LOUDNESS the birthday eve AF-7085-A
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Artist = LOUDNESS
Title = the birthday eve
Label = BLOW UP
Catalog# = AF-7085-A
Barcode = none
Release = JAPAN
Year = 1981
RPM = 33rpm
Disc Size = 12"
Number of Discs = 1
Mono/Stereo = stereo
8trk, akira takasaki
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The Birth of a Legend: Loudness’ ‘The Birthday Eve’ (AF-7085-A)
Let’s travel back to the explosive dawn of Japanese heavy metal with the monumental debut album from Loudness, “The Birthday Eve” (誕生前夜 – Tanjō Zen’ya). Released on November 25, 1981, this 12-inch vinyl LP was issued on the Blow Up label (Nippon Columbia) with the catalog number AF-7085-A.
This album was more than just a debut; it was the “roar of a newborn dinosaur,” signaling the true beginning of Japan’s authentic heavy metal movement. Arriving after guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi shed the pop-idol image of their former band, Lazy, “The Birthday Eve” was a raw, powerful, and uncompromising statement.
Produced by Daikoh Nagato and sound-produced by the band, the album captures Loudness’ raw, punkish energy and “poisonous” atmosphere. The sound is often described as raw, almost like a garage band recorded live, bristling with an early, untamed impulse. Across its eight tracks, the album unleMashes the core elements that would make Loudness legendary: Masayoshi Yamashita’s driving bass, Minoru Niihara’s high-pitched wails and shouts, Higuchi’s developing, powerful drumming, and Takasaki’s stunning, virtuosic guitar work.
From the shocking, progressive opening riff of the title track to energetic anthems like “Sexy Woman,” “I’m On Fire,” and “Rock Shock,” Takasaki’s guitar playing was immediately recognized as being on another level, heavily influenced by Western heroes like Ritchie Blackmore, Michael Schenker, and the emerging Randy Rhoads, yet possessing its own unique fire.
“The Birthday Eve” (AF-7085-A) is not just a historical document; it’s a raw burst of creative energy. It stands as one of the most important debuts in Japanese rock history, capturing the fiery birth of a band that would go on to conquer the world. The first pressing came with a 4-page insert containing liner notes by Masa Ito, lyrics, and credits.