yellow magic orchestra

Yellow Magic Orchestra were a Japanese electropop band, formed in 1978. The principal members were Haruomi Hosono (bass), Yukihiro Takahashi (drums) and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards). The band was originally conceived as a one-off studio project by Hosono, the other two members being recruited session musicians - the idea was to produce an album fusing orientalist exotica (cf their cover version of Martin Denny's Firecracker) with modern electronics. However the first album (with its cutting-edge production) was very popular, and the studio project grew into a fully fledged touring band and career for its three members. Making abundant use of new synthesizers, samplers, digital and computer recording technology as it became available, their popularity and influence extended beyond Japan. Generally the band were highly regarded as electronic pioneers, and continue to be remixed and sampled by modern artists. The band had stopped working together by 1984, the three members returning to their solo careers. They released a one-off reuinion album, Technodon, in 1993. The early 2000s saw Hosona & Takehashi reunited in a project called Sketch Show.

Original albums

Yellow Magic Orchestra (Japan Mix), 1978
Yellow Magic Orchestra (US Mix), 1979
Solid State Survivor, 1979
×∞ Multiplies (mini-album) 1980
BGM, 1981
Technodelic, 1981
Naughty Boys, 1983
Naughty Boys Instrumental, 1983
Service, 1983
Technodon, 1993

Live albums

Transatrantic Tour 1979, 1979
Public Pressure, 1980
Winter Live 1981, 1981
Technodon Live, 1983
After Service, 1984
Faker Holic, 1991

Best of albums

Sealed, 1984