Ryuichi Sakamoto – Coda
Essential listening for any Ryuichi Sakamoto fan, Coda is the late Yellow Magic Orchestra member’s Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence soundtrack performed on solo piano. Somehow better than the originals, these versions showcase the depth of emotion in Sakamoto’s piano playing and his ability to express complex ideas, visuals, and environments without the use synthesizers or electronics. It’s no surprise that this solo piano format has been a fan favorite for decades. Two additional tracks not from the MCML soundtrack “Japan” and “Coda” are also featured here. Be sure to check out Stephen Nomura Schible’s 2017 documentary on Sakamoto, which bears the same name as this album.
Recommended – Full Listen
A1 Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
A2 Batavia
A3 Germination
A4 A Hearty Breakfast
A5 Before The War
A6 The Seed And The Sower
A7 A Brief Encounter
B1 Ride Ride Ride
B2 The Fight
B3 Dismissed! / Assembly
B4 Beyond Reason
B5 Sowing The Seed
B6 Last Regrets
B7 The Seed
B8 Japan
B9 Coda
Art Direction – Tsuguya Inoue
Composed By – S.McCurdy* (tracks: B1)
Engineer [Onkio Haus] – Shinichi Tanaka
Engineer [Studio “A”] – Mitsuo Koike
Mixed By – Shinichi Tanaka
Performer, Producer, Mixed By, Composed By – Ryuichi Sakamoto
Photography By – Tsuguya Inoue
Photography By [Insert] – Masayoshi Sukita
Tape Op [Onkio Haus] – Michio Nakakoshi
Tape Op [Studio “A”] – Yoshifumi Iio