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01. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
02. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Batavia
03. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Germination
04. Ryuichi Sakamoto - A Hearty Breakfast
05. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Before The War
06. Ryuichi Sakamoto - The Seed And The Sower
07. Ryuichi Sakamoto - A Brief Encounter
08. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Ride Ride Ride
09. Ryuichi Sakamoto - The Fight
10. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Dismissed!/Assembly
11. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Beyond Reason
12. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Sowing The Seed
13. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Last Regrets
14. Ryuichi Sakamoto - The Seed
15. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Japan
16. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Coda
ARTIST
TITLE
Coda
FORMAT
CD

LABEL
CATALOG #
WWSCD 092CD WWSCD 092CD
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
10/11/2024

Wewantsounds presents Ryuichi Sakamoto's classic LP Coda, issued in Japan in 1983 as a solo piano version of the Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence soundtrack. The album, which has never been released outside of Japan until now, sees Sakamoto on acoustic piano reinterpreting fascinating versions of his famous soundtrack including the classic theme and "Germination," which was later used in the Call Me By Your Name soundtrack. This reissue has been remastered by Seigen Ono's Saidera Mastering studio in Tokyo and boasts the original artwork plus a four-page insert with new liner notes by Andy Beta. When the film Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence hit the cinema in Summer 1983, it was a worldwide instant success, due in no small parts to its renowned director, Nagisa Oshima, and to its superb cast including David Bowie, Takeshi Kitano, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The latter, fresh from his success with Yellow Magic Orchestra and a thriving nascent solo career, was also enrolled to compose the score of the film. The soundtrack was released at the same time as the film in summer 1983. It became equally successful and made the Japanese composer a global icon as the instrumental theme became an instant classic all around the world and also Sakamoto's signature track from then on. That same year, his Japanese label decided to release an exclusive cassette book as the format was getting popular in Japan. The project, called Avec Piano, featured an audio cassette together with a beautiful 80-page book including illustrations and texts by various designers and writers. As for the music, Sakamoto re-recorded the Merry Christmas soundtrack on solo piano at the Onkyo Haus studio in Tokyo. This version of the theme which Sakamoto would re-record many times, is therefore the first ever recorded solo piano version of the composition. The cassette book's success led to an LP release a few months later under a new title, Coda, and with a different artwork by Japanese designer Tsuguya Inoue. The original orchestrated theme "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" was dropped, replaced by two new tracks, "Japan" and "Coda," recorded a couple of years earlier in 1981 and featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto's blend of ethereal ambient soundscapes and modern electronics. Coda is quintessential Ryuichi Sakamoto and an essential album in the Japanese composer's discography.