The discography of the Japanese heavy metal band X Japan consists of five studio albums, six live albums, one remix album, eleven compilations, one soundtrack album, 23 singles, and around 22 live video recordings.
| X Japan discography | |
|---|---|
 X Japan in Hong Kong, 2009 | |
| Studio albums | 5 |
| Soundtrack albums | 1 |
| Live albums | 6 |
| Compilation albums | 11 |
| Singles | 23 |
| Video albums | 22 |
| Remix | 1 |
| Various artists compilations | 3 |
| Demos | 4 |
Founded in 1982 by vocalist Toshi and drummer Yoshiki, X Japan started out as a power/speed metal band and later gravitated towards a progressive sound with an emphasis on ballads. With the member line-up including bassist Taiji and guitarists hide and Pata since 1987, X released their debut studio album Vanishing Vision on Yoshiki's own record label Extasy Records the following year. They then achieved breakthrough success with their second album and major label debut, Blue Blood, in 1989. It was followed by the million-selling Jealousy (1991), which is the band's most diverse album in terms of songwriting credits. In 1992, the band changed their name to X Japan and bassist Taiji left the group, being replaced by Heath. The mini-album Art of Life was released in 1993, composed solely of the 29-minute title track. Their last album Dahlia was released in 1996, and the following year the band decided to break up. However, after ten years, X Japan reunited in 2007 and recorded the new song "I.V.". They officially recruited lead guitarist Sugizo to fill-in for the deceased hide two years later and in 2011 had their first worldwide release, the digital single "Jade". Shortly after reuniting, work began on their sixth studio album. During its ten years of production, several release dates were announced, but it remains unreleased despite being completed in September 2018.
Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label,[1] the band is widely credited as one of the pioneers of visual kei,[2][3] a movement among Japanese musicians comparable to Western glam. X Japan have sold millions of records in Japan, claiming un-certified sales of over 30 million.[4][5][6]
Albums
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [7][8][9] | ||||
| Vanishing Vision |
|
19 |
|
— |
| Blue Blood |
|
6 | ||
| Jealousy |
|
1 |
|
|
| Art of Life |
|
1 |
| |
| Dahlia |
|
1 |
|
|
Compilation albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [8][9] | ||||
| X Singles |
|
2 |
|
|
| B.O.X ~Best of X~ |
|
5 |
|
— |
| Ballad Collection |
|
3 |
|
|
| X Japan Singles ~Atlantic Years~ |
|
14 |
|
— |
| Special Box |
|
96 |
|
— |
| Single Box |
|
— |
|
— |
| Star Box |
|
4 |
|
— |
| Perfect Best |
|
4 |
|
|
| Best: Fan's Selection |
|
13 |
|
— |
| Complete II |
|
92 |
|
— |
| The World: X Japan Hatsu no Zensekai Best (The World～X Japan 初の全世界ベスト～) |
|
2 |
|
|
Live albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [8][9] | ||||
| On the Verge of Destruction 1992.1.7 Tokyo Dome Live |
|
3 |
|
|
| Live Live Live Tokyo Dome 1993-1996 |
|
3 |
|
|
| Live Live Live Extra |
|
13 |
|
— |
| Live in Hokkaido 1995.12.4 Bootleg |
|
20 |
|
— |
| Art of Life Live |
|
20 |
|
— |
| The Last Live |
|
7 |
|
— |
Remix albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [8][9] | |||
| Trance X |
|
27 |
|
Soundtrack albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [9] |
KOR [16] |
UK [17] | |||
| We Are X: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
|
3 | 65 | 27 | |
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak positions | Sales | Certifications | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [21][22] |
JPN Hot [23] | |||||
| "I'll Kill You" | 1985 | — | — |
|
— | Non-album singles |
| "Orgasm" (オルガスム) |
1986 | — | — |
|
— | |
| "Kurenai" (紅) |
1989 | 5 | 20 |
|
|
Blue Blood |
| "Endless Rain" | 3 | — |
|
| ||
| "Week End" | 1990 | 2 | — |
|
| |
| "Silent Jealousy" | 1991 | 3 | — |
|
|
Jealousy |
| "Standing Sex" | 4 | — |
|
|
Non-album single | |
| "Say Anything" | 3 | — |
|
|
Jealousy | |
| "Tears" | 1993 | 2 | — |
|
|
Dahlia |
| "Rusty Nail" | 1994 | 1 | — |
|
| |
| "Longing ~Togireta Melody~" (Longing ～跡切れたMelody～) |
1995 | 1 | — |
|
| |
| "Longing ~Setsubou no Yoru~" (Longing ～切望の夜～) |
5 | — |
|
— | Non-album single | |
| "Dahlia" | 1996 | 1 | — |
|
|
Dahlia |
| "Forever Love" | 1 | — |
|
| ||
| "Crucify My Love" | 2 | — |
|
| ||
| "Scars" | 15 | — |
|
— | ||
| "Forever Love (Last Mix)" | 1997 | 13 | — |
|
|
Non-album singles |
| "The Last Song" | 1998 | 8 | — |
|
— | |
| "Forever Love" (re-release) | 18 | — |
|
— | Dahlia | |
| "Scars" (re-release) | 15 | — |
|
— | ||
| "Forever Love" (re-release) | 2001 | 19 | — |
|
— | |
| "I.V." | 2008 | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "Scarlet Love Song -Buddha Mix-" | 2011 | — | 33 | — | — | |
| "Jade" | — | 19 | — | — | ||
| "Born to Be Free" | 2015 | — | 21 | — | — | |
| "Angel" | 2023 | — | — | — | ||
Notes
edit- 1.^ The numbers are purely based on RIAJ certifications
Various artists compilations
edit| Title | Song | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Metal Force III | "Break the Darkness" | November 7, 1985[24] | Explosion |
| Skull Thrash Zone Volume I | "Stab Me in the Back", "No Connexion" | March 7, 1987[25] | Victor |
| Global Metal Soundtrack | "X (Live)" | July 24, 2008 | Universal |
VHS / LD / DVD / Blu-ray
edit| Title | Details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN [26] | ||
| Xclamation |
|
— |
| Thanx |
|
— |
| Blue Blood Tour Bakuhatsu Sunzen Gig | — | |
| Shigeki! Visual Shock Vol. 2 |
|
— |
| Celebration Visual Shock Vol. 2.5 |
|
— |
| Shigeki 2 ~Yume no Nakadakeni Ikite~ Visual Shock Vol. 3 |
|
— |
| Say Anything ~X Ballad Collection~ Visual Shock Vol. 3.5 |
|
— |
| On the Verge of Destruction 1992.1.7 Tokyo Dome Live Visual Shock Vol. 4 |
|
— |
| X Clips |
|
36 |
| Dahlia the Video Visual Shock #5 Part I |
|
— |
| Dahlia the Video Visual Shock #5 Part II |
|
— |
| Dahlia Tour Final 1996 |
|
58 |
| X Japan Clips II |
|
12 |
| The Last Live Video |
|
7 |
| Dahlia the Video Visual Shock #5 Part I & Part II |
|
82 |
| Art of Life 1993.12.31 Tokyo Dome |
|
9 |
| Aoi Yoru |
|
50 |
| Shiroi Yoru |
|
49 |
| Aoi Yoru Shiroi Yoru Complete Edition |
|
14 |
| X Japan Returns 1993.12.30 |
|
30 |
| X Japan Returns 1993.12.31 |
|
43 |
| X Japan Returns Complete Edition |
|
8 |
| X Visual Shock DVD Box 1989-1992 |
|
33 |
| X Japan Showcase in L.A. Premium Prototype |
|
— |
| The Last Live Complete Edition |
|
3 |
| X Japan Blu-ray Box |
|
— |
| X Visual Shock Blu-ray Box: 1989-1992 |
|
— |
Demos
edit| Title | Release date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| "I'll Kill You" | 1984 | Songs: "Ill Kill You", "We Are X" and "Stop Bloody Rain" |
| "Live" | June 1985 | Songs: "Kurenai", "Endless Dream", "Lady in Tears" and "Stop Bloody Rain" |
| "Endless Dream" | June 1985 | Same material as "Live" but different track order. |
| "Longing ~Togireta Melody~" | December 30/31, 1994 July 25, 2007 (reissue) |
Songs: "Longing ~Togireta Melody~" and band rehearsal. Originally distributed on cassette at both the Aoi Yoru and Shiroi Yoru concerts. Released on CD in the Aoi Yoru Shiroi Yoru Complete Edition DVD boxset. |
Unreleased songs
edit- "Feel Me Tonight"
- Lyrics by Yoshiki, music by Hally.
- "Install"
- Also known as "Feels Damage".
- "Kill the Violence"
- "Kiss the Sky"
- Planned to be included on the band's unreleased album.
- "L'arme"
- Left-over from the Jealousy album. Part of the song was performed in 2015.
- "Only Way"
- Lyrics by Jun and Toshi, music by Jun.
- "Right Now"
- Written by Jun.
- "Rockstar"
- Planned to be included on the band's unreleased album.
- "Steal Your Heart"
- "Tuneup Baby"
- Written by Jun.
- "White Poem II"
- Sequel to "White Poem I" from the Dahlia album.
Other
edit- Gekitotsu!! – Color, January 1988
- X appear as guests.
- Tokyo Pop, April 15, 1988
- X makes a brief cameo appearance.[27]
- "Kurenai (Original Japanese Version)", June 1988, Extasy
- A flexi disc included in an issue of Rockin' f magazine. Contrary to the title the lyrics are mostly in English. This version does not appear anywhere else.
- Bosutsu! VOS No.9, November 5, 1988
- VHS that came with a magazine. Live clips of X from September 4, 1988, are shown and Yoshiki is interviewed.
- Symphonic Blue Blood, August 21, 1991
- Symphonic album, performed by the Tokyo Academic Chamber Orchestra.
- Unrivaled is Extasy ~ Extasy Summit '91 at Nippon Budokan, February 21, 1992, Extasy
- Live recordings of a 1991 Extasy Summit, held by Extasy Records. Also features Tokyo Yankees, Virus, Luna Sea and several others.
- Symphonic Silent Jealousy, August 26, 1992
- Symphonic album, performed by the Tokyo Academic Chamber Orchestra.
- Orchestra Selection - Blue Blood & Jealousy, November 21, 1992
- Symphonic album, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Minna ga Mumei-Datta, Dakedo... Muteki-Datta ~ Extasy Summit 1992, May 10, 1993, Extasy
- Live recordings of the October 31, 1992, Extasy Summit, held by Extasy Records. X does not perform together, but the members do perform with other acts. Also features Luna Sea, Deep, Media Youth, The Zolge, Tokyo Yankees, Screaming Mad George and Psychosis, Gilles de Rais, Zi:Kill and several others.
- X Japan Virtual Shock 001, October 20, 1995, Sega
- Video game for the Sega Saturn home console. The player takes the role of a fan disguised as a photographer backstage at X Japan's December 31, 1994, concert at the Tokyo Dome (Shiroi Yoru). After collecting several items to gain access and photograph the band members, the player edits a live video of "Rusty Nail" and the game ends with footage from the concert.[28][29]
- X Japan on Piano, May 25, 1998
- Symphonic album, performed by an ensemble of several recognized classical musicians.
- Rose & Blood -Indies of X-, May 2, 2001
- Unofficial compilation album featuring demos from the Jealousy album sessions. The band is credited as "iX".
- Global Metal, June 20, 2008
- Various live clips of X are shown and Yoshiki is interviewed.
- We Are X, January 23, 2016
- Documentary about X Japan and Yoshiki.
References
edit- ^ a b Yang, Jeff; Can, Dina; Hong, Terry (1997). Eastern Standard Time. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 264. ISBN 0-395-76341-X.
- ^ Minnie, Chi. "X Japan Best review". Asia Pacific Arts Online Magazine. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
- ^ Strauss, Neil (June 18, 1998). "The Pop Life: End of a Life, End of an Era". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
- ^ "X Japan Take Home 'Best International Band' Award at Golden Gods=". Loudwire. April 12, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ "X Japan Embark on Their First American Tour". Revolver. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ "X Japan: They're huge (really), and they're (finally) coming to the U.S." Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Indies eXplosion: The Early History of X JAPAN". JRock Revolution. October 29, 2007. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "X JAPANのアルバム売り上げランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "X JAPANのアルバム売上ランキング" [X Japan album sales ranking]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ a b "X、初期のリマスター再発商品2作が好調！". Oricon (in Japanese). February 14, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Japanese album certifications" (Enter X Japan into the アーティスト then select 検索) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ a b "RIAJ CERTIFIED MILLION SELLER ALBUMS". ocn.ne.jp. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
- ^ "[Interview]YOSHIKI: "You Have to Force Your Way Through." (Part One)". barks.jp. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
- ^ "RIAK 2001.07월 - POP 음반 판매량". Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on August 9, 2004. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Gaon chart". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
- ^ "2017년 21주차 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. May 21, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ "X Japan | Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ Physical sales:
- 2017-03-13: "Oricon Album Chart 2017.02.27.-2017.03.05". Oricon. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - 2017-03-20: "Oricon Album Chart 2017.03.06.-2017.03.12". Oricon. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - 2017-03-27: "Oricon Album Chart 2017.03.13.-2017.03.19". Oricon. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - 2017-04-03: "Oricon Album Chart 2017.03.20.-2017.03.26". Oricon. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - 2017-04-10: "Oricon Album Chart 2017.03.27.-2017.04.02". Oricon. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - 2017-04-17: "Oricon Album Chart 2017.04.03.-2017.04.09". Oricon. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
- 2017-03-13: "Oricon Album Chart 2017.02.27.-2017.03.05". Oricon. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ Digital sales:
- 2017-03-13: "Oricon Digital Album Chart 2017.02.27.-2017.03.05". Oricon. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - 2017-03-20: "Oricon Digital Album Chart 2017.03.06.-2017.03.12". Oricon. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
- 2017-03-13: "Oricon Digital Album Chart 2017.02.27.-2017.03.05". Oricon. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ "2017년 06월 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ "X JAPANのシングル売り上げランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ^ "X JAPANのシングル売上ランキング" [X Japan single sales ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ Japan Hot 100:
- "Kurenai". Billboard (in Japanese). Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- "Scarlet Love Song". Billboard (in Japanese). Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- "Jade". Billboard (in Japanese). Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- "Born to Be Free". Billboard (in Japanese). Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "HEAVY METAL FORCE III". amazon.co.jp. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ "SKULL TRASH ZONE I". japan-discoveries.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
- ^ "X JapanのDVD売上ランキング" [X Japan DVD sales ranking]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ "Tokyo Pop (1988)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
- ^ "X Japan Virtual Shock 001 information". GameFAQs.
- ^ "FAQ for X-Japan Virtual Shock 001 (Sega Saturn)". GameFAQs.