Yukihiro Takahashi

Yukihiro Takahashi (高橋幸宏 "Takahashi Yukihiro", born June 6, 1952) is a Japanese musician, who is best known as the drummer and lead vocalist of the Yellow Magic Orchestra.

Yukihiro Takahashi first came to prominence as the drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band, and became known to western audiences after this band (led by Kazuhiko Katoh, formerly of The Folk Crusaders) toured and recorded in the United Kingdom. After the Sadistic Mika Band disbanded, some of the members (including Takahashi) formed another band called The Sadistics, who released several albums. Finally Takahashi recorded his first solo album "Saravah" in 1977. In 1978, Takahashi joined Ryuichi Sakamoto and Haruomi Hosono to form the Yellow Magic Orchestra.

After the Yellow Magic Orchestra disbanded in the mid 80s, Takahashi went solo and released a large number of solo albums, primarily intended for the Japanese market. Takahashi has collaborated extensively with other musicians, including Bill Nelson, Iva Davies of Icehouse, Keiichi Suzuki of the Moonriders (often as a duo dubbed "The Beatniks", although Suzuki essentially functioned as a member of Takahashi's backing band during the Moonriders' brief hiatus) and in particular Steve Jansen. Takahashi has released a single "Stay Close" and an EP "Pulse" as a duo with Jansen.

Takahashi participated in temporary reunions of both the Sadistic Mika Band (missing the lead vocalist Mika who was replaced by Kaela Kimura), and The Yellow Magic Orchestra (as XYMO). Both of these reunions included tours of Japan, and an album of new material.

Currently Takahashi is a member of the duo Sketch Show, with Haruomi Hosono. Sketch Show has released two albums, one of which, "Loophole", has been released in the UK.

His latest solo album "Blue Moon Blue" was released on 03/15/06 in Japan.

Both Takahashi and Hosono have recently reunited with Sakamoto as HASYMO - a combination of Human Audio Sponge and Yellow Magic Orchestra. This collaboration produced a new single "Rescue" in 2007 and a new album looks to be in the pipeline in the near future.

Discography (solo albums)

* "Saravah" (1978)
* "Murdered by the Music" (1980)
* "Neuromantic" (1981)
* "What? Me Worry?" (1982)
* "Tomorrow's Just Another Day" (1983)
* "Time and Place" (1984) (Live Album)
* "Wild and Moody" (1984)
* "Poisson d'Avril" (1985)
* "The Brand New Day" (1985) (Best of)
* "Once a Fool" (1985)
* "Only When I Laugh" (1986)
* "La Pensee" (1987) - with Yohji Yamamoto
* "Ego" (1988)
* "Broadcast from Heaven" (1990)
* "A Day in the Next Life" (1991)
* "The Adventures of Gaku" (1991)
* "Umi Sora Sango no Iitsutae" (1992)
* "Life Time Happy Time" (1992)
* "Heart of Hurt" (1992) (Unplugged best of)
* "Ahiru no Uta ga Kikoete Kuru yo" (1993)
* "Mr YT" (1994)
* "I'm Not In Love" (1995) (Best of)
* "Fate of Gold" (1995)
* "Portrait with no Name" (1996)
* "A Sigh of Ghost" (1997)
* "Pulse:Pulse (with Steve Jansen)" (1997)
* "A Ray of Hope" (1998)
* "Yukihiro Takahashi Collection - Singles and More 1988-1996" (1998)
* "Run After You" (1998) (Live Album)
* "The Dearest Fool" (1999)
* "Fool On Earth" (2000) - remixes
* "BLUE MOON BLUE" (2006)

Discography (singles)

* "C'est si bon"/"La Rosa" (Seven Seas, Japan 1978)
* "Murdered By The Music"/"Bijin Kiyoshi at the Swimming School" (Seven Seas Japan 1980, Statik UK 1982, Lyrics by Chris Mosdell)
* "Blue Colour Worker" (with Sandii, Lyrics by Chris Mosdell)/"Mirrormanic" (Seven Seas Japan 1980)
* "Drip Dry Eyes (single version)"/"Charge" (single version)" (Alfa UK 1981, Lyrics by Chris Mosdell)
* "Drip Dry Eyes (album version)"/"New Red Roses" (Alfa Spain 1981, Lyrics by Chris Mosdell)
* "Disposable Love"/"Flashback (single version)" (Alfa UK 1982)
* "School Of Thought"/"Stop In The Name Of Love" (Statik, UK 1982, Lyrics by Chris Mosdell) - plus remixed 12 inch version
* "Are You Receiving Me?"/"And I Love You" (Yen Japan 1982)
* "Maebure"/"Another Door" (Yen Japan 1983)
* "Stranger Things Have Happened (single version)"/"Kill The Thermostat" (Pick-Up/Warners Germany 1984)
* "Stranger Things Have Happened"/"Bounds Of Reason"/"Metaphysical Jerks" (with Mick Karn and Bill Nelson) (Cocteau UK 1985)
* "Poisson D'Avril (single version)"/"Kimi ni Surprise!" (Yen Japan 1985)
* "Weekend"/? (Pony Canyon 1986)
* "Stay Close" 12 inch EP with Steve Jansen (Pony Canyon Japan, Rime Records UK 1986)
* "Look Of Love"/? (Toshiba EMI Japan 1988)
* "Fait Accompli" (promotional single, Japan 1989) - with Steve Jansen
* "1 percent no Kankei" (Toshiba-EMI 1990)
* "Stronger Than Iron" (Toshiba-EMI 1991)
* "Xmas Day In The Next Life" EP of Christmas songs (Toshiba-EMI 1991)
* "Genki Nara Ureshiine" (Toshiba-EMI 1993)
* "Seppai No Hohemi" (Toshiba-EMI 1994)
* "Watermelon" (with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra) (Toshiba-EMI 1995)

External links

* [http://home.tiscali.se/musicworld/takahashi.html More complete Japanese Discography]
* [http://www.artcontext.com/music/artskool/jem/yt.html Album Reviews]