DJ Yoshizawa Dynamite.jp & Chintam - Wamono A To Z Vol. II

 

Year : 2021

Label : 180g

Serie : Wamono A to Z

Genre : Jazz, Pop

Style : Jazz Funk

Compilation series by DJ Yoshizawa Dynamite, a renowned japanese DJ/producer, and DJ Chintam owner of Blow Up shop settled in the Tokyo's Shibuya district since 2018. Nowadays, the serie includes three volume based on the "Wamono A to Z Record Guide" from Jazz to City-Pop of the 70s-80s japanese groove scene, than Yoshizawa published in 2015. This second volume brings together some of the best jazzy-funky tracks and disco grooves produced during the seventies in Japan including killer dance club song "I Hope It's Fine" by School Band. It features also by Mieko Hirota, Jiro Inagaki & The Soul Media, Hatsumi Shibata, Akira Yasuda & Beat Folk.

The Big Score ~ Music in Cinema in Music

Let yourself away on a cinematic journey through a 27 musical masterpieces selection to the groovy beats recorded for various soundtracks, TV shows, advertisings or others commercial programs from the late sixties to early seventies. Titles include some recordings from iconic music library labels including British KPM & Chappell, French Orly & Montparnasse 2000 or Italian CAM catalogues. It features Michel Legrand, Jacques Loussier, Alan Hawkshaw, Keith Mansfield, Janko Nilovic, Dave Grusin, Serge Gainsbourg, Piero Piccioni, Michel Colombier & many more... Compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Michel Colombier - Capot Pointu

 

Year : 1969

Label : La Compagnie

Genre : Jazz, Pop

Style : Symphonic Rock, Chanson 

 

Best known as a genious arranger & composer, Michel Colombier has collaborated with several internationally renowned artists including french choreographer Maurice Béjart (Messe Pour Le Temps Present), Serge Gainsbourg, the Beach Boys (Sunflower), Supertramp (Even In The Quietest Moments), Prince (Purple Rain) or Air (Walkie Talkie). He was also in charge of numerous soundtracks from iconic films (Le Pacha, Purple Rain, Sorcerer), background music for television and radio. He released only three solo albums including his masterpiece the great symphonic pop musical "Wings" in 1971. According to the own words of its author, "Capot Pointu" was recorded for fun including symphonic pop with strings arrangements, some experimental music and catchy melodies served by nice funny chorus. Titles include two songs written by Serge Gainsbourg ("Turlututu Capot Pointu", "La Robe de Papier") or songs based on various call signs composed for french radio shows ("Lobellia", "The Big Team"). It features Eddy Louiss (org), Raymond Gimenès (eb), Francis Darizcuren (eg), André Arpino (ds).

Various - Saigon Supersound 1965-75

 

Year : 2017
Label : Saigon Supersound
Genre : Pop, Rock, Latin Jazz, Folk
Style : Latin, Funk/Soul

Saigon Supersound, the compilation which brings together some lost vietanmese pop songs recorded between 1965 and 1975, when US army was stationned in the South Vietnam, a period considered as the golden era of popular vietnamese music. Americans brought with them Rock 'N' Roll and Soul music to Vietnam, which influenced local artists and popular singers such as Carol Kim who integrated it to the standard vietnamese songs repertoire (melancholic and love themes), all developed in opposion of communist revolutionary music. Marked by the american way of life, some young bands were formed like the Dew Drop or The Dreamers. They performed in the G.I. Clubs integrating western rock as well as funk/soul elements to their music, but not only, their songs included also latin rhythms such as Rumba, Tango and Cha Cha Cha.

DISC 1 :  Carol Kim - Tình Ta Như Lửa Đơm Hoa / Hùng Cường & Mai Lệ Huyền - Sống Cho Nhau / Duy Quang & Thái Hiền - Mộng Về Quê / Thanh Vũ - Nếu Mình Còn Yêu Nhau / Connie Kim - Lý Luận Tình Yêu / Hòa Tấu - Phố Đêm / Phượng Mai - Mùa Xuân Gửi Em / Khánh Ly - Diễm Xưa / Kim Loan - Căn Nhà Ngoại Ô

DISC 2 : Thanh Thuý, Văn Thanh, Hoàng Liêm & Thanh Mai - Đoàn Người Lữ Thứ /Kiều Oanh - Đêm Cuối Cùng / Thanh Lan, Châu Hà & Thanh Mai - Hát Mừng Xuân / Mai Lệ Huyền - Có Ai Trên Đời Mà Không Yêu / Vân Sơn & Thùy Dung - Chọn Mặt Gửi Vàng / Hoàng Oanh - Mùa Gặt Mới / Thanh Lan - Tình Đêm Liên Hoan / Phương Dung - Vòng Tay Giữ Trọn Ân Tình / Ngọc Giàu - Câu Vọng Cổ Chúc Tết 

Susumu Arima And New Creators - Eleanor Rigby/Rock & Drums

Year : 1972
Label : JVC
Serie : CD-4
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock

Susumu Arima is a japanese arranger and pianist who worked for famous japanese folk rock band "Garo" and played alongside Kunihiko Sugano on "The More I See You" in 1972. During the 1972 year, he recorded various pop/rock cover albums for the Victor 4 Channel Serie (also called CD-4), including "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "The Dock Of The Bay" and "Eleanor Rigby" albums. Later, he recorded the contemporary jazz albums "Good Life" in 1976 and his piano solo project "Super Touch" in 1977. Supported by drummers Sadakazu Tabata & Chito Kikuchi, titles include the big western rock hits such as "Eleanor Rigby", "Hitchin' A Ride", "As The Years Go By" and the Motown's Soul classic "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me".

Brasilia Modern Six - Estréia

Year : 1969
Label : RCA/Victor
Genre : Pop, Latin Jazz
Style : MPB, Bossa Nova, Samba, Soft Rock

Obscure Brazilian Soft Rock group from the late 60's, formed by a chorus of six members who sings as well in english as in portugese, and a backing band featuring organist reminding the Walter Wanderley's style. In the same way as the Mario Castro Neves & Samba S. A.'s albums, titles include typical brazilian jazz style with bossa & samba songs (Roda De Samba, Homem Zero, Balanço De Criança),  but also international pop standards (a lounge version of the Doors' classic "Light My Fire"), and latin cover songs (The theme song of Chile movie "Morir un Poco", "Viento Dile A la Lluvia" from Argentina rock group Los Gatos). 

Isao Etoh & His Pick-Up Seven - Exciting Electric Bass

Year : 1969
Label : Victor
Serie : Perfect Sound 6
Genre : Jazz, Pop
Style : Jazz Rock

"Exciting Electric Bass" is a jazz rock and covers album recorded by Isao Etoh & His Pick-Up Seven with japanese pop arranger Kunihiko Suzuki. It focuses on western pop hits & Soul Music including The Supremes (You Keep Me Hangin' On), The Tempations (I'm Gonna Make You Love Me) The Beatles (Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Back In The U.S.S.R), passing by The Jackson 5 (Maybe Tomorrow). Isao Etoh is a japanese session musician in demand who contributed as bassist to the success of the GS japanese rock genre during the sixties, recruited by Jackie Yoshikawa and his Blue Comets, The Jaguars, The Wild Ones or Terry and his Blue Jeans (Takeshi Terauchi). He collaborated to over 5000 recordings of pop songs, supporting various famous japanese pop icons (Linda Yamamoto, Yukari Ito, Jun Mayuzumi or Mieko Hirota). In the late sixties, he joined alongside the jazz drummer Akira Ishikawa, the backing band formed for the Japanese version of Broadway musical "Hair". Thereafter, he became a regular bassist in the Count Buffalos band of Akira Ishikawa. From the late sixties, Isao recorded a pop covers albums serie (like "Golden Electric Bass" with the Black Panthers) and joined several prestigious japanese jazz formations such as Toshiyuki Miyama's New Herd (Exciting Rock Beat, 1969), Kiyoshi Sugimoto Quartet (Playboy Sound - Get Back, 1969). At last, during the seventies, Isao played for Masabumi Kikuchi ("Masabumi Kikuchi + Gil Evans Orchestra" in 1972), Kimiko Kasai, Jiro Inagaki & Motohiko Hino.

Golden Boys - Golden Boys

 

Year : 1973

Label : Odeon

Genre : Pop, Rock
Style : Latin Rock, MPB, Samba Rock

Golden Boys is one of the finest vocal groups coming from the Jovem Guarda movement (Young Guard), which bloomed under the spotlight of Brazilian Pop music in the sixties. Originally formed as a quartet in 1958, Golden Boys is a brazilian rock band composed of three brothers : Roberto (former member from 1958 to 1971), Ronaldo, Renato Corrêa José Maria and their cousin, Valdir Anunciação, all from the same family as the Trio Esperanza. In 1973, The quartet have already eight albums to their credit, whose "Fumacê" released in 1970 just before Roberto left the band (included the hit "Se Você Quiser Mas Sem Bronquear"). The quatuor contributed repeatedly to various productions of others brazilian artists, their most famous includes collaborations for Marcos Valle ("Terra De Ninguém" in 1968, "Dia Da Vitória" in 1969, "Esperando O Messias" in 1970). For most of the songs, we can find the trademark of "Abbey Road" sound by The Beatles, more than an evidence that the group was mostly influenced by this other famous quartet from Liverpool, in particular the tracks "Deixa Falar (Let Your Yeah Be Yeah)" & "Estranho (Strange One)".

Serge Gainsbourg - Le Cinéma De Serge Gainsbourg

Year : 2015
Label : DECCA
Series : Back To Black
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen, Soundtrack
Style : Chanson, Psychedelic, Pop, Rock, Soul Jazz

Compilation of various works composed by Serge Gainsbourg for french directors (among others Bertrand Blier, Georges Lautner & Michel Audiar), including 14 cinematographic pieces recorded in the sixties, exactly from 1959 to 1969. Since "L'Eau A La Bouche" (1959), his first soundtrack arranged by Alain Goraguer, Serge Gainsbourg was able to surround himself  by others talented arrangers/composers, most of the time, the French Michel Colombier & Jean-Claude Vannier on several films : Si J'étais Un Espion (1967), Anna (1966), Manon 70 (1968) & Le Pacha (1968) with Michel Colombier ; Les Chemins De Katmandou (1969), Slogan (1969) & Une Veuve En Or (1969) with Jean-Claude Vannier (also in charge of the cult Serge Gainsbourg's album "Histoire De Mélodie Nelson"). The tracklist includes various songs sung by Serge Gainsbourg (Requiem Pour Un Con, L’Escroc), Anna Karina (Sous Le Soleil Exactement), Serge Gainsbourg featuring Jane Birkin (La Chanson De Slogan) and various unreleased tracks extracted from films "Si J'étais Un Espion" (Breakdown), "Les Chemins De Katmandou" (Générique & Transe Party Des Haschichiens), "Manon 70" (New Delire Again), "Le Pacha" (Un Noël 67) & "Slogan" (Paris-Bombay).

Jacques Dutronc (Self-Titled)

Year : 1966
Label : Vogue
Genre : Rock, Chanson Française
Style : Psychedelic, Beat

The year 1966, may be considered as the French rock birth act whose Jacques Dutronc was one of its eminent figure. Co-written with Claude Lanzmann, the Dutronc's debut album fuses Garage Rock, Psychedelia, Folk Rock music (L'opération). However, this iconic French Pop album recycles British & US Rock success, even borrowing some familiar tunes to The Rolling Stones, The Kinks or The Yardbirds, as evidenced "La Fille Du Père Noël" which shares the same riff as Bo Diddley on "I'm A Man". Between 1966-1975, Jacques Dutronc recorded seven albums for Vogue, taking over his predecessors Yé-Yé (a typical french musical pop genre), the French dandy  is more provocative such as Serge Gainsbourg, using confusing humorous lyrics, wordplay with irreverence, cynicism and irony. Most of the songs are iconic standards of the french Pop and became big hits during the sixties :  "Les Play-Boys", "Les Cactus", "La Fille Du Père Noël" &  "Mini-Mini-Mini".

Pierre Dutour Et Son Orchestre - Dance And Mood Music Vol. 9

Year : 2009/1969
Label : Vadim Music/Chappell
Serie : Dance And Mood Music
Genre : Jazz, Music Library
Style : Jazz Funk, Soul Jazz, Pop

Iconic french music library record from the Chappell sessions, among the best of the serie, performed by french trumpeter & conductor, Pierre Dutour. In the early sixties, Pierre Dutour joined the "Jeunesses Musicales De France" conducted by Claude Bolling and later was enrolled by him in his sextet, he was also a regular sideman for french singer Nino Ferrer and worked for various french entertainers. Associated to his stooge, Jack Arel, for composing, he participated to various Chappell sessions recordings, but not only, the French Music Library labels "Patchwork" & "Telemusic" bear likewise his signature. Titles include "Tracking" (the reminiscent of Blaxploitation soundtracks), the furious jerk "Following You", the killer groove "Business Is Business" and "Leaving To-Morrow" sampled by Howie B. for the song "Switch" (extracted from "Turn The Dark Off" released in 1997). All tracks composed by Pierre Dutour & Jack Arel except High Fly, The Brass March by Garry Bellington.

Maki Asakawa - Asakawa Maki No Sekai (Maki)

Year : 1970
Label : Express
Genre : Jazz, Folk Rock, Latin Jazz
Style : Pop, Bossa Nova, Avant-Garde

Maki Asakawa was an iconic japanese jazz and blues songstress, lyricist and composer, cantor of japanese counter culture, who recorded over 30 albums between 1970-2010, her first decade being marked by american psychedelia & folk rock music. "Asakawa Maki No Sekai" (The World Of Maki), is an approach of various musical genres mastered by this versatile artist, as well Pop, Jazz, Latin, as Folk & Rock 'N' Roll music. Supported by experienced musicians such as Masaru Imada, Jiro Inagaki & Yokouchi Shoji, she associates compositions of the Jazz arranger  Kozaburo Yamaki to the lyrics of the iconic avant-garde poet, Shuji Terayama. This first Maki's testimony consists in studio & live recordings ranging from Jazz to Bossa Nova, by Acid Folk & Psychedelic Rock, including also some japanese modern folk vocal overtones (Enka). All tracks composed & arranged by Kozaburo Yamaki except "Kamome" by Osamu Kitayama, the New Orleans traditional "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" and "Tombe La Neige" by Adamo.

MUSICIANS : Maki Asakawa - vocal - Masaru Imada - organ, piano - Masanaga Harada - bass - Kohsuke Ichihara - flute, saxophone - Jiro Inagaki - saxophone, flute - Yokouchi Shoji & Kozaburo Yamaki - guitar - Chico Kikuchi - drums

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The Psychedelic Soul Vol. 3 ~ Japanese Beat & Rock 'N Roll

Vol. 3 of the compilation series dedicated to the japanese beat (Groups Sounds), Rock 'N' Roll and psychedelic music. Titles include twenty tracks from Pop to Rhythm 'N' Blues by Progressive Rock featuring Takeshi Terauchi & The Bunnys, Kiyoshi Sugimoto, The Golden Cups, Jun Mayuzumi, Sadakazu Tabata & Rhythm Kings, Sammy & many more... All tracks released between 1966 - 1972, compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Jimmy Takeuchi & His Exciters - Pops Best 24

Year : 1971

Label : Toshiba

Serie : Drum Drum Drum Series

Genre : Jazz, Rock

Style : Pop, Funk/Soul, Rock&Roll

First volume of three compilation series including cover songs of western Pop hits & Rock 'N Roll standards recorded by Jimmy Takeuchi from the late 60's to early 70's, featuring The Beatles, Simon, & Garfunkel, The Ventures, Elvis Presley, Bill Halley among others. This compilation brings together various songs previously released on others Jimmy Takeuchi's albums of the "DRUM DRUM DRUM" Toshiba series, divided in four cover themes (one for each side) including "Hits Of The Ventures" on side A (SAMPLE), "Hits Of The Beatles" on side B (SAMPLE), "Hits Of Pop" on side C (SAMPLE) and at last, "Hits Of Rock 'N Roll" on side D (SAMPLE). Although not best as the originals, some tracks are definitely worth listening such as amazing variation of jazz standard "Caravan", "Come Together", the Shocking Blue's "Venus", "Be Bop A Lula" and a insane version of "Wipe Out" by The Surfaris. All tracks performed by Jimmy Takeuchi & His Exciters, arranged by Kunihiko Suzuki.

Various - Nippon Girls 2 : Japanese Pop-Beat & Rock'N'Roll 1966-70

Year : 2014
Label : Big Beat Records
Serie : Big Beat International 
Genre : Pop, Rock, Latin
Style : Bossa Nova, Psychedelic, Beat

The compilation of the japanese pop generation compiled by DJ Sheila Burgel including Bossa Nova, Rock 'N Roll, pop ballads & psychedelic music. "Nippon Girls 2" brings together twelve incredible songs, recorded between 1966-1970 by various queens of the Japanese Pop featuring Linda Yamamoto, including iconic songs "Mini Mini Girl" & "Sake Na Machi" (both selected by Yasuharu Konishi from Pizzicato Five for his "Good Night Tokyo" compilation released in 2000), the hit song "You Don't Know Baby" by english-speaker Emmy Jackson, the furious psychedelic rock "Watashi Ga Kemeko Yo" & the Bossa, "Warui Kuse". 

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SIDE A : Kayoko Ishu - Bazazz No.1 / Reiko Mari - Saike Na Machi (Psychedelic Town) / Linda Yamamoto - Furi Furi 5 / Mari Henmi - Daniel Mon Amour / Chiyo Okumura - Koi Gurui (Crazy Love) / Emy Jackson &  Blue Comets - Namida No Go Go (You Don't Know Baby)

SIDE B : Katsuko Kanai - Mini Mini Girl / Akiko Wada - Boy & Girl / Kemeko Matsudaira - Watashi Ga Kemeko Yo / Akiko Nakamura - Namida No Mori No Monogatari / The Peanuts - Tokyo No Hito / Kazumi Yasui - Warui Kuse

Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Stillness

Year : 1970
Label : A&M Records
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : MPB, Samba, Bossa Nova 

"Stillness" is the last album recorded by Sérgio Mendes with his famous Brasil '66 group, featuring guest saxophonist Tom Scott. The original band was created in 1966, based on initiative by Richard Adler, Sergio Mendes & Herb Alpert, to form a band ables to sing in English as well as Portuguese, cut for an international audience including pop, jazz and latin music. They quickly gained international recognition with their first success, the cover song of Jorge Ben "Mas Que Nada" released in 1966. Titles include various brazilian songs from Gilberto Gil (Viramundo) to Caetano Veloso (Lost In Paradise) by Oscar Castro-Neves (Celebration Of The Sunrise) and western pop songs songs from Joni Mitchell (Chelsea Morning), Blood Sweet & Tears (Sometimes In Winter). All tracks produced by Herb Alpert & Sérgio Mendes.

Michel Legrand - Archi Cordes

Year : 2009/1964 

Label : Vadim Music/Philips

Genre : Jazz, Pop
Style : Big Band, Easy Listening

 

Pop-Jazz album including scat songs with strings ensemble conducted & performed by Michel Legrand Et Son Orchestre featuring Elek Bacsik, famous guitarist on Serge Gainsbourg's "Confidentiel" album released the previous year. This iconic album is returned to the light in 1996, thanks to the track "Di-Gue-Ding-Ding" which was selected for the easy-listening compilation "Inflight Entertainment". The french maestro pianist who enrolled Miles Davis, Bill Evans & John Coltrane for his legendary album "Legrand Jazz" recorded in 1958, was arranger for Maurice Chevalier, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz. But Legrand is best known as composer of over 100 films music and television (The Thomas Crown Affair, Summer 42, Never Say Never Again...), popular among french filmmakers from the New Wave, in particular, Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Demy, Agnès Varda, Chris Marker or Claude Chabrol. Titles include only compositions by Michel Legrand except Orange Blossom Special by Ervin T. Rouse.

Gal Costa - Gal Costa

 

Year : 1969  

Label : Philips

Genre : Jazz, Latin, Rock
Style : Samba, MPB, Psychedelic

Essential album by the iconic brazilian songtress of Tropicália mixing psychedelic rock, funk/soul including samba rock featuring special guest Gilberto Gil. It's the second collaboration with singer/lyricist Caetano Veloso after her first steps on duet album "Domingo", released in 1967. All tracks are arranged by Rogério Duprat, the brazilian maestro considered as the 'George Martin' of Tropicália movement. Titles include featurings with Gilberto Gil (Sebastiana, Namorinho De Portão), Caetano Veloso (Que Pena, Baby) and compositions from Roberto Carlos/Erasmo Carlos (Se Você Pensa, Vou Recomençar), Jorge Ben (Deus È O Amor), Veloso (Não Identificado, Saudosismo). 

Yuzo Hayashi & Salon '68 - Life As A Cinema

Year : 2002
Label : April Records
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Easy Listening, Bossa Nova, Acid Jazz

Sweet lounge music recorded in 2002 by an obscure japanese keyboarder/conductor & his group featuring scat singing performances by Minako Kasahara (former member of Reggae Disco Rockers) & Mayumi Chida. In 2006, with the same formation, Yuzo Hayashi was in charge of the soundscape for the josei animated serie, "Honey & Clover", and recorded a tribute to the italian actress, Monica Vitti (Memory Of Monica Vitti) in the same line. "Life As A Cinema" is somehow the reminiscent of the classics Italian soundtracks, reminding the famous reissues & compilations from the italian Music library label, "Easy Tempo" (Piero Umiliani or Stefano Torossi), but also the Konishi Yasuharu productions with his Pizzicato Five group. "Life As A Cinema" attemps to recreate a vintage & erotic atmosphere from the glorious days of the french/italian riviera from the mid-sixties including Bossa Nova (Kaigantōri To Hanauri, Erotica Mibōjin), french Pop (Sasowarete 63) & Acid Jazz (Kyū Shigai No Zawameki). All tracks composed & arranged by Yuzo Hayashi.

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Marcos Valle - Marcos Valle

Year : 1970
Label : Odeon
Genre : Jazz, Latin, Pop
Style : Bossa Nova, MPB, Psychedelic Pop

"Marcos Valle '70" is best known as "The Bed Album" featuring brazilian progressive rock group Som Imaginário, backing band of Milton Nascimento. Following his previous "Mustang Cor De Sangue" in 1969 introducing a psychedelic approach, "Marcos Valle '70" incorporates modern Rock & Soul influences from The Beatles, psychedelic music and the Afro-American culture. Before turning to the psychedelic pop, Marcos evolved over 10 years in the Bossa Nova style since his first album, "Samba Demais" in 1963 and contributed to its expansion with the latin jazz standards "Summer Samba" (Samba De Verão) and "Os Grilos". Titles include the finest pop ballad "Quarentão Simpático", the protest song "Dez Leis", new recording of "Os Grilos", "Esperando O Messias" feat. the Golden Boys, the waltz "Pigmalião", "Ele E Ela" & "Freio Aerodinâmico" feat. Ângela Valle (sampled by Jay Z on "Thank You" from "The Blue Print 3" in 2009) and experimental baroque suite "Suíte Imaginária". The line-up consists of Marcos Valle (vo, p), Novelli, Luiz Alves (eb), Nelson Ângelo, Tavito (eg), Wagner Tiso (keys), Robertinho Silva (ds) and Ângela Valle (backing vocals).