Jump to content

Love Unlimited (Dreams Come True album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Love Unlimited
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1, 1996
Recorded1995–1996
Studio
Genre
Length46:04
LabelEpic Records Japan
Producer
Dreams Come True chronology
Delicious
(1995)
Love Unlimited
(1996)
Sing or Die
(1997)
Singles from LOVE UNLIMITED∞
  1. "Love Love Love"
    Released: July 24, 1995
  2. "Romance"
    Released: October 30, 1995

Love Unlimited∞ (stylized as "LOVE UNLIMITED∞") is the eighth studio album by Japanese band Dreams Come True.[1] It was released in Japan and throughout Asia on April 1, 1996, through Epic Records Japan, ultimately being their last album released under the label. The record's lyrics were entirely written by Miwa Yoshida herself, while the song's compositions were handled by her alongside bandmates Takahiro Nishikawa and Masato Nakamura. Musically, Love Unlimited∞ is a pop and R&B album and lyrically focuses on themes of love. Two music videos are included on the CD-EXTRA of the Japanese version only. They are not included on the local versions sold in Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc. The slogan on the obi is, as the title suggests, "Love has no limits."

A commercial success, Love Unlimited∞ became their sixth consecutive chart-topping album in Japan, debuting at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart and becoming the eighth most popular album of the year. It stayed on the chart for 24 weeks, including ten weeks in the top ten, and was their fifth consecutive effort to sell over two million copies nationwide. To promote this album, the concert tour DREAMS COME TRUE CONCERT TOUR '96 LOVE UNLIMITED∞ was held.

Background

[edit]

Love Unlimited∞ spawned 2 singles. The lead single, "Love Love Love," is the group's most successful single on the Oricon Singles Chart to date and became a cultural phenomenon. Serving as the theme song to the TBS dorama Aishiteiru to Itte Kure, it was the best-performing single in Japan in 1995[2] and is now the tenth best-selling Japanese single in history with a staggering 2,489,000 copies sold throughout its chart life.[3][4] The second single, "Romance," was also a commercial success, topping the Oricon chart and has since been certified Double Platinum.[5][6] The track "Jyuugatsu Nanaka, Hare" was the theme song to the movie of the same name. A music video was made for the song, but it has never been released as a commercial single.

The record was entirely written by Miwa Yoshida herself, while the composition was handled by her alongside bandmates Masato Nakamura and Takahiro Nishikawa.[7] Much of the recording of Love Unlimited∞ was done in Japan, with additional recording in London and New York City.[7] Material from the album was mastered by Masterdisk.[7]

Reception

[edit]

Upon release, Love Unlimited∞ was commercially successful within Japan, premiering atop the record chart with 1,293,920 copies sold in the first week, making it the 29th fastest-selling album in Japan.[8] It charted in the top ten for ten weeks.[9] Love Unlimited∞ went on to sell over 2.43 million copies nationwide, eventually becoming the 44th best-selling album in the history of the Oricon Albums Chart.[10] It is also the thirty-first best selling album in Japan in the 1990s.[11] Love Unlimited∞ went on to be certified Double Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for physical shipments of two million units.[12] Love Unlimited∞ is the band's fourth best-selling LP according to Oricon Style.[13]

Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics are written by Miwa Yoshida

CD / Digital download[14]
No.TitleMusicArranger(s)Length
1."LOVE UNLIMITED"
Masato Nakamura0:55
2."SWEET REVENGE"Masato NakamuraMasato Nakamura3:58
3."Chikai (誓い)"Miwa YoshidaMiwa Yoshida3:52
4."ROMANCE~∞ VERSION"Masato NakamuraMasato Nakamura5:30
5."Arashi ga Kuru (嵐が来る)" (Album Version)Masato NakamuraMasato Nakamura4:31
6."Omoide wo Mune ni Himeta Mama (思い出を胸に秘めたまま)"
Masato Nakamura3:59
7."Monkey Girl Gouka Kyakusen no Tabi (モンキーガール 豪華客船の旅)"Miwa YoshidaMasato Nakamura3:42
8."Ie e Kaero (家へ帰ろ)"Masato NakamuraMasato Nakamura3:45
9."Jyuugatsu Nanaka, Hare (7月7日、晴れ)"Masato NakamuraMasato Nakamura4:12
10."Douyatte Wasureyou (どうやって忘れよう)"Miwa YoshidaMasato Nakamura3:55
11."LOVE LOVE LOVE"Masato NakamuraMasato Nakamura3:43
12."Shiawase na Karada (しあわせなからだ)"Miwa YoshidaMasato Nakamura3:54
Total length:46:04

Charts and sales

[edit]

Sales and certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[20] 2× Million 2,430,000[19]
Taiwan (RIT)[21] 2× Platinum 105,014[21]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Colin Larkin, The Virgin encyclopedia of nineties music Muze UK Ltd – 2000 p.134 "ALBUMS: Dreams Come True (Sony Japan 1989)***, Love Goes On (Sony Japan 1989)***, Wonder 3 (Sony Japan 1990)***, ... , Magic (Sony Japan 1993)***, Delicious (Sony Japan 1995)**, Love Unlimited∞ (Sony Japan 1996)***, Sing Or Die ( Virgin 1997)***."
  2. ^ "オリコンCDシングル年間売上ランキング – 1995年" (in Japanese).
  3. ^ "ドリカム中村正人&常盤貴子の「人生の大切な10曲」は?『ミュージック・ポートレイト』". Model Press. July 11, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  4. ^ "SMAP「世界に一つだけの花」、シングル売上歴代9位に!!". Oricon. August 3, 2004. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  5. ^ Oricon Style Staff. "Oricon Singles Chart-Romance". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1996年01月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. January 1996 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 10, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Love Unlimited∞ (CD album; Liner notes). Dreams Come True. Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. 1996. ESZB-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Oricon Albums Chart – Highest First Week Sales" (in Japanese). Music TV Program. Archived from the original on January 4, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  9. ^ "Index of charts". Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  10. ^ "歴代アルバムランキング". Archived from the original on January 3, 2012.
  11. ^ a b "1990年代アルバム売上ランキング" (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  12. ^ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1996年09月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. September 1996 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  13. ^ "DREAMS COME TRUE". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "Love Unlimited∞ – Album by Dreams Come True". Apple Music (Japan). April 1, 1996. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  15. ^ "DELICIOUS DREAMS COME TRUE LOVE UNLIMITED∞". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  16. ^ "Top 10 International Albums – Week 17 of 1996" (in Chinese). IFPI Taiwan. December 1, 1996. Archived from the original on February 24, 1998. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  17. ^ "1996年 アルバム年間TOP100" (in Japanese). Oricon (via Geocities). 1996. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  18. ^ "歴代アルバムランキング" [All-time album ranking]. musictvprogram.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012.
  19. ^ "1989年- ~Epic時代~" (in Japanese). July 25, 2020.
  20. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Dreams Come True – Love Unlimited∞" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved November 8, 2023. Select 1996年4月 on the drop-down menu
  21. ^ a b 認證紀錄 [Certifications Awarded] (in Chinese). Recording Industry Foundation in Taiwan.