Various Artists - Nippon Girl: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966-1970 (2009)

Various Artists - Nippon Girl: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966-1970 (2009)

Big Beat Records
Big Beat International / CDWIKD 288

 * The Big Beat International label returns with a bang and another celebration of the wonderful world of Japanese 60s pop. After the acclaimed "GS I Love You" volumes, it's the girls turn, as Big Beat examine the distaff side of the country's remarkable GS pop scene with "Nippon Girls".

 * The likes of Shonen Knife and The 5-6-7-8s have given more face to women in Japanese pop, but they draw on a tradition that stretches back to the wild 1960s "Group Sounds" era, when the Land Of the Rising Sun was smitten with westernised rock'n'roll, yet came to develop its own distinctive brand of the same. Like in the west, female artistes tended to be solo, though their accompaniment often came from some of the top GS acts like the Bunnies. Major female stars of the period represented here include Miki Obata, Linda Yamamoto and Mie Nakao, the latter with the fuzztoned classic `Sharock No 1'.

 * The sound was eclectic, drawing upon not only the full smorgasbord of 60s styles like groovy go-go, lounge-y bossa nova and wobbly pop-psych, but also traditional Japanese songwriting and themes. There's dance floor fillers such as `Ye-Ye' and the usual fascinating interpretations of western material, such as Nana Kanomi's take on the Zombies' `I Love You'.

 * "Nippon Girls" is annotated by noted girl group expert and latter-day Japanese pop champion Sheila Burgel of Cha Cha Charming magazine, who provides a fascinating overview of this tremendous and compelling tributary of 60s pop. Highly recommended to girl group fanciers, GS groovers and any one else with a keen ear for eclectic 60s pop.



 Tracklist:

 01. Black Room - Jun Mayuzumi
 02. Sharock No. 1 - Mie Nakao
 03. Peacock Baby - Reiko Ohara
 04. Suki Sa Suki Sa Suki Sa - Nana Kinomi & Leo Beats
 05. Taiyou Wa Naite Iru - Ayumi Ishida
 06. Ye-Ye - Eiko Shuri
 07. Nagisa No Tenshi - Mieko Hirota
 08. Koi No Ban Ban - Linda Yamamoto
 09. Kiiro No Sekai - J. Girls
 10. Suki Yo Ai Shite - Mari Atsumi
 11. Watashi No Inori - Rumi Koyama
 12. Komacchau Na - Linda Yamamoto
 13. Bazazz Tengoku - The Cupids
 14. Doyou No Yoru Nanika Ga Okiru - Jun Mayuzumi
 15. Hatsu Koi No Letter - Miki Obata
 16. Ame Agari No Samba - Ryoko Moriyama
 17. Taiyou Ga Kowai No - Kaoru Hibiki
 18. Uwasa No Futari - Mie Nakao
 19. Koi Wa Heart De - Aki Izumi
 20. Tenshi No Itazura - Emy Jackson
 21. Tsukikage No Rendezvous - Keiko Mari
 22. Aeba Suki Suki - Margaret With Bunnies
 23. Koi No Yorokobi - Sayuri Yoshinaga With Schoolmates
 24. Kaze To Otoko No Ko - Mieko Hirota
 25. Nikui Aitsu - Mika Nohira

Nippon Girl: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966-1970 (2009)