Compilation Album "A Ballads"

Album Information

"Rainbow" is the title track to her previous album Rainbow, but was not included on the album. As a promotion for both albums, the purchasers of the initial pressings of Rainbow were given a password to a website, where they could download part of instrumental version of the song, and submit their own lyrics. Over 100,000 people accessed the website. The tracklistings of initial pressings of the album Rainbow had track 00 that said "Rainbow", but the song was not included on the album, and was scheduled to be released as a single after participation ended.

Both "Appears" and "M" were dramatically remixed by HAL to fit in with the ballad image of the album.

"You", "A Song for XX" were rearranged and resung for this album and added rocky and acoustic feel to the songs. These songs display the change in Hamasaki's voice since her debut.

"To Be" and "Seasons" were only minimally changed for the album with heavier percussions.

"Who..." (Across the Universe) was resung for the album and as suggested by Hamasaki herself, it was made to have a 'warmer' feel than the original track.

The final track, "Sotsugyou shashin" was originally by Yumi Matsutoya, and is the only cover that Ayumi Hamasaki has done to this date on an album. The numbers in A Song for XX's title is the date in which it was recorded (YYMMDD)

Track listing

01. "Rainbow"
02. "Appears" ~Hal's Progress~
03. "Key" ~Eternal Tie Ver.~
04. "You" ~Northern Breeze~
05. "To Be" ~2003 ReBirth Mix~
06. "Hanabi"
07. "M" ~Hal's Progress~
08. "Dearest"
09. "Dolls"
10. "Seasons" ~2003 ReBirth Mix~
11. "Voyage"
12. "A Song for XX" ~030213 Session #2 Take~
13. "Who..." ~Across the Universe~
14. "Sotsugyou Shashin" ~Yumi Matsutoya cover~