''Gradation'' is the first

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

by Japanese singer

Shizuka Kudo , known by her maiden name , is a Japanese singer, actress and former idol, born in Hamura, Tokyo, Japan. She was a member of Onyanko Club between May 1986 and September 1987 and went on to have a successful solo career with 11 number-one hit ...

. It was released on November 30, 1988, through

Pony Canyon , also known by the shorthand form , is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966, which distributes music, films, home video, and video games. It is affiliated with the Japanese media group Fujisankei Communications Group. Pony Canyo ...

. The album includes all five singles released by Kudo at the time, from " Kindan no Telepathy" through " Mugon... Iroppoi", their coupling songs, as well as one new song, entitled "X'mas ga Ippai", recorded specifically for the compilation. ''Gradation'' was re-released in gold CD format on March 21, 1989.

Commercial performance

''Gradation'' debuted at number two on the

Oricon Albums Chart The Oricon Albums Chart is the Japanese music industry standard albums popularity chart issued daily, weekly, monthly and yearly by Oricon. Oricon originally published LP, CT, Cartridge and CD charts prior to the establishment of the Oricon A ...

, with 182,000 units sold. The album spent fourteen weeks in the top twenty, of which nine were spent in the top ten. It charted in the top 100 for twenty-one weeks, logging a reported total sales of 600,000 copies during its chart run, making ''Gradation'' Kudo's best-selling album. The compilation ranked at number nine on the year-end Oricon Albums Chart for the year 1989, marking her first and only entry into the year-end top ten.

Track listing

All tracks composed and arranged by

Tsugutoshi Gotō Tsugutoshi Gotō (後藤次利 Gotō Tsugutoshi), born February 5, 1952, is a Japanese songwriter, bassist and music producer. Gotō broke into the Japanese music industry playing bass on tour for artists like Sadistic Mika Band, Bread & Butter ...

Charts

Standard edition

Re-issue edition

Release history

References

{{Authority control 1988 compilation albums Shizuka Kudo albums Pony Canyon compilation albums