Exorcising Ghosts

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Exorcising Ghosts
Compilation album by Japan
Released	October 1984
Recorded	1979-1983
Genre	Post-Punk, New Wave
Length	88:02 (CD: 62:48)
Label	Virgin Records
Professional reviews
All Music Guide: [1]
Japan chronology
Assemblage (1981) Exorcising Ghosts (1984) The Very Best of Japan (2006)

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

Exorcising Ghosts which was compiled and produced in consultation with lead singer David Sylvian two years after Japan dissolved features a few recordings from the band's early career on the Hansa Records label such as 1979's "Quiet Life" and "The Other Side of Life" but mainly focuses on material from their two studio albums on Virgin Records; Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) and the best-selling Tin Drum (1981).

Besides commercial hit singles like "Visions of China", "Cantonese Boy", "Ghosts" and "Nightporter" the double-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".

Exorcising Ghosts reached #45 on the UK albums chart.

Seven years after the release of Exorcising Ghosts Japan again recorded a studio album - but then under the group moniker Rain Tree Crow.

Note: the abridged CD version of Excorcising Ghosts omits 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".

Contents 1 Track listing 1.1 Side A: 1.2 Side B: 1.3 Side C: 1.4 Side D:

[edit] Track listing

All tracks written by David Sylvian unless otherwise noted

[edit] 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

[edit] Side B:

1. "A Foreign Place" - 3:11
   • 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

[edit] Side C:

1. "Visions Of China" - 3:38
   • 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
   • From 1981 album Tin Drum

[edit] Side D:

1. "Voices Raised In Welcome, Hands Held In Prayer" - 3:30
   • 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

v • d • e Japan David Sylvian · Mick Karn · Steve Jansen · Richard Barbieri · Rob Dean Studio albums Adolescent Sex · Obscure Alternatives · Quiet Life · Gentlemen Take Polaroids · Tin Drum  · Japan  · Rain Tree Crow Live album Oil on Canvas Compilations Assemblage  · Exorcising Ghosts · The Very Best of Japan Related articles Simon Napier-Bell · John Punter · Steve Nye · Ray Singer · Ryuichi Sakamoto · Masami Tsuchiya · The Dolphin Brothers · Nine Horses · Porcupine Tree · Virgin Records · New Romantic · Hansa Records · Japan (country) · List of bands named after places