Yellow Magic Orchestra
ListenFirecracker · 1978
Yellow Magic Orchestra — “Firecracker,” 2018 Bob Ludwig remaster of the album recording.
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1978 · Alfa
Yellow Magic Orchestra
For Haruomi Hosono, the electronic future could begin with a record he remembered from childhood. Yellow Magic Orchestra’s debut reimagined Martin Denny’s “Firecracker” alongside sounds drawn from the new world of video games. [1]
| Accession | OMMA-0092 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Yellow Magic Orchestra |
| Release | 1978 · Japan |
| Label | Alfa · ALR-6012 |
| Format | 12-inch vinyl LP |
| Issue | Japanese misprint edition |
| Runouts | Not documented |
| Recorded grade | E |
Release history and significance
Hosono had listened to Denny on the radio as a boy. Years later, he sought out that music again, even asking a collector for a cassette when he could not find the record. With Yukihiro Takahashi and Ryuichi Sakamoto, he wanted to discover what happened when “Firecracker” passed through electronic instruments and computer-assisted music-making. [1]
The games mattered just as much. Hosono recalled recreating their effects with synthesizers because those noises belonged inside the music. Alfa’s president initially encouraged the musicians toward fusion; the group was excited by something the label did not yet quite understand. [1]
The Japanese album appeared on 25 November 1978. Hosono produced it, with Hideki Matsutake credited for programming. Sakamoto’s “Tong Poo,” Takahashi’s “La Femme Chinoise” and Hosono’s compositions sit beside the Denny adaptation, bringing distinct musical backgrounds into one ensemble. [2]
Market context
Discogs lists sales for the ALR-6012 misprint edition from US$19.34 to US$190.00, with a median of US$76.75, as recorded on 14 September 2026. [2]
Physical Description
Japanese black-vinyl LP with red Alfa labels, obi and inserts. This misprint edition has “Rroduced by” in the back-cover credit. The original obi gives Hosono’s name particular prominence. [2]
Condition
The disc was graded Excellent, with light marks. The sleeve was graded Near Mint, with the obi and all inserts present.
Provenance
Acquired through Discogs from seller vinyldeliveryservice on 13 February 2026.
Sources
- Red Bull Music Academy, Haruomi Hosono lecture. Tokyo, 2014. Hosono on Martin Denny, video-game sounds and the first YMO album.
- Discogs, Yellow Magic Orchestra — Yellow Magic Orchestra, release 13730123. Release reference and sales statistics consulted 14 September 2026.
Catalogue text reviewed 14 September 2026.