HAMADA, MARI crime of love VIHX-1685

A pivotal single from the career of Japanese rock pioneer Mari Hamada is the focus for this entry. We are looking at her 1986 7-inch single, “Crime Of Love,” released on the Invitation label (Victor) with the catalog number VIHX-1685.

Issued on May 21, 1986, this 45 RPM vinyl holds a special significance in her discography. It marked a departure from her previous high-energy releases, serving as her very first ballad released as a single.

The release features two tracks, both composed by Haward Killy with lyrics by Hamada:
A: Crime Of Love
B: Night Steals

The A-side, “Crime Of Love,” showcases a different side of Hamada. It begins with an emotional melody and deep, expressive vocals, gradually building in intensity to become a grand, dramatic power ballad. This track proved her ability to convey deep emotion, aligning with the power ballad trends sweeping the global hard rock scene at the time.

In sharp contrast, the B-side, “Night Steals,” delivers the driving speed and aggression fans of her early work loved. It is a catchy, high-speed heavy metal tune featuring edgy guitar riffs and Hamada’s powerful, gritty vocals, highlighting her dynamic range.

Crucially for collectors, both songs were originally non-album tracks, not appearing on her studio LPs at the time. VIHX-1685 captures the duality of Mari Hamada’s talent—the emotional balladeer and the heavy metal queen—on a single disc.