About

Reissued on 180g clear lime yellow vinyl
Remastering & half-speed cutting by Alex Wharton of Abbey Road

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Remastered and released on vinyl, this is a collection of popular works by Masayoshi Takanaka, one of Japan's leading super guitarists!

This 5th album perfects their tropical fusion sound. It features a collection of great tracks, including "BLUE LAGOON," which was a huge hit when it was used as a Pioneer commercial song, "RADIO RIO" featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto, "Parallel Turn" where they also showcase their vocals, and the soulful guitar-driven "RAINY DAY BLUE." — (via Label)

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Takana has become a leading figure among Japanese fusion guitarists with his pop, melodic, and upbeat rhythms. I think one of the secrets to his popularity is that he's not the type to overpower you with sheer technique. This album, which he released after a 17-month hiatus (with a short break for a project album, the instructional album " On Guitar "), is a masterpiece that perfectly showcases those characteristics.

The participating members seem to have been gathered not only for their technique but also for their personalities, as they are all bright and energetic musicians. The bassist is Getao Takahashi , and the drummers include Shigeru Inoue , Tatsuo Hayashi , and Yu Uehara , all of whom primarily play in the backing of vocalists. The keyboardists are Hiroki Inui , Ryuichi Sakamoto , Mimi Kobayashi , and Kiyosumi Ishikawa . The percussionists are Motoya Hamaguchi , Hajime Nakajima , and Pecker , a cheerful bunch.

Blue Lagoon remains incredibly popular to this day . With its blue skies, white sandy beaches, and crystal-clear ocean, it could be described as an instrumental number themed around the sea, a symbol of Japan. — (via Note)

Vinyl Tracklist
A1 Blue Lagoon
A2 Radio Rio
A3 Explosion
A4 Fairy of the Coral Reef
B1 Taj Mahal
B2 Bamboo Vendor
B3 Parallel Turn
B4 Rainy Day Blue

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Label: Universal Music
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Stereo, Clear Lime Yellow Vinyl
Reissued: 2025 / Originally Released: 1979
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Fusion, Jazz-Funk, J-pop

File under: Japanese Jazz
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