Tatsuro Yamashita

Tatsurō Yamashita (山下 達郎, Yamashita Tatsurō, born February 4, 1953), occasionally credited as Tatsu Yamashita[2] or Tats Yamashita,[3] is a Japanese singer-songwriter and record producer who helped pioneer the style of Japanese adult-oriented rock/soft rock dubbed "city pop".[4][5] Yamashita produced the majority of his city pop music during the 1970s–1980s, and is sometimes considered the "king" of the genre.[6][7] He has also collaborated with his wife Mariya Takeuchi, another city pop singer.[8]

Tatsurō Yamashita
Born	Yamashita Tatsurō (山下 達郎) (1953-02-04) February 4, 1953[1] Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tōkyō-to, Japan[1]
Occupation	Singer-songwriter, record producer
Spouse(s)	Mariya Takeuchi ( m. 1982)
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	Rock, pop, kayōkyoku, city pop, soul, R&B
Instruments	Vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, drums, percussion
Years active	1973–present
Labels	AIR, Moon, Niagara, Elec, RCA, RVC, Warner Music Japan, Nippon Columbia, EastWest Japan, MMG
Associated acts	Sugar Babe, Mariya Takeuchi, Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Eiichi Ohtaki
Website	tatsuro.co.jp
Signature

Yamashita is also known for the song "Christmas Eve", which initially appeared on his album Melodies in 1983 and later became a hit throughout the decades.[9][10] It is considered one of the standard Japanese Christmas songs, winning the Special Prize at the 45th Japan Record Awards 20 years after its release.[11] In 2007, Rolling Stone Japan ranked his album Spacy number 14 on a list of the greatest Japanese rock albums of all time.[12]

Career

In 1973, Yamashita formed the band Sugar Babe with musicians including Taeko Ohnuki and Kunio Muramatsu, and released their sole album Songs two years later in 1975.[13][1] After the group disbanded in 1976, Yamashita signed to RCA and launched his own career, with release of the solo album Circus Town the same year. Also the same year he teamed up with Eiichi Ohtaki, who was the producer of Sugar Babe,[14] and brief Sugar Babe member Ginji Ito to release an album titled Niagara Triangle Vol. 1 that was cited by MTV as one of the finest collaborative efforts from that period.[15] His 1979 award-winning album Moonglow gained moderate success,[16] but his 1980 song "Ride on Time" peaked at No. 3 on the Japanese Oricon and the same-titled album topped the chart subsequently,[17][18][7] propelling him to stardom.[1]

As a solo artist, Yamashita has released 17 studio albums, 2 live albums, multiple compilations and over 40 singles. He has been one of the most commercially successful Japanese male solo recording artists in the history of the Japanese album chart, selling approximately 9 million albums in total.[19][20] He has also composed for films and television commercials, and worked on records by other artists. He is particularly successful as a musical collaborator for Mariya Takeuchi, whom he married in 1982. They have one daughter.[21]

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album	Chart positions (JP)[20]	Label	Notes
1976	Circus Town	27	RVC/RCA	Peaked the chart at the time of 2002 reissue
1977	Spacy	29
1978	Go Ahead!	25
1979	Moonglow	20
1980	Ride On Time	1	RVC/AIR
	On the Street Corner	13		Expanded edition was reissued in later years
1982	For You	1
1983	Melodies	1	Alfa Moon
1984	Big Wave	2		Soundtrack for the same-titled motion picture
1986	Pocket Music	1
	On the Street Corner 2	3
1988	Boku no Naka no Shounen (僕の中の少年)	1
1991	Artisan	1	Moon/MMG
1993	Season's Greetings	4		Christmas Album
1998	Cozy	1	Moon/Warner
1999	On the Street Corner 3	4
2005	Sonorite	2
2011	Ray of Hope	1

Collaborations

Year	Album	Chart positions (JP)[22][23]	Label	Notes
1975	Songs	3	Elec/Niagara	The only studio album by the band Sugar Babe Peaked the chart at the time of 1994 reissue
1976	Niagara Triangle Vol.1 (with Eiichi Ohtaki and Ginji Ito)	63	Niagara/Columbia	Peaked the chart at the time of reissue
1978	Pacific (with Haruomi Hosono and Shigeru Suzuki)		CBS/Sony	First album in the CBS/Sony Sound Image Series

Live albums

Year	Album	Chart positions (JP)[24]	Label	Notes
1978	It's a Poppin' Time	28	RCA/Air	Peaked the chart at the time of 2002 reissue
1989	Joy: Tatsuro Yamashita Live	3	Alfa Moon	Double album

Compilation albums

Year	Album	Chart positions (JP)[20]	Label	Notes
1980	Tatsuro from Niagara	37	Niagara/Columbia	Peaked the chart at the time of 2009 reissue
1982	Greatest Hits! of Tatsuro Yamashita	2	RVC/AIR
1980	Come Along	32
1984	Come Along II	8
1985	Tatsuro Collection	35
1986	Ballad for You	37
	Rock'n Funk Tatsu	59
1990	Best Pack I (1976–1979)	—
	Best Pack II (1979–1982)	—
1995	Treasures	1	Moon/East West
2002	Rarities	1	Moon/Warner
2012	Opus (All Time Best 1975-2012)[25]	1
2017	Come Along III	—

Other releases

Following materials are not marketed to the record retailers, though they have been available via mail order to his official fan club.[26]

Album	Label	Footnotes
Add Some Music to Your Day	Wild Honey	Cover album that Yamashita and his friends produced and released independently in 1972
The Works of Tatsuro Yamashita Vol.1		Compilation comprises his compositions written for other artists
Tatsuro Yamashita CM Collection Vol.1		Compilation comprises materials originally used in the advertisements and never issued on his official releases
Tatsuro Yamashita CM Collection Vol.2

Singles

Year	A-Side	B-Side(s) / Double A-Side [27][28][29]	Chart positions (JP)[30][31]	Label	Notes
1975	"Downtown"(written and sung by Tatsuro Yamashita)	"Itsumo Dōri (いつも通り)" (written and sung by Taeko Ōnuki)	—	Elec/Niagara	Sugar Babe's only single
1976	"Shiawase ni Sayonara (幸せにさよなら)"	"Dreaming Day (ドリーミング・デイ, Dorīmingu Dei)"	—	Columbia/Niagara	Collaboration with Ei-ichi Ōtaki and Ginji Ito
1979	"Let's Dance Baby (レッツ・ダンス・ベイビー, Rettsu Dansu Beibī)"	"Bomber (ボンバー, Bonbā)"	—	RVC/RCA
	"Ai wo Egaite (愛を描いて) (Let's Kiss the Sun)"	"Shiosai (潮騒) (The Whispering Sea)"	—
	"Eien no Full Moon (永遠のFULL MOON)"	"Funky Flushin'"	—	RVC/AIR
1980	"Ride on Time"	"Rainy Walk"	3
	"My Sugar Babe"	"Daydream"	90
1982	"Downtown"	"Parade (パレード, Parēdo)" ['82 Remix]	—	CBS/Sony/Niagara
	"Amaku Kiken na Kaori (あまく危険な香り)"	"Music Book"	12	RVC/AIR
1983	"Koukiatsu Girl (高気圧ガール, Koukiatsu Gāru)"	"Darlin'"	17	Alfa Moon
	"Sprinkler (スプリンクラー, Supurinkurā)"	"Please Let Me Wonder"	34
	"Christmas Eve (クリスマス・イブ, Kurisumasu Ibu)"	"White Christmas"	44		12-inch single
1984	"The Theme from Big Wave"	"I Love You (Part I & II)"	23
1985	"Kaze no Corridor (風の回廊, Kaze no Koridō)"	"Shiosai (潮騒)" [Live Version]	12
	"Doyoubi no Koibito (土曜日の恋人)"	"Mermaid"	22
1986	"Christmas Eve (クリスマス・イブ, Kurisumasu Ibu)"	"White Christmas"	1		Reissue, topped the chart in 1989
1987	"Odoroyo, Fish (踊ろよ、フィッシュ, Odoroyo Fisshu)"	"You Make Me Feel Brand New"	19
1988	"Get Back in Love"	"First Luck (Hajimete no Shiawase (初めての幸運))"	6
1989	"Neo-Tokyo Rhapsody (新・東京ラプソディ, Shin-Tōkyō Rapusodi)"	"The Girl in White"	76
	"Oyasumi Rosie (おやすみロージー, Oyasumi Rōjī)" [Live Version]	"Suteki na Gogo wa (素敵な午後は)" [Live Version]	22
1990	"Endless Game"	"The Theme from Big Wave" [Live Version]	5	MMG/Moon
1991	"Sayonara Natsu no Hi (さよなら夏の日)"	"Morning Shine (モーニング・シャイン, Mōningu Shain)"	12
	"Turner no Kikansha (ターナーの汽罐車, Tānā no Kikansha) (Turner's Steamroller)"	"Only with You" [Live Version]	30
1992	"Atom no Ko (アトムの子, Atomu no Ko)"	"Blow"	18
1993	"Magic Touch"	"I Do"	17
	"Jungle Swing (ジャングル・スウィング, Janguru Suwingu)"	Medley: "Bella Notte" / "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"	22
1994	"Parade (パレード, Parēdo)" ['82 Remix]	"Downtown" [Single Mix]	29
1995	"Sekai no Hate Made (世界の果てまで)"	"Futari no Natsu (二人の夏)" [Live Version]	24
1996	"Ai no Tomoshibi (愛の灯) (Stand in the Light)"	"Konuka Ame (こぬか雨)" [Live Version]	23	Eastwest/Moon	Duet with Melissa Manchester
	"Dreaming Girl"	"Suna no Onna (砂の女)" [Live Version]	25
1998	"Heron (ヘロン)"	—	10	Warner/Moon
	"Itsuka Hareta Hi ni (いつか晴れた日に)"	"Su Ki Su Ki Sweet Kiss! (好・き・好・き SWEET KISS!)"	12
	"Christmas Eve (クリスマス・イブ, Kurisumasu Ibu)"	"White Christmas"	56		Reissue
1999	"Atom no Ko (アトムの子, Atomu no Ko)"	"Blow" ['98 Remix]	88		Reissue
	"Love Can Go the Distance"	"When You Wish Upon a Star"	18
2000	"Juvenile no Theme (Hitomi no Naka no Rainbow) (JUVENILEのテーマ～瞳の中のRAINBOW)"	"Atom no Ko (アトムの子, Atomu no Ko)" [Live Version]	20
	"Christmas Eve (クリスマス・イブ, Kurisumasu Ibu)"	"White Christmas" / "Christmas Eve" [English Version][32]	6		Reissue
2001	"Kimi no Koe ni Koi Shiteru (君の声に恋してる)"	"So Much in Love" [New Vocal Remix]	15
2002	"Loveland, Island"	"Your Eyes"	26	BMG/AIR
2003	"Ride on Time"	"Amaku Kiken na Kaori (あまく危険な香り)"	13		Reissue
	"2000 ton no Ame (2000トンの雨)" [2003 New Vocal Remix]	"Phoenix (フェニックス, Fenikkusu)"	16	Warner/Moon
	"Christmas Eve (クリスマス・イブ, Kurisumasu Ibu)"	"White Christmas" / "Christmas Eve" [English Version, Remix][32]	47		Reissue
2004	"Wasurenaide (忘れないで)"	"Lucky Girl ni Hanataba wo (ラッキー・ガールに花束を, Rakkī Gāru ni Hanataba wo)"	14
2005	"Forever Mine"	"Midas Touch"	8
	"Taiyou no Ekubo (太陽のえくぼ)"	—	29
	"Shiroi Umbrella (白いアンブレラ, Shiroi Anburera)"	"Lucky Girl ni Hanataba wo (ラッキー・ガールに花束を, Rakkī Gāru ni Hanataba wo)" / "Kaze no Corridor (風の回廊, Kaze no Koridō)" [Live Version]	49
2008	"Zutto Issho sa (ずっと一緒さ)"	"Angel of the Light" / "La Vie en rose"	4
2009	"Bokura no Natsu no Yume (僕らの夏の夢)"	"Muse (ミューズ, Myūzu)" / "Atom no Ko (アトムの子, Atomu no Ko)" ['09 Live Version]	8
2010	"Machi Monogatari (街物語)"	"Tsuiteoide (ついておいで)" ['09 Live Version]	13
	"Kibō toiu Na no Hikari (希望という名の光)"	"Happy Gathering Day"	9
2011	"Aishiteru tte Ienaku tatte (愛してるって言えなくたって)"	"Koukiatsu Girl (高気圧ガール, Koikatsu Gāru)" ['09 Live Version]	15
2013	"Hikari to Kimi e no Requiem (光と君へのレクイエム, Hikari to Kimi e no Rekuiemu)"	"Composition (コンポジション, Konpojishon)"	10
	"Christmas Eve (クリスマス・イブ, Kurisumasu Ibu)"	"White Christmas" / "Christmas Eve" [English Version, Live Version]	10		Reissue (30th Anniversary Edition)
2016	"Cheer Up! The Summer"	"CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU ～君の瞳に恋してる" (Live)	8
2018	"Music Train"	"Mirai no Mirai"	-
2019	"Recipe"		9

Awards

Japan Record Awards
Year	Title	Category	Personnel
1980 (22nd)	Moonglow[16]	Best Albums	(Performer, composer, arranger and producer: Yamashita / lyricist: Minako Yoshida)
1981 (23rd)	On the Street Corner[33]	Best 10 Albums	(Performer, arranger, producer: Yamashita)
1982 (24th)	For You[34]	Best 10 Albums	(Performer, composer, arranger and producer: Yamashita / lyricist: Minako Yoshida)
1983 (25th)	Melodies[35]	Best 10 Albums	(Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)
1986 (28th)	Pocket Music[36]	Excellent Albums	(Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)
1988 (30th)	Boku no Naka no Shounen[37]	Excellent Albums	(Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)
1991 (33rd)	Artisan[38]	Excellent Albums	(Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)
1993 (35th)	Quiet Life[39]	Greatest Album	(Producer and arranger: Yamashita / Performer and songwriter: Mariya Takeuchi)
2003 (45th)	"Christmas Eve"[11]	Special Prizes	(Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)

Japan Gold Disc Award
Year	Song	Category	Personnel
1994 (9th)	Impressions[40]	Grand-prix Album	(Producer and arranger: Yamashita / Songwriter and performer: Mariya Takeuchi / arranger: Katsuhisa Hattori / recording engineer: Yasuo Sato)
1998 (13th)	Cozy[41]	Pop Albums of the Year	(Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)

References

1. "Biography". tatsuro.co.jp. Smile Company Ltd. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
2. Ride on Time (album) (LP front cover). Tatsuro Yamashita. BMGJapan. 1980.CS1 maint: others (link)
3. Big Wave (Tatsuro Yamashita album) (LP sleevenotes). Tatsuro Yamashita. Warner/Moon Records. 1984.CS1 maint: others (link)
4. Hadfield, James (May 1, 2019). "'Pacific Breeze' collates the slick sound of Japanese city pop". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
5. Doucette, Marcus (February 19, 2019). "The unforgettable funk of '70s and '80s Japanese City Pop". Radio Milwaukee. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
6. "Ed Motta drops exclusive City Pop Vol. 2 mixtape of smooth and funky Japanese AOR – Wax Poetics". Wax Poetics. April 28, 2016.
7. Yokegawa, Tetsuko (December 10, 2014). "The Artisian: The Inimitable Genius of Tatsuro Yamashita". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
8. St. Michel, Patrick (November 17, 2018). "Mariya Takeuchi: The pop genius behind 2018's surprise online smash hit from Japan". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
9. "山下達郎、「クリスマス・イブ」で大記録樹立！　20年連続TOP100入り！ ニュース-ORICON STYLE-" [Tatsuro Yamashita's "Christmas Eve" set a record! : entering the top 100 on the chart for 20 consecutive years]. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Original Confidence. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
10. List of number-one singles on the Japan's Oricon Weekly Charts (1968–)
11. "The 45th Japan Record Award – Special Prizes winners" (in Japanese). Japan Composer's Association. Archived from the original on September 7, 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
12. "Finally! "The 100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time" Listed". Exclaim!. November 14, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
13. "Yahoo!ミュージック – SUGAR BABE – アーティスト情報" [Yahoo!Music – Sugar Babe – Artist Information]. music.yahoo.co.jp. Listen Japan. Archived from the original on May 27, 2006. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
14. "Happy End's Eiichi Ohtaki Dies at 65". Exclaim!. December 31, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
15. "6 Japanese Super Groups That are Changing J-music History". MTV81. March 16, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
16. "History of the Japan Record Awards – List of the 20th Award Winners" (in Japanese). Japan Composer's Association. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
17. "Description of the theme song for the television drama aired on TBS in 2003". tbs.co.jp (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on April 6, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
18. オリコン・ヒットチャート　Ｎｏ．１ＡＬＢＵＭ １９８０－１９８９ - [List of the number-one on the Japanese Weekly LP Chart from 1980 to 1989] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
19. "槇原敬之、井上陽水抜く！アルバム総売上枚数男性ソロ歴代1位に！" [Noriyuki Makihara become the best-selling male solo artist on the Oricon albums chart, defeating Yosui Inoue]. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
20. "Yamachan Land (Japan's charts archives) – Albums Chart Daijiten" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 11, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
21. プロフィール 竹内 まりや ワーナーミュージック・ジャパン [Biography of Mariya Takeuchi]. wmg.jp (in Japanese). Warner Music Group. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
22. "検索結果-ORICON STYLE アーティスト/CD検索 シュガー・ベイブ" [Searching results albums by Sugar Babe (available only 1989 to present)]. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Original confidence. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
23. "検索結果-ORICON STYLE アーティスト/CD検索 山下達郎，伊藤銀次，大瀧詠一" [Searching results albums by Tatsuro Yamashita, Ginji Ito, Eiichi Otaki (available only 1989 to present)]. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Original confidence. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
24. "Yamachan Land (Japan's charts archives) – Albumd Chart Daijiten" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 11, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
25. 田代, 貴之 (September 14, 2012). "HMVインタビュー】 山下達郎 『OPUS ～ALL TIME BEST 1975–2012～』 Facebook". HMV. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
26. "山下達郎 OFFICIAL WEB SITE: ファンクラブ通販CD". tatsuro.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved July 30, 2015.
27. "山下達郎 OFFICIAL WEBSITE | DISCOGRAPHY | SINGLE Part 1". tatsuro.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 20, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
28. "山下達郎 OFFICIAL WEBSITE | DISCOGRAPHY | SINGLE Part 2". tatsuro.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
29. "山下達郎 OFFICIAL WEBSITE | DISCOGRAPHY | SINGLE Part 3". tatsuro.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved July 29, 2015.
30. "Tatsuro Yamashita". Yamachan Land (Japan's charts archives) – Singles Chart Daijiten – (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
31. "山下達郎のシングル作品 | ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
32. ""Christmas Eve" Reissue History". smile-co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved July 25, 2009.
33. "History of the Japan Record Awards – List of the 23rd Award Winners" (in Japanese). Japan Composer's Association. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
34. "History of the Japan Record Awards – List of the 24th Award Winners" (in Japanese). Japan Composer's Association. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
35. "History of the Japan Record Awards – List of the 25th Award Winners" (in Japanese). Japan Composer's Association. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
36. "History of the Japan Record Awards – List of the 28th Award Winners" (in Japanese). Japan Composer's Association. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
37. "History of the Japan Record Awards – List of the 30th Award Winners" (in Japanese). Japan Composer's Association. Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
38. "History of the Japan Record Awards – List of the 33rd Award Winners" (in Japanese). Japan Composer's Association. Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
39. "History of the Japan Record Awards – List of the 35th Award Winners" (in Japanese). Japan Composer's Association. Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
40. "List of the 9th Gold Disc Award Winners" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
41. "List of the 13th Gold Disc Award Winners" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2009.

External links

• Tatsuro Yamashita discography at Discogs
• Official website (Japanese)
• Artist Page in Warner Music Japan
• An account of Christmas Eve (Made in Japan ONLY) (in English)