On Through the Night, Def Leppard's debut album, established the band as one of the leading lights of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. While possessing the tight, controlled attack of comrades Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, Def Leppard was uninterested in the fantastic, menacing, and sometimes gothic themes of those bands; instead, On Through the Night is a collection of working-class hard rock anthems informed by the big, glittering hooks of glam rock. It may lack the detailed production and more pop-oriented songwriting of later efforts, but it's also arguably their heaviest album, and some Leppard fans prefer this sound.
In 1969, legendary psychedelic/early progressive rock band Baba Scholae recorded an album at IBC Sound Recording Studios in London - however, it was never officially released. The band's leader was Jean-Yves Labat de Rossi, better known as M Frog, the synth and keyboard maestro on Todd Rungren's early Utopia albums and coincidentally, the founder of the Ad Vitam label. Only three copies (acetates) of 69 where made, but the album's cult following lasts to this day. Often compared to the work of King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Soft Machine and Gong, Baba Scholae's 69 is truly a ''lost and found again'' masterpiece with music that was years ahead of its time. For a gem like this to have been buried for 43 years is nothing short of extraordinary.
Japan issue with 5 tracks, including the 4 tracks on the standard issue, plus the killer 5th track, a 10+ minute live version of Stormy Monday (featuring Albert King). Track 5 recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, London.
Lonesome Crow (The Original Scorpions with a different running order for a Japanese release in 1981 and its first-ever CD issue in 1986) is the debut album by the German hard rock band Scorpions. It was recorded soon after Scorpions became a fully professional band under the production of Conny Plank, apparently in only six or seven days, and released February 1972 in West Germany as the soundtrack to the German anti-drug movie Das Kalte Paradies, and May 1973 in the United States. The album had several different cover art sleeves and was re-titled Action for its initial release in Scandinavia, The Scorpions for one 1976 release, and The Original Scorpions with a different running order for a Japanese release in 1981 and its first-ever CD issue in 1986.
Japan issue with 5 tracks, including the 4 tracks on the standard issue, plus the killer 5th track, a 10+ minute live version of Stormy Monday (featuring Albert King). Track 5 recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, London.
Whitney Dancin' Special also known as just Dancin' Special, is the first extended play/remix album by American R&B/pop singer Whitney Houston, it was released exclusively in Japan on November 1, 1986 by Arista Records. It was manufactured and distributed by Nippon Phonogram during its original release, and by BMG Victor during its re-issue. It includes 5 remixed and 1 instrumental versions of songs from her self-titled debut album. The album peaked at #14 in the Japanese charts.