B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure"
| B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by B'z | ||||
| Released | September 17, 2008 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 1:13:26 (Disc 1) 1:02:34 (Disc 2) 0:05:35 (Disc 3) | |||
| Label | Vermillion Records | |||
| Producer | Tak Matsumoto | |||
| B'z chronology | ||||
| ||||
B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" is the seventh compilation album released by B'z on September 17, 2008. Released to coincide with their 20th anniversary debut, all songs up to their 45th single "BURN -Fumetsu no Face-" in this compilation were voted by fans to appear on the album. Unlike their last request best album B'z The Best "Treasure", where voting was only possible through a postcard included with copies of B'z The Best "Pleasure", for this release fan voting could be done through the official B'z website. Therefore, anyone with internet access could vote for up to three songs per person which is the same amount as the last Treasure album.
A total of 30 songs were selected by fans, in addition to the new song "Glory Days". Out of the 30 songs, "BLOWIN'" is a newly re-recorded version, while "F.E.A.R" is a remixed version. The compilation was released in both a "2CD+DVD" and "3CD" editions. The DVD enclosed is a full recording of a recent live house tour "B'z SHOWCASE 2007 -19-". The 3CD edition collects another brand new track "Itsuka Mata Koko de". Similar to B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure", all tracks on this best of album have been remastered to improve the overall sound quality.
Of the 30 songs in this best of album, only five are single tracks, with the rest of the songs comprised of a mix of album tracks and 2nd beats (B-sides). As a result, over a dozen singles are missing from both B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure" and B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure". This was eventually rectified for their 25th anniversary releases in 2013, B'z The Best XXV 1988-1998 and B'z The Best XXV 1999-2012 which included a comprehensive track list of every single released thus far.
The cover of B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" is the same thickness as their earlier release B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure". However, unlike that album which opened from the right, this album opens from the left. Arranging these two compilations together produces a star-shaped mark as seen on the covers of both albums. With the exception of the tracks "BLOWIN' -ULTRA Treasure Style-", "Brotherhood" and "Home", all tracks are arranged in chronological order, as with B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure". Each individual who purchased a copy of the album in stores could enter into a contest to win prizes such as stickers, key holders, and clear files. On the day of release, September 17, the morning edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper featured a four page colored advertisement. Notably, other than commercials promoting their new release, B'z did not make any television appearances.
Upon release, B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" premiered in the top spot on the weekly Oricon albums chart, making it the second top selling album for the month of September. The Recording Industry Association of Japan has certified the album with Triple Platinum status for sales exceeding 750,000. On December 9, 2008, Christmas-themed editions, limited to 100,000 copies each, for both this and its companion album were re-released. By December 22, the compilation climbed back to 9th place on the Oricon charts. In total, the compilation has appeared on the Oricon charts 33 times and was ranked as the 16th best selling album of 2008.
Track listing
All music and guitar by Tak Matsumoto. All lyrics and lead vocals by Koshi Inaba.
Disc 1
- BLOWIN' -ULTRA Treasure Style-
- File:b07 01.ogg Re-recorded version of the 10th single. Unlike the original, this arrangement uses raw drums and bass, along with increased emphasis on guitar sounds. The ending has also been re-arranged to include the lyrics found in the chorus. This version is similar to live renditions performed by B'z in recent years.
- Wonderful Opportunity
- File:b07 02.ogg From 5th album IN THE LIFE.
- Mou Ichido Kiss Shitakatta — Wanted to Kiss You One More Time, もう一度キスしたかった
- File:b07 03.ogg From 5th album IN THE LIFE. The oldest recording on this album, along with the previous track.
- TIME
- File:b07 04.ogg 10th single "BLOWIN'" 2nd beat.
- Koi-Gokoro (KOI-GOKORO) — My Heart in Love, 恋心
- File:b07 05.ogg 11th single "ZERO" 2nd beat.
- RUN
- File:b07 06.ogg From 6th album RUN. The track available on this album is the original version. A 1998 re-recorded version can be found on B'z The Best "Treasure".
- Sayonara Nanka wa Iwasenai — Don't Say the Word Goodbye, さよならなんかは言わせない
- File:b07 07.ogg From 6th album RUN.
- Gekkou — Moonlight, 月光
- File:b07 08.ogg From 6th album RUN.
- Koi Jyanakunaru Hi — The Day Love Ceased to Be, 恋じゃなくなる日
- File:b07 09.ogg From 4th mini-album FRIENDS.
- Don't Leave Me
- File:b07 10.ogg 14th single. The only track in this compilation that's also available on B'z The Best "Pleasure".
- LOVE IS DEAD
- File:b07 11.ogg From 7th album The 7th Blues. The opening telephone conversation has been cut from this version.
- Haru — Spring, 春
- File:b07 12.ogg From 7th album The 7th Blues.
- MOTEL
- YOU & I
- File:b07 14.ogg 16th single "Negai" 2nd beat. Single version collected for the first time on an album. A remixed version can be found on B'z The "Mixture".
- Yumemi ga Oka — A Hill to Dream On, 夢見が丘
- File:b07 15.ogg From 8th album LOOSE.
- Kienai Niji — Everlasting Rainbow, 消えない虹
- File:b07 16.ogg From 8th album LOOSE.
Disc 2
- Brotherhood
- File:b07 17.ogg From 10th album Brotherhood.
- Swimmer yo!! — スイマーよ！！
- File:b07 18.ogg From 9th album SURVIVE.
- Happiness — ハピネス
- File:b07 19.ogg From 9th album SURVIVE.
- ONE
- File:b07 20.ogg 26th single "girigiri chop" 2nd beat.
- F.E.A.R -2008 Mix-
- File:b07 21.ogg From 10th album Brotherhood. This remix includes changes in the drums and heavy emphasis on the rhythm and lead guitars. In addition, the original version's bass is no longer as noticeable.
- Nagai Ai — Nagai Ai, ながい愛
- File:b07 22.ogg From 10th album Brotherhood.
- ROCK man
- File:b07 23.ogg 31st single "ultra soul" 3rd beat. Collected for the first time on a B'z album.
- DEVIL
- File:b07 24.ogg English version of the track TOKYO DEVIL from the album ELEVEN. It was originally exclusively released in 2002 as part of a South Korea only mini-album known as DEVIL and was also available on the Korea/Japan edition of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Official Album. Collected for the first time on an album.
- New Message
- File:b07 25.ogg 34th single "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" 2nd beat. Collected for the first time on an album.
- Arakure — Panic, アラクレ
- File:b07 26.ogg From 13th album BIG MACHINE. The most recent album track available on this compilation.
- Yuruginai Mono Hitotsu — One Sure Thing, ゆるぎないものひとつ
- Pierrot — ピエロ
- File:b07 28.ogg 41st single "Yuruginai Mono Hitotsu" 2nd beat.
- BURN -Fumetsu no Face- — -Eternal Face-, -フメツノフェイス-
- File:b07 29.ogg 45th single. Collected for the first time on an album.
- Home
- File:b07 30.ogg English version of the 25th single "HOME". Originally released in 2007 on their self-titled EP known as B'z. Collected for the first time on an album.
- Glory Days — グローリーデイズ
- File:b07 31.ogg The tour title tune for B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2008 -GLORY DAYS-. According to Inaba, the theme of this song is said to be "You're the best".
Disc 3 (3 CD Edition Only)
- Itsuka Mata Koko de — Here Again Someday, いつかまたここで
- File:b07 32.ogg Available only on the 3CD edition of this compilation. The promotional video, originally published on their official site, features footage from past LIVE-GYM concerts. Rather than including the lyrics in the booklet, the lyrics for this track is shown below the CD tray of the album. This track was used as the theme song for TV Asahi's Thursday drama series "Shōni Kyūmei" (小児救命). It has been 11 years since a B'z song, "Calling", was used for a drama series. According to the Recording Industry Association of Japan, this song is certified Gold in the Chaku-Uta Full rankings.
DVD (2CD+DVD Edition Only)
In 2010, a Blu-ray home video release comprised of this concert and B'z LIVE in Namba 2006 was released. Unlike B'z LIVE in Namba 2006, which is available as a DVD separately, the DVD version of this SHOWCASE is only available on the "2CD+DVD" edition of this album.
- SUPER LOVE SONG
- Video editing differs from the live footage in the limited edition DVD included with the single.
- FRICTION
- HOT FASHION -Ryuukoukata-
- Ai no Bakudan
- ultra soul
- The interlude guitar solo used is from the 1985 debut single "Blue Revolution" by Mari Hamada, for which Tak originally performed the guitar.
- Lonely Stars
- Naite Naite Nakiyandara
- Eien no Tsubasa
- Taiyou no Komachi Angel
- Gin no Tsubasa de Tobe
- Haru
- Nagai Ai
- F・E・A・R
- Arakure
- BANZAI
- ALL-OUT ATTACK
- The intro used is from the track "juice". "Arakure" and "juice" alternated for parts of the tour.
- Out Of Control
- ARIGATO
- The only single that makes its first appearance in a LIVE-GYM SHOWCASE. The track is played at a lower key compared to the single version. The song has not been played live in any subsequent LIVE-GYM concerts since 2008.
- Odekake Shimasho
Voting results
Voting started in April 22, 2008 and ended in June 30. Voting lasted for 70 days, and the total number of votes made by fans was over 400,000.
In June 10, midway results were released, the final results were released in July 16. A number of songs climbed several places within that time span. For example, "TIME" was originally 21st but ended at 9th place, and "F.E.A.R", originally in 32nd place, made it into the compilation at 26th place. In a turn of events "OH! GIRL" midway through was at 23rd place but did not eventually make it into the best of album.
The following is a table of the voting results:
- 「★」 indicates the song was included on this album's predecessor, B'z The Best "Treasure"
- 「☆」 indicates the song was included on B'z The Best "Pleasure"
- 「—」 indicates the song was not available when the original Treasure album, B'z The Best "Treasure", was released
NOTE: "Midway Result" in the table below refers to the results revealed halfway through the polling period, showing the positions of the songs at that time.
| Final Result |
Song Title | Midway Result |
Treasure Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brotherhood | 1 | — |
| 2 | Koi-Gokoro (KOI-GOKORO) | 3 | ★1 |
| 3 | ONE | 2 | — |
| 4 | Wonderful Opportunity | 4 | 20 |
| 5 | BURN -Fumetsu no Face- | 5 | — |
| 6 | Yumemi ga Oka | 7 | 35 |
| 7 | New Message | 6 | — |
| 8 | Sayonara Nanka wa Iwasenai | 8 | 18 |
| 9 | TIME | 21 | ★5 |
| 10 | Koi Jyanakunaru Hi | 9 | 29 |
| 11 | BLOWIN' | 16 | ★2 |
| 12 | RUN | 15 | ★12 |
| 13 | Mou Ichido Kiss Shitakatta | 14 | ★4 |
| 14 | DEVIL | 11 | — |
| 15 | Swimmer yo!! | 12 | 15 |
| 16 | YOU & I | 17 | 21 |
| 17 | Home (English Version) | 13 | — |
| 18 | Pierrot | 10 | — |
| 19 | Gekkou | 18 | 26 |
| 20 | Arakure | 19 | — |
| 21 | Nagai Ai | 20 | — |
| 22 | MOTEL | 28 | ★9 |
| 23 | ROCK man | 22 | — |
| 24 | LOVE IS DEAD | 24 | 57 |
| 25 | Yuruginai Mono Hitotsu | 25 | — |
| 26 | F・E・A・R | 32 | — |
| 27 | Don't Leave Me | 30 | ☆ |
| 28 | Kienai Niji | 26 | 25 |
| 29 | Haru | 27 | 53 |
| 30 | Happiness | 29 | 24 |
Beyond the thirty included in the final release, the next ten songs out that didn't make the cut were also announced:
| Final Result |
Treasure Result |
Song Title |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | 16 | OH! GIRL |
| 32 | — | ALL-OUT ATTACK |
| 33 | ☆ | Taiyou no Komachi Angel |
| 34 | — | Magnolia |
| 35 | ★7 | Liar! Liar! |
| 36 | ★10 | Real Thing Shakes |
| 37 | 30 | GIMME YOUR LOVE - Fukutsu no LOVE DRIVER - |
| 38 | 22 | Dakara Sono Te wo Hanashite |
| 39 | 23 | NATIVE DANCE |
| 40 | 17 | MOVE |
Sales data
| No. | Cover | Compilation | Physical Copies Sold | Chart Positions | Certification | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST WEEK | LIFETIME | WEEK | MONTH | YEAR | ||||
| 7 | 
|
B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" |
413,038+ |
750,000+ |
1 |
2 |
16 |
3x Platinum |