JAPAN – EXORCISING GHOSTS 2LP – Nr MINT/EXC+ UK 1984  DAVID SYLVIAN MICK KARN

Japan – Exorcising Ghosts
(Virgin Records  1984  VGD3510)
Matrix No’s: A2/B2/C2/D2 – UK Pressing

Gatefold Sleeve & Insert in Nr MINT/Excellent+ condition
– some wear to edges and 3 tiny sticker marks top right

Double Vinyl in Nr MINT/Excellent+ condition
(there are some surface marks visible on the vinyl when held up to the light but they don’t affect the sound quality
Vinyl 1 perfect – Nr MINT – Vinyl 2 has some marks (some surface marks on side 4 that give some light pops/crackles & a small mark on side 3 track 2 that gives 2 or 3 light clicks)

Japan were an English music group formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steve Jansen (drums), Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Mick Karn (bass guitar). Initially a glam-inspired group, Japan developed their sound and androgynous style to incorporate electronic music and foreign influences, eventually becoming an influence on the UK’s early-1980s New Romantic scene.

Japan achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, releasing nine UK Top 40 hits, including the 1982 Top 10 hit “Ghosts”, and scoring a UK Top 5 with the live album Oil on Canvas (1983). The band split in 1982, just as they were beginning to experience significant commercial success in the UK and abroad. Its members went on to pursue other musical projects, though they reformed briefly in the early 1990s under the name Rain Tree Crow, releasing an album in 1991.

Exorcising Ghosts is a compilation album by the British band Japan, released in October 1984 by record label Virgin.

Track listing

All tracks written by David Sylvian unless otherwise noted

Side A

1. “Methods Of Dance” – 6:50
   • From 1980 album Gentlemen Take Polaroids
2. “Swing” – 7:04
   • From 1980 album Gentlemen Take Polaroids
3. “Gentlemen Take Polaroids” – 7:08
   • From 1980 album Gentlemen Take Polaroids
4. “Quiet Life” – 4:52
   • From 1979 album Quiet Life

Side B

1. “A Foreign Place” – 3:11 (Sylvian/Barbieri)
   • Instrumental, originally released as B-side of single “Quiet Life”, 1980
2. “Nightporter” – 6:48
   • From 1980 album Gentlemen Take Polaroids
3. “My New Career” – 3:52
   • From 1980 album Gentlemen Take Polaroids
4. “The Other Side Of Life” – 7:25
   • From 1979 album Quiet Life

Side C

1. “Visions of China” – 3:38 (Sylvian/Jansen)
   • From 1981 album Tin Drum
2. “Taking Islands In Africa” (Steve Nye Remix) (Ryuichi Sakamoto/David Sylvian) – 4:53
   • Original version appears on 1980 album Gentlemen Take Polaroids
3. “Ghosts” – 4:32
   • From 1981 album Tin Drum
4. “Sons Of Pioneers” – 7:07 (Sylvian/Karn)
   • From 1981 album Tin Drum

Side D

1. “Voices Raised In Welcome, Hands Held In Prayer” – 3:30 (Sylvian/Jansen)
   • Instrumental, from 1983 album Oil on Canvas
2. “Life Without Buildings” – 6:35
   • Originally released as B-side of 12″ single “The Art of Parties”, 1981
3. “Talking Drum” (Edited intro) – 3:32
   • From 1981 album Tin Drum
4. “The Art Of Parties” (12″ Mix) – 6:46
   • Original version appears on 1981 album Tin Drum