Gentlemen Take Polaroids (song)
| "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Japan | ||||
| from the album Gentlemen Take Polaroids | ||||
| B-side | "The Experience of Swimming" | |||
| Released | 10 October 1980[1] | |||
| Genre | Eurodisco[2] | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter(s) | David Sylvian | |||
| Producer(s) | John Punter | |||
| Japan singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Gentlemen Take Polaroids" is a song by English new wave band Japan, released as a single from the album of the same name in October 1980. It was the band's first charting single in the UK, peaking at number 60.[3]
Composition
The song started with a keyboard line by David Sylvian. Richard Barbieri added the keyboard melody and Steve Jansen the drums. Mick Karn plays oboe over the keyboard melody. According to guitarist Rob Dean the band worked quite long on the song compared to the other tracks on the forthcoming album.[4]
Reception
The single was the band's first release under Virgin Records and, according to writer Martin Power, "established a clever music bridge between the refined groove of Quiet Life and the band's forthcoming LP".[5]
It has been described as a "dynamic masterpiece alternating between the experimental, free-floating middle parts, and the casual pop chorus found throughout the song"[6] and "both complex and catchy".[4] However, reviewing the song for Record Mirror, Ronnie Gurr described the single as having an "awful title and mellifluously nondescript Roxy rip-off A-side. Elsewhere Eno's school of modern bland-out muzak that's so dull and nondescript, one can't ignore the fact the damn stuff takes hold".[7]
Smash Hits reviewer Steve Taylor wrote: "'Polaroids' is one of their elegant retreads of mid-period Roxy Music — even down to the detail of using the same producer — and it's attractively smooth and syrupy. The sounds are generously ladled over an appropriately oriental sounding hook that isn't quite strong enough to close the credibility gap yet."[8]
The song was popular with club DJs: Nick Rhodes regularly played it at the Rum Runner, and Rusty Egan played it at the Blitz.[4]
Track listings
7-inch: Virgin / VS 379 (UK)[1]
- "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – 3:28
- "The Experience of Swimming" – 4:04
7-inch: Virgin / 102 513 (Germany)[9]
- "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – 3:28
- "The Width of a Room" – 3:14
7-inch: Virgin / VIPX-1550 (Japan)[10]
- "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – 3:28
- "Burning Bridges" – 3:59
Double 7-inch EP: Virgin / VS 379 (UK)[1]
- "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – 3:28
- "The Experience of Swimming" – 4:04
- "The Width of a Room" – 3:12
- "Burning Bridges" – 3:59
Mini CD EP: Virgin / CDT 32 (UK, 1988)[1]
- "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – 7:05
- "Cantonese Boy" – 3:44
- "Methods of Dance" – 6:53
Personnel
Japan
- David Sylvian – vocals
- Richard Barbieri – synthesizers
- Mick Karn – fretless bass, saxophone, oboe
- Rob Dean – guitar
- Steve Jansen – drums
Technical
- Nigel Walker – engineer
- Steve Prestage – engineer
- Nicola Tyson – photography
- Steve Chivers – assisted photography
Charts
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[3] | 60 |
References
- ^ a b c d "Japan Discography - The Virgin Years". discog.info. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ Raggett, Ned. Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ a b "Japan: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ a b c ":: Welcome to the ANTHONY REYNOLDS :: Official WebSite ::". www.anthonyreynolds.net. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ Power, Martin (2012-04-10). David Sylvian: The Last Romantic. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-820-1.
- ^ "Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ "Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror: 14. 11 October 1980. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Taylor, Steve (16 October 1980). "Singles". Smash Hits: 28.
- ^ "Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ "Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids = 孤独な影". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
