Yellow Magic Orchestra
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Yellow Magic Orchestra were a Japanese electropop band, formed in 1978.
The principal members were Haruomi Hosono (bass), Yukihiro Takahashi (drums) and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards).
The band was originally conceived as a one-off studio project by Hosono, the other two members being recruited session musicians - the idea was to produce an album fusing orientalist exotica (cf their cover version of Martin Denny's Firecracker) with modern electronics. However the first album (with its cutting-edge production) was very popular, and the studio project grew into a fully fledged touring band and career for its three members.
Making abundant use of new synthesizers, samplers, digital and computer recording technology as it became available, their popularity and influence extended beyond Japan. Generally the band were highly regarded as electronic pioneers, and continue to be remixed and sampled by modern artists.
The band had stopped working together by 1984, the three members returning to their solo careers. They released a one-off reuinion album, Technodon, in 1993.
The early 2000s saw Hosono & Takehashi reunited in a project called Sketch Show.
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Original albums
- Yellow Magic Orchestra 1978 (This original version was released in Japan)
- Yellow Magic Orchestra (US release), 1979 (This version was remixed for release in the USA and also featured new cover art)
- Solid State Survivor, 1979
- ×∞ Multiplies (mini-album) 1980 (a compilation album with the same title & artwork but different track listing was released in the USA)
- BGM, 1981
- Technodelic, 1981
- Naughty Boys, 1983
- Naughty Boys Instrumental, 1983
- Service, 1983
- Technodon, 1993
Live albums
- Transatrantic Tour 1979, 1979
- Public Pressure, 1980
- Winter Live 1981, 1981
- Technodon Live, 1983
- After Service, 1984
- Faker Holic, 1991
Best of albums
- Sealed, 1984