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— The Analog Vault // Essential Listening —

Tatsuro Yamashita is the undisputed champion of Japanese city pop. His bright, blissful and buoyant confections of disco, soft rock, and funk never failed to put smiles on the faces of his listeners. All of his albums are winners, but his 1977 release on RCA might be his most immaculate. There is not a single dud in this 10-track masterpiece - which features all-star guests such as guitarist Kenji Ohmura, bassist Haruomi Hosono, keyboardists Ryuichi Sakamoto and Hiroshi Sato, vocalist Minako Yoshida and saxophonist Shunzo Sunahara.  Spacy brims with passionate vocals, lush arrangements, grooving baselines, soaring brass and radiant keys - highlighted on summery standouts like “Love Space”, “Dancer” and “Solid Slider”. This bubbly LP is jubilant and jazzy city pop at its very best.  — The Analog Vault

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It’s hard to pick a favorite out of the many classic albums by the “king of city pop” Tatsuro Yamashita, but if we absolutely had to, we’d probably pick his second album on RCA, Spacy.

Recorded in 1977 shortly after Yamashita completed studio sessions in America with producer/composer Charlie Callelo, Spacy features an incredible who’s who cast of Japanese legends including Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Minako Yoshida, Kenji Ohmura, and Hiroshi Sato.

All the typical Yamashita flavors are here – euphoric vocals, creative string arrangements, shimmering keyboards, funky guitar licks – the grooves on this one just hit a little harder. Take a listen to A5 Dancer and B5 Solid Slider, and you’ll hear what we’re talking about. – (via Phil Cho // In Sheep's Clothing Hi Fi)

Vinyl tracklist:
A1 Love Space
A2 翼に乗せて
A3 素敵な午後は
A4 Candy
A5 Dancer
B1 アンブレラ
B2 言えなかった言葉を
B3 朝の様な夕暮れ
B4 きぬずれ
B5 Solid Slider

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Label: RCA, Ariola
Series: Tatsuro Yamashita RCA / Air Years Vinyl Collection
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered
Reissued: 2023 / Original Release: 1977
Genre: Jazz, Rock, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Soul, Funk, Jazz-Rock, City Pop, Male Vocals, Japanese

File under: TAV Essential Listening
File under: Japanese Pop
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