The Art of Parties
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- "Life Without Buildings"
- "My New Career" (Australia and Japan)
| "The Art of Parties" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Japan | ||||
| from the album Tin Drum | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 1 May 1981 | |||
| Recorded | March 1981 | |||
| Studio | Basing Street Studios. London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter(s) | David Sylvian | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| Japan singles chronology | ||||
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"The Art of Parties" is a song by the British band Japan.
It was released as a single in May 1981 and reached number 48 on the UK Singles Chart.[1] A re-worked version was subsequently included as the opening track on the band's album Tin Drum released later in 1981, keeping parts of the original Punter-produced version including guitars.[2] A live version of the song is included on Japan's 1983 album Oil on Canvas[3] and on the DVD release The Very Best of Japan.
Upon its release, Smash Hits' Mark Ellen described the single as "a safety shot"; "This keeps a finger in every pie known to modern music. A 12" with titles filched from the Talking Heads camp, the topside's technical funk with Sylvian's voice a rare bond of operatic Bowie and Ferry at his most plaintive. The reverse is a few of their favourite synths. Good."[4]
The Rough Guide to Rock described the song genre as "white-boy funk".[5]
