Adolescent Sex

Last updated

Adolescent Sex
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 1978
RecordedLate 1977
Genre
Length47:24
Label Hansa
Producer Ray Singer
Japan chronology
Adolescent Sex
(1978)
Obscure Alternatives
(1978)
Singles from Adolescent Sex
  1. "Don't Rain on My Parade"
    Released: 31 March 1978
  2. "Adolescent Sex"
    Released: 3 April 1978 (EU)
  3. "The Unconventional"
    Released: 25 August 1978 [4]

Adolescent Sex is the debut album by the English band Japan, released in March 1978 by record label Hansa. [5] To avoid controversy over the title, the album was renamed simply as Japan in some countries.

Contents

Content

According to AllMusic, Adolescent Sex "snarls with leftover punk intent, a few glam rock riffs, and a wealth of electronics that not only reach back to the band's youth, but also predate much of what would explode out of the next wave of British underground." [5]

Release

Though not a commercial success in their native UK, the album was better received abroad, particularly in Japan itself, where it peaked at No. 20, [6] and in the Netherlands where the single "Adolescent Sex" reached number 27 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1979. [7]

The Japanese release contained several mistranslations of song titles. "Transmission" became "Invitation to Fascination", "Suburban Love" became "Carousel of Love", and "Television" became "Temptation Screen".

The album was remastered and re-released as a digipak CD in April 2004, with four videos as bonus material.

Reception and aftermath

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Trouser Press unfavourable [9]

Trouser Press wrote that the album "introduces Japan in all its guitar-rock misery, playing such Bowie-influenced tripe as 'Wish You Were Black' with less style than a sense of urgency". [9] AllMusic retrospectively gave the album a 4.5 out of 5 grade, writing: "A more exciting album than just about anything else they'd ever record, Japan were young, hungry, and more than a little rough around the edges." [5]

Within a couple of years of its release, the band publicly denounced the album.

"The band were not totally happy with the first album or the way it had been marketed, and were dismayed by its poor reception in the UK. Their record company were not that ecstatic with the British sales either and required another album, this time aimed at the lucrative US and European markets."

Paul Rymer [10]

David Sylvian also said in 1982:

"I regret the first album, 'Adolescent Sex', in the sense that we were too young, too naive to make it. The people around us should have realised that and not had it released. The second album is okay as a first album." [11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by David Sylvian, except for "Don't Rain on My Parade" by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Transmission"4:46
2."The Unconventional"3:02
3."Wish You Were Black"4:49
4."Performance"4:36
5."Lovers on Main Street"4:09
6."Don't Rain on My Parade"2:54
Side two
No.TitleLength
7."Suburban Love"7:27
8."Adolescent Sex"3:46
9."Communist China"2:44
10."Television"9:15
Bonus material on 2004 remastered re-release
No.TitleLength
11."Don't Rain on My Parade" (video) 
12."Communist China" (video) 
13."Adolescent Sex" (video) 
14."Adolescent Sex" (rare alt. video) 

Personnel

Japan
Additional personnel

Charts

Album

YearChartPeak position
1978 Flag of Japan.svg Oricon Albums Chart 20 [6]

Singles

YearSingleChartPeak position
1979Adolescent Sex Flag of the Netherlands.svg Dutch Top 100 21 [12]
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ultratop 28 [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japan (band)</span> English new wave band

Japan were an English new wave band formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian, Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn, joined the following year by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean. Initially a glam rock-inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look to incorporate art rock, electronic music and foreign influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Sylvian</span> English musician (born 1958)

David Sylvian is an English musician, singer and songwriter who came to prominence in the late 1970s as frontman and principal songwriter of the band Japan. The band's androgynous look and increasingly electronic sound made them an important influence on the UK's early-1980s new wave scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Karn</span> Musical artist

Andonis Michaelides, better known as Mick Karn, was an English-Cypriot musician and songwriter who rose to fame as the bassist for the art rock/new wave band Japan. His distinctive fretless bass guitar sound and melodic playing style were a trademark of the band's sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Jansen</span> English musician, composer and producer

Steve Jansen is an English musician, composer and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Dean</span> British musician

Rob Dean is a British musician turned professional illustrator, who rose to prominence playing lead guitar as a member of the British new wave band Japan from 1975 to 1981.

<i>Thrak</i> 1995 studio album by King Crimson

Thrak is the eleventh studio album by the band King Crimson released in 1995 through Virgin Records. It was preceded by the mini-album Vrooom in 1994. It was their first full-length studio album since Three of a Perfect Pair eleven years earlier, and the only full album to feature the "double trio" lineup of Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Trey Gunn, Bill Bruford and Pat Mastelotto. It is the group's final studio album to feature Bruford or Levin.

<i>Tin Drum</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Japan

Tin Drum is the fifth and final studio album by English band Japan, released in November 1981 by Virgin Records. It peaked at No. 12 on the UK charts, and featured the top 5 single "Ghosts". It has received acclaim as the band's best and most original work.

<i>Gentlemen Take Polaroids</i> 1980 studio album by Japan

Gentlemen Take Polaroids is the fourth studio album by the English band Japan, released in November 1980 by Virgin Records.

<i>Quiet Life</i> 1979 studio album by Japan

Quiet Life is the third studio album by English new wave band Japan, first released on 7 December 1979 in Canada, Japan and The Netherlands by record label Hansa and on 18 January 1980 in the UK.

<i>Obscure Alternatives</i> 1978 studio album by Japan

Obscure Alternatives is the second studio album by English new wave band Japan, released in October 1978 by record label Hansa.

<i>Oil on Canvas</i> 1983 live album by Japan

Oil on Canvas is a live album by the English band Japan, released in June 1983 by Virgin Records. It was released six months after the band had broken up, and became their highest charting album in the UK, peaking at number 5. It has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.

<i>Rain Tree Crow</i> 1991 studio album by Rain Tree Crow

Rain Tree Crow is the sole album released by English band Rain Tree Crow, a reunion project by the members of the new wave band Japan. Recorded in 1989 and 1990 and released in April 1991, it was the first time that members David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri had collaborated as a four-piece since 1982. The album peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Everything and Nothing</i> 2000 compilation album by David Sylvian

Everything and Nothing is a compilation album by David Sylvian. Released in October 2000, the album contains previously released and unreleased, re-recorded, and alternate versions of tracks from Sylvian's twenty years with Virgin Records. The record peaked at no.57 in the UK albums chart.

<i>Assemblage</i> (album) 1981 compilation album by Japan

Assemblage is a compilation album by the British band Japan, released in September 1981 by Hansa Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightporter</span> 1982 single by Japan

"Nightporter" is a song by English new wave band Japan. The song originally featured on the band's fourth album Gentlemen Take Polaroids in 1980. However, it was then remixed by Steve Nye and released as a single in November 1982. The single peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.

Masami Tsuchiya is a Japanese singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Ippu-Do. Following their disbandment in 1984, Tsuchiya focused on his solo career and formed several short-lived bands with well-known musicians. He has also participated in various collaborations and produced recordings for acts such as Glay, Blankey Jet City, and The Willard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Art of Parties</span> 1981 single by Japan

The Art of Parties is a song by the British band Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Son (Japan song)</span> 1982 single by Japan

"European Son" is a song by the British band Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adolescent Sex (song)</span> 1978 single by Japan

"Adolescent Sex" is a song by English new wave band Japan, released as a single from their debut album of the same name in 1978. It was the band's only single to chart in Europe outside of the UK and Ireland, as it was a Top-40 hit in the Netherlands and Belgium.

<i>Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters</i> 1987 studio album by Mick Karn

Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters is the second solo studio album by Mick Karn, released in February 1987. It peaked at number 89 on the UK Albums Chart.

References

  1. Terich, Jeff (22 February 2012). "10 Essential New Romantic Albums". Treble. Retrieved 4 December 2019. Having begun life as a trashy glam rock band with Adolescent Sex (a name we should all feel guilty Googling),
  2. Ham, Robert (9 March 2021). "Japan - Quiet Life". Pitchfork . Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  3. Galens, David (1998). "Japan/Rain Tree Crow/Mick Karn/Polytown". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 594.
  4. "Music Week" (PDF). p. 31.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Hanson, Amy. "Adolescent Sex – Japan | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  6. 1 2 Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 10, 1979 (Dutch)" . Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  8. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press.
  9. 1 2 Robbins, Ira; Aswad, Jen. "TrouserPress.com :: Japan". Trouser Press . Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  10. Paul Rymer, liner notes, Obscure Alternatives, SONY BMG (2006)
  11. "Smash Hits magazine November 25 - December 8, 1982 page 10".
  12. "Top 100".
  13. "Japan - Adolescent Sex". ultratop.be. Retrieved 3 April 2019.