RUN
| RUN | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by B'z | ||||
| Released | October 28, 1992 | |||
| Recorded | 1992 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 46:35 | |||
| Label | BMG ROOMS | |||
| Producer | Tak Matsumoto | |||
| B'z chronology | ||||
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| Singles from RUN | ||||
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RUN is the sixth studio album by B'z, released on October 28, 1992. The album is one of many for the band to not just launch at number one, but to also sell in excess of 1,000,000 copies in only its first week on shelves. When it made its way to the public, RUN served to showcase even more that B'z was a rock band above all else. Continuing on from the hard rock sound sampled well in the previous album IN THE LIFE, much of the sound here would shape the image of B'z for years to come. The album was supported by B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN" and is one of the few B'z albums from which every song has been played live. Several of the songs found on the album, including the sole single, "ZERO", have become staples of B'z live shows over the years and remain beloved by fans.
The titular track "RUN" has been performed live at almost every Pleasure LIVE-GYM since its release, including the 15th anniversary tour in 2003 and the 20th anniversary tour in 2008, and has typically been used to close out shows with a positive and inspirational message. The song was also voted onto the fan-selected best-of collection B'z The Best "Treasure" in 1998, where it was re-recorded in contemporary rock form to showcase the band's growth and labeled "1998 style", as well as B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" ten years later in 2008.
Many of the album songs went on to become beloved fan-favorites, including the up-tempo rock number "Out Of Control", which was revived after fourteen years of not being performed live for SHOWCASE 2007 -19-. "NATIVE DANCE" has been included in four Pleasure setlists since its release, including GLORY DAYS and ENDLESS SUMMER. "Sayonara Nanka wa Iwasenai" (Don't Say the Word Goodbye) was used to close out the album's LIVE-GYM as well as that of Pleasure'93. It, along with fellow album track "Gekkou" and the aforementioned "RUN", was voted onto the band's second 20th anniversary album B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure". In addition, "Gekkou" was also previously included on The Ballads ~Love & B'z~ in 2002.
Uniquely, almost all of the songs from the album became the subject of English demos. None of these versions were ever officially released and remain accessible to fans only in leaked form. Judging by the demos available, the only songs to not receive English renditions were "THE GAMBLER", "Akai Kagerou", and "Sayonara Nanka wa Iwasenai".
In addition to debuting at the top of the Weekly Oricon Album chart with 1,190,380 copies sold in the week of release, RUN remains one of the band's most popular studio albums. In addition to finishing number six for the year of 1992, it remained popular well into 1993 and finished number 23 on that year's chart. RUN has continued to sell and was in time certified Double Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan with over 2,196,660 in physical copies sold.
Production and history
Even after many subsequent album releases, RUN is still highly-regarded by B'z fans and critics alike. Tak said of the album: "We wanted to drift away from the style we'd been employing to this point." The stated theme of the album is that of the title to the lead single: "ZERO". This "zero" is not the equivalent to "turning back to a blank sheet of paper", however. As Koshi puts it: "If it were a partner you've been with for countless years, it'd be akin to, 'Let's fall in love again'—'Let's reclaim that excitement again', that sort of thing." Koshi's example here utilizes that of a couple, but was clarified to, in the broader sense, refer to bringing forth all of one's experiences and knowledge they've collected in order to create something new, entirely from scratch. Primarily, the type of feeling evoked by an "OK, from here on out!" sort of spirit.
With this album, the band deviated from the process that had been used for their previous works. Usually, Tak would lay the groundwork and Koshi would then begin writing the lyrics, but not so this time. After the TIME Pleasure tour in 1992, the duo went into the studio with the same musicians they had been touring with in order to start recording. Tak recalls: "When we go on tour, B'z really begins showing its rock facet. That's why we wanted to keep that spirit alive as we were composing new songs. We went into the studio with that same spirit."
B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN"
The tour in support of the album ran from January 30, 1993 to June 30, 1993, with both a hall tour and an arena tour. Every song from the album was ultimately played on the tour, though some were alternated with each other, such as the case with "Akai Kagerou" and "Gekkou" filling a ballad spot early in the setlist. When the tour moved to the large-scale arena venues, a group acoustic version of "Easy Come, Easy Go!" was added to the setlist.
While filmed, the entirety of the show has never been officially released. However, on Hidden Pleasure ~Typhoon No.20~, a collection of previously unavailable live performances and similar materials released to commemorate the band's 20th anniversary in 2008, a number of performances from the show were made available, ranging from "Ai no Mama ni Wagamama ni Boku wa Kimi Dake wo Kizutsukenai" and "ZERO" to "Hadashi no Megami".
Track listing
All music and guitar by Tak Matsumoto. All lyrics and lead vocals by Koshi Inaba.
- THE GAMBLER
- File:a06 01.ogg The opener to the album that set the tone for the tracks to follow with a sound that B'z had not fully embraced before. Tak said of the sound: "We did the melody for the chorus first and then worked out the main guitar riff to make it work with the chorus melody. From there on out, we composed the rest of the song. The guitar riff didn't have as much impact on the composition of the song up until now, so it's unconventional for B'z to go that route for a song." As far as the lyrics, Koshi commented while reflecting on the album: "Writing went along unpredictably smooth. Maybe because gambling is a man's desire." After a long hiatus, the song was revived for B'z SHOWCASE 2009 -B'z In Your Town-.
- ZERO
- File:a06 02.ogg While it was the lead and only single from the album, "ZERO" also served as the theme to the album as well. The song has proven to be one of the most renowned in the B'z catalogue, having been performed at more LIVE-GYM concerts than any other the band has produced, in addition to being included on all eligible best-of collections.
- Akai Kagerou — Red Heat Haze, 紅い陽炎
- File:a06 03.ogg The subject of the lyrics is that of infidelity. During the album LIVE-GYM, it was frequently alternated with fellow album track "Gekkou".
- RUN
- File:a06 04.ogg The titular song of the album, "RUN" has become among the most well-known and well-regarded songs the band has produced. The inspirational and supportive message of the song was written with the fans and staff members in mind. As a result, it is often reserved to be played as a final and encore song. The song has remained popular over the years, being voted onto both of the fan-selected best-of albums, and being remade into "RUN -1998 style-" on the first of which. The more rock-oriented version was intended to showcase the band's growth since the original's release.
- Out Of Control
- File:a06 05.ogg The lyrics to the song contain a strong element of social commentary. The song was performed for the first time in fourteen years during B'z SHOWCASE 2007 -19-.
- NATIVE DANCE
- File:a06 06.ogg The styling of the song, particularly the chorus, is reminiscent of Native American folk music. The song, when performed live, has special choreography associated with it that Koshi and the audience participate in together. In 1998, the song placed highly in the voting for B'z The Best "Treasure", ultimately ranking in at #23.
- MR. ROLLING THUNDER
- File:a07 01.ogg The song begins like the album version of "ALONE", with English lyrics ringing out prior to the instrumentation beginning. The lyrics of the song were inspired by the landscapes Koshi witnessed as he was traveling in the United States.
- Sayonara Nanka wa Iwasenai — Don't Say the Word Goodbye, さよならなんかは言わせない
- File:a08 01.ogg Koshi has said the backdrop to the song is that of school graduation. A popular B'z song, it was used to close out the album's titular tour as well as the 1993 Pleasure shows, the latter of which was released on home video as LIVE RIPPER. It ranked in the top 20 in the voting for B'z The Best "Treasure", and ranked as #8 overall for B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure", leading to its inclusion. The song was also played on the tours for ELEVEN in 2001 and ACTION in 2008.
- Gekkou — Moonlight, 月光
- File:a06 09.ogg Koshi had difficulty while penning the song, and was inspired to name it "Moonlight" after hearing the guitar solo Tak had written for it. Nearly every performance of the song has been done in acoustic form. It had not been played live for ten years prior to being included in the setlist to the fifteenth anniversary concert, where its inclusion resulted in much surprise and delight of fans in attendance. The song has remained popular over the years, being voted highly for B'z The Best "Treasure" and being voted high enough to be included on B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure", fifteen years after its original release, as well as being included on The Ballads ~Love & B'z~. Koshi's father is known to consider it one of his favorite B'z songs.
- Baby, you're my home
- File:a06 10.ogg The only acoustic number on the album. The combination of a clapping accompaniment, acoustic guitar, harmonica, and group chorus give the song quite a unique atmosphere. The song was at first conceived with more of a rock arrangement, but Tak felt something different was meant to come of the song, and as such decided to take a 180° turn to make it acoustic. An English demo of the rock version has since made its way online. In addition, a demo of the English version utilizing the acoustic arrangement has also been leaked. The song would not be revived for 22 years until B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT- where it primarily alternated with "Blue Sunshine" in the setlist.
Reversion history
| Original Song | Reversion History |
|---|---|
| ZERO SINGLE & ALBUM SONG (1992)
|
KARAOKE: ZERO [Karaoke Version] (1996) |
| RUN ALBUM SONG (1992)
|
UNRELEASED: RUN [English Demo Version] (1992-1994) |
| Out Of Control ALBUM SONG (1992)
|
UNRELEASED: Out Of Control [English Demo Version] (1992-1994) |
| NATIVE DANCE ALBUM SONG (1992)
|
UNRELEASED: NATIVE DANCE [English Demo Version] (1992-1994) |
| MR. ROLLING THUNDER ALBUM SONG (1992)
|
UNRELEASED: MR. ROLLING THUNDER [English Demo Version] (1992-1994) |
| Sayonara Nanka wa Iwasenai ALBUM SONG (1992)
|
UNRELEASED: Sayonara Nanka wa Iwasenai [Instrumental Version] (1993) |
| Baby, you're my home ALBUM SONG (1992)
|
UNRELEASED: Baby, you're my home [English Demo Version] (1992-1994) |
Live appearances
Live Performances
- THE GAMBLER [57 SHOWS]
B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN" [49/49 SHOWS]- B'z SHOWCASE 2009 -B'z In Your Town- [8/8 SHOWS]
- ZERO [501 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'92 "TIME" [4/12 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'93 "JAP THE RIPPER" [2/2 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '94 "THE 9TH BLUES -Part1-" [55/55 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '94 "THE 9TH BLUES -Part2-" [32/32 SHOWS]
- Merry X'Mas ~ Mary Had a Little Lamb/Silent Night [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'95 "BUZZ!!" [12/12 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '96 "Spirit LOOSE" [44/44 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'97 "FIREBALL" [9/9 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '99 -Brotherhood- SHOWCASE "B'zepp" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '99 "Brotherhood" [24/24 SHOWS]
- B'z juice guerilla live [1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2000 "juice" [21/21 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "Kobushi wo Nigire" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2001 "ELEVEN" [32/46 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM in Taipei & Hong Kong 2001 [4/4 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL" [1/1 SHOWS]
- 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [18/18 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll" [3/3 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2003 "IT'S SHOWCASE!!" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM The Final Pleasure "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" [22/23 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2003 "BANZAI IN NORTH AMERICA" [7/7 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2006 "MONSTER'S GARAGE" [7/17 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION" [13/53 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2008 -GLORY DAYS- [6/6 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2009 -B'z In Your Town- [8/8 SHOWS]
- SUMMER SONIC 09 [2/2 SHOWS]
- Pepsi NEX presents B'z 1DAY LIVE [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon- [26/26 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2012 -Into Free- [11/11 SHOWS]
- AEROSONIC [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER- [7/30 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT- [9/40 SHOWS] (Blues Version)
- B'z SHOWCASE 2015 -Shinagawa Uchouten NIGHT- [1/1 SHOWS]
- TV Asahi Dream Festival 2015 [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2018 -HINOTORI- [12/23 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820- [1/5 SHOWS]
- Akai Kagerou [24 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN" [24/49 SHOWS]
- RUN [190 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'93 "JAP THE RIPPER" [2/2 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '94 "THE 9TH BLUES -Part2-" [32/32 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'95 "BUZZ!!" [12/12 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'97 "FIREBALL" [9/9 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '99 "Brotherhood" [24/24 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM The Final Pleasure "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" [2/23 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2006 "Yokosuka MONSTER" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2006 "MONSTER'S GARAGE" [17/17 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE in Namba 2006 [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2008 -GLORY DAYS- [6/6 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER- [11/30 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2018 -The Wall Of Rock- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2018 -HINOTORI- [23/23 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820- [1/5 SHOWS]
- Out Of Control [77 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2007 -19- [6/6 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2007 -B'z In Your Town- [3/7 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2008 -Kiyotake ACTION- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION" [18/53 SHOWS]
- NATIVE DANCE [97 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'93 "JAP THE RIPPER" [2/2 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'97 "FIREBALL" [9/9 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2008 -GLORY DAYS- [6/6 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2013 -Pleasure75- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER- [30/30 SHOWS]
- MR. ROLLING THUNDER [49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN" [49/49 SHOWS]
- Sayonara Nanka wa Iwasenai [107 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'93 "JAP THE RIPPER" [2/2 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2001 "ELEVEN" [38/46 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION" [12/53 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER- [6/30 SHOWS]
- Gekkou [48 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN" [25/49 SHOWS] (Acoustic Version)
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'93 "JAP THE RIPPER" [2/2 SHOWS] (Acoustic Version)
- B'z LIVE-GYM The Final Pleasure "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" [2/23 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER- [8/30 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2018 -HINOTORI- [11/23 SHOWS]
- Baby, you're my home [49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN" [34/49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT- [14/40 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820- [1/5 SHOWS]
Home Videos
- THE GAMBLER
- ZERO
- LIVE RIPPER: Pleasure'93 "JAP THE RIPPER"
- "BUZZ!!" THE MOVIE
- LIVE-GYM '99 "Brotherhood"
- LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~"
- LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll"
- LIVE-GYM Final Pleasure "IT'S SHOWTIME!!"
- LIVE-GYM 2003 "BANZAI IN NORTH AMERICA"
- Hidden Pleasure: LIVE-GYM '93 "RUN"
- LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2008 -GLORY DAYS-
- LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon-
- LIVE-GYM 2012 -Into Free- (Web Stream)
- LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER-
- LIVE-GYM 2012 -Into Free- EXTRA
- LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT-
- SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820-
- Akai Kagerou
- RUN
- LIVE RIPPER: Pleasure'93 "JAP THE RIPPER"
- LIVE-GYM '99 "Brotherhood"
- LIVE-GYM Final Pleasure "IT'S SHOWTIME!!"
- LIVE-GYM 2006 "MONSTER'S GARAGE"
- LIVE in Namba 2006
- Hidden Pleasure: LIVE-GYM Pleasure'97 "FIREBALL"
- LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2008 -GLORY DAYS-
- LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER-
- LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2018 -HINOTORI-
- SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820-
- Out Of Control
- NATIVE DANCE
- MR. ROLLING THUNDER
- Sayonara Nanka wa Iwasenai
- Gekkou
- Baby, you're my home
Sales data
| No. | Cover | Album | Physical Copies Sold | Chart Positions | Certification | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST WEEK | LIFETIME | WEEK | MONTH | YEAR | ||||
| 6 | 
|
RUN |
1,190,380+ |
2,196,660+ |
1 |
— |
6 (1992) |
2x Million |
Personnel
B'z
- Tak Matsumoto: Guitar, Music Composition, Arrangement
- Koshi Inaba: Vocals, Lyric Composition
Support Members
- Ikkoh Tanaka: Drums
- Masao Akashi: Bass, Manipulator, Arrangement
- Takanobu Masuda: Keyboards (Tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 9)
- Kazuki Katsuta: Sax (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7)
- Tatsuya Shimogami: Trumpet (Tracks 1, 6, 7)
- Hiroshi Sawano: Trumpet (Tracks 1, 2, 6, 7)
- Hiroyuki Nomura: Trombone (Tracks 1, 2, 6, 7)
- Tomohiko "cha cha" Katoh: Harmonica (Track 10)
Production Staff
- Masayuki Nomura: Mixing
- Yoshiki Aoki: Assistant Engineer
- Yuka Koizumi: Mastering