"Prince & Japan: 4ever In My Life" is out last week.
In this 240 page book, Kahoru Kohirimaki speaks about her collaboration with Prince for the first time.
She first met him at the backstage of Lovesexy Tour in Japan.

When Prince agreed to write songs for her, he sent her really bad quiality of multi track tapes and asked her to record her vocals on DAT and send them back.
They were so bad and she says it was really hard to sing with.
She believes that it was for not being bootleged.

Her official youtube channel has English version of "Mind Bells" and alternate version of "Bliss".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNWIyEl1a0s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPbnMeYHu9E

[Edited 2/12/19 20:59pm]

I remember reading about their collaboration and hearing the songs a few years back. I wasn't aware of her before. Thanks for sharing

[Edited 2/12/19 21:56pm]

She says that she still has those tapes with Prince's vocals.

She also says that when she was shooting her video "Dreamer" (1989) in LA,

Prince was also shooting a video at the same studio.
She says she met Candy Dulfer there as well so the video must be "Partyman".
She hired female dancers as backing vocalists just for her video but
she later found out that Prince had those two dancers as Diamond and Pearl.

Here is the video "Dreamer". From the start, you see D&P.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTuQ_nWJEAg&pbjreload=10

"Dreamer" was the first single from her album "Time The Motion"
(1989) which includes "Mind Bells" and "Bliss".

[Edited 2/12/19 22:28pm]

amokeru said:

She says that she still has those tapes with Prince's vocals.

She also says that when she was shooting her video "Dreamer" (1989) in LA,

Prince was also shooting a video at the same studio.
She says she met Candy Dulfer there as well so the video must be "Partyman".
She hired female dancers as backing vocalists just for her video but
she later found out that Prince had those two dancers as Diamond and Pearl.

Here is the video "Dreamer". From the start, you see D&P.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTuQ_nWJEAg&pbjreload=10

"Dreamer" was the first single from her album "Time The Motion"
(1989) which includes "Mind Bells" and "Bliss".

[Edited 2/12/19 22:28pm]

Thanks for sharing the video!

pinkcashmere23 said:

amokeru said:

She says that she still has those tapes with Prince's vocals.

She also says that when she was shooting her video "Dreamer" (1989) in LA,

Prince was also shooting a video at the same studio.
She says she met Candy Dulfer there as well so the video must be "Partyman".
She hired female dancers as backing vocalists just for her video but
she later found out that Prince had those two dancers as Diamond and Pearl.

Here is the video "Dreamer". From the start, you see D&P.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTuQ_nWJEAg&pbjreload=10

"Dreamer" was the first single from her album "Time The Motion"
(1989) which includes "Mind Bells" and "Bliss".

[Edited 2/12/19 22:28pm]

Thanks for sharing the video!

U're very welcome!

Thanks!

amokeru said:

pinkcashmere23 said:

Thanks for sharing the video!

U're very welcome!

She has a great voice! I can see why Prince wanted to work with her. I heard his versions of Mind Bells and Bliss somewhere once.

pinkcashmere23 said:

amokeru said:

U're very welcome!

She has a great voice! I can see why Prince wanted to work with her. I heard his versions of Mind Bells and Bliss somewhere once.

She was quite big at that time. Arranger of "Time The Motion" album (except Mind Bells & Bliss) is David Campbell who has worked for hundres of artists/albums including Adele's 21, MJ, Mariah, Bon Jovi etc. He is Beck's father. I personally love "Bliss". Sounds really like Batman era.

[Edited 2/13/19 22:03pm]

amokeru said:

pinkcashmere23 said:

She has a great voice! I can see why Prince wanted to work with her. I heard his versions of Mind Bells and Bliss somewhere once.

She was quite big at that time. Arranger of "Time The Motion" album (except Mind Bells & Bliss) is David Campbell who has worked for hundres of artists/albums including Adele's 21, MJ, Mariah, Bon Jovi etc. He is Beck's father. I personally love "Bliss". Sounds really like Batman era.

[Edited 2/13/19 22:03pm]

Yes,Bliss does have that feel. I like 'Mind Bells' too.

When the book is in English I'd really like to read it. Enough picture books for a while for me.

onlyforaminute said:

When the book is in English I'd really like to read it. Enough picture books for a while for me.

I'd be interested in reading it, too, particularly when it comes to these rather unusual Japanese Paisley Park releases with Kahoru, + it's quite odd how Prince has so many fans in Japan but almost none on the Org, it's like a hidden community of Prince fans.

But is there and English version of this book in the works at all?

amokeru said:

"Prince & Japan: 4ever In My Life" is out last week.
In this 240 page book, Kahoru Kohirimaki speaks about her collaboration with Prince for the first time.
She first met him at the backstage of Lovesexy Tour in Japan.

When Prince agreed to write songs for her, he sent her really bad quiality of multi track tapes and asked her to record her vocals on DAT and send them back.
They were so bad and she says it was really hard to sing with.
She believes that it was for not being bootleged.

Her official youtube channel has English version of "Mind Bells" and alternate version of "Bliss".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNWIyEl1a0s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPbnMeYHu9E

Well, if it was, it didn't work at all

databank said:

onlyforaminute said:

When the book is in English I'd really like to read it. Enough picture books for a while for me.

I'd be interested in reading it, too, particularly when it comes to these rather unusual Japanese Paisley Park releases with Kahoru, + it's quite odd how Prince has so many fans in Japan but almost none on the Org, it's like a hidden community of Prince fans.

But is there and English version of this book in the works at all?

They seem to mostly post on Twitter. I follow a few on there. There was a female fan from Japan that Prince seemed to take a particular liking to and they would often tweet to each other. His tweets to her were usually quite funny.

pinkcashmere23 said:

databank said:

I'd be interested in reading it, too, particularly when it comes to these rather unusual Japanese Paisley Park releases with Kahoru, + it's quite odd how Prince has so many fans in Japan but almost none on the Org, it's like a hidden community of Prince fans.

But is there and English version of this book in the works at all?

They seem to mostly post on Twitter. I follow a few on there. There was a female fan from Japan that Prince seemed to take a particular liking to and they would often tweet to each other. His tweets to her were usually quite funny.

Unfortunately Kahoru Kohiruimaki did not mention how and why her album was released by Paisley.
It is strange since her record company was not Warner Japan...

I'm still in the middle of reading but once I finish, I'll make a new topic and share some interesting stories...

amokeru said:

pinkcashmere23 said:

They seem to mostly post on Twitter. I follow a few on there. There was a female fan from Japan that Prince seemed to take a particular liking to and they would often tweet to each other. His tweets to her were usually quite funny.

Unfortunately Kahoru Kohiruimaki did not mention how and why her album was released by Paisley.
It is strange since her record company was not Warner Japan...

I'm still in the middle of reading but once I finish, I'll make a new topic and share some interesting stories...

Interesting. Did she say how she came to Prince's attention? Looking forward to the stories.

amokeru said:

pinkcashmere23 said:

They seem to mostly post on Twitter. I follow a few on there. There was a female fan from Japan that Prince seemed to take a particular liking to and they would often tweet to each other. His tweets to her were usually quite funny.

Unfortunately Kahoru Kohiruimaki did not mention how and why her album was released by Paisley.
It is strange since her record company was not Warner Japan...

I'm still in the middle of reading but once I finish, I'll make a new topic and share some interesting stories...

Thx

pinkcashmere23 said:

amokeru said:

Unfortunately Kahoru Kohiruimaki did not mention how and why her album was released by Paisley.
It is strange since her record company was not Warner Japan...

I'm still in the middle of reading but once I finish, I'll make a new topic and share some interesting stories...

Interesting. Did she say how she came to Prince's attention? Looking forward to the stories.

I think according to Uptown her manager was also P's Japan tour operator in 88 and he suggested it, but I'm not sure.

databank said:

pinkcashmere23 said:

Interesting. Did she say how she came to Prince's attention? Looking forward to the stories.

I think according to Uptown her manager was also P's Japan tour operator in 88 and he suggested it, but I'm not sure.

Yes, Udo Production is the operator for Lovesexy Tour in Japan.
Kahoru mentioned that she met Sheila through record companies before.
Kahoru's record company was TDK and Warner was distributor.
Sheila invited her to backstage in 1989. (Lovesexy Tour)
Tracks for Kahoru was asked through Udo at that time.

Sheila was as populor as Prince at that time and she was in Japan for concerts in 1985 (solo) and 1986 (opening act of Parade Tour) and she was on several TV commercials (1985-87) as well.

VHS commercial (Hold Me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Fk-rPYInU

VHS commercial (Love On A Blue Train)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn3x6ywUkGk

Kahoru said that she was surprised that tracks had lots of Prince's backing vox left when finished versions came back to her.

amokeru said:

databank said:

I think according to Uptown her manager was also P's Japan tour operator in 88 and he suggested it, but I'm not sure.

Yes, Udo Production is the operator for Lovesexy Tour in Japan.
Kahoru mentioned that she met Sheila through record companies before.
Kahoru's record company was TDK and Warner was distributor.
Sheila invited her to backstage in 1989. (Lovesexy Tour)
Tracks for Kahoru was asked through Udo at that time.

Sheila was as populor as Prince at that time and she was in Japan for concerts in 1985 (solo) and 1986 (opening act of Parade Tour) and she was on several TV commercials (1985-87) as well.

VHS commercial (Hold Me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Fk-rPYInU

VHS commercial (Love On A Blue Train)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn3x6ywUkGk

Kahoru said that she was surprised that tracks had lots of Prince's backing vox left when finished versions came back to her.

I see. I thought it was probably through a mutuial connection. I didn't know that Sheila was in several commercials back then. Thanks for the links!

amokeru said:

databank said:

I think according to Uptown her manager was also P's Japan tour operator in 88 and he suggested it, but I'm not sure.

Yes, Udo Production is the operator for Lovesexy Tour in Japan.
Kahoru mentioned that she met Sheila through record companies before.
Kahoru's record company was TDK and Warner was distributor.
Sheila invited her to backstage in 1989. (Lovesexy Tour)
Tracks for Kahoru was asked through Udo at that time.

Sheila was as populor as Prince at that time and she was in Japan for concerts in 1985 (solo) and 1986 (opening act of Parade Tour) and she was on several TV commercials (1985-87) as well.

VHS commercial (Hold Me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Fk-rPYInU

VHS commercial (Love On A Blue Train)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn3x6ywUkGk

Kahoru said that she was surprised that tracks had lots of Prince's backing vox left when finished versions came back to her.

Thx

I wonder if I should add this Love On A Blue Train snippet to the discography website

I guess I should not but she speaks over it so it makes it an alternate mix, doesn't it

Any idea when that specific ad was aired, I mean it has to be late 86 or 87, but do you by any chance remember more specifically?

databank said:

amokeru said:

Yes, Udo Production is the operator for Lovesexy Tour in Japan.
Kahoru mentioned that she met Sheila through record companies before.
Kahoru's record company was TDK and Warner was distributor.
Sheila invited her to backstage in 1989. (Lovesexy Tour)
Tracks for Kahoru was asked through Udo at that time.

Sheila was as populor as Prince at that time and she was in Japan for concerts in 1985 (solo) and 1986 (opening act of Parade Tour) and she was on several TV commercials (1985-87) as well.

VHS commercial (Hold Me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Fk-rPYInU

VHS commercial (Love On A Blue Train)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn3x6ywUkGk

Kahoru said that she was surprised that tracks had lots of Prince's backing vox left when finished versions came back to her.

Thx

I wonder if I should add this Love On A Blue Train snippet to the discography website

I guess I should not but she speaks over it so it makes it an alternate mix, doesn't it

Any idea when that specific ad was aired, I mean it has to be late 86 or 87, but do you by any chance remember more specifically?

There is same VHS commercial with A Love Bizarre, I believe it was aired in 1985, but I can't find it on youtube. Love On A Blue Train was released in Japan in summer of 1986 (much earlier than 3rd album release because of commercial). 12" inch was also released, that was called "The Glamourous Club EP" including LOABT (Full Version/longer than album ver), Sister Fate (Extended Version), The Belle Of St. Mark (Dance Remix) & The Glamorous Life (Club Edit). This EP was later released on CD in Japan as you might know!
So VHS commercial with A Love Bizarre in 85, LOABT in 86 and Hold Me in 87. Can't remember how long they were showing but mid to late 80's, I do remember that Sheila, Janet and Madonna were doing commercials for VHS at the same time. Yes, Sheila was huge. You can find those (Janet & Madonna's) on youtube. Quite funny to watch! Very 80's.
I was always wondering if Sheila shot the full music video for LOABT for this commercial...

amokeru said:[quote]

Unfortunately Kahoru Kohiruimaki did not mention how and why her album was released by Paisley.
It is strange since her record company was not Warner Japan...

I'm still in the middle of reading but once I finish, I'll make a new topic and share some interesting stories...

[/quote]

I’d be interested in hearing them, thank you

Excellent thread. Thank you for all of this.

amokeru said:

databank said:

Thx

I wonder if I should add this Love On A Blue Train snippet to the discography website

I guess I should not but she speaks over it so it makes it an alternate mix, doesn't it

Any idea when that specific ad was aired, I mean it has to be late 86 or 87, but do you by any chance remember more specifically?

There is same VHS commercial with A Love Bizarre, I believe it was aired in 1985, but I can't find it on youtube. Love On A Blue Train was released in Japan in summer of 1986 (much earlier than 3rd album release because of commercial). 12" inch was also released, that was called "The Glamourous Club EP" including LOABT (Full Version/longer than album ver), Sister Fate (Extended Version), The Belle Of St. Mark (Dance Remix) & The Glamorous Life (Club Edit). This EP was later released on CD in Japan as you might know!
So VHS commercial with A Love Bizarre in 85, LOABT in 86 and Hold Me in 87. Can't remember how long they were showing but mid to late 80's, I do remember that Sheila, Janet and Madonna were doing commercials for VHS at the same time. Yes, Sheila was huge. You can find those (Janet & Madonna's) on youtube. Quite funny to watch! Very 80's.
I was always wondering if Sheila shot the full music video for LOABT for this commercial...

Thx

I checked and LOABT and the EP were released in March 86, that's earlier than I remembered and indeed almost a year before the album! I wonder if any fans in the Western world knew about back then!

I wish we could find this Love Bizarre commercial.

Madonna had a few remix EP's exclusive to Japan too circa 86, though IDK if this was connected to the ads you mention.

It's funny how Japanese releases often have some extra tracks or exclusive releases. Do you know why artists and labels cherish Japan like this?

I'm a huge fan of Japanese electronic music BTW. Over the years I've discovered a myriad of Japanese artists that are quite unknown in the West despite making incredible music. Japan has had one of the most creative music scenes in the world for over 40 years and it's a real pity the world isn't too aware of it

databank said:

It's funny how Japanese releases often have some extra tracks or exclusive releases. Do you know why artists and labels cherish Japan like this?

New CDs are still quite expensive in Japan (roughly $25-30 at retail, compared to only $10-15 in the U.S.) and, judging by my music shopping in Tokyo last year, they are still the dominant format there. I've read that the Japanese editions often include extra tracks to encourage their purchase over imports that might be cheaper but have fewer songs.

Oddly enough, despite the disparity in the cost of new CDs, I found that used CDs were pretty much in the same price range as at home. Since it's easy to remove the jewel cases to minimize luggage space, I bought loads of them. I was amazed at the vinyl selection in many stores, but I refrained from buying as much vinyl because it's harder to travel with. I also went to a great live Prince tribute while I was in Tokyo. That was such a fun trip! I want to go back.