Tin Drum

This article is about Tin Drum, the album. For the novel, see The Tin Drum. For the film based on the novel, see The Tin Drum (film).

Tin Drum
Studio album by Japan
Released	November 1981
Recorded	1981
Genre	New Wave, art rock
Length	38:00
Label	Virgin Records
Producer	Steve Nye & Japan
Japan chronology
Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) Tin Drum (1981) Oil on Canvas (1983)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Glam-Ou-Rama	link

Tin Drum is the fifth and final studio album produced by the British band Japan. Released in the U.K. in November 1981, the album continued their now developed use of electronic elements coupled with traditional instrumentation, but leans far more towards far-eastern influences than any of their previous albums. Guitarist Rob Dean had left the band by this point, with vocalist David Sylvian taking on his duties which had become surplus to requirements in terms of their musical direction.

Four of the album's eight tracks were released as singles in the UK ("The Art of Parties", "Cantonese Boy", "Visions of China" and "Ghosts"), whilst a live version of "Canton" was issued as a single to promote the Oil on Canvas live album in 1983. Of these, the most commercially successful was "Ghosts", a minimalist, drum-free song which reached No.5 in the UK. "Visions of China" and "Cantonese Boy" also made the UK Top 40. The album itself peaked at #12 in the UK, and was certified "Gold" by the BPI in 1982.

In 2000, Sylvian re-recorded "Ghosts" using the original Japan backing track and included it on his compilation Everything and Nothing.

On 6th September 2011, Tin Drum was awarded BBC Radio 6 Music's 'Goldie' award posthumously for the best album of 1981.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Singles 3 Personnel 4 Additional personnel

Track listing

All songs written by David Sylvian, except where noted.

Side A:

1. "The Art of Parties" (Re-recorded version) – 4:09
2. "Talking Drum" – 3:34
3. "Ghosts" – 4:33
4. "Canton" (Jansen/Sylvian)– 5:30

Side B:

1. "Still Life in Mobile Homes" – 5:32
2. "Visions of China" (Jansen/Sylvian) – 3:37
3. "Sons of Pioneers" (Karn/Sylvian) – 7:07
4. "Cantonese Boy" – 3:44

Bonus disc on the 2004 CD reissue

1. "The Art of Parties (Single Version)"
2. "Life Without Buildings"
3. "The Art of Parties (Live)"
4. "Ghosts (Single Version)"

• The bonus tracks were included only on the limited-edition two-disc version of the album. The single-disc version features no bonus tracks.

Singles

1. "The Art Of Parties" UK #48
2. "Visions of China" UK #32
3. "Ghosts" UK #5
4. "Cantonese Boy" UK #24

Personnel

• David Sylvian: vocals, guitar, keyboards & keyboard programming, tapes, cover concept
• Steve Jansen: drums, acoustic, electronic & keyboard percussion
• Richard Barbieri: keyboards & keyboard programming, tapes
• Mick Karn: fretless bass guitar, African flute, dida

Guest musicians:

• Yuka Fujii: backing vocals
• Simon House: violin

Additional personnel

• The Red Room/EMI - design
• Steve Nye - engineer
• Fin Costello - photography

Japan David Sylvian Mick Karn Steve Jansen Richard Barbieri Rob Dean Studio albums Adolescent Sex Obscure Alternatives Quiet Life Gentlemen Take Polaroids Tin Drum Rain Tree Crow Live album Oil on Canvas Compilations Assemblage Japan 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 Dalis Car Virgin Records New Romantic Hansa Records