Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids Live 1981

[ashfieldrichard]

I was at this gig. Nightmare afterwards though car breaking down in London. Japan were stunning.

[paintedship]

Rob Dean was always a better fit for Japan IMO too bad he was under utilized

[scorbieholic]

One of THE best songs ever!

[doctormozo]

The year was definitely 1981. At least one of the dates being 17th May. I remember as it was the first date for me and my partner who are still together today exactly 30 years on. I still have the ticket stub somewhere.

[loosemeatbeef]

I have this bootleg. It's from Hammersmith Odeon '81. The whole thing is so fucking good.

[Binckes64]

@loosemeatbeef

I was at that gig - the only time I saw them live, more's the pity.

[shinysynthcity]

Beautiful :'|

[hype007007]

and still doing the odd gig but yes far ahead of everything

shame to hear about mick karn god bless

[zizouchai]

perfect version!

[Tyrelcorp166]

A Piece of brilliant style! David is and was the best in music. So ahead of their time.

[atrios28]

oh this is delicious!

[mikeyg629]

I was there... :)

[Shadders5]

@mikeyg629 Yeah..me too... Not sure if was 1980 though, I thought it was 1981, but the memory has clouded over the years... I seem to remember the band playing some early stuff in that gig too... Rhodesia was one I recall them playing... That was the one and only time I saw Rob Dean playing with the band.

[mikeyg629]

@Shadders5.. I am fairly sure it was May 1981, but like you say nearly 30 years ago is a litle cloudy... Still remember the buzz as they walked onstage though - probably the best gig I ever saw in all my years... really blew me away!

[Skillusions]

This is a live track from a Bootleg that came out a while ago - the give away to the age of this recording is that David introduced it as "the title track from our forthcoming album".. he signs it a little more measured/paced on "Oil on Canvas" not better, or worse, just measured - this is really just before JAPAN hit it huge..and faded away......

[MicheleMouton]

@Skillusions - well on here he says 'our latest', not 'forthcoming'.

Polaroids was released in 1980, so this must be from the Polaroids tour.

[Shadders5]

Would've been nice if it would've carried on into Alien as it did at the concert. We got a brief few seconds at the end of GTP there.

I think this must have been my first ever Japan concert. They still performed Rhodesia as I recall.

[Agrati1]

Sheer class!

[ALAN32138]

CLASS .........it show's

[FLORENT2222]

great version !!

in my opinion, better than on "oil on canvas"

[johnny33800]

masami almost ruined the last japan gigs'On the oil on canvas L,P he is mixed down but live he was way too loud ,often drowning the songs in feedback and pulling rock guitar poses ,throwing himself to his knees ect.Rob Deans immediate replacement was much better,a guy called David Rhodes who i remember playing on the Visions of China tour.

[furlight]

dates don't make sense...do they?

I saw Japan on their last tour together -

It was in December of 1981 I belive - at The Hammersmith Odeon.

I am pretty sure it was the tour for Tin Drum.

I think they had already split when Oil on Canvas came out...?

refresh my old brain ; )

I remember the band that opened for them was Blancmange and Toyah was playing in London the same night....

[johnny33800]

You'd have seen Japan on the 23/12/81 or the 27/12/81. if you saw them at the Hammersmith Odeon.This would have been their penultimate "visions of China' tour with Blancmange supporting.The last tour was the 'Sons of pioneers' tour in late 1982,with Sandi and the sunsets supporting.Japan disbanded on 16/12/82 after their final show in Japan.Oil on canvas was released in june 1983.

[missbabyice]

I love him :) gentlemen take polaroids is the best japan album, imo.

This is a wonderful live version!

[bobtherelevator]

this is way better than oil on canvas , purely because its rob dean and not masami on guitar, big mistake hiring masami on oil on canvas, dudes chords were all over the place

[dermotoblong]

oil on canvas was a bit disappointing because they were so good live usually.

[dermotoblong]

yeah but its not just that. the sound quality and his vocals sound better as well.

[dermotoblong]

yeah i remember him from a concert program my brother gave me. he went on to play in peter gabriel's band.

[johnny33800]

Did he?thats interesting.The guy was much more subtle,visually he looked the part and didnt need to show off.The japan guitar sound was created by Dean useing an e bow guitar effect .This gave sustain and fluidity on record and liive it melded together the rhythm and synth sounds.Their musicallity was unique so seeing masamis rock heroics mess with it wes a let down.You can tell by this recording of polaroids the difference.This sounds like a band who can feel its their time.

[rhodesia789]

yeah he had to do all theatrics to play guitar (falling to his knees and stuff), it all just made Japan look ridiculous. His guitar playing is sloppy at best.

[dermotoblong]

and this is a superb live version. better than oil on canvas i reckon. still, i'll take what i can of japan. best band of the 80s no question.

[johnny33800]

Japan played the Hammersmith Odeon on the 7/2/81 at the start of the Gentelmen take polaroids tour.This was their only U.K date and was a magical experience.The BBC recorded the concert and it was broadcast on the Radio One evening show.Bootleg tapes started appearing shortly after.The Oil on canvas L.P was the band on the 'sons of pioneers' tour recorded at the Hammersmith odeon on 22/11/82.Japan split soon after.

[dermotoblong]

superb. sound is brilliant as well. great post.

[meikllovesu]

Brilliant !!! thx for Posting.

[Oloferne8181]

Danke.

Für mich ist das ein Zufriedenheit

[totomorris]

Really great live version



[JOHNTAYLORARIA]

Where did you find this version??? This sounds mint!! Could you send me a place where I could download this version?

[Oloferne8181]

Oil on Canvas is one of my favourite live album.

Bye

[Pixiedustgirl101171]

Yes, it is a great album! I've played it many times over the years!!

'Tin Drum' is also a favourite album of mine.........

[romarad35]

Hi, thank you for posting this. Is it really from "Oil On Canvs"? I ask, as I used to have it on vinyl 33" & don't remember it sounding like this and want to be sure before I down load on I-tunes. If you downloaded somewhere else, could you tell me. Thank youuuuuu!!!

[Oloferne8181]

Hi Man. This track is not from "Oil on Canvas". Goodbye.

[romarad35]

Thank you for confirming that. It would be great if you could post (for me &, I see, many others here!) where in fact you did find it: I'm sure MANY would like to download it. Greetings from sunny Rome, M!

[Oloferne8181]

Itwish I could give you all the information you need... but I have only this track.

Sorry.

[Pixiedustgirl101171]

One of my favourite Japan songs!!!! Awesome band, think I'm gonna have to go give the 'Oil On Canvas' album a listen!!!!

[newromanticgal]

This Is Sooo Rare & Beautiful :D :D!!!....Thank You Ever So Much For Posting :D :D!!!!

[Oloferne8181]

You are welcome!

[dublinb]

Great sound just wondering if this is soundboard ? Thanks for posting, oh any more on the horizon ?

[Oloferne8181]

It's soundboard.

Sure, I'll upload other videos of Japan.