The Japanese Album (Remastered) Ian Gillan

• 1 Street Theatre 02:39
• 2 Secret of the Dance 02:51
• 3 I'm Your Man 04:24
• 4 Dead of Night 04:11
• 5 Fighting Man 07:36
• 6 Message in a Bottle 03:10
• 7 Not Weird Enough 03:50
• 8 Bringing Joanna Back 03:40
• 9 Abbey of Thelema 04:56
• 10 Back in the Game 05:27
• 11 Vengeance 03:30
• 12 Move with the Times 05:01
• 13 Sleeping on the Job 03:12
• 14 Roller 04:06
• Total Runtime 58:33

Info for The Japanese Album (Remastered)

Gillan is the debut studio album by British hard rock band Gillan, released in September 1978 only in Japan then later in Australia and New Zealand. Although not released domestically in the UK, the album sold well as an import, aided by positive press reviews.

"After the Ian Gillan Band started to fizzle out, vocalist Gillan and keyboard player Colin Towns decided to shorten the group's name and shift its musical approach. The newly created Gillan consisted of the ex-Deep Purple vocalist, Towns, and former Zzebra members Liam Genockey on drums, Steve Byrd on guitar, and John McCoy on bass. Their 1978 eponymous debut was distributed in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand only, then reissued with some bonus material as The Japanese Album by RPM records in 1993, and again on the Purple label in 1999. These offerings also share a few tracks with the 1979 U.K. debut, Mr. Universe. There were, of course, several membership changes to confuse things even further while the band attempted to establish creative momentum. One interesting fact: Genockey is credited on the original release, but replacement Pete Barnacle is listed as the drummer of record on The Japanese Album. Another lineup overhaul was necessary before Gillan could produce its most successful effort by far, 1980's Glory Road. Despite all this activity, Gillan is still a minor excursion in the career journey of the Deep Purple vocalist. And The Japanese Album is a lesser work from the band that bore his name. Gillan's voice is refined, but isn't put to good use on ballads like "Fighting Man." There are some good moments on "Secret of the Dance" and a few others, but The Japanese Album is generally an unfocused affair. Only Gillan fanatics and collectors should concern themselves with this reissue." (Jason Anderson, AMG)

Ian Gillan, vocals, production
Steve Byrd, guitars
Colin Towns, keyboards, flutes, arrangement, production
John McCoy, bass
Pete Barnacle, drums, percussion

Recorded July – August 1978 at Kingsway Recorders, London, UK
Produced by Paul "Chas" Watkins, Ian Gillan, Colin Towns

Digitally remastered

Ian Gillan
was born on August 19th 1945 in Hounslow and was brought up in this Middlesex suburb in an atmosphere where musical endeavour was highly regarded. He was introduced to rock and roll by Elvis Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel' and at 16 decided to form a group, The Moonshiners. A few weeks later he was poached by The Javelins. It was October 1962, and Ian jacked school in mid-term.

Ian took the stage name Jess Gillan or Jess Thunder, and The Javelins worked hard for two years semi-pro until December 1964 when Gillan was again head-hunted, by Wainwrights Gentlemen, a soul big-band. He only stayed a few months and was invited to join Episode Six in early summer 1965. Episode Six's career was long and busy. They gigged continuously for four years and issued singles for Pye and others. In the band Gillan met founder member Roger Glover, while Mick Underwood later joined on drums. The group were highly thought of but never had any serious chart success in the UK and by early 1969 were hard up. Drummer Mick Underwood mentioned Ian to his old mate Ritchie Blackmore, looking for a singer to front Deep Purple, and Gillan got the job.

He devoted himself to Deep Purple for four years, with only a session on Jesus Christ Superstar, some production work for Jerusalem and others, and a few solo ideas breaking his concentration.

When he left in Deep Purple 1973, it was to start a number of business ventures - a recording studio (Kingsway), a delux Hotel (The Springs), and a motorbike engine company. It wasn't until 1974 that he began developing ideas which eventually became The Ian Gillan Band in 1975, which after two years doing jazz-rock changed line-up and became simply Gillan, employing a more direct rock direcion. They enjoyed European success, with hit singles and albums, before running out of steam in 1982.

With the possibility of a Deep Purple reunion under discussion, Ian Gillan accepted an invitation to join Black Sabbath for a year, recording one album with them, and leaving just before the reunion became fact in 1984. Ian left Deep Purple again in 1989, after two studio albums and a joint solo-album with Roger Glover. He then recorded a solo album, put together a new version of Gillan for one album, and toured extensively before rejoining Deep Purple in 1992.

This album contains no booklet.