Wewantsounds is glad to continue its Akiko Yano reissue series with the release of the singer's third studio album 'To Ki Me Ki', recorded in New York and released in 1978 in Japan. It follows her cult "Iroha Ni Konpeitou" LP and keeps the similar blend of Japanese pop and New York funk found in the latter. "To Ki Me Ki" features such musicians as Rick Marotta, Will Lee and David Spinozza and also programmer Hideki Matsutake who would soon join the YMO with Akiko for their international 1979/1980 tour before she recorded her next studio album "Tadaima" that year, featuring the YMO musicians. "To Ki Me Ki" is reissued outside of Japan for the first time, remastered in Tokyo by revered engineer Mitsuo Koike and featuring original artwork by Tsutomu Murakami with 4 page colour insert and new liner notes by Paul Bowler.

TRACK LISTING

1. Kodomo Tachi
2. Katarun Kararan
3. Uo Sao
4. Two On The Stage
5. Okina Ishi
6. Andante Cantabile
7. Yameru Wakenya Ikanaiwa
8. Yo Ro Ko Bi
9. To Ki Me Ki

When it comes to underground New York Disco, Donna McGhee's highly sought-after 1978 LP, "Make It Last Forever," ranks among the best in the genre, thanks to Donna's singing and the production skills of legendary producers Greg Carmichael and Patrick Adams. Featuring five songs penned by the producing pair, it's got their quintessential Disco sound of the late 70s topped by Donna McGhee's superb vocals. These have also blessed recordings by The Fatback Band, Phreek, Bumblebee Unlimited and The Universal Robot Band around the same time. The album has been an elusive affair since it first came out in 1978 and this is one the first times in decades it is widely available in its original form with newly remastered audio.

TRACK LISTING

1. Make It Last Forever
2. Do As I Do
3. It Ain't No Big Thing
4. Mr. Blindman
5. I'm A Love Bug

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the release of "TOUCH," a selection of sought-after tracks produced by Yuji Ohno, one of the most revered producers and arrangers on the Nippon music scene. His blend of Jazz, Space Funk and Disco have long been highly sought-after by DJs around the world and we've been given unique access to the Nippon Columbia vaults and to Mr. Ohno himself to come with a versatile selection from his 70s body of work, all bearing his uniquely recognisable sound. The set includes works with singers Nanako Sato, Hatsumi Shibata and Ken Tanaka alongside tracks from his cult anime soundtracks for "Lupin III" and "Captain Future." Approved by Yuji Ohno himself, "Touch" was remastered in Tokyo by Nippon Columbia and features liner notes by Nick Luscombe in conversation with the maestro and artwork by Optigram's Manuel Sepulveda.

Born in Atami in 1941, Yuji Ohno started learning the piano at a young age and formed his own band during his teenage years, getting into Jazz in the process. After high school, he entered the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo and played in the revered university big band alongside two other pianists, Masahiko Sato and Hirosama Suzuki, who would have an illustrious career in their own right. After University, Ohno became a professional musician and started playing with the new wave of Japanese Jazz musicians forming his own trio and recording with the likes of Hideo Shiraki, Terumasa Hino and Masahiko Togashi from 1967 onwards.

At the turn of the 60s, Ohno started to veer away from the Jazz scene as he realised, as told to Nick Luscombe that "the jazz music being played by the Japanese at the time was only chasing the cutting edge, and was ignoring the roots and origins of jazz." Ohno therefore shifted his efforts to film and TV and also to producing artists for various Japanese labels, becoming one of the most in-demand composers, arrangers and producers in Japan. This is when Ohno developed his unique sound across a wide variety of styles. More than anything else, he got renowned for his anime soundtracks, particularly with the Lupin III series - represented here by the superbly funky "Silhouette" - which made his fame in Japan

Whether it's jazz, funk, disco or Pop, the "Ohno Sound" is unmissable both in terms of melodies and arrangements, on a par with those of such legends as Quincy Jones and Michel Legrand. Ohno's melodies are sophisticated yet accessible and there's a great sense of space in his productions especially when it comes to slow-burning grooves as heard on "Kirameku Inner Space" from the cult anime soundtrack "Captain Future" or "The Soaring Seagull" from the sought-after 1975 album "Electro Keyboard Orchestra." This album was recorded with seven fellow musicians including Kentaro Haneda and Ohno's old friend, Masahiko Sato and using twenty Korg synths to create a unique blend of futuristic jazz funk. "The Soaring Seagull" could be the perfect embodiment of Ohno's signature sound when it comes to instrumentals. The producer was however equally at ease with producing lush disco extravaganzas such as "Subterranean Futari Botchi" by Nanako Sato or "I Wish You Love" by Hatsumi Shibata, a revamp of Charles Trenet classic, both colourful and glitzy.

Ohno's versatility is on display here with a couple of jazz vocal tracks, "Speak Low" by Ann Young accompanied by the Yuji Ohno Trio and Mieko Hirota's fast and furious "I Want to Be Happy" while he also excelled at crafting gorgeous mellow songs such as Ken Tanaka's "Lilac-gai No Aki" and Hatsumi Shibata's "Mouichido Kikasete" closing the selection on a perfect note. "Touch" is just a tiny selection from Yuji Ohno's immense body of work and it will hopefully open the ears of Japanese music lovers to one of the most important musician, producer and arrangers of his generation.

TRACK LISTING

1. Nanako Sato - Subterraean Futari Botchi
2. You & The Explosion Band - Silhouette
3. Hatsumi Shibata - I Wish You Love
4. Yuji Ohno & Galaxy - Kirameku Inner Space
5. Ann Young & Yuji Ohno Trio - Speak Low
6. Ken Tanaki - Lilac-Gai No Aki
7. Mieko Hirota - I Want To Be Happy
8. Electric Keyboard Orchestra - The Soaring Seagull
9. Hatusmi Shibata - Mouchido Kikasete

Wewantsounds are pleased to announce the release of Hiroshi Sato's ultra rare synth masterpiece, originally released in 1979 on Kitty Records in Japan only. Digitally remastered from the original tapes it features the cream of Japanese musicians including Shigeru Suzuki on guitar, Haruomi Hosono on bass, Pecker on Percussion and Sato himself on keyboards and synthesizers. This highly sought-after album on the Balearic scene, changing hands for high prices, is a superb breezy mix of Japanese synth-pop and exotica with subtle touches of mid 70s Herbie Hancock-style funk and AOR.

TRACK LISTING

1. Kalimba Night
2. Son Go Kuw
3. Tsuki No Ko No Namae Wa Leo
4. Doncama
5. Jo-Do
6. Sora Tobu Jutan
7. Picnic
8. Hikaru Kaze

The early '80s were a turning point for Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. As a solo artist, the smash hit soundtrack he had composed for 1983's "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" (a film in which he had also acted), had put him on the verge of becoming a global superstar. Meanwhile he had called a halt to his work with Yellow Magic Orchestra; the influential, globally successful pop trio calling it quits after the release of their 1983 album "Naughty Boys".

Against this backdrop, Sakamoto descended on Tokyo's Onkyo Haus Studio to record his fourth solo album, "Ongaku Zukan" ("Musical Encyclopedia") accompanied by a handful of musicians including his ex-YMO partners Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, and the prolifically talented Yasuaki Shimizu, Tatsuro Yamashita and Toshinori Kondo. Sakamoto began with no particular plan in mind, recording 30 basic tracks over the best part of 1983. It was on his return to the studio the following year that the album truly began to take shape. Accompanied by a newly acquired Fairlight CMI sampler, the musician made extensive use of the revolutionary equipment to create a wide palette of sound textures which he added to the tracks, a creatively fertile process that was captured on film for the French documentary "Tokyo Melody, A Film about Ryuichi Sakamoto".)

Released in August 1984 the album "Ongaku Zukan" proved a huge success, providing Sakamoto with his first top 5 hit in Japan. Filled with inspired melodies that showcase his unique gift as a composer, it offers up a fascinating mix of styles. Asiatic electro pop nuggets ("Tibetan Dance") share space with futuristic ambient pieces ("Hane no Hayashi de"), and brilliantly creative fusions of jazz, funk, techno and reggae ("Etude" and "Tabi no Kyokuhoki.")

Two simultaneous editions of the album were released in Japan: the regular one featuring a bonus 7" EP with two extra tracks: "Replica" and "Ma Mère l'Oye" while a limited edition added a 12" EP (in lieu of the 7") which included a third track, "Tibetan Dance (Version)." An international version was released two years later in 1986 by 10 Records/Virgin under the title "Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia," but with a very different track list. Five tracks from "Ongaku Zukan" were dropped, namely "Self Portrait," "Tabi no kyokuhoku," "Mori no Hito," "A Tribute to N.J.P" and "Tibetan Dance (Version)", to be replaced by two non-album singles from 1985, "Stepping Into Asia" and "Field Work."

This is the very first time that the two 1984 Japanese editions of Ryuichi Sakamoto's classic album have been released internationally in collaboration with the artist's management and Midi Inc., with remastered audio and the original artwork faithfully reproduced, paying tribute to one of contemporary music's undisputed geniuses.

TRACK LISTING

1. Tibetan Dance
2. Etude
3. Paradise Lost
4. Self Portrait
5. Ɨ

Wewantsounds is delighted to release 'Sharayet el Disco' a selection of Egyptian 80s Disco and Boogie tracks curated by Egyptian DJ Disco Arabesquo from his vast collection of cassettes. Most tracks have never been released on any other format and are making their vinyl debut with this set. A journey through the funky sound of 80s Egypt, Sharayet El Disco (which can be translated by "Disco Cassettes") features Simone, Ammar El Sherei and more obscure names from Cairo's cassette culture. The audio has been remastered for vinyl by David Hachour/Colorsound Studio in Paris and the LP features artwork by young Egyptian graphic designer Heba Tarek and a 2-page insert featuring artwork of the original cassettes plus insightful liner notes by Moataz Rageb.

TRACK LISTING

1. Afaf Rady - Tany Tany
2. Dr. Ezat Abou Ouf & El Four M - Genoun El Disco
3. Simone - Merci
4. FIrkIt El Ensan - Donia El Arkam
5. Firkit El Asdekaa - Eklib El Sheriet
6. Al Massrieen - Hezeny
7. Eman El Bahr Darwish - Mahsobko Endes (El Arwam)
8. Firkit Americana Show - Youm Wi Lilah
9. Lebleba - Ana Alby Har Nar

Jack Wilkins' highly sought-after Mainstream Records album "Windows" finally gets reissued on vinyl on Wewantsounds forty five years after its inital release. Produced by Bob Shad in 1973 the album, which is on many collectors' want-list, is especially cult for his rendition of Freddie Hubbard's classic "Red Clay," sampled by A Tribe Called Quest on ("Sucka Nigga") and Chance The Rapper. The album will be released in a deluxe gatefold sleeve featuring never-seen session photos and new liner notes by leading UK journalist Kevin Le Gendre.

TRACK LISTING

1. Windows
2. Naima
3. Canzona
4. Pinocchio
5. Red Clay
6. Song For The Last Act

Wewantsounds is proud to announce the reissue of Ryuichi Sakamoto's third solo album "Hidari Ude No Yume" (Left Handed Dream), originally released in 1981 on the Alfa label. Save for a small-scale Dutch vinyl release in 1981, it is the first time the album's original Japanese edition is released outside of Japan (the European release on Epic Records included significantly different tracks and mixes). Newly remastered from the original tapes by renowned engineer Bernie Grundman, this LP edition comes with original artwork featuring a striking cover shot by famous photographer Masayoshi Sukita (sourced from the original negative), OBI strip and 4-page insert with new introduction by journalist Anton Spice. The album will also be released as a 2-LP limited edition gatefold including the album's full instrumental mix.

TRACK LISTING

1. Boku No Kakera
2. Saru To Yuki To Gomi No Kodomo
3. Kacha Kucha Nee
4. The Garden Of Poppies
5. Relâché
6. Tell 'Em To Me
7. Living In The Dark
8. Slat Dance
9. Venezia
10. Saru No Ie

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the release of Yukihiro Takahashi's debut solo album 'Saravah!'. One of the key Japanese albums of the 70s, it was released in 1978 at a key time when, following his tenure with Sadistic Mika Band, Yukihiro Takahashi had just joined the nascent line up of Yellow Magic Orchestra. A sophisticated mix of Disco Funk, synth Pop, Ambient, French Exotica and Bossa Nova, the album has the stylish feel of a night out clubbing in Paris circa 1978. It is the missing link between the City Pop scene of the late 70s and the synth sound of YMO which was about to revolutionise the world. Newly remastered by renowned engineer Mitsuo Koike, the LP features original artwork with photos by Masayoshi Sukita (David Bowie's Heroes), a 4-page insert and a new Introduction by Benjamin Barouh (Saravah Records).

TRACK LISTING

1. Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu
2. Saravah!
3. C'est Si Bon
4. La Rosa
5. Mood Indigo
6. Elastic Dummy
7. Sunset
8. Back Street Midnight Queen
9. Present

Don Cherry's downtown Paris funk masterwork produced in 1985 by Ramuntcho Matta and originally released by Barclay in France only, finally gets a worldwide release on Wewantsounds. The album features French post punk muse Elli Medeiros (Stinky Toys, Elli & Jacno), avant garde poet Brion Gysin and cult Senegalese drummer Abdoulaye Prosper Niang (from the mythical group Xalam). Newly Remastered, the album is augmented by five bonus tracks culled from Matta's vauts and including the superb "Kick" featuring Gysin.

TRACK LISTING

1. Call Me
2. Treat Your Lady Right
3. Butterfly Friend
4. I Walk
5. Art Deco
6. Rappin' Recipe
7. Reggae To The High Tower
8. Alphabet City
9. Bamako Love
10. Kick (Single Version) [feat. Brion Gysin]
11. Rappin' Recipe (Instrumental)
12. Benoego
13. Initiation (Demo)
14. Treat Your Lady Right (Bim Bam Bom)

In the mid-70s, Bob Shad's cult New York Jazz label Mainstream Records turned to the burgeoning underground Disco scene and released a handful of great singles produced by the likes of Tommy Stewart, Jimmy Roach or Bert DeCoteaux. Featuring artists from the early Disco hotbed including South Side Coalition, Chocolate Syrup and Three Ounces of Love, these singles, proving Shad's great flair, accompanied the rise of the New York club and block party culture that was going to revolutionise the musical landscape a few years later. Most of the singles are officially reissued here on vinyl for the first time, with Three Ounces of Love's "Disco Man" full mix previously unissued on vinyl. Remastered by Colorsound Studio in Paris, with liner notes by Charles Waring.

TRACK LISTING

A1. The Grand Jury - Music Is Fun To Me (instrumental)
A2. The Grand Jury - Music Is Fun To Me (vocal)
A3. South Side Coalition - (Don't You Wanna) Get Down Get Down)
A5. Three Ounces Of Love - Disco Man (part 1 & 2)
B1. Crystal Image - Gonna Have A Good Time (instrumental)
B2. Crystal Image - Gonna Have A Good Time (vocal)
B3. Lenny Welch - A Hundred Pounds Of Pain
B4. Prophecy - What Ever's Your Sign (You Got To Be Mine) (part 1)
B5. Prophecy - What Ever's Your Sign (You Got To Be Mine) (part 2)
B6. The Dramatics - No Rebate On Love
B7. The Electric Ladies - Nothing Between Us

The selection on ‘Tokyo Glow’ starts with 'Kimugare' a relaxed mid-tempo track by Kumi Nakamura, actually a famous actress who only recorded one album in 1980 for Columbia. The set continues and flows effortlessly with the sunshine grooves of Miyuki Maki, Hatsumi Shibata and cult keyboard player Hiroshi Sato before the pace starts going faster and funkier with New Generation Company, Kengo Kurozumi - with his superb boogie, 'Juggler' - and one of the queens of the genre, Hitomi 'Penny' Tohyama with 'Tuxedo Connection'. Another fine example on the set is the mid-tempo groove of "I Wander All Alone Part III" by New Generation Company, an aggregate group of some of the best Japanese session musicians led by arranger Katz Hoshi and including Hiroyuki Namba (key), Kazuo Shiina (gtr) and Yutaka Uehara (ds) who all played with Tatsuro Yamashita among many others.

There are many other excellent examples in 'Tokyo Glow', showcasing the diversity and specificity of Japanese City Pop during the late 70s and 80s.

Nippon Columbia opened their much-guarded vaults to curator DJ Natoya. Tracks were remastered in Tokyo and the result, ‘Tokyo Glow’, is a unique insight into a most creative period in Japanese music.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Kumi Nakamura - Kimagure
A2. Miyuki Maki - Indo No Michibata
A3. Haruyoshi Yamashina - Osake To Joke
A4. Sumiko Yamagata - Natsu No Hikari Ni
A5. Hatsumi Shibata - Party Is Over
B1. Makoto Iwabuchi - Moonlight Flight
B2. Hiroshi Sato - Saigo No Tejina
B3. Arakawa Band - Paradise's Dream
B4. New Generation Company - I Wander All Alone (part III)
C1. Kiyohiko Ozaki - Ojosan Oteyawarakani
C2. Kengo Kurozumi - Juggler
C3. Ken Nishizaki - Koi No Paradigm
C4. Jadoes - Simply Another Love
D1. Midori Hara - Aamar Jabar
D2. Hitomi 'Penny' Tohyama - Tuxedo Connection
D3. Mizuki Koyama - Oh! Daddy
D4. Haruo Chikada & Vibra-Tones - Sofa Bed Blues
D5. Mitsuko Horie - Chigasaki Memory

Wewantsounds continues their Ryuichi Sakamoto reissue series with the release of the 1985 album "Esperanto", composed for a performance by New York avant garde choreographer Molissa Fenley. Produced and performed by Sakamoto with contribution by Arto Lindsay and Japanese percussionist Yas-Kaz, "Esperanto" is a fascinating instrumental work mixing electronica, ambient and synth pop. Released in Japan in 1985 on Midi Inc.s' School label, the album has never been released outside of Japan until now. This special reissue comes with original artwork including a 2 pages insert with a new introduction by Journalist Andy Beta. The audio has been remastered in Tokyo by Seigen Ono.

TRACK LISTING

1. A Wongga Dance Song
2. The
3. A Rain Song
4. Dolphins
5. A Human Tube
6. Adelic Penguins
7. A Carved Stone
8. Ulu Watu

Ryuichi Sakamoto's first solo album originally released in 1978 on the sought-after Better Days label. Sakamoto was a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra at the time but the group hadn't released their first album yet. Featuring Sakamoto on a wide range of synthesizers and keyboards programmed by Hideki Matsutake, and accompanied by a few musicians including Haruomi Hosono and Pecker, "Thousand Knives" was a blueprint for the YMO sound and includes cult classics that were to become live favourites. Save for a small-scale release in 1982, this is the first time the album is being released on vinyl outside of Japan. Remastered from the original tapes by renowned producer and engineer Seigen Ono, the LP edition comes with original artwork including OBI and 4p insert with a new introduction by Paul Bowler.

1978 was a key year for Japanese music. Haruomi Hosono, one of the country's most innovative musicians had just formed Yellow Magic Orchestra pursuing the sonic experimentation he had started with his solo album "Paraiso." The album, credited to "Harry Hosono and The Yellow Magic Band," had been recorded between December 77 and January 78 and featured both Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi. Hosono quickly invited both musicians to form YMO but before the group could release their first album, Sakamoto entered the Nippon Columbia studios in April 1978 with a plan. Sakamoto had become an in-demand session musician after studying composition at the Tokyo University of Art and had played in many key albums of the time: Taeko Ohnuki's "Sunshower" and Tatsuro Yamashita "Spacy" to name just two famous albums. This led to an invitation by Hosono to feature on "Paraiso". A penchant for avant-garde and improvisation had gotten Sakamoto interested in Electronic Music early on and with “Thousand Knives”, he decided to get Hideki Matsutake on board as he had mastered the art of synth programming following a stint with Electronic Music pioneer Isao Tomita. “Thousand Knives” took several months to record as Sakamoto would be busy during the day with his session work and would only record at night. Named after Belgian-born poet Henri Michaux’s description of a mescaline experience, the album is a reflection on how synthesizer technology might come to change the face of music. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Thousand Knives
2. Island Of Woods
3. Grasshoppers
4. Das Neue Japanische Elektronische Volkslied
5. Plastic Bamboo
6. The End Of Asia

The album has the original artwork and new liner notes by Hashim Kotaro Bharoocha who has interviewed Meiko for the occasion. It features "Urami Bushi" the theme song for the Female Prisoner Scorpion series which was used in Kill Bill Vol 2 and also "Onna No Jumon" the theme song for the film "Female Prisoner Scorpion - Jailhouse 41 which had been composed by Shunsuke Kikuchi who also composed the score for these films. The rest of the album follows the same pattern with atmospheric songs such as "Onna Hagure Uta" or "Onna Somuki Uta" displaying Meiko's sombre singing over a superb slow-burning groove, which precedes the funkier "Hitori Kaze" featuring a wah wah guitar, a breakbeat-like rhythm section and slick string arrangement, shaping the unique Meiko Kaji signature sound.

TRACK LISTING

1. Urami Bushi
2. Kanashiku Naikara Fushiawase
3. Nigori Onna
4. Betuni Doutte Koto Demo Naishi
5. Onna No Jumon
6. Hitori Kaze
7. Onna Hagure Uta
8. Onna Kawaki Uta
9. Hizumi Moe
10. Onna Somuki Uta
11. Wara No Ue
12. Meikono Futebushi