Music is the true universal language; one need not understand the lyrics to appreciate and enjoy the music.
On December 10, 2021 Nippon Columbia is releasing “Tokyo Glow”. The 18 track album features songs from the seventies and eighties that has been compiled by DJ Notoya. Notoya has combed the vaults of Nippon Columbia for this collection of pop, funk, and soul tunes and includes cult classics; as well as, some rarities. Artists included on the album are Hiroshi Sato, Hatsumi Shibata, Hitomi “Penny” Tohyama, and Midori Hara.
https://youtu.be/iWqjH_M3-9I
The album will be available in a digital download and in two CD and two LP packages. Many of the songs in the collection have never been released in a digital format and are being offered on vinyl outside of Japan for the first time.
DJ Notoya spoke on the new compilation saying, “I wanted to introduce more of this music to the world – not just on vinyl but via playlists on Spotify and Apple Music. I wanted to show there was more depth to music from Japan from the 1970s and 80s. So, for Tokyo Glow I focused more on the slightly more underground tracks from the era, rather than the bigger, well-known releases. For me, that was a more fun and satisfying approach.”
The tracklisting for “Tokyo Glow”:
“Kimagure” by Kumi Nakamura
“Indo No Michibata” by Miyuki Maki
“Osake To Joke” by Haruyoshi Yamashina
“Natsu No Hikari Ni” by Sumiko Yamagata
“Party is Over” by Hatsumi Shibata
“Moonlight Flight” by Makoto Iwabuchi
“Saigo No Tejina” by Hiroshi Sato
“Paradise’s Dream” by Arakawa Band
“I Wander All Alone (Part III)” by New Generation Company
“Ojosan Oteyawarakani” by Kiyohiko Ozaki
“Juggler” by Kengo Kurozumi
“Koi No Paradigm” by Ken Nishizaki
“Simply Another Love” by Jodeos
“Aamar Jabar” by Midori Hara
“Tuxedo Connection” by Hitomi “Penny” Tohyama
“Oh! Daddy” by Mizuki Koyama
“Sofa Bed Blues” by Haruo Chikada & Vibra-Tones
“Chigasaki Memory” by Mitsuko Horie
feature photo credit: Aaron Feterl and Chummy Press