山下達郎* – Ride On Time = ライドオン・タイム

Listening to the 2002 CD and I feel like there is not much high end frequency in the music. Is that normal for the other releases? I don't do vinyl, so I won't be buying it to compare. I was wondering if the earlier CDs sound better.

What's the best CD version to buy? I don't like remasters if the only thing they do is make the music loud. Help?

Masterpiece of an album and a great sounding cd, so glad to have this in my collection.

I've picked up all the 2023 RCA remasters for Tatsuro. Unfortunately this album in particular stands out for more noise and flat sound staging compared to the other remasters.

Still worth a pickup and will listen often, but definitely the ugly child of the family.

Tatsuro Yamashita's Ride On Time is a landmark album that perfectly captures the sound of Japanese city pop. Released in 1980, this record is a vibrant blend of funk, soul, and disco, showcasing Yamashita's incredible musicality and his knack for crafting infectious grooves and unforgettable melodies.

From the moment the needle drops, Ride On Time transports you to the neon-lit streets of 1980s Tokyo. The title track, with its irresistible bassline and soaring vocals, is an instant classic that has become synonymous with the city pop genre. The album is full of gems. "Someday," with its dreamy atmosphere and yearning lyrics, perfectly blends catchy pop sensibilities with sophisticated songwriting. "Daydream" is a breezy slice of sunshine, while "Silent Screamer" showcases Yamashita's funkier side.

Yamashita's meticulous production shines through. Every instrument is perfectly placed, every vocal harmony is impeccably executed, and the overall sound is crisp and vibrant. This attention to detail is one of the reasons why Ride On Time continues to sound so fresh and exciting decades after its release.

The album's legacy is undeniable. It's been cited as a major influence by countless artists, and its songs have been featured in numerous films, television shows, and commercials. Even today, Ride On Time continues to find new fans, proving that great music truly transcends time.

Ride On Time is a masterpiece of Japanese city pop. It's an album that perfectly captures the energy and optimism of a bygone era, while also sounding remarkably fresh and relevant today. Whether you're a longtime fan of city pop or simply looking for some great music to groove to, Ride On Time is an essential listen.

Tatsuro's best release, commercially. Extremely cohesive and musical, a textbook for Citypop or even commercial music writing/production. Love every song from this album.

Solid mastering by guru Tohru Koetsu. Rich, smooth and dynamic. Pretty forgiving, playback on any system should sounds good.

Music: 5/5 (Masterpiece)
Sound: 5/5 (Masterpiece)
Sleeve: 4/5 (Good, As Expected For A Japan Release)

Equipment: Technics SL-1200MK3, Technics EPC-205CII + Jico SAS/B, Schiit Mani 2

The album sounds great BUT not as great as other Japanese city pop repressings I have acquired. Long story short, when you listen to it it doesn't make you go and say "wow, this is why I like vinyl so much".

It is dead-quiet and there is a clean separation of the instruments BUT like others have mentioned below, it sounds a little bit flat and somewhat compressed.

It still beats LOTS of repressings manufactured in the West but when you compare it to other recent Japanese re-releases such as the ones from Masayoshi Takanaka or maybe even the ones from Project Re:Vinyl, it sounds subpar.

Still I would say it is (very) worth it if you can find the album in its retail price!

Sounds great. A little bit of distortion on the title track, but I don't know if that's due to wear or my setup being not the greatest. Other than that, it sounds fantastic and I am very glad I got the original press for this album.

Unfortunately, I’m not having the same positive experience with this release as some are having. While the remastering isn’t terrible, the way that it presents on vinyl lacks the depth of an all-analog reissue or even a digital remaster like the reissues of the Yellow Magic Orchestra records back in 2018—as in, one with an immense amount of care put into it to recreate (and sur) the original experience of listening to those records on vinyl.

My main problem here isn’t just the mastering, however; my copy suffers from some serious inner groove distortion. The entirety of the title track is plagued with some very noticeable mid/high distortion and crunch—to the point where I just about turned off my record player. Sad to say, this one wasn’t as good as the For You and Spacy reissues, where I’d give them a 3.5-4/5, I have to give this one a 2/5.

My setup:
Rega Planar 6 > Rega Fono MC MkIII > Yamaha AS301 > Klipsch RP-8000F II

Sound: quite good sound quality and very good volume, no surface noise at all.

I agree wth previous commenter that it sounds quite flat, especially the singing