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So off I went to Virgin records and sought out a black vinyl copy of
album and took it home in a big plastic album bag to my trusty turntable.
I pulled it out of
sleeve, excited about what listening pleasures lay before me and pulled
lever that sent
needle over to
record’s edge. And
effect of that first track quite literally changed my musical life.
As
opening bass, synth and guitar lines of Adolescent Sex came through
speakers, for
first time in my life I felt a shiver down my spine and
hairs on
back of my neck literally stood up.
It’s an old cliché but it was absolutely true and I was filled with
emotion of what this music did for me. I loved
feeling and I wanted more and I was sure Japan could supply it.
And that was
start of my quest to buy as much as possible of Japan’s music. Over
next few months I bought everything I could find and afford. I just about memorised their discography as I read everything I could about
band and even sought out fanzines, bootleg tapes and books of photographs.
I remember sitting at home at night writing out various different lists of my favourite Japan tracks – favourite guitar tracks, favourite synth tracks, instrumentals, various different versions of my top ten which invariably changed every night.
It was great, it was new, it was all consuming, it was a passion. And I loved it.
Over
next few years I had several similar experiences with other bands I discovered and got quite obsessed about. And with one band I went even further than I did with Japan in terms of my desire to collect every note ever recorded on record, studio demo tape or live.
But none of them ever really recaptured
newness and marvellousness of
experience with Japan, my first favourite band.

Fraser Neilson is webmaster at www.QSPmusic.com and a true music lover. You can find some great music resources, special offers and ideas to help increase your enjoyment over at www.QSPmusic.com/resources.html.