B'z The Best XXV 1988-1998

B'z The Best XXV 1988-1998
Compilation album by B'z
Released	June 12, 2013
Genre	Rock
Label	Vermillion Records
Producer	Tak Matsumoto
B'z chronology

The promotional image of the band distributed with the announcement of their plans for 2013.

Koshi and Tak from the "Kakushin" music video. The video, while not included in the limited edition package with those of the singles, was premiered on the band's YouTube channel.

B'z The Best XXV 1988-1998 is a compilation album by B'z due for release on June 12, 2013. It is the first of a two album set collecting every single the band has released to date, with its companion album B'z The Best XXV 1999-2012 releasing the same day. As with its brethren, the album will be issued in both standard and limited editions, with the latter being coupled with a bonus DVD collecting all of the promotional videos for the included singles. In addition to singles from the mentioned years, each album contains two brand new tracks unreleased elsewhere while the limited editions feature a new video for one of the bonus songs. Found packaged here are the bonus tracks of "HEAT" and "Kakushin", while the follow-up contains "Q&A" and "Utopia".

The singles compiled here constitute all twenty-six songs released by the band from their debut in 1988 to their tenth anniversary year in 1998. The first three B'z singles—"Dakara Sono Te wo Hanashite", "Kimi no Naka de Odoritai", and "LADY-GO-ROUND"—are collected here in their original forms for the very first time on a B'z compilation. It is also only the second time for fan-favorites "Taiyou no Komachi Angel" and "Real Thing Shakes", both of which were last found on B'z The Best "Treasure" in 1998.

On April 4, 2013, "Kakushin" was announced to be the theme to the drama "Kumo no Kaidan" (Stairs of the Clouds), beginning with the April 17 debut of the series. The series, based on the works of Junichi Watanabe, had already been read by Koshi prior to their working on the song, with him saying in a statement that he had "taken into account the drama's theme and script" while preparing the lyrics. Similarly, as is his custom, Tak also read the script to the drama while preparing the music for the recording. One month later, on May 15, a short promotional video for the song was premiered on the band's YouTube channel. Only ninety seconds in length, the video is not listed for inclusion on the limited edition of the compilation.

In addition, this collection will mark the debut release of "HEAT" by the band. Originally written for Korean artist Kim Hyun Joong, B'z had initially intended not to record their own version but did mention they would like to play it live. During the Pepsi NEX Premium Live concerts just prior to B'z LIVE-GYM 2012 -Into Free-, the song served as the only encore and was met with overwhelmingly positive reception. Two months later, it would return again as part of the setlist for the Japanese leg of the Into Free tour.

The release of the two B'z The Best XXV albums comes three days prior to the beginning of B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER-, which will see B'z touring the whole of Japan prior to a pair of final shows at Nissan Stadium on September 21 and 22.

Track listing

All music and guitar by Tak Matsumoto. All lyrics and vocals by Koshi Inaba.

Disc 1 (1988-1994)

Disc 2 (1994-1998)

Brand New Tracks

Limited Edition (2CD+DVD)

The limited edition of the compilation comes packed with a bonus DVD that, for the first time, brings together the promotional videos prepared for all of the twenty-six included singles as well as a brand new video for the exclusive song "HEAT".

Contents

26 Remastered Music Videos — 「Dakara Sono Te wo Hanashite」 through 「HOME」

Brand New Music Video — 「HEAT」

B'z The Best XXV 1988-1998

Track listing

Disc 1 (1988-1994)

Disc 2 (1994-1998)

Limited Edition (2CD+DVD)

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