| Exorcising Ghosts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 26 November 1984 [1] | |||
| Recorded | 1979–1983 | |||
| Length | 86:27 (LP) 61:09 (CD) | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer |
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| Japan chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
Exorcising Ghosts is a compilation album by the British band Japan, released in November 1984 by record label Virgin.
Exorcising Ghosts was compiled and produced in consultation with lead singer David Sylvian two years after Japan dissolved. It features three recordings from the band's early career on the Hansa Records label (such as 1979's Quiet Life ) but mainly focuses on material from their two studio albums on Virgin Records; Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) and Tin Drum (1981).
Besides top 40 hit singles like "Quiet Life", "Visions of China", "Ghosts", and "Nightporter", the double-album set includes album tracks like "Methods of Dance", "Talking Drum" and "Swing" alongside a selection of rarities such as the single B-sides "A Foreign Place" and "Life Without Buildings", the 1981 remix of "Taking Islands in Africa", the instrumental studio recording "Voices Raised in Welcome, Hands Held in Prayer" included on 1983's live album Oil on Canvas and the 12" mix of "The Art of Parties".
As to fit the album onto a single disc, the original CD release omitted five of the sixteen tracks; "Swing", "A Foreign Place", "Taking Islands in Africa", "Sons of Pioneers" and "Voices Raised in Welcome, Hands Held in Prayer".
Exorcising Ghosts reached No. 45 in the UK Albums Chart [4] and was certified Gold (100,000 copies) by the BPI in February 1997. [5]
Seven years after the release of Exorcising Ghosts, Japan recorded a new studio album, but under the new moniker Rain Tree Crow.
All tracks are written by David Sylvian, except where noted
| No. | Title | From the album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Methods of Dance" | Gentlemen Take Polaroids | 6:46 |
| 2. | "Swing" | Gentlemen Take Polaroids | 6:20 |
| 3. | "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" | Gentlemen Take Polaroids | 7:04 |
| 4. | "Quiet Life" | Quiet Life | 4:47 |
| Total length: | 24:57 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | From the album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "A Foreign Place" | Sylvian, Richard Barbieri | 1981 B-side of the single "Quiet Life" | 3:11 |
| 6. | "Nightporter" | Gentlemen Take Polaroids | 6:49 | |
| 7. | "My New Career" | Gentlemen Take Polaroids | 3:50 | |
| 8. | "The Other Side of Life" | Quiet Life | 7:22 | |
| Total length: | 21:12 (46:09) | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | From the album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | "Visions of China" | Sylvian, Steve Jansen | Tin Drum | 3:38 |
| 10. | "Taking Islands in Africa" (Steve Nye Remix) | Sylvian, Ryuichi Sakamoto | Original version appears on Gentlemen Take Polaroids | 4:55 |
| 11. | "Ghosts" | Tin Drum | 4:30 | |
| 12. | "Sons of Pioneers" | Sylvian, Mick Karn | Tin Drum | 7:08 |
| Total length: | 20:11 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | From the album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Voices Raised in Welcome, Hands Held in Prayer" | Sylvian, Jansen | Oil on Canvas | 3:21 |
| 14. | "Life Without Buildings" | B-side of the 12" single "The Art of Parties" | 6:34 | |
| 15. | "Talking Drum" (Edited intro) | Tin Drum | 3:31 | |
| 16. | "The Art of Parties" (12" Version) | Original version appears on Tin Drum | 6:41 | |
| Total length: | 20:07 (40:18) (86:27) | |||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Methods of Dance" | 6:50 |
| 2. | "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" | 7:04 |
| 3. | "Quiet Life" | 4:52 |
| 4. | "Nightporter" | 6:48 |
| 5. | "My New Career" | 3:52 |
| 6. | "The Other Side of Life" | 7:25 |
| 7. | "Visions of China" | 3:38 |
| 8. | "Ghosts" | 4:32 |
| 9. | "Life Without Buildings" | 6:35 |
| 10. | "Talking Drum" (Edited intro) | 3:32 |
| 11. | "The Art of Parties" (12" Version) | 6:46 |
| Total length: | 61:09 | |
Japan were an English new wave band formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian, Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn, joined by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean the following year. Initially a glam rock-inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look to incorporate electronic music and foreign influences.
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 Romantic scene.
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.
Gone to Earth is the second solo studio album by English singer-songwriter David Sylvian, released on 1 September 1986 on Virgin Records. A double album, Gone to Earth is the follow-up to his debut record, Brilliant Trees, and peaked at No. 24 in the UK Albums Chart.
Steve Jansen is an English musician, composer and record producer.
Richard Barbieri is an English musician, composer and sound designer. Originally a member of new wave band Japan, more recently he is known as the keyboard player in the progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, which he joined in 1993. Aside from the founder Steven Wilson, he is the longest tenured member of Porcupine Tree.
Brilliant Trees is the debut solo studio album by the English musician David Sylvian, released on 25 June 1984 by Virgin Records. The album peaked at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.
Tin Drum is the fifth and final studio album by English band Japan, released in November 1981 by record label Virgin. 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.
Gentlemen Take Polaroids is the fourth studio album by the English band Japan, released in November 1980 by Virgin Records.
Quiet Life is the third studio album by English new wave band Japan, first released on 17 November 1979 in Canada by record label Hansa.
Obscure Alternatives is the second studio album by English new wave band Japan, released in October 1978 by record label Hansa.
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.
Plight & Premonition is the first of two collaborative albums by English musician David Sylvian and German musician Holger Czukay. It was released in March 1988.
Dead Bees on a Cake is a solo album by British singer-songwriter David Sylvian, released in March 1999. It was his first solo album in 12 years since Secrets of the Beehive.
"All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by the Velvet Underground and Nico, written by Lou Reed and released on the group's 1967 debut studio album, The Velvet Underground & Nico.
"Ghosts" is a song by English band Japan. It was released in edited form in March 1982 as the third single from their 1981 album Tin Drum.
Assemblage is a compilation album by the British band Japan, released in September 1981 by Hansa Records.
The Very Best of Japan is a compilation album by the British band Japan, released worldwide in 2006 by EMI Music.
"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.
Visions of China is a song by English new wave band Japan, released in October 1981 as the second single from their 1981 album Tin Drum, which was released on 13 November. The single reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart.
