The Art of Parties

Last updated
"The Art of Parties"
Japan The Art of Parties.jpg
Single by Japan
from the album Tin Drum
B-side
  • "Life Without Buildings"
  • "My New Career" (Australia and Japan)
Released1 May 1981 (1981-05-01)
RecordedMarch 1981
Studio Basing Street Studios. London
Genre
Length
  • 3:55 (7")
  • 6:41 (12")
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s) David Sylvian
Producer(s)
Japansingles chronology
"Gentlemen Take Polaroids"
(1980)		"The Art of Parties"
(1981)		"Visions of China"
(1981)

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

Contents

It was released as a single in May 1981 and reached number 48 on the UK Singles Chart. [1] A re-worked version was subsequently included as the opening track on the band's album Tin Drum released later in 1981, keeping parts of the original Punter-produced version including guitars. [2] A live version of the song is included on Japan's 1983 album Oil on Canvas and on the DVD release The Very Best of Japan .

Critical reception

Upon its release, Smash Hits' Mark Ellen described the single as "a safety shot"; "This keeps a finger in every pie known to modern music. A 12" with titles filched from the Talking Heads camp, the topside's technical funk with Sylvian's voice a rare bond of operatic Bowie and Ferry at his most plaintive. The reverse is a few of their favourite synths. Good." [3]

Personnel

On "The Art of Parties":

On "Life Without Buildings":

Technical

Track listings

7": Virgin / VS 409 (UK) [5]

  1. "The Art of Parties" – 3.55
  2. "Life Without Buildings" – 6:40

12": Virgin / VS 409-12 (UK)

  1. "The Art of Parties" – 6.41
  2. "Life Without Buildings" – 6.40

7": Virgin / VS 409 / VIPX-1580 (Australia and Japan)

  1. "The Art of Parties" – 3.55
  2. "My New Career" – 3.52

12": Virgin / VS 409-12 (Australia)

  1. "The Art of Parties" – 6:41
  2. "My New Career" – 3:52

EP: Virgin / VEP 305 (Canada) [6]

  1. "The Art of Parties" – 6:41
  2. "The Width of a Room" – 3:14
  3. "Life Without Buildings" – 6:40
  4. "The Experience of Swimming" – 4:06

7" Promo: Virgin / 0267 (Spain, 1982)

  1. "The Art of Parties" (album version) – 4:11
  2. "Visions of China" – 3:55

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References

  1. ↑ The Art of Parties Official Charts
  2. ↑ anthonyreynoldswork (2018-09-05). "Excerpt from Japan : A Foreign Place. Chapter 8 : "The Tin Drum."". anthonyreynoldswork. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  3. ↑ Ellen, Mark. "Singles". Smash Hits volume 63 30 April 1981. p. 28.
  4. ↑ "Japan - The Art Of Parties". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  5. ↑ "Japan Nightporter - History of Japan by Paul Rymer". www.nightporter.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  6. ↑ "Japan - The Art Of Parties". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
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