Melodies

Melodies is the eighth original studio album recorded by Japanese singer-songwriter Tatsuro Yamashita, released on 8 June 1983. It was his first LP issued under the Moon label, which was then distributed by Alfa Records, and the first Moon release to be originally distributed by Warner-Pioneer.
Unlike his previous albums, which more frequently included lyrics by Minako Yoshida, eight of this album's ten songs are penned by Yamashita alone. "Blue Midnight," originally recorded for For You, retained Yoshida's lyrics. (The original 1981 For You mix appears as a bonus track on the 30th anniversary Melodies CD.) A cover version of "Guess I'm Dumb," composed by Brian Wilson and Russ Titelman and originally recorded by Glen Campbell in 1966, was also recorded.
Before the album came out, 高気圧ガール was released as a lead single. Christmas Eve, originally composed as a tongue-in-cheek antithesis to Yamashita's popular association with summer-themed music, was released as a single in December to moderate success. However, a 1986 7" release, followed up by a 1988 ad campaign by the Central Japan Railway Company, which featured the song, led to an explosion in recognition and sales. By 1992, the last year of the campaign, the song had become a Japanese Christmas classic. The single has charted in Japan every year since 1986, achieving a Guinness World Record and reportedly selling over two million copies.
Because of the massive success "Christmas Eve" gained, the album also enjoyed long-term commercial success. Melodies has been the second best-selling studio album for Yamashita, with over one million copies sold.
Romanized titles:
A1: Kanashimi no Jody (She Was Crying)
A2: Koukiatsu Girl
A3: Yashou (Night-Fly)
A5: Hitotoki
B1: Merry-Go-Round
B3: Ashioto
B4: Mokusou
B5: Christmas Eve