Japan

[Zuzana]

This song seems to stick out from the Pogues repertoire strikingly. Does anybody know who wrote it?

[philipchevron]

It's from a 1967 album TAUHID by jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, who was a sideman for John Coltrane at the time.

[Zuzana]

Thank you!
By the way, why did the band pick up the tune? Is there any story to it?

[philipchevron]

Not really, we were in Japan, Shane and Jem had been listening to a lot of jazz, everything Coltrane-related in particular. We tried the tune at a soundcheck, it kinda worked, so it went into the show.

Not all such experiments worked. We did "We built this city on rock n roll" at the soundcheck of one of our Fillmore West, (San Francisco) dates. Suffice to say, it never made it into the show!

[Zuzana]

Thanks a lot for info! "Japan" is cool, just a bit unexpected. Huge pity "We built this city on rock n roll" never made it to public!

[Kriss]

ok, so how would you say shane's 'lyrics' for Japan are? I hear a sort of 'aw yaw yaw yaw yaw, aw yaw yaw yaw yaw yaw. LOL


scott

Something like that, though they would of course be Pharaoh Saunders' lyrics, not Shane's.

The jazz saxophone player?

[philipchevron]

ok, so how would you say shane's 'lyrics' for Japan are? I hear a sort of 'aw yaw yaw yaw yaw, aw yaw yaw yaw yaw yaw. LOL


scott

Something like that, though they would of course be Pharaoh Saunders' lyrics, not Shane's.

The jazz saxophone player?

Well, "Japan" is his number. Ours is a mere cover version.

[Kriss]

ok, so how would you say shane's 'lyrics' for Japan are? I hear a sort of 'aw yaw yaw yaw yaw, aw yaw yaw yaw yaw yaw. LOL


scott

Something like that, though they would of course be Pharaoh Saunders' lyrics, not Shane's.

The jazz saxophone player?

Well, "Japan" is his number. Ours is a mere cover version.

Very cool. Here's a link for the uniformed (like myself).

http://www.jazz.com/music/2008/3/18/pha ... ders-japan

[DzM]

A short sample is here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W0 ... thwaoft-20

Full track is here:
http://www.last.fm/music/Pharoah+Sanders/_/Japan