Go Ahead! is the third studio album by Tatsuro Yamashita, released by RCA in December 1978. Written off by some at the time as disorganised, it introduced the eclectic approach that shaped his later records, and its track “Bomber” became an Osaka disco hit.[1]
Background
Although Yamashita was in demand as a session and commercial musician, his RCA albums had not met the label’s sales expectations, and he privately thought Go Ahead! might be his last record.[1] Ryuzo “Junior” Kosugi directed the sessions, and every song was arranged by Yamashita himself.[1]
Release and legacy
After “Bomber” caught on in an Osaka disco, a promotional single of the song was issued in 1979.[1] “Let’s Dance Baby”, “Bomber” and “The Whispering Sea” were later collected on a 1982 greatest-hits album, and Harry Nilsson’s “This Could Be the Night” was re-recorded for Big Wave in 1984.[1] A 2002 remaster with three bonus tracks reached No. 25 on Oricon.[1]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Overture” | 0:47 | |
| 2. | “Love Celebration” | James Ragan | 4:25 |
| 3. | “Let’s Dance Baby” | Osamu Yoshioka | 4:14 |
| 4. | “Monday Blue” | Tatsuro Yamashita | 7:12 |
| 5. | “Follow Me Along”ついておいで | Minako Yoshida | 4:51 |
| 6. | “Bomber” | Minako Yoshida | 5:56 |
| 7. | “The Whispering Sea”潮騒 | Minako Yoshida | 4:22 |
| 8. | “Paper Doll” | Tatsuro Yamashita | 3:28 |
| 9. | “This Could Be the Night” | Harry Nilsson | 3:55 |
| 10. | “2000t of Rain”2000トンの雨 | Tatsuro Yamashita | 3:09 |
All music by Tatsuro Yamashita except where noted. Lengths from the 2002 reissue.
Personnel
- Tatsuro Yamashita – vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion, arranger, producer
- Yutaka Uehara – drums
- Akihiro Tanaka – bass
- Kazuo Shiina – electric guitar
- Hiroyuki Namba – keyboards
- Ryuichi Sakamoto – synthesizers, piano
- Hiroshi Sato – keyboards
- Minako Yoshida – background vocals
- Ryuzo Kosugi – director, background vocals, percussion
References
- “Go Ahead! (Tatsuro Yamashita album)”. Wikipedia. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
From the community
Nothing here yet — be the first to add a photo, a link or a pressing note.
Contribute to this page
Loading…