Eternal Melody

Overview

In 1991, was released his first album, classical compilation Yoshiki Selection, which included various classical works, and Yoshiki decided to put his band's, X Japan, pre-existing songs into an orchestral context. In 1992, was additionally inspired by Keith Jarrett's album The Köln Concert, and began learning about the Jazz improvisation, as well orchestration.

The album was recorded in February, 1993, at the Air Lyndhurst Hall recording studio in London, owned by English record producer Sir George Martin, and mastered at the Abbey Road Studios. The music was written by Yoshiki, produced by George Martin and co-arranged with Gavin Greenaway and Graham Preskett, while performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Besides including orchestral arrangements of X Japan songs, it contains two new songs, "Overture" and "Amethyst", as well.

It was followed by Eternal Melody II in 2005.

Release

It was released on 21 April 1993, by Toshiba-EMI. In the initial counting week of May, it reached number six on the Oricon charts, with sales of 83,740 copies. In the second week reached number nine, with sales of 31,940 copies, in the third week reached number fourteen, with sales of 15,050 copies, and in the fourth week reached number twenty-five, with sales of 9,030 copies, and charted overall for six weeks. It was again released on December 27, 2001, by Polydor.

Single release

On November 3, were released two singles written and co-produced by Yoshiki, "Amethyst" and "Ima wo Dakishimete", with the second being a karaoke adaptation of the second orchestral song from the first single, which wasn't included in the album.

The first single was released by Toshiba-EMI, as the single of London Philharmonic Orchestra, and co-produced by George Martin, while the second single was released by BMG Japan, and name credit went to TBS, as was the theme song for their drama Tetteiteki ni Ai wa..., and co-produced with drama director Endo Tamaki (from TBS).

In the third counting week of November, they reached number five and three on the charts, with sales of 74,740 and 85,610 copies, and charted for five and eighteen weeks. In 1994, "Ima wo Dakishimete" was the 35th annual best-selling single, with sales of 581,610 copies, and won the "Excellence award" at the 36th Japan Record Awards.

The song "Amethyst" was included in his second classical compilation, Yoshiki Selection II, and with "Ima wo Dakishimete" in his second classical studio album, Eternal Melody II.

Track listing

All music composed by Yoshiki, and arrangers noted.

Recording personnel