A recent reappreciation and nostalgia for older musics, particularly
among the "hip" in major cities has brought an unprecendented number
of rereleases and unusual compilations of 1970's Japanese music to the
market. For the most part, these compilations center around "unusual"
sounds, such as the late-60's Boogaloo boom, the "British Invasion" and
the Bossanova. Also, recent compilations centering around 70's era TV
Themes, TV commercials and films have become more and more common.
Artist: Various
Title: Omoshiro Yukai de Natsukashiki Genban
Publisher: Minoruphone (Tokuma Japan)
Catalog #: CHOP D-040
Price: Y2800
Release: 1995
Genre: 70's Japanese Rare Groove
Total Time:
Track Listing:
1. Minoruphone Theme Song
2. Gou Tatsuya - "Aishite Aishite Toppashire"
3. Torio za Mantisu - "Anata ga Suki Suki"
4. Fuji Kenji - "Denshi no Rokku" (Dialogue)
5. The Mummies - "Boogaloo No.1"
6. Fuji Junko - Taiei Eiga "Tousei Kobore Hana" (Dialogue)
7. Ookawa Kazuya - "Tsurugame Ondo"
8. Katou Yoshirou - "Omae Onna ka ne Otoko ka ne"
9. Yamamoto Rinda - "Mini Mini De-to"
10. Yamamoto Rinda - "Tonbo no Megane"
11. Ishibashi Shirou to So-rufo- - "Koi no Shingaringu"
12. Taki Shinji - "Kemeko ga Nandai"
13. Noburaku Makoto - "Tarirariran Buru-zu"
14. Matsuzaka Reiko - Taiei Eiga "Yoru no Chinsaishitsu" (Dialogue)
15. Harenchi Gakuen Ko-rasubu - "Juubei no Konna Koto tte Aru Kashira"
16. Yamamoto Rinda - "Sekai no Kuni Kara Konnichiha"
17. Hatsumi & Hitomi - "Asobisugita Nichiyoubi"
18. Kamiyoshi Kichijirou - Takechi Toyoko - "Kamiyoshi/Toyoko no Harenchi
Amore"
Goodies: Standard jewelbox with booklet with lyrics and record jacket
cuts.
Comments:
One of the more interesting, some might say "extreme" of recent 70's
material compilations is this Minoruphone label based compilation.
The included material is an interesting mix of jazz, bossa and boogaloo,
with a rather large amount of dialogue clips from CMs and films of the era.
Grade: A
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
Artist: Various
Title: Hi-Panoramic Series - Japanese 70's Bomb - Peacock Baby
Publisher: Victor
Catalog #: VICL-5255
Price: Y3000
Release: 94.5.21
Genre: 70's Japanese Rare Groove
Total Time: 45:15
Track Listing:
1. Giants - "Suke-to Yarou"
2. Fuji Yuki - "Mini Mini De-to"
3. Oohara Reiko - "Pi-kokku Beibi-"
4. Pinky Chicks - "Yopparatta Ojousan"
5. Vagabonds - "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band"
6. Nakao Mie - "Koi no Sha-rokku"
7. Hara Toshiharu to B and B7 - "Futari de Odorou"
8. Mari Keiko to Leo Alma - "Tsuki Kage no Randebu-"
9. Matsumoto Hiroshi to Blue Nights - "Itoshi no Makkusu"
10. Honey Nights - "Love Samba"
11. Kinoshita Setsuko - "Ekizochikku Rabu"
12. Mari Keiko / Honey Nights / Moondrops - "Gojira tai Hedora"
13. Nakayama Chinatsu - "Uchuu ni Tobikome"
14. Yasuda Minami - "Ironside" (from the film soundtrack)
15. Jakki- Yoshikawa to Blue Comets - "Koi ni Kubittake"
16. Communication '72 - "Uiki Uiki Jetto"
Goodies: Standard jewelbox with booklet with lyrics and record
jacket cuts.
Comments:
Apparently the second disk in the "70's Bomb" rerelease section of the
multi-label compilation series, "Hi-Panoramic," compiled by Komoesta
Yaegashi of Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys and Soul Bossa Trio. This disk
covers oddball releases from the Victor label during the 70's and matches
up well with the Toshiba compilation "Docking Dance" which was published
around the same time in 1994. Its a shame, but these fantastic disks may
be out of print, and the series never went beyond these two releases.
This one features the mysteriously stupid track "skate yarou" with
classic lyrics like "totemo ikasu ze Suke-to sugata, Kawaii ano ko ha
bokura no nakama" (perfect :) ), and a rare groove gem, none other then
the theme to the Japanese release of the "Ironside" film. A couple
tracks on this compilation aren't worth mentioning, but a large majority
of this disk is makes it well worth tracking down if you can. Silly,
funky, and at times, very cool. Lyrics in Japanese.
Grade: A
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
Artist: Hidari Tonpei
Title: Tonpei no Hei Yuu Buru-zu
Publisher: Alfa Music
Catalog #: ALCA-5028
Price: Y1200
Release: 95.1.25
Genre: 70's Japanese Rare Groove, Soul Jazz
Total Time: 13:30
Track Listing:
1. Tonpei no Hei Yuu Buru-zu
2. Toukyou tte Ii Machi da na
3. Tonpei no Sake Bitari Jinsei
4. Tsuzuki: Toukyou tte Ii Machi da na
Goodies: Standard jewelbox with foldout with lyrics and record
jacket cuts.
Comments:
Popular comedian "Hidari Tonpei" released this Japanese Rare Groove
gem in the early 70's amidst a minor jazz funk boom in Tokyo music.
Its recent rerelease and CD remastering have sold surprisingly well,
surprising, even amidst the recent boom in soul jazz-style sounds and
retro styles. Produced by Mickey Curtis, Tonpei doesn't sing these
tracks as much as speak them, giving this rather famous EP the rather
dubious honor of being one of the most cited origins of Japanese
Rap (references within LB-kei rap are numerous), or at least a
significant influence on a number of so-called "omoro Rap" groups. It's
cute and silly, at times it has its cool moments, but a lot of it, in
terms of humour, style, and context is uniquely unfitting in modern
adult society and has the odd effect of alientationg the listener a bit.
Lyrics mostly in Japanese.
Grade: B+
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
Artist: Various
Title: Hi-Panoramic Series - Tokyo Beatnicks - Victor Vol. 2
Publisher: Victor
Catalog #: VICL-5246
Price: Y2500
Release: 94.1.21
Genre: 60's Japanese R&R, Groove Pop, etc.
Total Time: 39:37
Track Listing:
1. The Cupids - "She Loves You" (Beatles Cover)
2. Ken Sanders - "Eburishingu Oorai"
3. Tokyo Beatles - "Can't Buy Me Love" (Beatles Cover)
4. The Spacemen - "Hot Docking"
5. Jani-zu - "Batman Theme" (Batman TV Theme for Japanese Broadcast)
6. Ishida Ayumi - "So Long Babe" (Del Shannon Cover)
7. Hata Michiru - "Kurutta Ha-to"
8. Nakao Mie - "Namida no Shanson Nikki" (Serge Gainesbourgh Cover)
9. Itou Aiko - "Soyo Kaze ni Notte"
10. Nakao Mie - "Haro- Putifi-yu" (Beatles Cover)
11. Micchi- Sahara - "Mahha de Ikou"
12. Hirao Masafumi - "Supi-do Yarou"
13. Kamei Nobuo & Spacemen - "Checchecche"
14. Kazuhisata Ryuu - "Panchi Yarou"
15. Mita Akira - "Touch and Go"
16. Hashi Yukio - "Wakamono no Komoriuta"
Goodies: Standard jewelbox with booklet with lyrics and photos.
Comments:
Volume 2 of the Victor edition of the 1960's Hi-Panoramic series
of unusual Japanese music, "Tokyo Beatnicks." Unfortunately, this
disk is comprised largely of cover versions of well-known western
songs of the period (with no less than 3 Beatles covers), a bit of
a shame, since what is so fascinating about these rereleases is that
they capture the flavor and trends of Japanese youth of the period,
and while the covers reflect this to a degree, no one really wants
hear technically inferior versions of the classics in any language
(except for Ishida Ayumi's cover of Del Shannon's "So Long Babe"
and the Jani-zu version of the "Batman TV Theme," which more than
give the originals a run for their money, while adding a significant
amount of new flavor). The large percentage of covers may have reflected
Victor's policy towards this style of music on a level where they
could assure sales, even on unfamiliar genres such as rock, during a
period when the label's most solid sales base was in Enka and an
budding pop market. Lyrics in Japanese.
Grade: B-
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
Artist: Various
Title: Hi-Panoramic Series - Tokyo Beatnicks - Polydor Vol. 2
Publisher: Polydor
Catalog #: POCH-1332
Price: Y2500
Release: 94.3.25
Genre: 60's Japanese R&R, Groove Pop, etc.
Total Time: 46:05
Track Listing:
1. Chari- Ishiguro to Toukyou Panchos - "Taiyou no Kanata he"
2. Aoyama Michi - "Taiyou no Koi Go Go"
3. Aoyama Michi - "Suteki na Anata"
4. Kashima Jun - "Sekyou no Minato"
5. Tamura Emi - "Kuroi Taiyou"
6. Kanou Shuuji - "Spy Catcher"
7. Otsuki Rie - "Sunny Boy"
8. Otsuki Rie - "Swing Girl"
9. Honey Maki - "Kimagure Angel"
10. Nishi Sennori - "Koi no Shuba"
11. The Freshmen - "Surf Jam"
12. Aoyama Michi - "Namida no Taiyou"
13. Aoyama Michi - "Yume no Chou Tokkyuu"
14. Fuji Kouichi - "Kokkyou no Kanashikiya"
15. Tamura Emi - "Tasogare no Sunahama"
16. Kazuki Sako - "Aoi Yuuhi"
Goodies: Standard jewelbox with booklet with lyrics and photos.
Comments:
"Tokyo Beatnicks, the first series in the "Hi Panoramic" series
organized by Komoesta Yaegashi of the Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys,
is comprised of unusual tracks from various Japanese labels during
the 1960's. This particular disk, Volume 2 of the Polydor series,
contains a fair number of interesting tracks, but I admit finding
most of them a bit too simplistic to find them entertaining. Kitschy
works like Kanou Shuuji's "Spy Catcher" are fun, but not to be
taken seriously. An interesting disk, and fairly approachable for
those who may have been especially for those who may be curious about
some of the experiments happening in older Japanese music, but without
the gut-wrenching weirdness of some of the 70's comps. Lyrics in
Japanese.
Grade: B
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
Artist: Various
Title: Lupin III - Best Collection
Publisher: Columbia
Catalog #: 32C35-7902
Price: Y3008
Release: 87.3.20
Genre: Soundtrack, Pops, Oshare
Total Time: 53:19
Track Listing:
1. Rupan Sansei Sono 2 - Chari- Ko-se-
2. Rupan Sansei no Te-ma - You & The Explosion Band
3. I MISS YOU BABE (Daite Rupan) - Sandra Hohn
4. Rupan Sansei Ai no Te-ma - You & The Explosion Band
5. Rupan Sansei no Te-ma - Pete Mack Junior
6. Rupan Sansei no Te-ma - Mizuki Ichirou
7. LUPIN III '79
8. Love Squall - Sandra Hohn
9. LUPIN III '80
10. LOVIN' YOU (LUCKY) - Tommy Snyder
11. LOVE IS EVERYTHING - Kimura Susumu
12. Honou no Takaramono - Bobi-
13. MANHATTAN JOKE - Kawaai Naoko
14. SONG OF BABYLON - Kawaai Naoko
15. SUPER HERO - Tommy Snyder
16. Rupan Sansei Sono 1 - Chari- Ko-hi-
Goodies: Standard jewelbox with foldout with lyrics.
Comments:
During its broadcast in the 70's and the early 80's, the "Lupin
the Third" series was one of the best loved animated series in Japan,
and still remains popular in afternoon rebroadcasts, and in frequent
feature films and specials. Along with a slick and entertaining story,
with suave characters and exotic locales, the series was also known
for its cool, but very cheesy soundtrack. This disk brings together
the music of the show, which includes some loungy jazz stlye ballads and
"hip" material and some rather mediocre material into one package. Its
a pretty nice disk for a fan of the show and a prime source for sampling
material but probably a bit too insipid for the average listener.
Grade: B
<ben@ludens.co.jp>
[> Ben List------ben@ludens.co.jp------Home TEL: 03(5999)0818 <]
[> Ludens Co., Ltd------TEL: 03(5999)7047---FAX: 03(5999)7048 <]
[> tYPOtHERAPY Design---CEL: 030-047-2337---FAX: 03(5999)0818 <]