Variety (Mariya Takeuchi album) explained

Variety
Type:studio
Artist:Mariya Takeuchi
Cover:Variety (Mariya Takeuchi) cover.jpeg
Recorded:July 1983 - January 1984
Genre:J-pop
Length:42:14
Language:Japanese, English
Label:Moon Records
Producer:Tatsuro Yamashita
Prev Title:Viva Mariya!
Prev Year:1982
Next Title:Request
Next Year:1987

Variety is the sixth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi. It was released on 25 April 1984[1] through Moon Records. Variety is considered as Takeuchi's "comeback" album after being on hiatus since 1981,[2] [3] and is the first album entirely written by her.[4] The album is produced by Takeuchi's husband, Tatsuro Yamashita.[4]

To international audiences, Variety is known for containing "Plastic Love" which, although only seeing moderate success in Japan when it was released as a single in 1985, saw a resurgence in popularity internationally in 2017 after a remix was uploaded to YouTube.[2]

Production and release

Takeuchi's five albums released before Variety were mostly written by other songwriters which, although they featured industry stars such as Haruomi Hosono and members of Toto, left her feeling "exhausted".[2] She went on hiatus at the end of 1981 due to a sore throat, as well as to marry Yamashita in 1982.[2] [5]

During her break, Yamashita left his record label, RCA Records, for the newly-founded Moon Records. Meanwhile, Takeuchi began writing some of the songs which would be included in Variety. Yamashita originally planned for Takeuchi's comeback album to be written by other songwriters, but changed his mind after listening to some of Takeuchi's work.[6] A promotional single, "Mou Ichido", was released on 10 April 1984, followed by a full release on 25 April.[1] [7] The album topped the Oricon Albums Chart.[6]

A 30th Anniversary edition of the album was released on 19 November 2014. The version included a previously unreleased track,, both club remixes from the single release of "Plastic Love", and karaoke versions of four tracks.[8] [9]

The 30th Anniversary edition of the album became available on music streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify on 3 November 2021, the same date when the 2021 vinyl reissue was released.[10]

Charts

Weekly charts

YearAlbumChartPositionSales
1984VarietyOricon Weekly LP Albums Chart1316,000[11]
Oricon Weekly CT Albums Chart2167,000
2014Variety "30th Anniversary Edition"Oricon Weekly Albums Chart13[12]
2021Variety "2021 Vinyl Edition"6[13]

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: アルバム・ディスコグラフィー MOON/WARNER編 (1984-現在) . Mariya Takeuchi Official Website . 21 May 2020 . ja . 10 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181210110930/https://www.mariyat.co.jp/albums_moon.html . dead .
  2. News: St. Michel . Patrick . Mariya Takeuchi: The pop genius behind 2018's surprise online smash hit from Japan . 21 May 2020 . . 17 November 2018.
  3. Web site: 竹内まりや 『もう一度』 . . 19 May 2016 . . 21 May 2020 . ja.
  4. (1984). Album notes for Variety by Mariya Takeuchi, vinyl back cover. Tokyo: Moon Records (MOCT-28011)
  5. Web site: 戻ってきた竹内まりや!80年代を代表する神アルバム「VARIETY」 . Re:minder . 21 May 2020 . ja . 14 September 2018.
  6. Web site: 天辰保文 . 1984年5月7日竹内まりや『VARIETY』がオリコン・アルバム・チャート1位を記録~世界的に再評価されている「プラスティック・ラブ」収録 . . 21 May 2020 . ja . 7 May 2019.
  7. Web site: シングル・ディスコグラフィー [Part 1] (1978-1989) ]. Mariya Takeuchi Official Website . 21 May 2020 . ja . 10 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181210111113/https://www.mariyat.co.jp/singles_01.html . dead .
  8. Web site: Variety -30th Anniversary Edition . . 21 May 2020 . ja.
  9. Web site: 【CD】 ヴァラエティ 30th Anniversary Edition . . 21 May 2020 . ja.
  10. Web site: 竹内まりや Official Web Site. 2021-11-04. 竹内まりや Official Web Site. ja.
  11. Web site: 竹内まりや . Japanese . June 28, 2023 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120208074544/http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp:80/~yamag/album/al_takeuti.html . February 8, 2012 .
  12. Web site: Variety(30th Anniversary Edition) . . 21 May 2020 . ja.
  13. Web site: Variety(2021 Vinyl Edition) . . 10 November 2021 . ja.
  14. Web site: 年間アルバムヒットチャート 1984年. Japanese. Private Life エンタメデータ&ランキング. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20131023124152/http://entamedata.web.fc2.com/music/music_a1984.html. October 23, 2013. dead.