5-25-11
Ryuichi Sakamoto – 80’s releases
In just a little over a month, I will be seeing Y.M.O. on stage at the Hollywood Bowl. Without doubt, my interest in Y.M.O. remained after their break-up in ’84 by some of the glorious solo albums by keyboard player Ryuichi Sakamoto.
There are so darned many 80’s solo albums by him – here’s what I remember:
7″ FRONTLINE ALFA JPN ALR-730
1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve – released in England by Island Records, too
12″ BAMBOO HOUSES / BAMBOO MUSIC VIRGIN UK VS 510-12
1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve (with David Sylvian)
12″ ARRANGEMENT, THE ALFA JPN ALR-16001
1982 4 TRKS with pic sleeve, insert (with Robin Scott)
CD MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE (O.S.T.) MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MDCZ-1220
1983 19 TRKS from the boxed set
12″ FORBIDDEN COLOURS VIRGIN UK VS 601-12
1983 3 TRKS with pic sleeve (with David Sylvian)
CD FAVORITE VISIONS NIPPON COL JPN COCB-53331
1983 7 TRKS (’05 issue) (kami sleeve) collection of pre-80’s material
CD ILLUSTRATED MUSIC ENCYCLOPEDIA MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MDCZ-1091
1984 13 TRKS (2 x bonus tracks)
CD CODA MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MDCZ-1221
1984 16 TRKS Solo piano, from the boxed set
12″ FIELD WORK MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MIS-502
1985 3 TRKS with pic sleeve (with Thomas Dolby)
CD ESPERANTO MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MDCZ-1217
1985 8 TRKS from the boxed set
CD FUTURISTA MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MDCZ-1218
1986 10 TRKS 1 x bonus track, from the boxed set
CD BEST SELECTION ALFA JPN 32XA-52
1986 13 TRK Collection – gets some of the early 80’s single material onto CD!
CD ADVENTURES OF CHATRAIN, THE (O.S.T.) MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MDC7-1017
1986 13 TRKS 1 x bonus track
CD MEDIA BAHN LIVE MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MDCZ-1219
1986 17 TRKS Live, from the boxed set
CD AILE DE HONNEAMISE MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MDCZ-1222
1987 15 TRKS Anime O.S.T., from the boxed set
CD BEHIND THE MASK MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MDCZ-1223
1987 6 TRK Collection, from the boxed set
CD WORKS I – CM MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MDCL-1437
2002 19 TRK Collection (’81 – ’84 recordings) His work for film & TV
CD WORKS II – TV / INST. MIDI/SCHOOL JPN MDCL-1438
2002 13 TRK Collection (’80 – ’84 recordings) His work for film & TV
CD NEO GEO (CD + DVD) SONY JPN MHCL 1363/4
1987 10 TRKS (2 x bonus tracks) + DVD, ’09 issue, kami sleeve
I only left in the really essential singles, and I did not include his late 80’s Virgin releases – I do really like “Beauty” (1989), but the above listed titles are what holds together for an essential 80’s Sakamoto solo collection. Very fond of his collaborations with both David Sylvian and Robin Scott (perhaps better known as “M” – the “Pop Musik” guy) – too bad there wasn’t an entire album with David Sylvian! The only post-80’s releases I am including are the 2 volumes of Film & TV work he did for Midi / School, both really rather good…
Ronkanefiles's Blog 
Oooooooh! A dlx “Neo Geo” ’09 issue? I must get this!!!!! It’s my standout favorite of his albums. What’s on the DVD? Bonus tracks on the CD are 12/inst. versions of “Risky.” But the 2009 Jpn RM on Amazon mentions not a DVD. Illuminate me.
‘Risky’ video is what’s on the AC:2 DVD – only! And in mono.
Well, I have the “Risky” CDV [which has 60% of the album on it!] – in stereo! I guess I’ll pass on the $40 buy-in.