Ryuichi Sakamoto - Works I & II: CM, TV/Inst (2002)

If you are new to Ryuichi Sakamoto this compilation of works for Japanese commercials from the early '80s might not be your first choice, however if you have been following his career since "Thousand Knives" and the heydays of YMO you are in for a treat.
1. "Kimi ni tsuite" (About you) 4:57. Song composed in 1983 for the Japanese Life Insurance Company Nihon Seimei and interpreted by Ryuichi Sakamoto himself. Was featured briefly in the French short "Tokyo Melody" and released in 83 on the Promo single "Life in Japan" with track 8 and 9. Also released in 84 on the Japanese reissue of "Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia".
2. "Akachan no oshiri" 3:36. Composed in 1983 for Pampers Japan and interpreted by Akiko Yano this song previousely released in 1992 on the MIDI compilation "On The Air".
3. "Sora ni Aouyo" 4:58. Composed in 84 for the Sumitomo Pavilion at the Expo of 85, it is again interpreted by Akiko Yano and to my knowledge never been relased before.
4. "Obunsha rekishi tanbou" 0:39. Composed in 81 for Obunsha Publishing it is a short electronica instrumental track that would perfectly fit in "Thousand Knives".
5. "Perky Jean" 1:20. Composed in 81 for Shiseido's "Perky Jean" makeup line this is another exemple of Sakamoto's early works. There's a man and a woman singing "Perky Jean" again and again during the 80 seconds of this track.
6. Shincho Bunko Campaign - Short Version 1:15. Instrumental composed in 82 for Shincho Bunko a Japanese publishing company.
7. Shincho Bunko Campaign - Long Version 3:27. Instrumental composed in 82 for Shincho Bunko. It is not a longer version of track 6. It is lighter than the previous track and has a jazzy feel.
8. "Yoru no Gaspar" 3:46. Composed in 1983 for the Japanese Life Insurance Company Nihon Seimei. see track 1 for more details.
9. "Ao penki no naka no boku no namida" 4:24. Composed in 1983 for the Japanese Life Insurance Company Nihon Seimei. see track 1 for more details.
10. "Soft Machine" 1:15. Composed for Maxell in 1984, this track would not look out of place in "Illustrated Musical Emcyclopedia".
11. Shiseido '83 0:34. The shortest track on the album. For youy the completists ou there.
12. Daiei 4:45. Composed in 83 for Daiei supermarkets and seems to come right out of "Media Bahn Live". Sounds like "Ballet Mecanique" on speed.
13 through 16 (all averaging 1 min.) Composed in 83 for Suntory (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages).
17. "Japan Tobacco Public and Salt Corp." 10:01. Composed in 84 the year of "Beverly Hills Cop"/"Miami Vice" and you can tell he was listening to these soundtracks.
18. Audi 0:48. Composed for NTT, Japanese telegraph and telephone corporation. Typical Sakamoto electronica.
19. "AType60'" 1:02. Composed for Ajinomoto, Japanese manufacturer of Food Products.
Total playing time: 51:09. Nothing surprising in this album if you are a Sakamoto connoisseur but a must have if you are a completist like me. I would not recommend it for a first or even a second Sakamoto album.
-- vincehardy

This album is the companion CD to Works I-Cm and starts with the exact same 3 tracks but in their instrumental version. It covers the years 1980 through 1984 and is made exclusively from instrumental compositions for TV.
1. Nihon Seimei [About You] -inst./1983 (5:09) This instrumental version of 'About You' is, to my knowledge, a first on CD and was composed in 1983 for the Japanese Life Insurance Company Nihon Seimei.
2. Pampers [Akachan no oshiri] -inst./1983 (3:36) Composed in 1983 for Pampers Japan the song version was previously released in 1992 on the MIDI Akiko Yano's compilation "On The Air".
3. Expo '85 Sumitomo Pavilion [Sora ni Aouyo] -inst./1984 (5:32) Composed in 84 for the Sumitomo Pavilion at the Expo of 85, The song was a first on CD and this instrumental version is as well.
4. NHK [News Wide] /1980 (0:34) Composed for NHK News Wide, a morning news show that ran on the NHK from 1980 to 1988.
5. NHK ["YOU!" theme] /1982 (1:40) From the NHK official site: "You!, the show that put NHK on the map with teenage viewers, started in 1982. It featured Itoi Shigesato as host, theme music by Sakamoto Ryuichi, and a title sequence by noted animator Otomo Katsuhiro. These elements contributed to a pop vibe that set the program apart from any previous NHK show and drew in many young viewers. Using an English word as the title was also an unprecedented departure."
6. NHK ["YOU!" end theme] /1982 (2:09) See previous.
7. NHK Landsat I /1982 (1:42) Theme composed for the NHK 'Landsat' special after it completed mapping Japan in '82.
8. NHK Landsat II /1982 (5:59) See previous.
9. NHK Landsat III /1982 (6:10) See previous.
10. NHK Jingle /1982 (1:36) Jingle of the NHK.
11. Snake & Lotus /1982 (6:04) Never released before. Unknown use.
12. Tibetan Dance Dub /1984 (5:29) Previously released in 84 on the Japanese reissue of "Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia".
13. 82.7.7. Yano Music No. 1 /1982 (4:14) Never released before. Unknown use.
Total Playing time: 49 min 54 sec. This album is so similar to Works I-Cm that they should have been released as a 2 CD set. My recommendations will therefore be the same: great album if you're a Sakamoto fan but not really where you'd like to start if you are new to his music.
-- vincehardy