Japan remasters released in Europe

[deadcoldfish]

Hey, has anyone heard any of the new Virgin Europe remastered discs:

JAPAN
&
Rain Tree Crow

Remastered, Repackaged, Revisited

‘Gentlemen Take Polaroids’

‘Tin Drum’
‘Oil On Canvas’

‘Rain Tree Crow’


Also on 9/29, Virgin released:

VIRGIN RECORDS NEW RELEASE
DAVID SYLVIAN

Remastered, Repackaged, Revisited

‘Brilliant Trees’

‘Alchemy – An Index of Possibilities’
‘Gone To Earth’

‘Secrets Of The Beehive’


thanks,

[mjb]

Any information on bonus tracks?

[deadcoldfish]

Here's the bonus track info, and it turns out that Caroline will be doing a US release in October:

Gentlemen Take Polaroids

Packaging
6 panel Digipak, 4 colour disc, non-standard black glossy CD tray. Extra photos include alternative cover from original session. New typeface.

Tracklisting
1. Gentlemen Take Polaroids
2. Swing
3. Burning Bridges
4. My New Career
5. Methods Of Dance
6. Ain’t That Peculiar
7. Nightporter
8. Taking Islands In Africa
9. The Experience of Swimming * (B-side from Gentlemen Take Polaroids double 7”)
10. The Width Of A Room * (B-side from Gentlemen Take Polaroids double 7”)
11. Taking Islands In Africa (Steve Nye Remix) (B-side from Visions Of China single)

CDVX 2180



Tin Drum
Extra Special Packaging!

Packaging
Clamshell Box containing 6 panel digipak, 24 page booklet and extra gatefold ‘single’. Clamshell box will have a completely different Fin Costello front cover and back cover photo. The main digipak will have original front and back cover of ‘Tin Drum’. The booklet will have alternative front and back cover from original ‘Tin Drum’ photo session plus 22 pages of photos by Fin Costello, Yuka Fujii and Steve Jansen.

Gatefold single will have photos from ‘The Art of Parties’ single session.

Clamshell box, booklet cover and main CD body will use 5 colour silver with non-standard grey gloss CD tray. This edition will be an absolute photographic treat for Japan fans.

Tracklisting
1. The Art Of Parties
2. Talking Drum
3. Ghosts
4. Canton
5. Still Life In Mobile Homes
6. Visions Of China
7. Sons Of Pioneers
8. Cantonese Boy

*EXTRA GATEFOLD SINGLE - New extra disc
1. The Art Of Parties (Single Version) *
2. Life Without Buildings *(B-side to The Art Of Parties)
3. The Art Of Parties (Live) *(B-side to Ghosts)
4. Ghosts (Single Version) *

CDVX 2209



Oil On Canvas
(Double CD Live album) *CD version previously only available as single disc

Packaging
Double CD – 8 panel digipak. Original Auerbach painting/ front cover changed to black and white / full bleed. Extra new images by Fin Costello plus new typeface and logo. White CD, non-standard gloss black CD tray.

Tracklisting
CD 1
1. Oil On Canvas
2. Sons Of Pioneers
3. Gentlemen Take Polaroids
4. Swing
5. Cantonese Boy
6. Visions Of China
7. Ghosts
8. Voices Raised In Welcome, Hands Held In Prayer

CD 2
1. Nightporter
2. Still Life In Mobile Homes
3. Methods Of Dance
4. Quiet Life
5. The Art Of Parties
6. Canton
7. Temple Of Dawn

CDVDX 2513



Rain Tree Crow

Packaging
6 panel digipak using copper or silver foil blocking font (front and back). Extra Shinya Fujiwara photo (originally only used in Japanese release) to be included plus, Douglas Brothers photos of individual band members. 4 or 5 colour CD + non-standard black glossy CD tray. Fold-out poster booklet (gloss art paper) included with more Douglas Brothers photos.

Tracklisting
1. Big Wheels In Shanty Town
2. Every Colour You Are
3. Rain Tree Crow
4. Red Earth (As Summertime Ends)
5. Pocket Full Of Change
6. Boat’s For Burning
7. New Moon At Red Deer Wallow
8. Blackwater
9. A Reassuringly Dull Sunday
10 Blackcrow Hits Shoe Shine Citys
11 Scratchings On The Bible Belt
12 Cries And Whispers
13 I Drink To Forget *(B-side to Blackwater)

CDVX 2659

[ press release

VIRGIN RECORDS NEW RELEASE
DAVID SYLVIAN

Remastered, Repackaged, Revisited

‘Brilliant Trees’

‘Alchemy – An Index of Possibilities’
‘Gone To Earth’

‘Secrets Of The Beehive’

29 September 2003

Following the announcement of the forthcoming revisit to Japan’s catalogue, Virgin are now very pleased to confirm the release of David Sylvian’s extraordinary solo work, remastered with extra special packaging, on 29 September.

‘Brilliant Trees’, ‘Alchemy – An Index of Possibilities’, ‘Gone To Earth’ and ‘Secrets Of The Beehive’ have all been redesigned under the personal supervision of David himself, and long time Sylvian photographer Yuka Fujii, to create a stunning matching series. A metallic gold theme will run throughout the packaging, with rare textures and colours, and beautiful candid photographs, some of which have never been seen before.

Additional tracks and rare cuts enhance the special nature of this remastered series. All tracks listed below marked with * and in bold are extras or changes made to the original.



‘Brilliant Trees’
Extra Special Packaging

Packaging
Clamshell Box containing 6 panel digipak and 24 page booklet. 5th colour gold / metallic colour used on box and CD body. Previously unseen photos from Berlin recording session and Chamonix included on digipak and throughout the 24 page photo booklet (no text in booklet). Non-standard grey gloss CD tray.



Tracklisting
1. Pulling Punches
2. The Ink In The Well
3. Nostalgia
4. Red Guitar
5. Weathered Wall
6. Backwaters
7. Brilliant Trees

Cat No: CDVX 2290



‘Alchemy – An Index Of Possibilities’

Packaging
6 panel digipak with 5th colour gold used throughout the artwork plus extra new photo. 4 colour red CD plus non-standard gold CD tray.

Tracklisting
1. Words With The Shaman – Part 1 (Ancient Evening)
2. Words With The Shaman – Part 2 (Incantation)
3. Words With The Shaman – Part 3 (Awakening (Songs From The Treetops))
4. Preparations For A Journey *(Previously available on cassette version of ‘Alchemy’)
5. The Stigma Of Childhood (Kin) * (B-side to Pop Song)
6. A Brief Conversation Ending In Divorce *(B-side to Pop Song)
7. Steel Cathedrals * (Previously available on cassette version of ‘Alchemy’ and ‘Weatherbox’)

Cat No: CDVX 23



Gone To Earth
Double CD * previously only available as single disc

Packaging
8 panel digipak with 5th colour metallic sepia / gold on digipak and CD body. With instrumental tracks added and includes remixes of 3 tracks. Previously unseen photos (some treated) by Yuka Fujii and also Alastair Thaine photo. Poster booklet using gloss art paper also included.. Non-standard sepia gloss CD tray x 2.

Tracklisting
CD 1
1. Taking The Veil
2. Laughter And Forgetting
3. Before The Bullfight
4. Gone To Earth
5. Wave
6. River Man
7. Silver Moon
8. Riverman (Remix) * (Remixed by David Sylvian and Richard Moakes)
9. Gone To Earth (Remix) * (Remixed by David Sylvian and Richard Moakes)
10. Camp Fire: Coyote Country (Remix) * (Remixed by David Sylvian and Richard Moakes)

CD 2
1. The Healing Place
2. Answered Prayers
3. Where The Railroad Meets The Sea
4. The Wooden Cross
5. Silver Moon Over Sleeping Steeples *(previously on vinyl / cassette versions and Weatherbox)
6. Camp Fire: Coyote Country *(previously on vinyl / cassette versions and Weatherbox)
7. A Bird Of Prey Vanishes Into A Bright Blue Cloudless Sky *(previously on vinyl / cassette versions and Weatherbox)
8. Home
9. Sunlight Seen Through Towering Trees *(previously on vinyl / cassette versions and Weatherbox)
10. Upon This Earth

CDVDLX 1



Secrets Of The Beehive

Packaging
6 panel Digipak on art board, using duo tone type 4 colours and 5th colours. Incorporating images from original vinyl plus extra photos. Includes poster booklet, off-white CD body and non-standard brown gloss CD tray.

May also include lyrics to ‘Orpheus’.

Tracklisting
1. September
2. The Boy With The Gun
3. Maria
4. Orpheus
5. The Devil’s Own
6. When Poets Dreamed Of Angels
7. Mother And Child
8. Let The Happiness In
9. Waterfront
10. Promise (The Cult Of Eurydice) * (Previously only available on Japanese version)

Note: ‘Forbidden Colours’ is no longer track 10.

CDVX 2471

[Robb]

Wow!

Does Caroline plan to release the catalog in the US with the same kind of packaging?

I can't wait.

[Togo]

I've seen the Japan remasters in HMV in London. The packaging looks great...but I'm more interested in a couple of the Sylvian solo albums.

I wonder how they sound? Hopefully the remastering has been handled sensitively...

I also read somewhere that a Sylvian SACD may be on its way soon....

[deadcoldfish]

Originally posted by Robb
Wow!

Does Caroline plan to release the catalog in the US with the same kind of packaging?

I can't wait.

That's the question that I can't answer, as none of the blurbs for the upcoming US releases mention the packaging. It might be like the XTC remasters where the first round were just the imports, but distributed through Caroline, so they were in the "LP" style packaging.


This is all just a guess though.

[mjb]

I saw the Rain Tree Crow single a few weeks ago and noted the non-album b-side... glad I passed it up!

[MikeT]

Thanks all for the tip. I just placed my order with amazon.co.uk for "Gentleman Take Polaroids", "Tin Drum", "Alchemy", "Gone to Earth", "Secrets of the Beehive".

Even though I have all these on CD already, the extra lavish packaging and the added bonus tracks are what sucked me in. I would have gotten "Brilliant Trees", but since there are no bonus tracks I can live with the original CD I got way back in the mid 80's. Same goes with "Oil on Canvas" - being a live album I can live with the single CD released in the '80's. I also decided to pass on the "Rain Tree Crow" album, since I can live with the original CD (until they come out domestically).

I told myself I was going to stop this foolishness, that is re-buying every album I already have on CD just because it is re-mastered and a few bonus tracks are added. I guess I just don't listen very well.

[Carl Hoffmann]

So.......has anybody listened to these????

[MikeT]

Originally posted by Carl Hoffmann
So.......has anybody listened to these????

I have purchased a bunch of these, as I stated in a post above, but like so many things I buy thinking I have to have them right away, they sit in the "too be played" pile for quite some time.

I really should play them, since I bought them. I have to say though, that although the packaging are mostly all digipaks, they are quite nice and lavish. The thing that struck me as curious is that the cover photo from "Gentleman Take Polaroids" is a slightly different photo from the original CD. And "Tin Drum" has alternate cover pictures on the box and booklet (yet has the same picture on the digipak inside the box).

[JohnG]

Which of their albums is considered definitive?

I was never a fan.

[MikeT]

Originally posted by JohnG
Which of their albums is considered definitive?

I was never a fan.

"Tin Drum" is probably their definitive album, followed by "Gentlemen Take Polaroids". Personally, I think these two albums together give you the best representation of the "classic" Japan sound.

[Robb]

So far, I have Gentlemen Take Polaroids. I must say, I am a bit disappointed in the packaging on this release. Perhaps I bought the wrong version? It's made in Holland. The digipack folds out to reveal the lyrics of one song, a picture, and the credits. Huh? Don't buy this album for the packaging.

However, the music sounds excellent. The bass response is just tremendous, some of the best I have ever heard on CD. Part of that, of course, stems from the fact that Mick Karn's fretless bass is processed with chorus and sounds midrangey (great tone, though), so there's plenty of room down below. The analog synths all sound crisp and accurate, and David Sylvain's voice is as intimate and warbly as ever. I can't wait to buy Tin Drum, but I want to make sure I get the version that Deadcoldfish described, with all the pictures.

[JohnG]

Originally posted by MikeT


"Tin Drum" is probably their definitive album, followed by "Gentlemen Take Polaroids". Personally, I think these two albums together give you the best representation of the "classic" Japan sound.

Thanks Mike, I'll have to check out a Japan release. For some reason this band got away from me back in those days. Guess they didn't have a big hit on WLIR 92.7FM here on Long Island or I would have bought an album (I bought every other group they promoted!!)

[MikeT]

Originally posted by Robb
So far, I have Gentlemen Take Polaroids. I must say, I am a bit disappointed in the packaging on this release. Perhaps I bought the wrong version? It's made in Holland. The digipack folds out to reveal the lyrics of one song, a picture, and the credits. Huh? Don't buy this album for the packaging.

No - you bought the right one. The packaging, although a digipak, is "better" than the original CD release - which was barebones (even if it was in a jewel case).

I just think the paper stock used on these digipaks is a cut above the usual, and the digipak tray is much better than what you would usually recieve.

The packaging to "Tin drum" is much better, as it comes in a box, with a booklet and a bonus disc. Even the David Sylvian solo albums I recently purchased so I could get the remaster are packaged a bit more lavishly than "Gentleman Take Polaroids".

[MikeT]

Originally posted by JohnG




Thanks Mike, I'll have to check out a Japan release. For some reason this band got away from me back in those days. Guess they didn't have a big hit on WLIR 92.7FM here on Long Island or I would have bought an album (I bought every other group they promoted!!)

Hey John,

I live in NJ and when I was young I used to listen, almost exclusively, to WLIR 92.7FM. It was a great station. Today, though, it appears that 92.7 is also used by a station in NJ (one I don't listen to at all), so I can no longer get WLIR (if it still exists). If it does exist in some form, it is possible that the FCC required the station to change the signal pattern so that it would not reach into NJ, to make room for the NJ station that uses the same frequency.

[JohnG]

Originally posted by MikeT


Hey John,

I live in NJ and when I was young I used to listen, almost exclusively, to WLIR 92.7FM. It was a great station. Today, though, it appears that 92.7 is also used by a station in NJ (one I don't listen to at all), so I can no longer get WLIR (if it still exists). If it does exist in some form, it is possible that the FCC required the station to change the signal pattern so that it would not reach into NJ, to make room for the NJ station that uses the same frequency.

Yes, 92.7 WLIR/FM still exists over here across the Hudson.

It's not as good as its hey-day in the early 80's when it was the station to listen to.

It has a flashback Lunch time period in the middle of the day that does play the classic 80's material.

I know the station went thru management changes over the years so that is why they may not have permission to beam towards the West.

All the great DJ's are gone....Larry The Duck/ Malibu Sue/ Max....

[Robb]

Originally posted by MikeT


No - you bought the right one. The packaging, although a digipak, is "better" than the original CD release - which was barebones (even if it was in a jewel case).

I just think the paper stock used on these digipaks is a cut above the usual, and the digipak tray is much better than what you would usually recieve.

The packaging to "Tin drum" is much better, as it comes in a box, with a booklet and a bonus disc. Even the David Sylvian solo albums I recently purchased so I could get the remaster are packaged a bit more lavishly than "Gentleman Take Polaroids".

OK - Thanks for confirming that for me. I agree, the digipak tray is great. I've never seen it before, and holds the CD so well, but releases it with the slightest pressure on the middle. Great innovation.

And, the quality of the paper stock is a cut above.

[Chris R]

Saw the Japan and David Sylvian remasters today. The copies that EMI Canada released are copy protected. Are the U.K. versions copy protected? Have the discs been released in the U.S. yet? If so, are they copy protected? Thanks.