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Gentlemen Take Polaroids (song)
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Wikipedia article
'"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.
Reception
The single was the band's first release under Virgin Records and "established a clever music bridge between the refined groove of 'Quiet Life' and the band's forthcoming LP". The song was popular with club DJs: Nick Rhodes regularly played it at the Rum Runner, and Rusty Egan played it at the Blitz.
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". 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".
Track listings
'7": Virgin / VS 379 (UK)'
# "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" 3:28
# "The Experience of Swimming" 4:04
'7": Virgin / 102 513 (Germany)'
# "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" 3:28
# "The Width of a Room" 3:14
'7": Virgin / VIPX-1550 (Japan)'
# "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" 3:28
# "Burning Bridges" 3:59
'Double 7" EP: Virgin / VS 379 (UK)'
# "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)'
# "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
References
Category:1980 songs
Category:1980 singles
Category:Songs written by David Sylvian
Category:Japan (band) songs
Category:Virgin Records singles
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