Ghosts (Japan song)

Infobox Single
Name = Ghosts


Artist = Japan
from Album = "Tin Drum"
B-side = "The Art of Parties" (Version)
Released = March 1982
Format = Vinyl 7" & 12"
Recorded = 1981
Genre = Punk pop/New Wave
Length = 3:55
Label = Virgin Records
Writer = David Sylvian
Producer = Japan, Steve Nye
Certification =
Chart position = #5 (UK)
Last single = "Visions of China"
(1981)
This single = "Ghosts"
(1982)
Next single = "Cantonese Boy"
(1982)Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption = 12" single.

"Ghosts" was a single by the British band Japan from the 1981 album "Tin Drum". It reached No 5 in the UK chart in 1982. Although it was their biggest hit, this was not enough to stop the band splitting a few months later.

"Ghosts" has been cited by several music commentators as one of the most unlikely track ever to reach the Top 5 in the UK singles chart, as it is a minimalist, morose ballad, incorporating ring modulation sound-effects reminiscent of some of Karlheinz Stockhausen's seminal electronic music from the 1950s. Bereft of drums, the track would not be described as a commercially viable single in most circumstances. However, Japan's popularity at the time, in addition to the early 1980s fashion for New Wave /New Romantic music, allowed the single to become unexpectedly popular.

In 2000 David Sylvian re-recorded "Ghosts" using the original Japan backing track and included it on his compilation "Everything and Nothing".

Track listings

* 7" VS472, 7" picture disc VSY72, 12" VS47212

Side A:
* "Ghosts" (single mix) - 3:55

Side B:
* "The Art of Parties" ("Version" - live) - 5:18

Trivia

A cover of Ghosts is available on the song list for the dance game .

The song has been said [http://darshan.zaadz.com/blog/2006/11/japan_ghosts] to herald the future style of singer David Sylvian's solo career.

The line "and I've no particular place to go" perhaps references the song by Chuck Berry.

This song was covered by Tenth Planet in 2000 as a dance track.

The song was played in episode six in the new BBC series of "Ashes to Ashes", a spin-off of "Life on Mars", and, since April 2008, it has been used in the trailers for another BBC series, "Waking the Dead".