On 8 January 1982, JAPAN released the single EUROPEAN SON / ALIEN.
Written by David Sylvian three years earlier in 1978, following the group's US tour, EUROPEAN SON was released as the b-side to LIFE IN TOKYO in April 1981.
The song was set to be the title track of Japan's third album, and Sylvian intended to record it with Giorgio Moroder. However, the producer vetoed the idea, preferring 'Life in Tokyo'. This wasn’t the first time the track had been relegated to the flipside. A year before it had turned up on the b-side of a Japanese issue of 'I Second That Emotion'.
By 1981, Japan were having some success with their new label Virgin Records following their departure from Ariola Hansa. The move was significant: Virgin were perceived as being fresh and hip whilst Hansa passé. The band agreed; having left behind Boney M and Amii Stewart to join hip label-mates XTC, MAGAZINE & SIMPLE MINDS.
Hansa leapt on this, seizing the opportunity to release a number of tracks from the band’s back catalogue. European Son was issued as the B-side of the UK single Life In Tokyo and as a track on the album Assemblage.
However this didn't pay off as the single, again, failed to chart in the UK.
Later that year, a Steve Nye remix of the 'Life in Tokyo' was released and became a hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 31. Was European Son forever to be the bridesmaid? The promotion to A-side eventually happened in 1982 when Hansa released the track as a single, pairing it with 'Alien' on the flip.
The sleek European Son is a classic example of where Mick Karn’s bass provides the melody rather than just the rhythm. Without the peerless bassist’s contribution the record would have been a significantly lesser form.
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發表於 2024-1-9 22:36:00
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