This page provides an overview of all Japanese releases
I’ve always been intrigued by the popularity of Japanese pressings among vinyl collectors. Many people rave about the exceptional sound quality and unique packaging, like the Obi strip. What makes these Japanese pressings stand out to you compared to standard American or European pressings? Is it the audio quality, the collectible aspect, or something else?
Okay so first off, as with many things, the japanese people tend to do stuff with great care and attention to detail, resulting in exceptionally high quality products.
Reason #1: Pressing quality
In the world of vinyl records, this became very, very obvious during the oil crisis in the 70s – you know, the main material records are made from. During that time, many (if not almost all) western (especially american from my experience) record pressing plants started to recycle old vinyl records and other sorts of “scrap” from the pressing process to press new records.
The result were lousy, noisy pressings, often times with small bits of paper or other debris pressed into the LP, obviously resulting in pops, clicks and more surface noise in general. If you have a lot of old US pressings, you’ll almost guaranteed have at least one with some sort of dirt pressed into the actual vinyl!
One exception to this were the RCA dynaflex records. Instead of recycling, they just started to press VERY thin LPs to save material. But, rather thanadmitting to cost-cutting they marketed these almost flexi-disc like “Dynaflex” records as a great, new audiophile invention because their records were free of surface noise since they only used new (=virgin) vinyl material to press their records.
And albeit the sketchy marketing and flimsy appearence, they do indeed often sound great. Also, even tho you can easily bend them into a U-shape, they are in fact less suspectible to warping because less material results in less tension in the record itself. They just spring back and are perfectly flat again. Just another proof that the entire 180g vinyl scheme is a complete marketing scam, but that’s another topic.
Now back to the topic of japanese pressings: AFAIK these also never were made with recycled vinyl but “pure virgin vinyl” instead. Therefore resulting in pressings of the highest quality, with no baked in dirt, dust, paper or whatever.
That’s what basically started the whole “virgin vinyl” trend back in the days and also the myth that japanese pressings are superior. The use of quality source material and a manufacturing process of the highest standard.
Nowadays, pretty much all records pressed are made from virgin vinyl (except advertised as eco/recycled vinyl ofc, which has been a trend lately), even cheap bootleg-ish stuff like waxtime records, jazzwax records, DOL, vinyl passion etc. market their pressings as “180g virgin vinyl” all the time. The process of the pressing itself often remains questionable tho, especially with the incredibly high demand for vinyl and pressing plants basicalll running 24/7.
Reason #2: Recording quality
On the other hand, there’s the musical source material aswell and that’s where japanese pressing often fall short. They usually didn’t have access to the original master tapes and were only sent copies to create their vinyl masters from.
But that goes for “western” recordings only of course, japanese recordings are on a whole other level. Just as with their pressings and many other things, a ton of japanese recordings are done incredibly well, too.
Reason #3: Mastering
The next thing is, the japanese versions tend to be mastered quite different, since “their” listening habits seem to differ from “ours”. Very generally speaking, they tend to accentuate higher frequencies more and ditch some (to a lot) of low end (but that’s just different listening habits, I’m sure theres japanese folks who find EU/US pressings to sound overly boomy).
Reason #4: Quality of used records
Again, this seems to be a very japanese “way” of doing things. It’s actually hard to find old japanese records in conditions worse than VG+. Virtually everything seems like it’s alwas been handled with the greatest care imaginable, everything looks so CLEAN and NICE and NEAT. I just love it. I love when people take good care of their shit. Amazing, 10/10.
Reason #5: OBI Strips
OBI is used as a backronym meaning “Outer Band Insert”. Obi is also “belt or “band” or “sash” in Japanese. An OBI strip is a paper band or a folded paper flap as an addition to your Vinyl Sleeve. The OBI strips are best known from the Japanese import releases where they usually contain the release info in Japanese
OBI strips just look cool. Plus, since they were used in a similar way to how hype stickers are being used nowadays (include additional information like price, catalogue number, japanese translation of non-japanese releases, etc.) they used to be viewed as part of the packaging and often were thrown away – which makes the ones that still exist rare and therefore automatically expensive and desirable.
*** Vinyl ***
Albums
Saxon, (LP, Album), Carrere P-10889G, Japan 1980
Saxon, (LP, Album, Promo), Carrere P-10889G, Japan 1980
Wheels Of Steel (LP, Album), Carrere P-10870G, Japan 1980
Wheels Of Steel (LP, Album, Promo), Carrere P-10870G, Japan 1980
Wheels Of Steel (LP, Album, Promo), Carrere PS-165, Japan 1980
Japanse Promo Only Pressing, Never Released With OBI
Strong Arm Of The Law (LP, Album, Promo), Carrere P-10971G Japan 1980
Strong Arm Of The Law (LP, Album), Carrere P-10971G Japan 1980
Denim And Leather (LP, Album), Carrere P-11113G, Japan 1981
Denim And Leather (LP, Album, Promo), Carrere P-11113G, Japan 1981
The Eagle Has Landed (Live) (LP, Album, Pla) Carrere P-11227, Japan 1982
Came with obi strip and liner notes/lyrics insert. Artist name is in plain text as opposed to a LOGO
The Eagle Has Landed (Live) (LP, Album, Sax), Carrere P-11227, Japan 1982
Strong Arm Metal Japan LP OBI VINYL Carrere – P-13080
Power & The Glory (LP, Album), Carrere P-11335, Japan 1983
Crusader (LP, Album, Gat), Carrere P-11467, Japan 1984
Crusader (LP, Album, Gat, Promo), Carrere P-11467, Japan 1984
Innocence Is No Excuse (LP, Album), EMI EMS-81734, Japan 1985
Innocence Is No Excuse (LP, Album, Promo), EMI EMS-81734, Japan 1985
Strong Arm Metal (LP, Album), Carrere P-13080, Japan 1985
Rock The Nations (LP, Album), EMI EMS-91192, Japan 1986
Rock The Nations (LP, Album, Promo), EMI EMS-91192, Japan 1986
Singles
Motorcycle Man (7″, Single), Carrere P-599G, Japan 1980
Tracklist:
A. Motorcycle Man
B. See The Light Shining
Motorcycle Man (7″, Single, Promo), Carrere P-599G, Japan 1980
Promo/Sample issue with the same picture insert as the regular release.
Japanese script for ‘Promo’ are printed on the labels as ‘見本盤’ and ‘非売品’.
Tracklist:
A. Motorcycle Man
B. See The Light Shining
Suzie Hold On (7″, Single), Carrere P-647G, Japan 1980
Tracklist:
A. Suzy Hold On
B. Judgement Day – Live
Heavy Metal Thunder (7″, Single), Carrere P-1514G, Japan 1981
Tracklist:
A. Heavy Metal Thunder
B. Taking Your Chances
Heavy Metal Thunder (7″), Carrere P-1514G Promo, Japan 1981
Tracklist:
A. Heavy Metal Thunder
B. Taking Your Chances
And The Bands Played On (7″, Single) Carrere P-1540G, Japan 1981
Tracklist:
A. And The Bands Played On
B. Hungry Years
And The Bands Played On (7″, Single, Promo) Carrere P-1540G, SP-1540G, Japan 1981
Tracklist:
A. And The Bands Played On
B. Hungry Years
White colored labels with Japanese promo letters
Japanese Promo 7 inch single
Back On The Streets (5:07)
b/w
Live Fast Die Young (3:45
*** CD ***
Saxon, (CD, Album, RE), EMI TOCP-8371, Japan 1994
Saxon, (CD, Album, RE), EMI TOCP-67871, Japan 2006
Saxon, (CD, Alb,Ltd, RE,RM,SHM) EMI TOCP-95101, Japan 2012
Bonus Tracks: Son Of A Bitch Demos – 1978
9 Big Teaser
10 Stallions Of The Highway
11 Backs To The Wall
12 Rainbow Theme
13 Frozen Rainbow
Bonus Tracks: Tommy Vance’s Friday Rock Show BBC Session, Transmitted 15th Feb 1980
14 Backs To The Wall
15 Stallions Of The Highway
16 Motorcycle Man
17 Still Fit To Boogie
18 747 (Strangers In The Night)
19 Judgement Day (Live B-side of Suzie Hold On)
Bonus Tracks: Live At The Monsters Of Rock Festival, Castle Donington, 16th August 1980
20 Still Fit To Boogie
21 Backs To The Wall
22 Stallions Of The Highway
ホイールズ・オブ・スティール (CD, Album, RE) EMI TOCP-8372, CDP 7 92116 2, Japan 1994
Wheels Of Steel (CD, Album, RE), EMI TOCP-3418, Japan 1998
Wheels Of Steel (CD, Album, RE, RM) EMI TOCP-67872, Japan 2006
Wheels Of Steel (CD, Album, RE, RM) Parlophone WPCR-50108, Japan Unknown
Wheels Of Steel (CD, Album, RE, SHM) EMI TOCP-95102, Japan 2012
WHEELS OF STEEL WITH BONUS TRACKS 2025 JAPAN MINI LP SHM CD
ストロング・アーム・オブ・ザ・ロウ (CD, Album, RE), EMI, TOCP-8373, EMS 1163 Japan 1994
Strong Arm Of The Law (CD, Album, RE), EMI TOCP-3419, Japan 1998
Strong Arm Of The Law (CD, Album, RE, RM), EMI TOCP-67873, Japan 2006
Strong Arm Of The Law (CD, Album, RE, SHM), EMI TOCP-95103, Japan 2012
Strong Arm Of The Law (CD, Album, RE, RM), Parlophone WPCR-50109, Japan Year Unknown
デニム・アンド・レザー (CD, Album, Promo, RE) EMI TOCP-8056, CD-FA 3175, Japan 1993
デニム・アンド・レザー (CD, Album, RE) EMI TOCP-8056, CD-FA 3175, Japan 1993
Denim And Leather (CD, Album, RE, SHM), EMI TOCP-95104, Japan 2012
Denim And Leather (CD, Album, RE, RM) EMI TOCP-67874, Japan 2006
Denim And Leather (CD, Album, RE, RM) Parlophone WPCR-50110, Japan Year Unknown
ジ・イーグル・ハズ・ランデッド (CD, Album, RE) EMI, TOCP-8374, CZ 210, Japan 1994
Tracklist
| Motorcycle Man = モーターサイクル・マン | 4:20 |
| 747 (Strangers In The Night) = 747 (ストレンジャー・イン・ザ・ナイト) | 4:33 |
| Princess Of The Night = プリンセス・オブ・ザ・ナイト | 4:22 |
| Strong Arm Of The Law = ストロング・アーム・オブ・ザ・ロウ | 4:38 |
| Heavy Metal Thunder = ヘヴィ・メタル・サンダー | 4:09 |
| 20,000 FT = 20,000フィート | 3:27 |
| Wheels Of Steel = ホイールズ・オブ・スティール | 8:51 |
| Never Surrender = ネヴァー・サレンダー | 3:56 |
| Fire In The Sky = ファイア・イン・ザ・スカイ | 2:39 |
| Machine Gun = マシン・ガン | 3:48 |
The Eagle Has Landed (Live) (CD, Album, RE, RM), EMI TOCP-67875, Japan 2006
The Eagle Has Landed (Live) (CD, Album, RE, SHM), EMI TOCP-95105, Japan 2012
Bonus tracks
| Live At Hammersmith Odeon, 1981/1982 | ||
| C-3 | And The Bands Played On | 3:05 |
| C-4 | See The Light Shining | 5:25 |
| D-1 | Frozen Rainbow | 6:03 |
| D-2 | Midnight Rider | 5:21 |
| D-3 | Dallas 1 PM | 6:14 |
| D-4 | Hungry Years | 5:52 |
パワー・アンド・グローリ (CD, Album, RE), EMI TOCP-8445, Japan 1994
Power & The Glory (CD, Album, RE, RM), EMI TOCP-67876, Japan 2006
Power & The Glory (CD, Album, RE, RM) Tower To The People, Tower Records, Parlophone WQCP-1560, Japan 2015
クルセイダー (CD, Album), EMI TOCP-8446, Japan 1994
Crusader (CD, Album, RE, RM), Tower To The People, Tower Records, Parlophone WQCP-1561, Japan 2015
イノセンス (CD, Album), EMI TOCP-8447, Japan 1994
イノセンス (CD, Album, Promo), EMI TOCP-8447, Japan 1994
Innocence Is No Excuse (CD, Album, RE, RM), Parlophone WQCP-1562, Japan 2015
SAXON INNOCENCE IS NO EXCUSE WITH BONUS TRACKS 2025 JAPAN MINI LP SHM CD
Rock The Nations (CD, Album), EMI CP32-5170, EMC-3515, Japan 1986
ロック・ザ・ネーションズ (CD, Album, RE), EMI TOCP-8448, Japan 1994
Rock The Nations (CD, Album, RE, RM), Parlophone WQCP-1563, Japan 2015
デスティニー (CD, Album), EMI TOCP-8449, Japan 1994
Destiny (CD, Album, RE, RM), Parlophone WQCP-1564, Japan 2015
Greatest hits live (CD, Album), Japan
Solid Ball Of Rock (CD, Album), Metal Mania, CBH Records TECP-28783, Japan 1991
Forever Free (CD, Album), CBH Records, Metal Mania, TECX-25418, Japan 1993
Dogs Of War (CD, Album), CBH Records TECX-25957, Japan 1995
Unleash The Beast (CD, Album), Bareknuckle AVCB-66016, Japan 1997
メタルヘッド (CD, Album), Steamhammer, CBH Records CRCL-4742, Japan 2000
Killing Ground (CD, Album + CD, Album + Ltd), Steamhammer CRCL-4793/94, Japan 2001
Lionheart (CD, Album), Steamhammer CRCL-4830, Japan 2004
The Inner Sanctum (CD, Album), Nexus KICP-1242, Japan 2007
The Inner Sanctum – CD Japan Import w/OBI Rare OOP Bonus Tracks
Into The Labyrinth (CD, Album), Nexus KICP 1344, Japan 2009
Call To Arms JAPAN 2CD Son Of A Bitch Air Pavilion NWOBHM UK Heavy Metal
Saxon 2011 2CD – Call To Arms (Japan CD+Obi 2024 Reissue) Iron Maiden – Sealed
Saxon – Sacrifice, 2024 with bonus tracks, Rubicon Music
Battering Ram JAPAN 2CD Son Of A Bitch Air Pavilion NWOBHM UK Heavy Metal
Thunderbolt (CD, Album), Nexus Seven Seas KICP-1892, Japan 2018
Inspirations (CD, Album) Nexus (3), Seven Seas KICP 4034 Japan 2021
3 Bonus songs
Tracks 12 to 14 are bonus tracks for Japan.
Track 12 “Shoot Shoot” UFO. Tracks 13 & 14 taken from Saxon ‘The Eagle Has Landed 40 Live’
Carpe Diem, Japan
