Gentlemen Take Polaroids (song)

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"Gentlemen Take Polaroids"
Single by Japan
from the album Gentlemen Take Polaroids
B-side"The Experience of Swimming"
Released10 October 1980 (1980-10-10)[1]
GenreEurodisco[2]
Length
  • 3:28 (single version)
  • 7:08 (album version)
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)David Sylvian
Producer(s)John Punter
Japan singles chronology
"I Second That Emotion"
(1980) 		"Gentlemen Take Polaroids"
(1980) 		"The Art of Parties"
(1981)

"Gentlemen Take Polaroids" is a song by English new wave band Japan, released as a single from the album of the same name in October 1980. It was the band's first charting single in the UK, peaking at number 60.[3]

Reception[edit]

The single was the band's first release under Virgin Records and "established a clever music bridge between the refined groove of Quiet Life and the band's forthcoming LP".[4] The song was popular with club DJs: Nick Rhodes regularly played it at the Rum Runner, and Rusty Egan played it at the Blitz.[5]

It has been described as a "dynamic masterpiece alternating between the experimental, free-floating middle parts, and the casual pop chorus found throughout the song".[6] However, reviewing the song for Record Mirror, Ronnie Gurr described the single as having an "awful title and mellifluously nondescript Roxy rip-off A-side. Elsewhere Eno's school of modern bland-out muzak that's so dull and nondescript, one can't ignore the fact the damn stuff takes hold".[7]

Track listings[edit]

7-inch: Virgin / VS 379 (UK)[1]

  1. "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – 3:28
  2. "The Experience of Swimming" – 4:04

7-inch: Virgin / 102 513 (Germany)[8]

  1. "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – 3:28
  2. "The Width of a Room" – 3:14

7-inch: Virgin / VIPX-1550 (Japan)[9]

  1. "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – 3:28
  2. "Burning Bridges" – 3:59

Double 7-inch EP: Virgin / VS 379 (UK)[1]

  1. "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – 3:28
  2. "The Experience of Swimming" – 4:04
  3. "The Width of a Room" – 3:12
  4. "Burning Bridges" – 3:59

Mini CD EP: Virgin / CDT 32 (UK, 1988)[1]

  1. "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – 7:05
  2. "Cantonese Boy" – 3:44
  3. "Methods of Dance" – 6:53

Personnel[edit]

Japan

Technical

  • Nigel Walker – engineer
  • Steve Prestage – engineer
  • Nicola Tyson – photography
  • Steve Chivers – assisted photography

Charts[edit]

Chart (1980) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[3] 60

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Japan Discography - The Virgin Years". discog.info. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  2. ^ Raggett, Ned. Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Japan: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  4. ^ Power, Martin (2012-04-10). David Sylvian: The Last Romantic. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-820-1.
  5. ^ ":: Welcome to the ANTHONY REYNOLDS :: Official WebSite ::". www.anthonyreynolds.net. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  6. ^ "Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  7. ^ "Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror: 14. 11 October 1980. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  9. ^ "Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids = 孤独な影". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
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