Back Mirror by Tetsuji Hayashi - 1977

When we think of City Pop  there is much praise for singer-songwriters like Eiichi Ohtaki, Haruomi Hosono, Toshiki Kadomatsu, and of course Tatsuro Yamashita, the latter being considered the king of the genre. However, if the movie Hidden Figures has taught me anything, it's that sometimes people who made the biggest impact are the names that nobody remembers.  Tetsuji "Tycoon" Hayashi (林哲司) is a name that you probably don't know, but definitely should, since he's one of the most prolific composers of the '80s and one of the key people who define the sound of 1980's Japan.

 On top of composing many Film & TV soundtracks, he was responsible for composing many of the biggest chart-toppers of 80s Japan. Mariya Takeuchi’s “September”,, Masaki Ueda’s “Osaka Bay Blues”, Anri’s “Can't Stop the Loneliness”, and most famously,  Miki Matsubara’s “Mayonaka no Door”. And, don't even get me started on Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe’s series of hits. There are so many famous songs that have become staples within the City Pop community both in Japan and the west. It seems like Hayashi was the main driving force behind City Pop's most iconic anthems, so why don't we put him on the same pedestal as someone like Tatsuro Yamashita, as the King of City Pop? Well, it probably has to do with his not-so-stellar solo career.

THE HISTORY

 After winning the Chile Music Festival, a young Tetsuji Hayashi was picked up by Polydor Records and released his debut album, Burges, the following year in 1973. Participating in the recording was a group of his fellow Yamaha classmates who would become prolific musicians in their own rights, like guitarist Motoaki Masuo, drummer Kazuaki Misago, and Ken Sato, who would become the producer & wife of Junko Ohashi. Unfortunately, “Bruges” wasn’t a commercial success. However Pacific Music Publishing took an interest in Hayashi, and his career shifted into producing for other people, from enka singers like Akira Fuse to teen idols like Saori Minami and Hiromi Ohta. Steadily achieving results led to him securing a songwriting contract with Kitty Records, which led to him creating this 2^nd solo album, Back Mirror.

While Hayashi created "Burges" to express his Beatles’ influences, “Back Mirror” was his first step into tackling a more wide arrange of music styles of  American Pop, Bossa Nova, Soft Rock, and AOR. Taking influences from artist like Bozz Scaggs, Stevie Wonder & George Harrison and Wings. While Hayashi was responsible for performing, composing and arranging the songs, Machiko Ryu（竜真知子）and Kiri Kawamura (河村季里) provided the lyrics for them. The album features the return of Motoaki Masuo on guitar, as well as other notable session musicians like Sadistic Mika Band bassist Ray Ohara, jazz guitarist Kenji Omura, and percussionist Nobu Saito. for the backing vocals, we have another long time friend and fellow singer-songwriter, Junko Ohashi, as well as Takuya Takahashi, an up and coming artist who's debut album Hayashi would produce two years later. 

“Back Mirror” was released in 1977, and though it wasn’t a commercial success, it received a lot of artistic praise, and after an encounter with Canadian songwriter, David Foster, Hayashi would continue to refine his AOR sound with the 1980 album, "Summer Wine". 

 

THE MUSIC

1. Marci I: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1. A short, calm introduction piece played on the mellotron.
2. Rainy Saturday & Coffee Break: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1. The opening R&B number sets the tone for the whole album. Originally heard on Junko Ohashi's album, Rainbow.
3. 夜のおわり (End of The Night): ⭐⭐⭐
1. A mid-tempo soft-rock ballad, reminiscent of the works of George Harrison. features a great melodic guitar solo.
4. 彼女の長い一日 (Her Long Day):⭐⭐⭐
A Bossa Nova inspired track with backing vocals by Junko Ohashi and singer-songwriter Tatsushi Umegaki（梅垣達志).
5. 燃えつきる日まで(Until The Burning Day):⭐⭐⭐⭐
A very Fleetwood Mac-inspired groove with its upbeat vocals, galloping rhythm, and smooth saxophone.
6. 追憶 (Remembrance): ⭐⭐⭐
A smooth ballad fit for a slow dance featuring beautiful string arrangements.
7. レター(Letter):⭐⭐⭐⭐
The fastest pace song on the album, the dramatic string arrangement and funky clavinet playing, almost make it sound like it belongs in a '70s blockbuster.
8. 年老いた水夫のバラード(Old Sailors Ballad): ⭐⭐⭐
A calm, Carpenters-style middle-of-the-road ballad.
9. 金色のライオン(Golden Lion): ⭐⭐
1. Another soulful easy listening tune

1. 鳥の背に飛びのれたら(If You Fly On the Back of A Bird):⭐⭐⭐⭐
1. A soft emotional ballad with lush piano and strings.
2. Marci II: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1. A traditional piano rendition of the opening track.

THE VERDICT

Production ⭐⭐⭐⭐  

Vocals⭐⭐⭐

Arrangement⭐⭐⭐

Aesthetic⭐⭐⭐⭐

Memorability ⭐⭐⭐

Composition⭐⭐⭐

Back Mirror is an album where you can hear the influences which would go on to define his music composing career. The soft opening and ending interludes are very similar to the intro in Momoko Kikuchi's Adventure. The smooth soft rock style that would later define the Omega Tribe sound. Back Mirror also marks the beginning of Hayashi's style of rich balladry, with songs like Old Sailor's Ballad and If You Fly On the Back of A Bird.  

Back Mirror maintains a constant mellow tone throughout the album, shifting between the perfect backdrop to a chill weekend stuck at home and an afternoon drive down the freeway. The only song that somewhat breaks the tone is Letter, while lyrically it fits the theme of the album, the composition sounds like something from a 70s cops & robbers TV show.

Hayashi's overall vocal performance isn't anything spectacular, but it gets the job done. Appropriately enough his best singing happens to be in the opening track, Rainy Saturday & Coffe Break. His calm almost monotone performance accompanied by Junko Ohashi's backing vocals, on top of the smooth R&B arrangement makes it the best track in the album.

Overall, Back Mirror is Tetsuji Hayashi's excellent transition into the world of AOR. While Hayashi's singing may not compare against contemporaries like Yoshino Fujimaru or Tatsuro Yamashita, the excellent instrumental compositions more than makeup for it. That being said, certain songs are definitely more memorable than others, as certain songs don't stand out much individually, however, if your listening to the whole album front to back, you shouldn't have any problems enjoying it. While the album as a whole is above average, Back Mirror is a cool, relaxing record with plenty of underrated City Pop classics.