EARTHSHAKER - Blondie Girl 12" Vinyl EP Album

- Netherlands Release on RoadrunneR Records

Earthshaker's "Blondie Girl" EP is a whirlwind of Japanese heavy metal madness. It's like finding a windmill in a desert – unexpected and awesome. So crank up the volume, grab a stroopwafel, and prepare for riffs so heavy they might sink your clogs. It's a mini-album with a maxi impact, and you won't want to miss it!

Earthshaker's "Blondie Girl" EP: A Heavy Metal Earthquake from Japan
Album Description:

"Blondie Girl," the 1983 EP from Japanese heavy metal pioneers Earthshaker, marked a pivotal moment in the band's burgeoning career. Released during Japan's burgeoning heavy metal scene, the EP captured the raw energy and intensity that defined the genre at the time.

The EP's title track, "Blondie Girl," and "I Need The Woman," showcased the band's penchant for hard-hitting riffs, soaring vocals, and anthemic choruses, solidifying their place within the growing heavy metal landscape. The remaining two tracks, live renditions of "Earthshaker" and "Marionette," captured the electrifying atmosphere of their concerts and demonstrated their prowess as a live act.

The EP quickly gained popularity among heavy metal fans in Japan and beyond, becoming a sought-after collector's item for its limited availability and unique blend of studio and live recordings. Fans were particularly drawn to the EP's raw energy and powerful vocals, which became hallmarks of Earthshaker's sound.

The production team, including Masa Itoh, played a crucial role in shaping the EP's sound. Recorded at Shibuya Koukaido, a renowned Tokyo venue, the live tracks captured the essence of the band's performance energy. While the EP didn't generate any significant controversies, it solidified Earthshaker's reputation as one of Japan's leading heavy metal bands and helped propel them to international recognition.

"Blondie Girl" stands as a testament to Earthshaker's musical exploration within the heavy metal genre and their contribution to the Japanese metal scene during its formative years. Its enduring popularity and influence continue to resonate with heavy metal fans worldwide, solidifying its place as a classic release in Japanese heavy metal history.

Collector's notes

This mini-album "Blondie Girl" by the Japanese Heavy Metal band: "Earthshaker" contains two studio tracks ("Blondie GIrl", "I Need The Woman" and two live tracks ("Earthshaker", "Marionette").The Live tracks have been recorded 17 August 1983 at Shibuya Koukaido.

Album Fact Sheet: EARTHSHAKER - Blondie Girl

Music Genre:

 Heavy Metal / Hard Rock 

Album Production Information:

The album: "EARTHSHAKER - Blondie Girl" was produced by: Earthshaker.

Executive producer: Motohiko Takawa

Supervisor: Masa Itoh

Masa Itoh a successful producer and author (of album liner notes) and has produced albums for bands like "Earthshaker" and "Loudness".

Sound Engineers: Seiichi Chiba, Masashi Goto

Masashi Goto a Japanese Sound Engineer and has been engineering some of Japan's major heavy metal bands: Earthshaker and Loudness.

Mastering: Shago Sakamaki

Photography: Herbie Yamaguchi

Record Label & Catalognr:

 RoadrunneR RR 125517

Record Format:

12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

Total Album (Cover+Record) Weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

  1983 Manufactured in the Netherlands
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: EARTHSHAKER - Blondie Girl
  • Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • Masafumi Nishida – Vocals
  • Shinichiro Ishihara – Guitars
  • Takayuki Kai – Bass
  • Yoshihiro Kudo – Drums
Complete Track-listing of the album "EARTHSHAKER - Blondie Girl"

The detailed tracklist of this record "EARTHSHAKER - Blondie Girl" is:

  1. Track-listing Side One:
  2. Blondie Girl
  3. I Need a Woman
  1. Track-listing Side Two:
  2. Earthshaker (Live)
  3. Marionette (Live)
Front cover of Earthshaker's self-titled album featuring the stylized letters E and S, flanking a glowing green globe grasped by claws, floating over red-orange mist and Earthshaker in red handwritten script.

Front cover of Earthshaker’s self-titled album featuring a dramatic and stylized heavy metal aesthetic. The top half of the artwork displays the large, chrome-like metallic letters E and S, symbolizing the band’s initials. These letters are visually anchored to a glowing green sphere, representing the Earth, which is ominously gripped by three sharp, golden claws emerging from a shadowy form above. The sphere emits a fiery yellow glow that casts warm, sinister lighting across the surrounding space.

Flanking the sphere, the horizontal tips of horn-like structures extend outward from both sides, enhancing the menacing visual impact. The background fades from a deep black at the top to burning red-orange clouds and mist below, conveying a post-apocalyptic or otherworldly atmosphere.

At the bottom of the cover, the band’s name, Earthshaker, is handwritten in jagged red letters, suggesting both urgency and raw energy. The letter "k" sharply pierces downward, like a lightning bolt, adding to the dynamic and rebellious tone. The overall design communicates power, mysticism, and intensity—hallmarks of early 1980s Japanese heavy metal.

Album Back Cover  Photo of "EARTHSHAKER - Blondie Girl"
Back cover of Earthshaker's Blondie Girl 12 inch EP showing tracklist with studio and live recordings in bold yellow-red serif font on a dark brown background with Roadrunner logo.

Back cover of Earthshaker’s 12" EP Blondie Girl featuring a clean, centered layout with a dark maroon-to-black gradient background. All text is set in a classic, bold serif typeface with a yellow fill and thick red outline, giving the track titles a vibrant, glowing appearance reminiscent of vintage rock posters.

The top half lists Studio Performance tracks: Blondie Girl and I Need the Woman. Below that, the Live Performance section features Earthshaker and Marionette, with a note beneath stating they were Recorded Live at Shibuya Koukaido, 17th August 1983.

At the bottom, the text Produced by Earthshaker is followed by licensing and distribution credits in small print, mentioning Roadrunner Productions, King Record Co. Ltd., and distributors in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. The Roadrunner Records logo appears prominently in the upper right corner, while the Neus logo is centered at the bottom.

Earthshaker Blondie Girl EP Side 1 label with Roadrunner logo, catalog number RR 125517, track durations, 45 RPM, Made in Holland, and production credits.

Record label for Side 1 of Earthshaker’s Blondie Girl 12" EP released by Roadrunner Records in 1983. The label background is light grey, featuring a bold red ROADRUNNER logo at the top center within a rectangular border. Surrounding the outer edge is a red warning in all caps: UNAUTHORISED COPYING, HIRING, LENDING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AND BROADCASTING OF THIS RECORD PROHIBITED.

Centered in black, the band name EARTHSHAKER appears above the spindle hole. To the left, text reads Side 1, STEREO with the catalog number RR 125517 directly below it. On the right, the speed and rights info are listed: STEMRA, 45 RPM, © 1983 Roadrunner Productions B.V., King Records Co., Ltd. The phrase MADE IN HOLLAND is vertically printed in red along the right margin.

The tracklist includes: 1. Blondie Girl (3:50) and 2. I Need the Woman (4:30). Below, the production credit states: Produced by Earthshaker and publishing is attributed to Watanabe Music Publishing Co., Ltd.

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