Japan – Tin Drum

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Genre:	Electronic, Pop
Style:	New Wave, Synth-pop
Year:	1981

Tracklist

		The Art Of Parties	4:09
		Talking Drum	3:34
		Ghosts	4:33
		Canton	5:30
		Still Life In Mobile Homes	5:32
		Visions Of China	3:37
		Sons Of Pioneers	7:07
		Cantonese Boy	3:44

Credits (15)

D. Sylvian*
Cover [Cover Concept], Design Concept [Cover Concept]
Steve Joule
Design
Steve Jansen
Drums, Percussion, Percussion [Electronic], Synthesizer [Keyboard Percussion]
Steve Nye
Engineer [Engineered By]
Mick Karn
Fretless Bass, Flute [African Flute], Suona [Dida]
Richard Barbieri
Keyboards, Programmed By [Keyboard Programming], Tape [Tapes]

Notes

Japan's fifth and final album, released in 1981 on Virgin Records. They re-emerged 10 years later as Rain Tree Crow, and released a one-off album, in 1991.

Versions

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135 versions

Image	,	–			In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Version Details	Data Quality
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – V2209	UK	1981	UK — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum Cassette, AlbumBlack Text, Durations	Virgin – TCV 2209	UK	1981	UK — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – 204 169-320	Netherlands	1981	Netherlands — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album	Virgin – VL 2226	Canada	1981	Canada — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album	Virgin – V-2209, Virgin – V2209	Scandinavia	1981	Scandinavia — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – 204 169-270	Europe	1981	Europe — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – 204 169-320	Europe	1981	Europe — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – 204 169-320	Germany	1981	Germany — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – VIL 12209	Italy	1981	Italy — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album	Virgin – V2209	Hong Kong	1981	Hong Kong — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – VIP-6984, Virgin – VIRG-6984	Japan	1981	Japan — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 LP, Album, Promo, Stereo見本盤	Virgin – VIP-6984, Virgin – VIRG-6984	Japan	1981	Japan — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Limited Edition, StereoPoster	Virgin – V2209	UK	1981	UK — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – I-204.169, Virgin – I-204 169	Spain	1981	Spain — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, White Label	Virgin – VIL 12209	Italy	1981	Italy — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – V 2209, Virgin – V2209	Finland	1981	Finland — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album	Virgin – VNC 5018, Virgin – V2209	South Africa	1981	South Africa — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – V 2209, Virgin – V2209	New Zealand	1981	New Zealand — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album	Virgin – 204169	France	1981	France — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album	Virgin – V-2209, Virgin – V 2209	Australia	1981	Australia — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 602905	Portugal	1981	Portugal — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum Cassette, Album	Virgin – TCV 2209, RTC – TCV2209	New Zealand	1981	New Zealand — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 Cassette, Album, Stereo	Virgin – VCW-1732, Virgin – VIRG-C1732	Japan	1981	Japan — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – 204 169-320	Netherlands	1981	Netherlands — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – V 2209	Australia	1981	Australia — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum Cassette, AlbumRed Text, No Durations	Virgin – TCV 2209	UK	1981	UK — 1981
	Tin Drum Cassette, Album, Stereo	Virgin – TCV 2209	Thailand	1981	Thailand — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – 204 169-610	Europe	1981	Europe — 1981
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – 204 169-320	Germany	1981	Germany — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album	Virgin – V2209	New Zealand	1981	New Zealand — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Misprint	Virgin – 204169	France	1981	France — 1981
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Promo, Stereo	Virgin – V 2209	Australia	1981	Australia — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, StereoMixed Labels	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – 204 169-320	Netherlands	1981	Netherlands — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, StereoTown House	Virgin – V2209	UK	1981	UK — 1981
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – V2209	UK	1981	UK — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum Cassette, AlbumBlack Text, Grey/White, Rectangle Border, No Durations	Virgin – TCV 2209	UK	1981	UK — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum Cassette, AlbumPaper Labels, Durations	Virgin – TCV 2209	UK	1981	UK — 1981
	Tin Drum Cassette, Advance	Not On Label – none	UK	1981	UK — 1981	New Submission
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Limited EditionCBS Pressing, Grey Labels, Poster	Virgin – V2209	UK	1981	UK — 1981	New Submission
	Tin Drum Cassette, Album, StereoDolby	Virgin – VL4-2226	Canada	1981	Canada — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, StereoMixed Labels	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – 204 169-320	Netherlands	1981	Netherlands — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, StereoMixed Labels	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – 204 169-320	Germany	1981	Germany — 1981	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum Cassette, Album, StereoDolby	Virgin – VC 2209	Australia	1981	Australia — 1981	New Submission
	Tin Drum Cassette, AlbumScrews, Black Text, No Durations	Virgin – TCV 2209	UK	1981	UK — 1981	New Submission
	Tin Drum Cassette, AlbumRed Text, Indentation	Virgin – TCV 2209	UK	1981	UK — 1981
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Test Pressing	Virgin – V-2209, Virgin – V 2209	Finland	1981	Finland — 1981	New Submission
	Tin Drum = Tambor De Lata LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – LA-485, Virgin – 204.829	Mexico	1982	Mexico — 1982	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album	Jugoton – LSVIRG 70959, Virgin – V 2209	Yugoslavia	1982	Yugoslavia — 1982	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum Cassette, Album, StereoDolby	Virgin – D-404.169, Virgin – D404169	Spain	1982	Spain — 1982	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 2473 830, Virgin – V2209	Greece	1982	Greece — 1982
	Tin Drum Cassette, Album, StereoDolby	Virgin – ZVN 5018, Principal Records – ZVN 5018	South Africa	1982	South Africa — 1982	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo	Virgin – I-204.169, Virgin – I-204 169	Spain	1982	Spain — 1982	New Submission
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Reissue, StereoGreen/Red Labels	Virgin – OVED 158	UK	1984	UK — 1984	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo	Virgin – VDP-57	Japan	1984	Japan — 1984	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum Cassette, Album, ReissueGrey/White Tape	Virgin – OVEDC 158	UK	1984	UK — 1984	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Reissue	Virgin – 70072	France	1984	France — 1984	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue	Virgin – V2209	UK	1984	UK — 1984	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo	Virgin – I 204 169	Spain	1984	Spain — 1984	New Submission
	Tin Drum CD, Album, ReissueMPO Pressing	Virgin – CDV2209	UK	1985	UK — 1985	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Reissue, StereoWhite/Grey Labels	Virgin – OVED 158	UK	1986	UK — 1986	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo	Virgin – OVED 158	Italy	1986	Italy — 1986	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo	Virgin – 32VD-1016, Virgin – V-2209(CD)	Japan	1986	Japan — 1986	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – 204 169-270	Germany	1986	Germany — 1986	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Reissue, StereoRed/Green Labels	Virgin – OVED 158	UK	1986	UK — 1986	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo	Virgin – 25VB-1014	Japan	1987	Japan — 1987	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum Cassette, Album, ReissueBlack Tape & White/Silver Text	Virgin – OVEDC 158	UK	1988	UK — 1988	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo	Virgin Japan – VJD-28018, Virgin – VJD-28018	Japan	1988	Japan — 1988	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 CD, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo見本盤	Virgin Japan – VJD-28018, Virgin – VJD-28018	Japan	1988	Japan — 1988	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo	Virgin Japan – VJL-147, Virgin – VJL-147	Japan	1988	Japan — 1988	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo見本盤	Virgin Japan – VJL-147, Virgin – VJL-147	Japan	1988	Japan — 1988	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo	Virgin – 204 169, Virgin – OVED 158	Europe	1988	Europe — 1988	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum CD, Album, ReissuePicture Disc	Virgin – CDVP 2209, Virgin – CDV2209	UK	1990	UK — 1990
	Tin Drum CD, Album, Reissue, StereoDADC Austria	Virgin – CDV2209	UK	1990	UK — 1990	New Submission
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 CD, Album, Reissue, StereoPre-emphasis	Virgin Japan – VJCP-23056, Virgin – VJCP-23056, Virgin – VJD-28018-1 +1 more label...	Japan	1991	Japan — 1991	Recently Edited
	Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 CD, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo見本品 Pre-emphasis	Virgin Japan – VJCP-23056, Virgin – VJCP-23056, Virgin – VJD-28018-1 +1 more label...	Japan	1991	Japan — 1991	Recently Edited

Reviews

Show All 25 Reviews

tarmstrong Sep 6, 2022
referencing Tin Drum (CD, Album, Reissue, MPO Pressing) CDV2209
I have ben a David Sylvian fan since the 80's. Tin Drum was an excellent first album. In fact, I own all the Japan releases, in addition to all David's solo works. I found to music both innovative, engaging and thought provoking.
of.ruin Apr 14, 2022
Edited 5 months ago
referencing Tin Drum (LP, Album, Stereo) V2209
With Steve Jansen's innovative drumming and Mick Karn's fretless bass, I'd hardly call Tin Drum "new wave" or "synth pop" which seem silly categorizations if played back to back with any true "new wave/synth pop" title. That is, of course, even if the band had a real drummer and/or bass player.

If it it must be categorized, file it under "Progressive Rock" in a "World Music" style. Japan was miles ahead of most of their contemporaries with the exception being a few posty-punky type bands like Shriekback, The Pop Group and The Fall; all unique-sounding groups.
ggggreenisaac Mar 27, 2022
referencing Tin Drum (CD, Album, Reissue, Picture Disc) CDVP 2209
Was this the best they could come up with for a picture CD? Laughable.
lgmol Feb 22, 2022
referencing Tin Drum (Box Set, , CD, Album, Remastered, Copy Protected, CD, Copy Protected, Remastered) 7243 5 91021 2 2
This is a pretty strange release. The booklet just has pictures of the band members - nothing to read. The bonus disc comes in a mini-gatefold sleeve with slots for discs on both sides, but one of them just has nothing in it (unless something is missing in my copy). Great album though! I wouldn't call the material on the bonus disc essential, but it's nice to have.
Themissi0n Feb 9, 2022
Edited 7 months ago
referencing Tin Drum = 錻力の太鼓 (LP, Album, Stereo) VIP-6984
i totally reccomend this japanese press , it sounds awesome just make sure to get a pristine copy and u wont regret it
RECORDSCOUT Nov 14, 2021
referencing Tin Drum (LP, Album, Stereo, Mixed Labels) 204 169
This is NOT a unique release. Created by chance with mixed labels which is a MANUFACTURING VARIATION by Discogs standards. Must be merged with Japan - Tin Drum.
Andysomething Oct 29, 2021
referencing Tin Drum (LP, Album, Limited Edition, CBS Pressing, Grey Labels, Poster) V2209
Great sound from this pressing bought second hand in lovely condition
Tuaam Oct 24, 2021
referencing Tin Drum (LP, Album, Stereo) V2209
Why is it that UK pressings are almost always in pristine condition when I find them? Meanwhile, most US pressings I find are of lower quality...

Like many UK issues of synth-pop albums, this sounds extremely good.
joeljustice Apr 14, 2021
referencing Tin Drum (2×12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Gatefold Sleeve) 671 041-7
This pressing is just fantastic. I've never heard this record sound so good, in any format. Incredible dynamic range and detail.
picdisc65 Feb 25, 2021
referencing Tin Drum (2×12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Gatefold Sleeve) 671 041-7
Totally shocking errors in the lyrics printed on the inner gatefold!