竹内まりや* – Plastic Love = プラスティック・ラブ

out of my 1,000+ record collection, this one absolutely blows everything out of the water. The care and detail that went into the dynamics, mastering, and design is completely nuts - even by JP standards. I don't think my ears have ever heard a better pressing of anything. I cried the first time I played it.

The tic tack toe on the cover though. Mmmm a million stars!!!

By far my favorite Japanese song. Something id listen to at 2 am on the NYC subway as I watch the city lights go by

I really don’t get the hate towards the extended mix. Yes the original version, unedited is obviously superior and the ‘remix’ sounds of it’s time and does sound a bit dated but for me, adds to the charm. Either way this is a welcome and more affordable way to get this City Pop classic on vinyl

This 12" is actually... worth it?!

I've been wanting this record for over five years at this point, but I was disappointed by the high prices and lack of reviews or YouTube videos illustrating its sound quality. The only thing I had was one random copy I found online that wasn't a great rip. But I recently found a copy at a fair price and decided to give it a spin. Never have I regretted such an expensive record less.

The fidelity on this 12" is actually unbelievable. Fundamentally, 12" singles at 45 rpm are going to sound better than LPs, since they're cut wide and played fast, but I wasn't prepared for auditory perfection. The bass is full and big. The mid-range is clear and can be a bit heavy at times, but it's not overpowering. The treble is sharp and lively, only enhancing the hi-hats and the airy English refrain. It has big sound but doesn't seem to be compressed much. It actually took me multiple listens of my digitization to realize that there was some sibilance on my copy! It was hidden so well that I didn't even hear it. Note that this record was recorded and mixed analog and mastered digitally... to me, it sounds like the best of both analog warmth and digital fidelity. It sounds like a well-done digital transfer of the master tape, which is really the highest compliment I can give to an old record. And I'm talking about when I played it on a turntable that cost me less than this record (an AT-LP60). I could only imagine how good it would sound on high end equipment.

This made me realize that I had been overlooking the Tatsuro Yamashita remix for the better part of a decade. Like many, I had dismissed the extended club mix as a tacky, dated edit. But it's actually a GENIUS mix. It focuses on Jun Aoyama's drums (accentuated by engineer Yasuo Satoh's amazing room tone) and Yamashita's rhythm guitars, in an attempt to keep the plastic beat going throughout. If you lock into the drums, you can really hear what Yamashita was going for - a mix that emotionally represents the lyrics and mindset of the character Takeuchi plays. It makes the emotional climax of the song (the English part) more rewarding than the 5 minute album-length versions or even the 8 minute YouTube edit. That being said, there are times when it's easier to just put on a regular mix.

There's really no solid alternative to this 12". The "new re-mix" has only been reissued once: both were bonus tracks on the 30th anniversary edition CD [WPCL-12007], which was subjected to brickwall limiting and in turn sounds lifeless. The 2021 repress of the extended club mix appears to still have some extra compression on it. The extended club mix was also reissued on an extremely rare 1989 CD single which I don't have. The other 1989 Takeuchi CD singles I have suggest that it lacks added compression but doesn't sound as strong as this record.

This 12" is absolutely worth paying the high prices for... if you're an audiophile. I can't really justify buying this casually when the 2021 represses and even the original 1984 LP sell for less. But this is my new reference record, beating out every other record I own from the 1980's. It didn't disappoint.

everybody should have this version. not so big difference between this to original 12inch.
Price would be 3 times (or more) different.
Sound is amazing.

People weren't kidding when they said this pressing sounds amazing, get it while you can!

I'm no audiophile but the dynamics on this blew me away.

This B side sounds like how ice cold Pepsi tastes, shimmering highs and a well rounded bottom mix. The A side is fiiine i'm just not a big fan of the vocal blasts in the second half.

It's hard to convince yourself to pay 35+ dollars for one song, on one side of the disc, but this one may be worth it. Near perfect sound.

You will not regret getting this reissue. A win for all city pop lovers, and then some.