Last updated 05.1.2
(*) means I don't own this release
(@) means I've listened to this album but don't own it
Derek Higgins added some descriptions, they are identified by (DH:)
Ralf Kraus added some descriptions, they are identified by (RK:)
My quotes are
identified by NK: if they are nearby someone elses' comments
Jonas Wårstad
helped verify info. He has a discography.
I utilized some info from Ron Kane.
Lately YT has been involved with Hosono in the band Sketch Show and it's quasi spin off projects more or less with Sakamoto too
NK: Between Sadistic Mika Band and YMO. Sakamoto arranges and co-produces. RS was nicknamed The Professor back then. Hosono plays bass. Currently Budget priced. Here we have an early (if not the first) appearance by all YMO members. A good example of late 70s studio pop. Not really related to their later Technopop sound.
DH: This album seems to be some kind of personal tribute to France by Takahashi. The songs songs are presented in fairly conventional musical settings with synthesizer being used unobtrusively. I like the remix cd much better.
there is said to be a C'est si bon / Back Street Midnight Queen single
Murdered by the Music1980.6.21 Seven Seas lp(*): SKS 1050 cd: KICS-2141, KICS-8071, Regular II (AUST) lp: REGL 200, Statik (U.K.) lp: STAT LP 6All songs in English. Mosdell lyrics, Sandii, Sheena, Tachibana and Matsutake appear, One song each by Hosono and Sakamoto, who play also. A Technopop classic. The EQ/engineering on my lp is a bit shrill, I don't know what the CD sounds like. Should appeal to early era YMO fans. UK 1982 edition has a very different cover of a screaming cartoon man wearing headphones. (June 1980). Remixed by techno artists in the mid 90s.
The UK edition omits I-Kasu! |
(*) 1980 Seven Seas GK-8106. 7", Statik STAT S17.1982/UK 7"
(*) There is said to be a Blue Color Worker 7" from Japan
River In The Ocean was released as a Beatniks track in Japan
A fine album . Should appeal to YMO fans though none of the YMO period solos tried to duplicate the more instrumental based YMO sound. There was a British music movement at the time called "New Romantic" which included stuff from for example Roxy Music, whom YT admired and OMD, a contemporary act. Possibly more an ironic connection with being neurotic, though I guess in its New Romantic attitude it, in coincidental hindsight (futuresight?) it might even have slight echos in William Gibson's novel Neuromancer, which was published some 3 years later. Recorded March-May 1981 with HH, RS, Omura, Tony Mansfieds, Manzanera, Andy Makay, Matsutake. Had a French CD reissue in the 90s.
Ivar de Vries writes:
Recorded while Yukihiro Takahashi was in full swing drumming/singing with the Yellow
Magic Orchestra, this album might as well have been called a YMO album because
both Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi
Sakamoto play their instruments here. And
naturally the mostly fast rhythms are very similar to those in YMO's music as
well as the album's overall mood. But some other musicians make an appearance
too, such as Phil Manzanera and
Andy Mackay both taking a break
from Roxy Music.
Takahashi is in decent vocal form throughout where the usual echoes of David
Bowie and Bryan Ferry from, again, Roxy Music are never far off. On the cover
a few pictures of a rather pensive-looking Takahashi are printed but the music
is actually rather cheerful. The first few tracks are alright if a bit interchangeable
but starting with 'Drip Dry Eyes' (a compilation album favourite)
they become excellent.
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The tune Flashback includes all members of YMO. YT duets with Bill Nelson (plays throughout the album), Zane Grif and Ronny. This album will appeal to YMO fans. The style changes drastically from track to track. Not really a problem since it's very good. Had a French CD reissue in the 90s.
Ivar de Vries writes:
One of the best Yukihiro Takahashi album during his Yellow Magic Orchestra period, it
is certainly a varied one. Melody-wise most songs are strong and a few additional
singers provide some welcome relief to Takahashi's "characteristic vocal
style" (to put it politely), although he does sing with real passion throughout
this album. The two short tracks are instrumentals with a Japanese feel, whereas
the songs are clearly influenced by, or themselves influenced the early eighties
British synthpop scene featuring the likes of the Human League etc.
The English-lyric songs are all co-written by Peter Barakan who also helped out YMO in this respect. As usual
the other two YMO members help out their friend here, but they only make an
appearance on the wonderful 'Flashback', for which Ryuichi
Sakamoto also provides the music. Other
highlights include 'Sayonara' which has Japanese lyrics, 'This
Strange Obsession' (written and partly performed
by Zaine Griff), the melancholic 'Disposable Love' about the effects of a relationship breaking up and
the fun 'All You've Got To Do'.
'The Real You' continues the vocal
style first heard on YMO's 1981 album ‘Technodelic’ with its multiple vocal layers sort of sliding over
the accompaniment. The last track on the album is a cover of a George Harrison
song from the surreal ‘Yellow Submarine’ soundtrack and anybody who knows the heavily psychedelic
Beatles original will raise an eyebrow because here Takahashi manages to turn
it into a nice upbeat pop-song, although some psychedelic elements like a Hammond
organ sound and the well-known Beatles trick of inverted drum-sounds are retained.
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It's All Too Much / The Real You
(*) 1982 Alfa 7" (Holland) A-2774 (info: Ron Kane)
Tomorrow's Just Another Day1983.8.24 YEN lp:YRL-28009 cd: 38XA-18, 32XA-146, ALCA-363, ALCA-5085,current: ALCA-9062Lots of synths, but kind of like an average pop album. A bit dull. Suffers from lack of guests. Had a French CD reissue in the 90s.
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Live album (16+20 Aug 1983). Band includes Keiichi Suzuki, Hajime Tachibana, Bill Nelson, Sandii and David Palmer. Has energy. out of print
A short album. With Sakamoto, Iva Davies and Bill Nelson. Takahashi is in very good form with excellent arrangements. One of my favorite post-YMO YT albums I've heard. Recorded Aug-Sep 1984
Ivar de Vries writes:
At barely thirty
minutes more a maxi-single than a full-length album, this first post-YMO project
by Yukihiro Takahashi is also a bit short on ideas. Its atmosphere is slightly
lackluster – "moody" perhaps, but "wild" is a definite
overstatement. Plenty of harsh industrial sounds and a few contributions from
former YMO buddies Sakamoto (Fairlight) and Hosono (bass) as well as Bill Nelson on guitar/vocal can't conceal the fact that the musical
material is a bit average. A significant pointer is perhaps the fact that
all the song-lyrics come from writers other than Takahashi.
On the plus side, Takahashi's voice has never sounded better, making it less
of a potential irritation and the addition of a few female backing singers
also help things along. The best song is perhaps the Neil Young cover 'Helpless'
and the album closes strongly with 'Walking To The Beat', co-written with Iva Davies.
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DH: The last track is unique to this release as far as I know. The song is credited to Bill Nelson and lists the players as Takahashi on drums, Bill Nelson and Mick Karn on bass. It is an instrumental that has a nice medium-fast tempo and lilting eastern melody.
NK: said to be included on "Duplex" Cocteau CDJCD 22 - most consider Metaphysical Jerks a Bill Nelson track with YT as a guest
this single is an edit, it was reissued in Yen Box 1
Light, pop-ish instrumentals plus 2 songs. Koji Ueno and Pierre Barouh appear. Takahashi acts in the movie.
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Best of
all that can be said here is this one is clearly marked as a best of, unlike Brand New Day
Twins (Best of Personal Works From Y.M.O.) - an out of print double CD with YMO era solo works by YT, Hosono and Sakamoto. No rare Takahashi tracks. YT released the most solo albums during the YMO era.
IT'S A Y.T. WORLD
1996.7.24 Alfa CD: ALCA-5077 out of print
this rarities disc is included only as a special bonus disc in Yen Box Vol.1 (17 CD set of YEN releases)
Sakamoto, Hosono and Kenji Omura play. Typical Takahashi, Nice but not very memorable as it's kind of middle of the road.
Kyou no sora/Konchu-ki 7" single (*)
Very little synth work. Nothing wrong with the songs, just regular pop arrangements.
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Weekend/Camp 7" single (*)
Yukihiro Takahashi & Steve JansenStay Close1986 .10 12": Rime (Canyon) 12" RIME 1, Tent 12" C12AO473, 12" C12A0473? cd: PCCA-00302Decent, but not exceptional. Jansen was in the band Japan.
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Best of 1985-87, including Beatniks
NK: Instrumentals. Various pieces of fashion show music. Witty sophisticated listening. Currently budget priced
DH: I take it that this is music produced for a fashion show.The cd is credited as a collaboration between Yukihiro Takahashi and Yohji Yamammoto. On the back cover it says "For Yohji Yamamoto and Yohji Yamamoto Pour Homme spring- summer 87, autumn- winter 87-88 collection in Paris. The music is a combination of piano and computer. You can't dance to it but it seems to have a sense of humor about it. I'm not sure how else to describe it.
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DH: This is a fantastic album including Hosono and Sakamoto. Other guests include Iva Davies of Icehouse, Kenji Omura and Ray Ohara. Solid electronic pop music. Leads right into 'Broadcast from Heaven.
Broadcast from Heaven1990.6.30 EMI cd:TOCT 5647, TOCT 9224Yokoo cover art. This and Ego are more interesting than the last several or next few post-la Penseé. This is a regular studio album - at least one person wrote me guessing it was a concert before I added this comment.
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DH: The cover for this one is nice. It has a transparent plastic insert with Takahashi's face and title, underneath is the cd booklet which can be folded several ways to give various backgrounds to the picture of Takahashi. It also includes his business card.Takahashi plays everything with guest appearances by Kenji Omura, Keichi Suzuki and Steve Jansen. This is another great cd.
(*) 90.11.14 cd3: TODT-2595
1. X’mas Day in the Next Life
2. The Kami wo wasurete iwaeyo X’mas Time
3. The Night after X'mas - instrumental
DH: This live album focuses on versions of these songs featuring a lot of acoustic guitar and kind of a folky feel. It is beautifully produced and the live band includes Steve Jansen, Ray Ohara, Hiroyasu Yaguchi and Keichi Suzuki. Not much in the way of electronics but an excellent album that has a lot of feeling. (live 29 April 1991, Tokyo)
Two 1991 live tracks, one only available on this single.
"Produced by Yukihiro Takahashi". All synth and samples. Gaku seems to be a dog, thus making this cd a good companion to Sakamoto's Adventures of Chatran. Comes with a 68 page b&w booklet about the film. The theme is full of clockwork percussion which is interesting. Overall pretty fun.
DH: The cover shows a still from the movie, a man and boy in a fishing boat. The music is pretty much all synthetic and bears the unmistakable Takahashi sound.
NK: I think it's Takahashi in the boat. Ueno adds some strings on 2 tracks. YT with a tropical feel. Upbeat and pleasant. Near the end it has a cool blend of Okinawa sounds with string orchestra. This is my favorite of his soundtracks.
1991.8.25 cd ep: Alfa ALCA -164
Out of print. Alfa material in techno remix. Doesn't fully gel. I don't think Takahashi's work lends itself to the remix genre.
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DH: This cd has acoustic-based arrangements of these older songs and includes 2 songs I hadn't heard before this cd. Not much electronic here. I love Takahashi's songs in any setting. Recorded Sep-Oct 1992
NK: much more enjoyable than typical 'unplugged' albums
This one has ducks. There is an "Additional Composers" credit so some of the music was done by Yasuo Kimoto and Hiroshi Takano besides the main YT credit. YT does get credit as "Performed by"
AOZORA (BLUE SKY) / Eien no natsu (*) cd3 single TODT-3318
Sei ippai no hohoemi/Futari de kurashite mitaine (*) cd3 single
remixes --I thought this album never really fell into a real good groove although I think this is one of his only album that could lend itself to techno. Just kind of sits there and repeats. The original is much more interesting and is shall we say... original. Certainly isn't auful or anything. Starangely the usually interesting Sunahara (Denki Groove) supervised this project.
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NK: This is interesting as the unremixed version was the first time all 3 members of what was to be YMO worked together for a lot of an album back in '77. The original intent was not technopop but sophisticated french influenced pop. Now in the 90s comes this rather creative stunt of infusing a technopop edge that never was in the original music into the whole album. While its not exactly one of the most memorable albums I own, it does come out sort of surprising and interesting.
(*)1995 .6.7 Toshiba TOCT-8968
Saenai kimochi/Umibe no ie CD3 single (*)
(*) 98.02.25 East World TOCT 10189
1. Look of love (from Ego)
2. [unknown title from a non-YT album; features female vocal; from 8 April 1989]
3. 1% no kankei (from Broadcast from Heaven)
4. X'mas day in the Next Life (single mix) (from A Day in the Next Life)
5. Ai wa tsuyoi Stronger Than Iron (from A Day in the Next Life)
6. We Can Work It Out (Beatles) [from album 'All We Need Is Love' 24 April 1990]
7. Genki nara ureshiine (from Life Time, Happy Time)
8. Suteki na hito (from Life Time, Happy Time)
9. Floating Away (from YMO Technodon)
10. Aozora [Blue Sky] (from Mr YT)
11. Sei ippai no hohoemi (single mix) (from Mr YT)
12. Watermelon
13. Saenai kimochi (from Fate of Gold)
14. Namo nai renai (from Portrait with No Name)
96.12.10 Consipio Records cd: COCD-9219
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The tracks are similar, segue into one andother and slowly build from one track to the next adding additional lines to a pretty much steady beat. They start spare and minimalist, adding a sort of strut with a heavy downbeat matching the way models walk at high end fashion shows. By track 9 the sound is more like minimal technopop complete with a "Femme Chinoise" type voice punctuating the Takahashi style runway paced drums and slightly meandering synth pads.
These are Takahashi produced, but not necessarily performed covers of film soundtracks in techno style. Thanks to Max Totten for the track listing.
This isn't a solo album but a sort of "YT Presents:" sort of original compilation.
weird packaging and concept. The booklet folds out into perforated name tag sized cards with facts about each film. The other covers (remember these are techno or at least retro synth-pop) Wonderful, but a little skimpy. Each CD is like a little over 30 minutes long.
Seems to be his favorite film themes. He produced the album but only performs the last number himself. The style is suitably consistant.
K-taro Takanami (formerly of Pizzicato Five) did 2 Cine Techno CDs of his own a few years earlier
(*) 1997 Consipio single AGCA-50001
1. Te wo nobaseba - A Touch of Love
2. Hoshi no koe - Voice of the Earth
3. Te wo nobaseba - A Touch of Love (original karaoke version)
4. Hoshi no koe - Voice of the Earth (original karaoke version)
Takahashi Yukihiro UK Unit (when released in Japan)Yukihiro Takahashi and Steve Jansen (when released in the UK)PULSE X PULSE97.12.17 Consipio cd:AGCA-10008, lp: AGJA-70001 also a 1998 UK release on Medium ProductionsA 31 minute album produced by Jansen (formerly of the band Japan) and YT. Very smooth modern pop, nice but short. The (slightly lower priced) UK version on Jansen's label actually has better booklet design using the same cover art and has identical content. The Japanese version has a diary in Japanese in the booklet. |
A Ray of Hope(*) 98.3.18 Consipio: AGCA-10009 info from shawn-missi: 1st edition comes with special slipcase. NK: Looks like one of those new tracks with old tracks potpourris |
(*) Consipio cd: AGCA-10010, 3xLP: AGJA-70002
CD: 1. The Choice (Reinforced Mix) [Remixed by 4Hero] |
Vinyl: The Choice (Reinforced Mix) [Remixed by 4Hero] Life's Like That (Vocal Mix) [Remixed by Spacer] Prayer of Gold (12 Inch Mix) [remixed by Eric Kupper] |
Yukihiro TakahashiLIVE 1998 RUN AFTER YOU(*) 98.9.18 Consipio AGCA-10011with Steve Jansen, KYON, Hiroyasu Yaguchi, Kenji Omura (one of his last appearances). There is also a video version. |
best of yt cover tracks vol.1(*) 99.6.17 Consipio AGCA-10016 1. Loner He covers other artists songs. Has 2 new tracks |
best of yt cover tracks vol.2(*) 99.6.17 Consipio AGCA-10017
has 3 new tracks |
THE DEAREST FOOL99.10.20 Consipio AGCA-10019 An upbeat and welcome return to a kind of 80s technopop sound with some newer decidedly electronica beats thrown in. Includes some tracks with Suzuki (Beatniks). Some duets with female vocals and also Steve Jansen as a guest. Well worth checking out. |
A Dog Smiled(@) Another Best of, this time the '97-'99 albums |
Blue Moon Blue(*) First solo album since 1999 Ross Clement writes: Musically it has more in common with Sketch Show than 90s Takahashi albums. Though A Ray Of Hope was heading in that direction. Mainly poppy songs and instrumentals done up with interesting "electronic" arrangements. All in all I think it's a very good album although the last two songs let it down a bit, with In This Life being a (presumed) remake from (IMHO) YT's lowpoint album Mr YT, and Eternally being a bit too "normal" a ballad. Guests include Hosono, Albrecht Kunze, Ekkehard Ehlers. Steve Jansen gets a credit for "In My Life" for both songwriting and production. |
1. Something New 2. Blue Moon Blue 3. A Star Is Born 4. In Cold Queue 5. Lay My Love 6. I Like The Wright Brothers But No Airplanes 7. Still Walking To The Beat 8. Exit To Reality 9. Slow Turning Of My Heart 10. Where Are You Heading To? 11. In This Life 12. Eternally |
(*) Here's an item I have little info on
Kazuhiko Katoh, Mika, Rey Ohara, Hiroshi Imai, Masayoshi Takanaka, Yukihiro Takahashi
(*) I saw this recently. Seems to be a "best of".
Sadistic Mika BandAppare!1989 Eastworld cd:CT32-5432Reunion album. Plenty of Takahashi vocals and drums, so it sounds like his solo albums of this era. Ryuichiu Sakamoto plays on 2 tracks. Out of print but not hard to find. |
A live version of Appare! was also released.
The BeatniksExitentialism(*) 1981 VAP cd: VPCC-81019, VPCC-83013, LP: 30019-28, (CD) VPCC-83013
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The Beatniks1982 Statik (U.K.) lp: STAT LP 13UK Release --similar contents to Exitentialism.
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Peter Barakan translates and Matsutake sequences. All songs in English. Pretty much like a YT solo album with Suzuki's input. This album was remixed as Another High Exit in 1994.
(*) No Way Out/Le robinet 7" Vap 0018-07
(*) River in the Ocean/Ark Diamant 7" Vap 10053-07
Hosono guests on bass. Sakamoto arranges strings. Fun but far from technopop.
(*) Total Recall/Chotto tsurain da 7" 7A073
This is a remix album directed by Kay Nakayama (Something Wonderful). a la Hosono's Mental Sports Mixes. Unlike that album, the Beatniks tunes are very deconstructed compared to the originals. Kind of interesting that much of it becomes electronic instrumentals peppered with vocal bytes not your standard techno trax. Compare to the less interesting YMO High Tech/No Crime mixes or Murdered by the Music Remix which are more pre-occupied with stripping in techno beats. It isn't really straight dance or techno as a lot of these remixes become, but soundscapes (think FSOL).
Mixes by Something Wonderful (x3), Graham Massey (x2), Aphex Twin, Ernie + Bert, Fractal Form, Bill Laswell.
(@) 02.9.19 CTCR-14224
New Hosono-Takahashi collaborative project with Sakamoto as guest! more info
He produced the first 2 Hajime Tachibana albums. He also produced the first Urban Dance album. He did some albums with Susan which are well liked. He often guested on Sakamoto's and Hosono's solo albums. See their individual pages. He produced many more albums albums I don't have info on.
The Japanese pressing (not the US or UK ones ) of Coldcut's LET US REPLAY (TFCK-87963/4) have a remix of Coldcut by Takahashi (and RS and HH each)
He finally appeared on Towa Tei's Last Century Modern -- finally :-) since Sakamoto and Hosono have separately appeared on prior Towa Tei albums
my partial listing is chronologic
Takahashi gets first billing for drums. One track is called Yellow Magic. He does not play on all tracks. Synths by Wally Badarou and Thomas Dolby among others. This is the third M album.. Kitschy Techno-pop. Top notch production. Amusing. Recently releleased on CD in Europe.
Takahashi plays drums. Nelson was YMO's guest guitarist on Naughty Boys and some YT solo albums. They clearly influenced eachother's sound. This was an EP that shows up paired with different material over the years. In the US the label added singles and called it Vistamix. The CD I have contains 2 EPs and is fully titled Chimera/Savange Gestures for a Charms Sake.
I think some people mistakenly call this some sort of full collaboration. He's better discribed as guest drummer on many tracks as he does not get either front cover billing or writing credit.
1982 Saravah/Media 7 cd: SHL 1066 (reissue France)
Pierre Barough, a French singer who's a major influence on Takahashi did this album in Japan. YT was the main collaborator and Y. Shimizu contributes too. Sylvian does a spoken cameo. Interestingly 2 tunes arranged by Sakamoto from other Tokyo sessions around that time and not included on the original LP. They now show up on the CD reissue (which features a reprint of the Japanese LP cover down to the obi printed over it)
Karen Kirishima Karen 1990 Eastworld TOCT-5673 YT and Keiichi Suzuki produce tracks together along with other tracks by Kazuhiko Kato and Takeshi Fuji. This would be a pretty good example of deluxe pop production of the era. Guests include Kenji Ohmura (multiple tracks) with Hoppy Kamiyama and Bun Itakura dropping by on one track. Other Karen Kirishima works with Takahashi: All We Need is Love, Rokku ga Umareta Hi |
(*) 1999 AMCT-4444
Haven't listened yet. guests are : CHARA, UA, H. HOSONO, Y. TAKAHASHI
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