‘Nightporter’ by Japan is one of my all time favourite songs and also one that both myself and my friend Tracey Brown can play on the piano!
I was already a Japan fan having been hooked when ‘Tin Drum’ was released at the end of 1981 and ‘Cantonese Boy’ and ‘Ghosts’ finally managed to have some impact on the charts for the band back in 1982. I had been exposed to Japan and Soft Cell and Gary Numan thanks to my friends Melanie, Mark , Adele and Lucy but it was Adele who was the real Japan devotee and through her enthusiasm I was introduced to Japan’s earlier works which included ‘European Son’ and the album ‘Gentlemen Take Polaroids’ from which ‘Nightporter’ is taken.
I love the simple piano accompaniment (inspired by Eric Satie I suspect as David Sylvian was keen on his music as was Gary Numan) the glorious oboe played by the late Mick Kahn and the non intrusive synthesiser sounds which all come together with two piano tracks to make this a truly excellent song. I remember a remixed 12’ version of ‘Nightporter’ being released in the early eighties which was a more simple and marginally less ‘produced’ version which is the one I had but the original (from ‘Gentlemen Take Polaroids’) is still a classic.
This song reminds me of the early eighties, Tracey Brown, wearing my burgundy tank top and ultra slim bowtie, eyeliner and Adele Smith….
Now listen to the song….
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