King Records Japan QS / CD-4 LPs (including A&M, ABC, Barclay, CTI, London, Project 3, Vanguard, U/A etc.)

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steelydave

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I know this won't really be revelatory to many given that the King Japan quad LPs are well known amongst collectors, but when I was trying to get to the bottom of the (then mysterious) quad reels that King released I started putting together a spreadsheet of all of their quad LPs for myself just so I had a full idea of the scope of what they released. King was (and is) one of the largest labels in Japan, and in addition to their own domestic product, much like their competitor JVC (aka Japanese RCA) they also manufactured and distributed quad product for a myriad of US and European labels.

I thought I'd share my findings here, for a few reasons. The main one is just from a historical perspective, I found it interesting to see the label's entire quad output collated in one place. But also, I wanted to make it easier for people searching for this stuff to be able to find it. Rather than just take all of what's known about these albums at face value, over the last 2 years or so by searching through discogs and QQ listings, ebay and Yahoo! japanese auction listings, I laid eyes on images of every single release in this series and did my own independent verification that the information we have about them is right.

My research led to a couple of interesting (well, depending on how much you care about this obscure nonsense) findings.

One is that some of the catalog numbers listed in @Mark Anderson 's (glorious) quad discographies (and elsewhere online) are occasionally incorrect - some of these albums have a bracketed letter in their catalog number that indicate what label they're licensed from, and most quad listings of these albums don't reflect that. For example Tom Jones' Body and Soul is usually listed as "4D-12" but its actual catalog number is "4D (L)-12" - there are several other albums like this.

The other is with their series of about 40 QS releases of Japanese artists domestic market in the "4K" series. Of everything listed below, these were the hardest ones to track down information about, due to the fact that the catalog numbers are short, and with the proliferation of 4K televisions, searching for one of them brings back so many unrelated results (for example, google "4K-8" and you get 833,000 of them) that it's basically impossible to find what you're looking for. I also noticed as I did start to track these LPs down that the majority of the album covers were entirely in Japanese with no English writing at all, which presents problems in the era of the Google search. To further complicate things, it appears that all of the English translations of these artist and album names that circulate now seem to stem from a 3-page advertisement that Sansui ran in the March 30th 1974 issue of Billboard (pages 35-37 if you want to look at it) entitled "The Complete Works of QS 4-Channel Stereo" which purported to list everything released in QS worldwide. While these translations are half-decent in terms of conveying the meaning of a title, a lot of them aren't exact - imagine if you were searching for Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon but it had been translated as Rose Froid Light-absent Perspective of the Lunar Object. That's the kind of thing we're dealing with here. So, like I did with my Crown Japan discography, for Japanese artists and/or album titles in this list, I've included the Japanese kanji along with my own translation of the text, which is about 95% Google Translate and 5% small adjustments based on my gut instinct. For anyone searching for these albums, I suggest you just plug the Japanese characters into Google along with maybe the catalog number as well.


A&M/Ode QS LPs

CATALOG #ARTISTTITLEORIGINAL LABEL
4A-1Burt BacharachLive In JapanA&M
4A-2Carole KingMusicOde
4A-3Joan BaezCome From The ShadowsA&M


London Records QS LPs

CATALOG #ARTISTTITLEORIGINAL LABEL
4L-1Werner MullerLive In TokyoLondon
4L(J)-2Stomu Yamash'taRed BuddhaLondon


ABC / Barclay Command / Project 3 / Vanguard QS LPs

CATALOG #ARTISTTITLEORIGINAL LABEL
4R-1Enoch LightElectronic MusicProject 3
4R-2Buffy Sainte-MarieIlluminationsVanguard
4R-3Various ArtistsThis Is The 4 Channel Stereo Record
4チャンネル・ステレオ・レコードのすべて
Vanguard
4R-4Enoch LightPermissive Polyphonics (obi says "Challenge To 4-Channel" in Japanese)Project 3
4R-5Joan BaezDavid's AlbumVanguard
4R-6Enoch LightSpanish StringsProject 3
4R-7Enoch LightBig Band Hits of the 30's (obi says "Golden Swing Era" in Japanese)Project 3
4R-8B.B. KingLive In JapanABC
4R-9Ray Charles SingersSunrise, Sunset (alternate title for 'Love Me with All Your Heart')Command
4R-10Count BasieBroadway Basie's…WayCommand
4R-11Doc SeverinsenGolden Trumpet Sounds (alternate title for 'Fever')Command
4R-12Larry CoryellAt The Village GateVanguard
4R-13/14Joan BaezBlessed Are… (2 LP)Vanguard
4R-15Country Joe & The FishThe Life & Times Of…Vanguard
4R-16Charles AznavourLive In JapanBarclay
4R-17Enoch LightBrass SpectacularProject 3
4R-18Enoch LightBrass Menagerie 1973Project 3
4R-19Worlds Greatest JazzbandExtra!Project 3
4R-20Buffy Sainte-MarieMoonshotVanguard
4R-21Enoch LightGolden Movie Hits!Project 3
4R-22Stelvio Cipriani OrchestraCipriani Screen MoodKing
4R-23Eddie Barclay Grand OrchestraGrand Orchestra SymphoniqueBarclay
4R-24Raymond Lefevre OrchestraLive In JapanBarclay
4R-25Phil BodnerBrass RingProject 3
____
4PS-1Enoch Light"This Is 4 Channel Stereo!!" Vol. 1 (33rpm 7" EP)
これが4チャンネル・ステレオだ!! Vol.1
Vanguard
4PS-2Various Artists"This Is 4 Channel Stereo!!" Vol. 2 (33rpm 7" EP)
これが4チャンネル・ステレオだ!! Vol.2
Vanguard


Vanguard Classical QS LPs

CATALOG #CONDUCTOR / ORCHESTRACOMPOSER / WORKORIGINAL LABEL
4R-5001~2Abravanel / Utah Symphony OrchestraBerlioz: RequiemVanguard
4R-5003Stokowski / American Symphony OrchestraTchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F MinorVanguard
4R-5004English Chamber OrchestraHandel: Messiah (Highlights)Vanguard
4R-5005~6Abravanel / Utah Symphony OrchestraMahler: Symphony No. 3Vanguard
4R-5007English Chamber OrchestraMozart: DivertimentoVanguard
4R-5008Somary / English Chamber OrchestraThe Great Young TrumpetVanguard


A&M/Ode / Barclay / CTI / London (and subsidiaries) / Project 3 / Vanguard / United Artists CD-4 LPs

CATALOG #ARTISTTITLEORIGINAL LABEL
4D-1The CarpentersNow & ThenA&M
4D-2Carole KingTapestryOde
4D-3Rick WakemanThe 6 Wives Of Henry VIIIA&M
4D-4Quincy JonesYou've Got It Bad, GirlA&M
4D-5Raymond Lefevre OrchestraIn ConcertRiviera
4D-6DeodatoDeodato 2CTI
4D-7Joan BaezHits/Greatest & OthersVanguard
4D-8Enoch LightBrass MenagerieProject 3
4D-9Carole KingFantasyOde
4D-10Quincy JonesBody HeatA&M
4D-11Rick WakemanJourney To The Center Of The EarthA&M
4D(L)-12Tom JonesThe Body And Soul Of Tom JonesParrot
4D(L)-13Moody BluesSeventh SojournDecca
4D-14Gilbert O'SullivanI'm A Writer, Not A FighterMAM
4D(L)-15Engelbert HumperdinckMy LoveParrot
4D(L)-16Norman Candler OrchestraMoonlight PartyDecca
4D-17MantovaniAn Evening With MantovaniLondon
4D-18Werner Mueller OrchestraRelax Music Learn To LoveLondon
4D-19AirtoFingersCTI
4D-20<Unknown / Unreleased>
4D-21Charles AznavourLive In JapanBarclay
4D-22The CarpentersThe Singles 1969-1973A&M
4D-23Gilbert O'SullivanBack To FrontMAM
4D-24/25Engelbert HumperdinckLive In Japan (2 LP)London
4D-26Ronnie AldrichRomantic PianosLondon
4D-27Moody BluesEvery Good Boy Deserves FavourDecca
4D-28/29Shirley BasseyLive In Japan (2 LP)United Artists


King Japanese Market QS LPs

CATALOG #ARTISTTITLEORIGINAL LABEL
4K-1Akira Fuse
布施明
A. Fuse Live In Nissei Theater
日生劇場の布施明
King
4K-2The Peanuts
ザ・ピーナッツ
Brilliant Francis Lai Sound
「華麗なるフランシスレイサウンド」ザ、ピーナッツ最新映画主題歌を歌う
King
4K-3Leon Pops
レオン・ポップス
Latest Movie Themes
華麗なる最新映画主題曲集
King
4K-4Takeshi Terauchi
寺内タケシ
One Man Show
寺内タケシの一人舞台
King
4K-5Various ArtistsPopular Hit Songs
ヒット歌謡曲
King
4K-6Leon Pops
レオン・ポップス
Young Folk Songs
ヤング民謡
King
4K-7Leon Grand Orchestra
レオングランドオーケストラ
Aquarius - Musicals Hit Tunes
輝く星座 ミュージカル名曲集
King
4K-8Various Artists4 Channel Stereo Demonstration
4チャンネル・ステレオ・デモンストレーション
King
4K-9Leon Pops
レオン・ポップス
Impact of Latin Fiesta
衝撃のラテン フィエスタ
King
4K (L)-10The Greenwich Strings
グリジッジ ストリングス
Mamy Blue - Best Pops 12
"マミー・ブルー " ベスト・ポップス12
London
4K-11Takeshi Terauchi and Blue Jeans
寺内タケシとブルー・ジーンズ
Zenjo
禅定
King
4K-12Feather Tones
フェザー トーンズ
Bacharach Meet The Beatles
バカラックがビートルズに逢った時
King
4K-13Naohiko Terajima and Rhythm Chansonnet
寺島尚彦とリズムシャンソンネッ
Je t'aime
トジュ・テーム
King
4K-14Tokyo Academy Mixed Choir
東京アカデミー混声合唱団
Japanese Songs - Big Chorus Demonstration
日本のうたによるコーラス・ビッグ・デモンストレーション
King
4K-15Chieko Baisho
倍賞千恵子
Chieko Baisho Recital
倍賞千恵子リサイタル
King
4K-16Hiroshi Ishimaru Conducting Tamae Koh & The Symphonic Stereo Strings
石丸寛, 高珠恵, シンフォニック・ステレオ・ストリングス
String Spectacular - 100 Strings
ストリング・スペクタクラー・100人のストリングス
King
4K-17Tokyo Cuban Boys, Conductor: Tadaaki Misago
東京キューバン・ボーイズ, 見砂直照
Espana Cani
エスパニヤ・カーニ
King
4K-18Minoru Muraoka
村岡実
The Shakuhahi A Go Go Around The World
尺八一本世界歩き
King
4K-19Tokyo Boys and Girls Choir
東京少年少女合唱隊
Japanese Poetry
日本の詩
King
4K-20Love Live LifeLove Will Make a Better YouKing
4K-21Takeshi Terauchi and his Electric Guys
寺内タケシとすばらしいエレキ野郎達
Lost in the Midsummer Sea
真夏の海をぶっとばせ!!
King
4K (L)-22The Greenwich Strings
グリニッジ・ストリングス
The Music Plays: The Best Pops 14, Vol. 2
夕映えのニ人 / べスト・ボッブス14 Vol. 2
London
4K-23<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K (D.H)-24Chieko Baisho
倍賞千恵子
Disneyworld's Fun Fairy
ディズニーの楽しいおとぎの世界
Disneyland
4K-25Peggy Hayama
ペギー葉山
Home
ふるさと
King
4K-26The Violets
ザ・ヴァイオレッツ
The Violets World of Love
ザ・ヴァイオレッツのうたう 愛の世界
King
4K (L)-27Greenwich Strings
グリニッジ・ストリングス
Top Hits 14 - Mother of Mine
トップ・ヒット14 - ママに捧げる詩
London
4K-28Leon Pops
レオン・ポップス
The Godfather / Screen Themes Best 12King
4K-29New Killers
ニュー・キラーズ
I Want to be Loved by the Sun
太陽に愛されたい
King
4K-30Akira FuseMessage For - / "Love You Beloved"King
4K-31Takeshi Terauchi and Blue Jeans
寺内タケシとブルー・ジーンズ
Rashomon
羅生門
King
4K-32<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K-33<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K-34<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K (D.H)-35Disney Grand Orchestra
ディズニー・グランド・オーケストラ
Disneyland Parade
ディズニー大行進
Disneyland
4K-36Takeshi Terauchi & His Blue JeansElectric Songs Without Electric Songs
歌のないエレキ歌謡曲
King
4K-37Leon Pops
レオン・ポップス
Masterpiece Anthology of Memories
おもいでの名画・名曲集
King
4K-38The Peanuts
ザ・ピーナッツ
The Peanuts On Stage
ザ・ピーナッツ・オン・ステージ
King
4K-39Kazuo Fukuda / Leon Grand Orchestra / Singers Three
福田一雄 / レオングランドオーケストラ / シンガーズスリー
Holiday In China
一个假期在中国
King
4K-40Takeshi Terauchi and Blue Jeans
寺内タケシとブルー・ジーンズ
Popular Electric Hit Songs
歌のないエレキ歌謡曲
King
4K-41Chiakara Ueda & The Caravan
上田 力&ザ・キャラバン
Rock Impulse / Amazing 4 Channel Sounds
ロック・インパルス/驚異の4チャンネルサウンズ
King
4K-42Leon Pops OrchestraImpressive 4 Channel Sound European Movie Music Masterpieces Collection
感動の4チャンネル・サウンド ヨーロッパ映画音楽名曲集
King
4K-43<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K-44<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K-45<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K-46<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K-47<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K-48<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K-49<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K-50<Unknown / Unreleased>
4K (H)-51Definitive Nursery Rhyme Classics Complete Works
決定盤童謡名曲全集
Hill of Tangerine Blossoms
みかんの花咲く丘
King
_
4SS (H)-1<Unknown>4 Channel Stereo Documentary <Sound Effects> (7" 33rpm EP)
4チャンネル・ステレオ・ドキュメンタリー <効果音>
King
4SS-2Akira Fuse / 布施 明Akira Fuse Hit 4 (7" 33rpm EP)
布施明ヒット4
King


QS and CD-4 Sampler LPs and EPs (NAS = 12" LP / NDS = 7" EP)

CATALOG #MANUFACTURER / LABELTITLEFORMAT
NAS-215SanyoOTTO 4 Channel Quadsonic Stereo RecordRM
NAS-225SanyoOTTO GP Series Quadsonic Stereo Record, 4 Channel StereoRM
NAS-230SanyoOTTO 4 Channel Quadsonic Stereo RecordRM
NAS-237SharpOptonica 4 Channel RecordRM
NAS-240TechnicsTechnics 4 Channel RecordRM
NAS-290TechnicsTechnics 4 Channel StereoRM
NAS-320DiatoneNew Rock, New FolkRM
NAS-330DiatoneDiatone 4 Channel SoundRM
NAS-340SanyoOTTO 4 Channel Quadsonic Stereo Record, Vol. 4RM
NAS-345SansuiEnoch Light & Sansui QS SoundRM
_
NAS-501KingCD-4 Demonstration - Discrete 4 Channel StereoCD-4
NAS-507LondonCD-4 DemonstrationsCD-4
_
NDS-127SanyoOTTO Quadsonic Stereo Record - 4 Channel StereoRM
NDS-157DiatoneDiatone 4 Channel Test RecordRM
NDS-160DiatoneDiatone 4 Channel SoundRM
NDS-161DiatoneDiatone 4 Channel SoundRM
NDS-162DiatoneDiatone 4 Channel SoundRM
NDS-173Chi-BoroChi-Boro RecordRM
NDS-175SanyoOTTO 4 Channel Stereo RecordRM
 
Last edited:
Thanks! Very informative.
Seems easy to guess the schematic of the catalogation:

4: four channel media
*: label code, (A for A&M/related, K for King, L for London/related, R for Vanguard/related QS stuff) or (D for any CD4 stuff) or (SS for qs 7" releases)
-**: numeric sequence for the release order.

The catalog numbers with brackets, for example 4D(L)-** probably add the label code in bracket since the real Label that has licensed the recording is the one in the bracket and not the one shows on the lp label. The only one that doest't fit on this schematic is the last Moody Blues CD4 title. Also, the licensing to King were all coming from USA or were stuff done inside Japan (see Barclay, for example).

NAS and NDS are Samplers, for own or external use; most probably the missing numbers are stereo samplers on various formats.
 
Thanks! Very informative.
Seems easy to guess the schematic of the catalogation:

4: four channel media
*: label code, (A for A&M/related, K for King, L for London/related, R for Vanguard/related QS stuff) or (D for any CD4 stuff) or (SS for qs 7" releases)
-**: numeric sequence for the release order.

The catalog numbers with brackets, for example 4D(L)-** probably add the label code in bracket since the real Label that has licensed the recording is the one in the bracket and not the one shows on the lp label. The only one that doest't fit on this schematic is the last Moody Blues CD4 title. Also, the licensing to King were all coming from USA or were stuff done inside Japan (see Barclay, for example).

NAS and NDS are Samplers, for own or external use; most probably the missing numbers are stereo samplers on various formats.

I think you're probably right on all counts. I believe the 4A and 4L series came first, released in early 1972, and may have been some of the first major-label releases in the QS format. Sansui thought it was a big enough deal to take out a full page ad in the May 6th, 1972 issue of Billboard to promote it:

Billboard-1972-05-06-p67-Carole_King_-_Music_Sansui_QS.jpg


It seems that the 4R (other Western pop) and 4K (Japanese pop) followed later in 1972 and into early 1973, but by the end of the year they'd switched to CD-4 for Western artists and given up on quad entirely for their Japanese artists. Their last CD-4 release (Shirley Bassey Live in Japan) was partway through 1974 and then that was it for them.
 
I've managed to track down several of the CD-4 titles in this series and it's remarkable how much better some of these quad mixes sound (particularly the A&M titles such as Carpenters and Wakeman) in that format compared to the SQ LPs issued in the United States.

king_CD4.jpg


It'd be really cool to see more pictures of some of these if you can locate them - I've been collecting for a few years and I've never seen Airto's Fingers or either Gilbert O'Sullivan album for sale online. Adding discogs entries complete with pictures might bring more copies into the hands of collectors :)
 
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I was going through some of my Japanese QLPs earlier today and I found this printout in one of the sleeves - it looks to be to part of a catalog of King CD-4 albums. I must've found this online years ago and printed it so I wouldn't forget. What I'd give to see the rest of the page...

King Catalog.jpg
 
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