LOUDNESS long distance / good things going P-3607

Echoes of an Era’s End: Loudness’ ‘Long Distance Love’ Single (P-3607)

Today we look at another significant release from Japanese heavy metal giants Loudness, capturing them near the end of a major chapter. This is their 12-inch vinyl single featuring “Long Distance Love,” released in Japan on Warner-Pioneer Corporation with the catalog number P-3607, promo/sample pressing with obi.

Issued in 1988, this 45 RPM single arrived around the same time as their “Jealousy” EP. It features two tracks sung entirely in Japanese: the A-side “Long Distance Love” and the B-side “Good Things Going.” These songs showcase the classic Loudness lineup delivering their signature powerful and melodic heavy metal sound – Minoru Niihara’s soaring vocals, Akira Takasaki’s virtuosic guitar playing, Masayoshi Yamashita’s solid bass, and Munetaka Higuchi’s dynamic drumming.

Like the “Jealousy” EP, this single is historically important as it represents some of the final studio recordings featuring original vocalist Minoru Niihara before his departure from the band later that year. It captures the potent energy and musical chemistry of the lineup that first achieved international fame.

P-3607 is a valuable item for Loudness collectors, offering two strong tracks from a transitional period and serving as another document of the original lineup’s final contributions before a significant change.