Tonight, I'm a Modern Boy by Stardust Revue - 1982

Hoagy Carmichael is one of the most important singer-songwriters in American history, responsible for filling up the The Great American Songbook with standards such as "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", and "Hong Kong Blues''. Of course the ol' "Music Master" himself probably would have never predicted how much influence he had overseas, particularly in Japan. Case in point, four amateur musicians form Saitama Prefecture; Kaname Nemoto (根本要), Kiyoshi Kakinuma (柿沼清史), Masami Terada (寺田正美) and Toshikatsu "VOH'' Hayashi(林紀勝), would come together to form a band inspired by Jazz standards and musical revues of old. After winning the Yamaha Popular Song Contest in 1979, they landed a record deal with Warner Music Japan and named themselves Stardust Revue, as an homage to Carmichael's classic song, "Stardust". While their music style changed and evolved over the course of the years, no album represents their signature "revue" style more than their second 1982 album, Koyoi Ha Modern Boy (今宵はモダン・ボーイ), also known as Tonight, I'm a Modern Boy.

THE MUSIC

1. 噂のアーパー・ストリート(Rumored Upper Street)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. 今夜こ・れ・か・ら⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. I Made Onion Slices with Plenty of Black Pepper (ブラックペッパーのたっぷりきいた私の作ったオニオンスライス)⭐⭐⭐
4. Moonlight Party ⭐⭐⭐
5. I'm Getting On Without You ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. What A Nite! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. 村長さんの娘 (The Village Chiefs Daughter) ⭐⭐⭐
8. 紅いハンカチ⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. Monologue⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10. Alone In The Morning⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE VERDICT

Tonight, I'm a Modern Boy is an interesting album, alternating between Vaudeville/Revue inspired Big band numbers and more adult contemporary west coast pop. One minute I'm on Broadway watching a musical with songs like "Rumored Upper Street", and "What a Night'' , then the next moment I feel like I'm driving down Pacific Coast Highway listening to songs like "Monologue" and "I'm Getting On Without You". To be fair both styles of music are done very well. The vocals do a great job of matching the energy of the music as well. Kaname Nemoto really knows how to get bombastic, or jazzy when he needs to. Yasuhiro Mitani, who sings on Monologue, is no slouch either. The whole record is filled with phenomenal vocal jazz arrangements in the backing chorus as well. The only song I can't really take seriously is "The Village Chief's Daughter", it's a really corny faux-Chinese inspired rumba Haroumi Hosono might have whipped up back in his heyday, complete with the huge gong in the intro. That being said, much like an actual Revue, you get the sense that you're not suppose to take it very seriously, they expect you to get lost in the whimsy of each song. I mean for crying out loud there's a song called  "I Made Onion Slices with Plenty of Black Pepper ''. That's a title that can give modern isekai anime a run for its money, but its a fun, decent Broadway style number that reminds me of something I would have heard from The Muppets Take Manhattan. Overall, Tonight, I'm a Modern Boy turned out to be a great change of pace compared to the usual City Pop fare. It's a jazzy, theatrical record perfect for fans of Manhattan Transfer, or even Al Jarreau.

Midnight Cruisin' By Kingo Hamada - 1982

Back in 2017, a future funk song called Crystal Dolphin by Englewood blew up on the internet and became an overnight sensation on social media. Of course, like most Future Funk/Vaporwave remixes, the song originates from a Japanese AOR song called Machi No Dolphin (街のドルフィン), or Dolphin In Town in English. The original song was composed by Japanese crooner Kingo Hamada (濱田金吾) for his 1982 album, Midnight Cruisin'. Prior to his solo career, Hamada was among the plethora of folk artists turned Pop singers from the 70s. Originally a bassist and vocalist for the folk band Craft in 1974, he started his solo career in 1980 with the release of Manhattan in The Rain under Air Records. Midnight Cruisin' was the first album released under the newly formed Moon Records. The album features talented musicians like guitarist and fellow singer Makoto Matsushita, Pianist and producer Eiji Shinamura, bassist Shigeru Matsumoto, trumpeter Susumu Kazurara, and of course, saxophonist Jake H. Concepcion. All the music was composed by Hamada, with lyrical assistance from Kazuko Kobayashi, the prolific Chinfa Kang, and folk singer Kohei Oikawa, who was responsible for the catchy lyrics of Dolphin in Town.

THE MUSIC

1. The Woman Who Came to Be Embraced (抱かれに来た女)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Profile Taxi Driver ( 横顔のタクシー・ドライバー)⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
3. So, I Love You⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Dolphin in Town⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. A Faint Illusion(ほのかなイリュージョン)⭐⭐⭐
6. Midnight Cruisin'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. At Least, Make It Fine and Sunny (せめてからりと晴れてくれ)⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. Scenery With a Shower Room (シャワールームのある風景)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. Midnight Tennis Court(真夜中のテニスコート)⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE VERDICT

Usually, night-centric City Pop albums focus on the fun and nonstop action of the club scene. However, Hamada takes a more somber approach and draws more attention to the restlessness and melancholy of the wee small hours. There's a stronger emphasis on slower ballads and lounge jazz numbers; The opening track, "The Woman Who Came to be Embraced", sets the entire mood of the album just from the opening trumpet playing, and makes you feel like you're sitting in a Nighthawks-style dinner sipping on bourbon, or even an Irish Coffee. You can envision yourself on a late night drive across the Manhattan Bridge listening to "Profile Taxi Driver", another lowkey track that would fit in with any of the tracks Bob James composed for the 1978 sitcom, "Taxi", especially when you compare it with the show's theme song, "Angela". Later on, the album will dip into noir territory with sensual jazz numbers like "Shower Room Scene".

Of course, there's still room for upbeat tracks. The titular street racing song, "Midnight Cruisin'", always gets my blood pumping with its bombastic brass section. The ever-popular "Dolphin in Town" is a Latin-inspired disco beat with a simple, yet playful chorus that's fun and catchy. "At Least, Make It Fine and Sunny", switches things up with a surprisingly good reggae-pop number with more jazzy horns. It also helps that Kingo Hamada's cool, calm vocals complement each song extremely well. Whether you are someone who's restless in the middle of the night, needs the perfect background music for your late-night bar, or just wants to dance their troubles away, Midnight Cruisin' has got a song for you.

Char by Char - 1976

I've said before that Japan has no shortage of guitar legends, one of the best ones from the 70s has to be Hisato Takenaka（竹中尚人）, who would be known more famously by his stage name, Char. Born in 1955 in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, Char started his musical journey learning piano in elementary school. It wasn't until he was inspired by Eric Clapton, that he would end up hooked on the guitar at 8 years old. In junior high, Char began work as a session guitarist, and at 17, he formed the band Smoky Medicine in 1973 with Mari Kaneko. Although the band only lasted a year, it garnered much media attention. In '76, Char eventually signed up with Canyon Records and released his debut single "Navy Blue" followed by his debut album CHAR which came out in September of that year. The album featured composer and keyboardist, Jun Sato, as well as various American sessions musicians like Rob Brill (drums), George Mastrich (bass), and keyboardist Jerry Margosian, who also provided lead vocals on two of the album's songs,  "It's Up to You"  and "I Tried".

THE MUSIC

1. Shinin' You, Shinin' Day ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2.  かげろう  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. It's Up To You ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. 視線 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
5.  Navy Blue ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6.  Smoky ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7.  I've Tried ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
8.  空模様のかげんが悪くなる前に ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
9.  かげろう ⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE VERDICT

Char's eponymous album is a fantastic introduction to one of Japan's premier guitar heroes. Showcasing a unique blend of jazzy, bluesy, psychedelic-funk rock reminiscent of Cream and The Sons of Chaplin, with a dash of Jimi Hendrix. Some of my favorite songs include "Shining You, Shining Day", a summary Sunshine-Pop shuffle not unlike something from Lovin' Spoonful. There's also "Kagerou", a funky jazz-rock number that features some awesome Stevie Wonder-style clavinet playing and a breezy backing chorus. The album is also littered with epic, groovy guitar solos, my favorites being in the fast-paced funk number, "Smokey", which sounds like Jeff Beck going into hyper speed, and the sorrowful countertop blues ballad, "I Tried", sang by  Jerry Margosian . Speaking of which, man, did Jerry sure as heck take me to church on both of his songs. Char himself is no slouch of a singer either, showing off his soulful singing chops in both English and Japanese. Both singer's have a vocal style reminiscent of Bill Chaplin, who I'm a big fan of.  If you are someone who loves 70's rock, then this is the album for you. CHAR is one of the few Japanese albums from the 70s that I would say could have hung with the best of its western counterparts.