------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: Takahashi Yumiko Title: Scarlet Production Co: Victor Cat#: VICL-2045 Release: 1990/12/16 Price: 2000yen (disc only release) Length: 24'47" (6 tracks) Track Data: 5" mini-album 1 Welcome! -Popcorn Love- 4'20" 2 Whisper 4'22" 3 SHAMPOO 3'33" 4 Fight! 3'31" 2nd Single Release 5 Rainy Day x3 4'00" 6 Haru -Sunshine Bay kara- 5'03" Goodies: Early release in box with photo book(?) Comments: Yumiko's debut (mini) album. "Welcome!" makes for an excellent opening song, exploding into your ears. "Whisper" and "SHAMPOO" peaks this album in "bouncy"-ness. "Fight!" is an energetic song sure to grab you. "Rainy Day x3" & "Haru" rounds up with a more "standard" idol fare. Overall, while showing a somewhat cutesy sound, Yumiko performs with a strong voice (something which many idols lack.) Keep your ears on this singer (and I'll keep my eyes on her. =^) (Galen Komatsu: gkomatsu@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu, ar592@cleveland.freenet.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Takahashi Yumiko Title: Peace! Production Co: Victor Cat#: VICL-174 Release: 1991/7/21 Price: 3000yen Length: 42'10" (10 Tracks) Track Data: 5" album 1 PEACE BOMBER 4'43" 2 Ame-ni Hohoemi-o 4'27" 3 To-Ki-Me-Ki 3'41" 4th Single release 4 Yasashisa-no Hoho^ -Water Mirror- 4'10" 5 Otomejidai 4'47" 6 Natsu-no Yakusoku 4'35" 7 Celluloid-no Natsuyasumi 3'45" 8 Egao-no Maho^ 3'54" 3rd Single release 9 Anata-e... 5'39" 10 Ashita-mo Yume-ga Mirareru sama-ni 2'30" Goodies: Picture Disc. Large sticker of Yumiko's lovely =^) face. Comments: Yumiko's first full album is a pleasure to listen to. Not as "bouncy" as Scarlet, but a much easier sound to take. Her vocal ability improves with this album and displays her best in "Anata-e..." (Galen Komatsu: gkomatsu@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu, ar592@cleveland.freenet.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Takeuchi Mariya Title: Request Production co. MMG inc. Cat. No.: AMCM-4147 Release: 1987/?/? Price: ?(probably either 2800-3000 yen) Length: 46' 44" (10tracks) Track Data: 1: Koi no Arashi 2: Oh No, Oh Yes! 3: Kenka wo Yamete 4: Shosoku 5: Genki wo Dashite 6: Eki 7: Teko's Theme 8: Iro-White Blend 9: Yume no Tsuzuki 10: Toki no Tabibito Goodies: None Comments: Good album. Has remakes of Eki and Oh no, Oh Yes!, which Takeuchi wrote for Nakamori Akina. Also has Iro-White Blend, originally written for Nakayama Miho. Kenka wo Yamete, originally done by Kawai Naoko, and Genki wo Dashite done by Yakushimaru Hiroko. Two songs Teko's theme and Toki no Tabibito are in English, and she sings English very well. I liked the remakes of Eki and Oh No, Oh Yes! because they were so different from Nakamori Akinas. Different, but still good. (Eddie Mihara: mihara@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: Terada Keiko Title: Body & Soul Production Co: BMG Victor Cat#: BVCR-95 Release: ??/??/92 Price: 3000 yen Length: (12 tracks) Track Data: (5" album) 1 Paradise Wind 2 Escalation 3 Eyes off Love 4 Aurora eno Endless Wind 5 Under the Mask 6 Forever Dream 7 Body & Soul 8 Sentimental Alley 9 Ubu 10 Hitomi-ni Morarete -Just Hold Me Tight- 11 Touch 12 Never Alone Goodies: Clear Jewelbox, nothing more. Comments: Keiko's much awaited (by one of my friends at least) solo debut. It has a bit of feel from her SHOW-YA days, but goes off on her own. If you like Keiko's vocals, and like rock, you'll like this album. (If you're a Hamada Mari fan, you may find this album to your liking too.) (Galen Komatsu: gkomatsu@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu ar592@cleveland.freenet.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: TM Network Title: Carol -A Day in the Girl's Life 1991- Production Co: EPIC/SONY RECORDS Cat#: ESCB 1210 Release: 09/05/91 Price: 2800 yen (including GST) Length: 62'01" Track Data: 1 A Day In The Girl's Life 2 Carol (Carol's Theme I) 3 Chase In Labyrinth 4 Gia Corm Fillippo Dia 5 Come On Everybody 6 Beyond The Time (Expanded Version) 7 Seven Days War (Four Pices Band Mix) 8 You're The Best 9 Winter Comes Around 10 In The Forest 11 Carol (Carol's Theme II) 12 Just One Victory 13 Still Love Her Goodies: none Comments: Includes the Theme song for GUNDUM Movie "Counterattack of Shar", "BEYOND THE TIME". (Masami Yokoyama : yokoyama@bode.ualberta.ca) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Tokunaga Hideaki Title: Realize Production Co: APOLLON MUSIC INDUSTRIAL CORP. Cat#: C292-2 Release: Price: 3008 yen (including GST) Length: 51'02" Track Data: 1 Kimi no Ao 5'34" 2 Nemurenai Yoru 4'17" 3 Lovers 4'25" 4 You're in the sky -Eolia- 5'30" 5 Soshite Hoshi ni nattayo 4'41" 6 Koibito 4'50" 7 Cobalt ni kieta blue 4'48" 8 Myself -Kaze ni naritai- 5'46" 9 Saigo no iiwake 6'22" 10 Boku no tokei 4'12" Goodies: none Comments: (Masami Yokoyama : yokoyama@bode.ualberta.ca) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Tokunaga Hideaki Title: Justice Production Co: APOLLON INC. Cat#: APCA-16 Release: 10/09/90 Price: 3000 yen (including GST) Length: 55'18" Track Data: 1 News 5'38" 2 Kowarekake no Radio 5'09" 3 MYKONOS 5'19" 4 Kaerenai Futari 5'57" 5 Omoide ni kawarumade 5'19" 6 Mitishirube 6'26" 7 Ame ga furu 4'47" 8 Be Nude 5'50" 9 Crescent Girl 4'29" 10 Justice 5'56" Goodies: none Comments: (Masami Yokoyama : yokoyama@bode.ualberta.ca) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Tokunaga Hideaki Title: Revolution Production Co: APOLLON INC. Cat#: APCA-30 Release: 10/05/91 Price: 3000 yen (including GST) Length: 54'16" Track Data: 1 Revolution (Boutique JOY TV CF Song) 2 Kizuna 3 Wednesday Moon (Remix Version) 4 Love is All (Gekkeikan TV CF Song) 5 La vie en rose -Kokora no tabi- 6 Sakura 7 Makeruna 8 Boxer 9 Maboroshi o tomete 10 Doushomonaikurai Goodies: none Comments: (Masami Yokoyama : yokoyama@bode.ualberta.ca) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys Title: Mambo Tengoku (Mambo Heaven) Production Co: Cat#: TECN-30093 Release: 91/??/?? Price: 3000 yen Length: 68'13" Track Data: 1. Mambo Bondo (James Bond) 2. Mambo no Bi-to (Al Compas de Mambo) 3. Spi-ku Appu Mambo (Speak Up Mambo) 4. Mambo Mania (Mambo Mania) 5. Wan Reini-naito In Toukyou (One Rainynight in Tokyo) 6. Guri-n Onion (Green Onions) 7. Hitto za Bongo (Hit the Bongo) 8. Cha Cha Chikku (Cha Cha Chick) 9. Pachinko (Pachinko) 10. Akasaka no Yo ha Fukete (The Akasaka Night Goes On) 11. Pi-ta- Gan (Peter Gun) 12. Za Gu-su (The Goose) 13. Natsu no Yo no Samba (Summer Night Samba) 14. Ko-hi- Runba (Mollendo Cafe) 15. Mambo Medoli- (Mambo Medley) a. Mambo (Mambo) b. Eru Mambo (El Mambo) c. Mambo Dai 8-ban (Mambo No. 8) d. Nankyou Mame Uri (Peanut Vendor) e. Seroso Ro-sa (Cerezo Rosa) f. Tiko Tiko (Tico Tico) 16. Kose Kose Kose (Cose Cose Cose) 17. Daigaku Mambo (Mambo Universitario) 18. Patorishia (Patricia) 19. Negura Mi Chachacha (Negra Mi Cha Cha Cha) 20. Tabu- (Taboo) 21. Ki- Hanta- [Hijou no raisensu] (Key Hunter [License For Emotionlessness]) 22. Sa-fu Ba-do (Surf Bird) 23. Taiyou no Kanata ni (Movin') 24. Bongo Tengoku (Bongo Heaven) 25. Tin Tin Dio (Tin Tin Deo) Cover: "Mambo Tengoku" "Toukyou Panorama Mambo Boizu" Cute Jazzy-styled painting of woman swooning over a bongo- playing guy; on a red background. Comments: I don't know much about these guys except that they seem like they've been around since Shouwa at the least. The play "Latin Jazz" like Tito Puente and D. Perez Prado, with a couple of their own compositions. They're good, solid, but the album is tiring! One can only take so-much pre-recorded mambo. I'll bet they're great live though. Grade: B , Genre: Mambo, Latin Jazz Other Comments: Bought at Asahiya Bookstore in downtown LA. (Benjamin List: list@chaph.usc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Tokyo Performance Doll Title: Cha-Dance Party 4 (Tokyo Romance) Production Co: EPIC/Sony Records Cat#: ESCB 1296 Release: 1992.07.08 Price: 2800 yen Length: 49:17 (12 tracks) [non-stop mix] Track Data: 1. Yumewo (Spanish Mix) (Tokyo Performace Doll) 2. Tokyo Romance (part 2) (Tokyo Performace Doll) 3. Ikoku - Tokyo in the Night (Shinohara Ryoko) 4. In the Arm of Night (Kihara Satomi) 5. Don't Stop City Light (Yonemitsu Miho) 6. Shadow Dancer (Kawamura Chisa) 7. Blue Angel (Kihara Satomi, Yonemitsu Satomi) 8. Houkagoha Itsumo Party (After School Mix) (Tokyo Performance Doll) 9. Kokoro no Rule (Anai Yuko) 10. Romantic ni Senobishite (Super Mix) (Yagida Mai) 11. Ochamena Juliet (Ichii Yuri) 12. Can't Stop the Music (Tokyo Performance Doll) Goodies: Comments: Mostly dance music. Songs 8, 10, and 11 were used in some TV commercials. Songs 1 and 8 were released as singles. For those who can read JIS. 1. 夢を (東京パフォーマンスドール) 2. Tokyo Romance (東京パフォーマンスドール) 3. 異国 〜 Tokyo in the Night (篠原涼子) 4. In the Arm of Night (木原さとみ) 5. Don't Stop City Light (米光美保) 6. Shadow Dancer (川村知砂) 7. Blue Angel (木原さとみ, 米光美保) 8. 放課後はいつもパーティー (東京パフォーマンスドール) 9. 心のルール (穴井夕子) 10. Romantic に背のびして (八木田麻衣) 11. おちゃめなジュリエット (市井由理) 12. Can't Stop the Music (東京パフォーマンスドール) (Hitoshi Doi: doi@jrd.dec.com, doi@dec-j.co.jp) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Tomita Yann Title: Music For the Astro Age (World in Shadow) Production co: Sony Japan Cat#: SRCS 6526 Release: 1992 Price: Y3800 Length: 53'51" / 65'17" Track Data: 1. Sounds of Steel 2. Beyond the Blue Star Zone 3. We Travel the Spaceways 4. Time Machine 5. Memories of a Tape Recorder 6. Radio Music 7. Beyond the Blue Star Zone Part 2 8. Memory Band 9. 4'33" 10. 4'33" Dub 11. They'll Come Back 12. Theme of Astro 2050 Systems 13. We Travel the Spaceways Part 2 14. Astro 2050 Systems 15. Dub Invader 16. Beyond the Blue Star Zone Part 3 17. The Voice of Republic of Trinidad & Tobago 18. Mighty Wiper's Calypso 19. Music For Astro Age 20. C-Ya! 21. Astro Freaks Goodies: Dual jewelbox. Booklet includes photos and liner notes by Dr. Yann in English and Japanese. Comments: I understand that several years ago Yann Tomita had recognition in the U.S. rap music industry for making rap beats. Listening to this album, you wouldn't know it. It's a hard one to describe. Let's call this a steel drum, short wave, ambient house, new age (um, um, ah forget it). Dr. Yann is certainly avoiding an easy pigeonhole with this one. Stretched over 2 cds, this 120 minutes of sound may not be intended for a "sit & listen" experience. It is like an odd soundtrack, from some 50's SF version of the future (with steel drums). If you like this sort of thing... (odd... I guess I do!) Cover: "MUSIC FOR ASTRO AGE" Dr. Yann standing in front of three steel drums, behind him a large radio dish. Grade: B Genre: Techno, World Music, Experimental Bought at the Wave in Ikebukuro (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------