REALLY amazing to here it like this, makes me wonder WHY they felt it necessary to change it SO MUCH for single release. Did they ALWAYS play it like this in concert?.
Me too, amazing gig, thanks for sharing. Steve Machin drove us from RAF Brize Norton, Oxford to the gig in his massive red whale tail Chrysler, Alan (Vic) Allamby, Martin Maidment, Phil Watson and moi. We danced our heads off in the Milk Bar and Heaven afterwards
@Name_less _Memer It has 3 different titles - Polaroid / Dreams / Live at the Hammersmith Odeon . Bootleg thats quite hard to find but Discogs is your best bet .
They were ,i suppose a new wave band ,obviously bowie influenced ,to me they were more stylish than what became the style council ,they were like a natural move from prog rock to more middle of the road nu style ballads,they were like many others unique ,and as a older audio head did not get the real recognition ,in time ,nice to find this concert on the web today ,bye
Assuming this is the Radio1 broadcast from the Hammersmith Odeon, there is a longer version available (~55 minutes) which also includes Methods of Dance, Taking Islands in Africa, Halloween, and My New Career
I completely disagree. I love the live recording that came with the Quiet Life box set. That live recording made me feel like I was at the concert. This doesn’t. Also that concert was complete. This one is missing over half of the show.
Not really a bootleg as the BBC broadcast this with approval. No money passed hands as I just pushed record when the BBC broadcast on a Saturday evening.....and you are getting it for free.
@@philhonley Thank god you did! Just found this and am thrilled. The sound quality is aces - listening through some very good head phones. It's a blast hearing the extended takes with Karn and Dean. Thank You So Much!!!
@@larsfillmore4765 Nothing unfair about that. If Japan didn't make that much money it was because Sylvian didn't want to make music into a band structure, he just wanted to do his own musical explorations beyond mainstream, that's why Japan disbanded.
I was at this gig and I remember the sound being amazing. This shows that it was . What a fabulous band . Just amazing . Yes why is Rhodesia in there? Probably to show off the incredible rhythm section. And yes Rob Dean is an excellent guitarist.
I disagree, they had quite a back catalogue of music before GTP & Tin Drum came along. Some of the early stuff is subjective but it's still good in it's own right. Their worst stuff is still better then DD's best!
![โอ้เธอช่าง... - บี้เดอะสกา ft. ต๋อง เทวัญ (Prod. by ป๋าเพชร) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zbWhiLFmVL0/mqdefault.jpg)
They were such a great band and Mick Karn was a bass hero. This takes me back to seeing that gig with Mick floating about the stage. My first of many trips to the Odeon.
Steve Jansen's drum fills are always so original - those spaces hit you just as hard as the beats.
0:00 Swing
5:49 Gentlemen Take Polaroids
11:33 Alien
16:37 Rhodesia
22:33 Quiet Life
27:15 Ain’t That Peculiar
31:57 European Son
36 mins.
Half a concert
Disposal w that mistakes European Son for Sons Of Pioneers
@@marktunney5000 - half is better than none !!
Ty’s 4 song list mate!👍❤️🇺🇸
@@jlsa8772 u betcha!
I was at this gig. The sound was incredible, It was so clear and set the bar extremely high for others to try follow. Hammersmith Odeon was and still is the one of the best acoustically sounding venues on the planet - ( I am a professional sound engineer )
I agree. Saw them there the year after on the fair well tour as it turned out. They were extremely polished for those days.
I was also at this gig and Mick's bass playing inspired me to go and buy a fretless - never looked back since. Mick shows us how a bass should sound (and be heard). Also check out Gary Numan's Dance album on which Mick did a session. RIP buddy
Mick Karn was a beast! Brilliant bass player!! RIP
Oh, I surely listen to this recording when I was college student. David was surely living much much ahead of us at that time.
Totally agree and especially so as he (they) were all so young. The talent beggars belief!
REF: European Son. I was only aware of the "john Punter" mix and also the 1982 "Steve Nye" mix.The version played here is a vastly different arrangement altogether!!. The whole feel is different. VERY refreshing to hear this in this form as i had no idea they played it live this way.
Yes, neither did I, but this live version doesn't do it for me. The best version is the one they played live, in Budokan. You gotta hear it! It's so good! It goes to show you how much more they developed as a band and as individual musicians.
Rob said they changed it alot and this version was the one he was most happy with, then he left!
One of the best bands of all time, listen to those sounds, you just don't get that sort of experimentation working into such great sound, maybe once in a generation. Completely ahead of their time and one of the most underrated bands of all time !!
@@martinfrancis3733 I want to follow your discussions with Agnes! You really seem to be in tune with each other (every pun intended). I'm old enough to remember Japan from the first time around, and have rediscovered them recently via a very deep you tube wormhole started with a new discovery of Steven Wilson, that lead to Porcupine Tree, that led to rediscovery of Nick Beggs, and Steven Barbieri and then of Japan. I've really enjoyed rediscovering and expanding my musical library. Thank you for your part in this!
@@lucyiliffe1799 I'm sorry, but you'll have to follow someone else. Nothing personal... But it's personal.
@@martinfrancis3733 sorry I didn't mean to be wierd, I only meant I was enjoying reading your shared admiration and intelligent conversation. L
Totally agree
They really are! I've listened to so many bands over the years, trust me, and only Japan has the power to Wow me every time. I've lost interest in regular everyday bands like Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, they just don't do it for me anymore, and don't even come close to sounding as good as Japan. If you say otherwise, you're obviously lying to yourself, and really haven't delved into Japan's discography. From what I've learned, those other bands are just iconic and their music is over played and very overated. Oh, and yes, Japan is better than The Beatles, in my very not so humble opinion.
The punch and subtleties of Mick Karns base just really pop in this recording. Especially on Swing.
bass
God, this band was so damn good!
I feel lucky to have been young when this stuff came out. I have to shout out to George GiMarc in Dallas for bringing me to not only Japan but everything else that's was the greatness of 80s alternative music.
Thank you George.
I was at this concert. 17 years old and made up to the nines. Totally blown away by their music and style. Such a great time
This is a really good recording - thanks for this.
Sylvian sounds like he is enjoying himself - especially in Polaroids.
most under-rated and acknowledged band of the 1980,s. superb live - truly talented band - each & every one of them were in a class of their own . David's voice is sublime amazing amazing - wish i could have seen them play live !!!
I did but only the once. Hammersmith Odeon 1982.
"most udder-rated"? Please, don't be so bovine...
the transition from gentlemen take polaroids to alien is everything.
What a great memory - almost 40 years .... still love these ambient sounds.
Blessings for great musicianship 🎼🎉
they made the best of the new generation synths ,way ahead of most of the others.
Brilliant recording amazing guitarist Rob Dean criminaly underatted and was a huge mistake for Japan to loose him
I heard there was a disagreement between David and Rob that ended with 'If you think you're better looking than I am, you can bugger off to the West Indies' ;)
@@michaelanderson3696 Apparently, it was simply that Rob's style was staunchly rock-based, and he had trouble adapting his playing to the band's newer style.
ROB IMO WAS BETTER THAN BRIAN ENO ,,, HE WASA PHENONEMAL ARTIST
@@DarranJHankey66 Why are you comparing a guitarist with a keyboard composer?
@@Teeb2023 ..rob was sort of exploring fripp territory, especially with the ebow. But then synths were in, guitars were out and looks mattered.
Just relistening to this beauty, can't thank you enough. Just focused on hearing into Syl's vocals on Ain't That Peculiar, a song Japan complete melted and reconstructed into a "jam-lisicous-luscious" awesome decadence of a fascinating thing. I've long been enthralled and confused by this track, confused as to how he sang the vocals live, because the studio version made it seem like he sang the vocals on different tracks because it's just...gymnastics all the way down... What an album that is. And this is so great to be able to listen in and hear into how he did it live. What an unheralded freaking art rock god he achieved.
Top of their game. Very cool to hear ...Rhodesia with Sylvian's updated smooth baritone and a bit of the new band sound.
Probably THE best band of the early 80's - talent wise.
Excellent performance, so tight, energetic and elegant at the same time
Is it me or did we take Rob Dean for granted ? He was amazing guitarist , he just was so in time with Micks Basslines
I can't think of a more diverse guitarist honestly than Rob Dean, i'm sure he could have played Tin Drum material too- He played an important part in the Japan legacy
@@dirtypearl ...agreed...what where they thinking??
Love, love love Rob Dean, the band just didnt quite sound right without him.
@@dirtypearl they just didnt sound right without him to me. I love Tin Drum but it's very rhythmic and could do with a bit of Dean's guitar work in there to balance things out.
Rob did some nice Fribb like stuff
Japan's music & vision are UNsurpassed. They're so very AHEAD of their time.
So underrated like Talk Talk! This is hot!
Unsurpassed indeed! Not too many bands can hold a candle to them. They're just too talented. Move over Beatles, Japan is the best band of all time. Trust me, people just don't realize it yet, but they will.
Phil, thanks a million for posting this....I'm staggered at how amazing this sounds as well as the band being on such top form....Oil on Canvas is such a poor representation of just how great the boys were as Japan.
Superb recording! Thanks for sharing.
This is superb! Lives David Sylvan! Great gig Ty’s 4 posting ❤️from🇺🇸💯👍hot gig music etc ! Dave 2! Luv this gig so much! New subscriber!
I saw them live at the UEA around this time. Mick Kahn’s bass was mesmerising. Sylvian was like a god.
Mick Karn's bass is sublime. He's missed. RIP Mick.
Fantastic, love their music, I am presently in vietnam listening to this, great stuff thanks
Brilliant
Better than "Oil on Canvas" in my opinion
The mix is much better and clearer on Oil on Canvas, so i prefer Oil over this one.
@@DonHaka now i have got some headphones on i gotta agree with you, i'm limited sometimes and as you know being a japan fan thesedays is like xmas morning, videos, bootlegs, interviews, i recall in 81 buying Japan live at Manchester Apollo ( off my mate who smuggled the mono recorder in lol too, it was on a Maxwell tape so i didn't mindf the £2 ) collecting was hard work for Japan fans , now it's amazing to come across archive footage....... I messaged an old pal, i sent him this MOD link, it's gotta be up there as either n1 or a close 2nd th-cam.com/video/fuiRBLa7pdA/w-d-xo.html
AGREED better track listing too - OIL isn't bad for what it is but I prefer this show 1981 Hammersmith Odeon
agreed
Rob Dean is an important reason for that.
Was lucky enough to see them live live in Sheffield on their final tour... The Oil On Canvas concert is exactly how I remember it, stunning... Been a fan since '79 and been listening to all the solo projects since...
Well Done and thanks for this selfless gift. Great quality.
This is so so good!
Can't believe I've only just found this upload. Thanks very much for putting it on.
Me, too! Haha. LoL. Better late than never, as they say.
Listening to this again I realize what a unique band they were. Still treasure their albums. Gentleman take Polaroids a all time classic album for me , tin drum too.
GTP & Tin Drum were both works of art then & now
You should check out Rain Tree Crow.
It's Japan. Only the name is different.
@@tonysmyth4116 Well actually the sound and style are different too.
WoW dude this so good takes me back cheers for uploading
Thanks for posting this !
Listen to how that beat kicks in at 0:23. It sounds incredible! A much faster paced version of the song "Swing."
@ philhonley Thank you very much Phil.
Thanks for sharing. Great quality. I recently bought Quiet Life special additon which included Live at Budokan 27.03.1980 and the sound quality on that is awful, so bad i could not finish listening to it!
AHEAD of their time in SO many ways,....and yes better than "Oil on Canvas"...how is that even possible??!!
good quality
Very slick polished band live on stage!
MUST comment further...This version has such a wonderful "floaty" synth intro as opposed to the previous mentioned versions with their drum intros. Also, that guitar is SO "Scary Monsters" Robert Fripp!. REALLY amazing to here it like this, makes me wonder WHY they felt it necessary to change it SO MUCH for single release. Did they ALWAYS play it like this in concert?.
superb, high energy performance.
I've got this recording as a vinyl bootleg :-)
One of my big regrets is not catching Japan live. I can't think why not - I went to lots of gigs at this time. How good does this sound?
What annoys me is they played my hometown twice on two consecutive nights - I think it was just before I got into them - gutted I missed out.
Thank You‼️❤️💙💛💚💜➰👋😃
invaluable and fkin awesome thank you!
Huge version of Alien on here. My God what a shame they broke up after '81.
I was there - epic!
Come to think of it the version of Ain't that Peculiar on here is a total knockout too.
A line, I mean: a set of masterpieces, as usual... even if the boy is not always quiet in tune, isnt'it...
Bloody brilliant.
Enjoyed that night there!!
Me too, amazing gig, thanks for sharing. Steve Machin drove us from RAF Brize Norton, Oxford to the gig in his massive red whale tail Chrysler, Alan (Vic) Allamby, Martin Maidment, Phil Watson and moi. We danced our heads off in the Milk Bar and Heaven afterwards
C’est magnifique !
ありがとう😉👍️🎶
thanx for sharing !!
So cool
I have this on vinyl , great live recording .
@Name_less _Memer It has 3 different titles - Polaroid / Dreams / Live at the Hammersmith Odeon . Bootleg thats quite hard to find but Discogs is your best bet .
Or the even harder to find BBC Transcription vinyl .
Great recording, almost better than their anaemic "Oil On Canvas" ... sad, that it's not the whole concert :( Well, but better than nothing!
Quiet Life...very,very....nice!!! Exstented Eh eh eh ....Moroder...the best
Id put this in my top 5 live recordings at no.3
Now on a CD called Boys Keep Swinging.
Why is there a "dislike" for this??
Some people just don't have good tastes I guess :D
GREATNESS!
The second best BL that ain't a BLeg lol, it's just a 100 percent Japan uncut experience
I gotta say, I was there, god I'm old
Yep batter then oil on canvas and swing even sounds Like a 1979 Edit doesn’t even sound Live
Swing was from 1980
日本では、japanを知っている人は５０歳を越えちゃってますね。
YMO、矢野顕子さんと親しい間柄で日本でも人気がありました。
They were ,i suppose a new wave band ,obviously bowie influenced ,to me they were more stylish than what became the style council ,they were like a natural move from prog rock to more middle of the road nu style ballads,they were like many others unique ,and as a older audio head did not get the real recognition ,in time ,nice to find this concert on the web today ,bye
Probably more New York Dolls influenced with a touch of Roxy Music I'd say?
This version of European Son rocks! So original
Late to the party but wasn’t the venue called the Virgin arena or something like that at the time. Didn’t they do 4 nights ?
No... its always been the Hammersmith Odeon or if you like 'the eventim'
omg mike s bas killing rip
Assuming this is the Radio1 broadcast from the Hammersmith Odeon, there is a longer version available (~55 minutes) which also includes Methods of Dance, Taking Islands in Africa, Halloween, and My New Career
I have this version with Halloween and Methods of Dance!
@@dirtypearl Please upload?!
@@ericlindsey3069 soon!!!! I bet it's on youtube already but my channel could use it as well regardless
@@ericlindsey3069 just uploaded - check my channel
Who's playing the harmonized saxophones? Is it Mick Karn on tape?
I think I need a pair of KEF X300A for this......
Why Rob Dean exit JAPAN....The problem??? Why problem?
aint that peculiar and swing .. the drums extraordinary .. especially aint that peculiar - out of this world
Brings memorizes of Clair's in liverpool
Still better then Duran!!
thats not difficult
Always
when aliens comes in from gentlemen take polaroids is wicked
AMAING AUDIO , BETTER THAN THIS AWFUL REISSUED QUIET LIFE BOX OF 50 QUID TRIKS,,, AND ITS NOT MY TECHNIIK SL12 S,,,, THANK YOU
I completely disagree. I love the live recording that came with the Quiet Life box set. That live recording made me feel like I was at the concert. This doesn’t. Also that concert was complete. This one is missing over half of the show.
In Vain. Yes!
who would have paid a fortune for this on a Bootleg cassette in 81 ??? i know where my monthly pocket £ would have been spent on
Not really a bootleg as the BBC broadcast this with approval. No money passed hands as I just pushed record when the BBC broadcast on a Saturday evening.....and you are getting it for free.
@@philhonley Thank god you did! Just found this and am thrilled. The sound quality is aces - listening through some very good head phones. It's a blast hearing the extended takes with Karn and Dean. Thank You So Much!!!
Wait but oil on canvas was Longer
OIC was from 1982, Sons Of Pioneers Tour
Song list?
Way ahead of their time and horribly ripped off by the awful Duran Duran.
exactly
And worse, DD made more money... somehow!
@@larsfillmore4765 Nothing unfair about that. If Japan didn't make that much money it was because Sylvian didn't want to make music into a band structure, he just wanted to do his own musical explorations beyond mainstream, that's why Japan disbanded.
I thought it was also because Sylvian fucked Mick Karen’s girlfriend. Karn did that big interview about it in ‘The Face’
I also agree that Japan were way ahead of their time and thatDuran Duran sucked.
Nick Rhodes copied everything about Sylvian.
Thats the worst version of European Son Ive ever heard.
Rhodesia sounds very out of place
I was at this gig and I remember the sound being amazing. This shows that it was . What a fabulous band . Just amazing . Yes why is Rhodesia in there? Probably to show off the incredible rhythm section. And yes Rob Dean is an excellent guitarist.
A big portion of the concert is missing. There were other songs from their first 2 albums.
I disagree, they had quite a back catalogue of music before GTP & Tin Drum came along. Some of the early stuff is subjective but it's still good in it's own right. Their worst stuff is still better then DD's best!