The second instalment of an unofficial two-parter, Episode 8 continues to survey the glorious sounds of Showa Kayo, laying siege to a an extensive haul of 7 inches acquired over the summer months. We’re clocking nearly 40 individual songs. We have show staples like Yujiro Ishihara, Keiko Fuji, Shinichi Mori making return appearances, including a rare super low-key alternative edition of Tetsuya Watari’s ‘Tokyo Drifter’, but the meat of this month’s show is designated for the under appreciated stars of the Showa Kayo world. We have some stirring roots rock via Akiko Wada, some harrowing, super moody Kayo from doomed songstress Hiroko Tomo and two lesser-known cuts from Reiko Ike’s ‘porno-groove’ masterpiece ‘World of Ecstasy’, which caused a stir on its release in 1971, in no small part due to it’s x-rated front cover. There are also haunted lounge versions of two well-known Kayo standards by glamorous model and actress Ako Midorikawa, an opulent, unrequited love ballad by golden voiced Kazuo Funaki and a strangely bewitching and certified ear-worm by Yumiko Kokonoe. We even have a back to back comparison of Tomio Umezawa’s most well known tune, a Led Zep-referencing power ballad and some New Romantic bargain bin gold from boy band ‘Safety Zone’ and a silky, 80's funk ballad from starlet Yuri Honma. There’s even a ghostly, rare concert rendition of show tune and big band singer Yoko Kishi's most famous song ‘Two Stars’, which has been reduced to a funeral ballad and sounds like a stray Nico live cut from the late 80’s. All this amongst the usual late-night whiskey nursers you’d expect. Minimal narration on this month’s edition to allow you to plumb the bargain bin depths, uninterrupted. Full Track List Below:
Ouyang Fei Fei – Rainy Yokohama
Yuri Honma – Such A Night
Kenichi Mikawa – The Woman on the First Train
Akiko Wada – Wandering/Yokosuka
Akiko Wada – Shooting Star
Eriko Yoshimura – Whenever I Meet You
Yumiko Kokonoe – Kissing You Again
Ruriko Watari – Doronko Blues
Tetsuya Watari – Tokyo Drifter (Alternate Slower Version)
Mariko Ann – Princess of Love
Kazuo Funaki – Late Night In Akasaka
Shinichi Mori – The Older Woman
Reiko Ike – A Woman Named
Reiko Ike - Bonds of Love
Masaomi Kondō - Because of the Girl
Kazuko Aoyama – Please Give Me A Dream
Keiko Maruyama – Please Leave Things As They Are
Yukiko Noji – Three Tears
Hideo Oki & Yoko Tsuyama – Shinjuku Raised
Mari Sono – I was Lonely
Izumi Chidori - Hitoshi Scarlet Sakura
Koji Tsuda – Kawachi Yuuden
Yuji Ishihara – What To Forget
Ako Midorikawa – Kasabah Woman
Ako Midorikawa – Dreams Open at Night
Michi Aoyama – My Blues
Aya Katsu – Koi Azami
Mari Henmi – Experience
Yoko Kagawa – Just Because She’s a Woman
Hiroko Tomo – It’a Woman’s Name
Hiroko Tomo – Tears
Takuya Jo - Let's skip it and say goodbye
Izumi Ayukawa – Winter Flowers
Safety Zone – Y Tension
Tomio Umezawa – Yume Shibai
Masako mori – Yume Shibai
Yoko Kishi – Two Stars (Rare Live version)