Album Liner Notes
The Spice Of Life
The Spice Of Life is one of the clearest trio documents in Jeff Berlin's sideman discography: Watanabe's guitar and guitar synthesizer up front, Bruford's hybrid drum voice, and Berlin anchoring harmony and motion from the bass chair.
Overview
Composition credits on the Japanese DOMO LP page help clarify authorship inside the program: Watanabe leads most titles, Bruford co-writes 'Na Starovia,' and Berlin co-writes 'J. F. K.' That split matches how the album feels: Kazumi's melodic signature with two rhythm-section partners who brought their own harmonic languages.
Production credits cluster around Swanyard Studios in London. The DOMO pressing notes recording and mixing at Swanyard across October–November 1986, which is the right kind of specificity for a discography entry that is often reduced to 'great trio, buy it.'
If you collect formats, treat the CD as a slightly expanded program. The bonus track is not a throwaway; it is an additional Bruford/Berlin/Watanabe writing credit on the Gramavision CD documented on Discogs.
Quick Snapshot
- Released in 1987 across Sonet (UK LP SNTF 995), Gramavision (US LP and CD), and Japanese DOMO/Polydor-family pressings tied to the same master.
- The eight-track UK LP program and timings follow Sonet SNTF 995 on Discogs, while the Gramavision US CD adds a ninth composition, 'Rage In,' with a three-way writing credit to Bruford, Berlin, and Watanabe.
- A detailed US CD credit sheet on Discogs lists the core trio as Kazumi Watanabe (guitar, guitar synthesizer, co-producer), Bill Bruford (electronic drums, drums, percussion), and Jeff Berlin (bass).
Trio instrumentation
Watanabe, Bruford, and Berlin are the performing core named on the Gramavision CD credits cited on Discogs.
Jeff as co-writer
Berlin shares composition credit on 'J. F. K.' and, on the Gramavision CD, on 'Rage In' as well.
Swanyard session frame
London dates in late 1986 and Swanyard recording/mix credits place the album in a specific studio moment.
Listen For
Hiper K
One of the high-energy Watanabe vehicles that defines the album's fusion surface.
Na Starovia
Bruford's co-write with Watanabe highlights the drummer's compositional voice inside Kazumi's world.
J. F. K.
Berlin's shared writing credit marks his harmonic contribution in a tune title that reads like a private headline.
Track Listing
- A1. Melancho — 3:27
- A2. Hiper K — 5:38
- A3. City — 4:27
- A4. Period — 6:37
- B1. Unt — 5:10
- B2. Na Starovia — 4:46
- B3. Lim-Poo — 4:49
- B4. J. F. K. — 4:54
- CD bonus (Gramavision R2 79420): 9. Rage In — 6:20
Musicians
- Kazumi Watanabe: guitar, guitar synthesizer, producer (co-producer credit on US CD)
- Bill Bruford: electronic drums, drums, percussion
- Jeff Berlin: bass
- Akira Yada: producer (US CD)
- Stuart Bruce: recorded by, mixed by (US CD)
- Adam Moseley, Keith Finney: recorded by (US CD)
- Robin Evans: technician assistant (US CD)
- Masa Marumo: A&R (Japan DOMO LP on Discogs)
- Yoshio Ogura: equipment (US CD)
Technical Credits
- Recorded and mixed at Swanyard Studios, London (October–November 1986 per Japan DOMO LP notes on Discogs)
- Original LP program: Sonet SNTF 995 (UK, 1987) and parallel Gramavision US LP 18-8706-1
- US CD: Gramavision R2 79420 with additional track 'Rage In' and expanded technical credits on Discogs
- US CD manufacturing note: glass mastered at Specialty Records Corporation; marketed by Mesa/Bluemoon, distributed by Rhino per Discogs