Kazemachi Roman

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Kazemachi Roman
Kazemachi Roman cover
Kazemachi Roman cover, (clockwise from top left) Matsumoto, Suzuki, Hosono and Otaki, Illustration by Kazuhiko Miyaya
Studio album by Happy End
Released November 20, 1971 (1971-11-20)
Recorded May 11, 1971 – September 12, 1971 at Mori Studio and King Studio in Tokyo, Japan
Genre Folk Rock
Length 37:14
Label URC Records
Producer Happy End

Kazemachi Roman (風街ろまん Kazemachi Roman?) translated literally as Wind City Romance, is the second album by Japanese folk rock band, Happy End, released in 1971 in Japan on URC Records. In this concept album, Happy End attempted to paint a musical picture of Tokyo before the 1964 Summer Olympics, through which sweeping changes transformed the city forever.

Bannai Tarao (多羅尾伴内 Tarao Bannai?), a fictional Japanese detective, who has appeared in many Japanese crime thrillers, is credited on several of the album's songs. In addition, the singer on Haikara Hakuch, even opens the song by saying, in English, "Hi, this is Bannai Tarao. Haikara (lit. "High-collar[1]" or "fashionable") is... Beautiful."

In September 2007, Rolling Stone Japan rated Kazemachi Roman #1 on the list of the 100 greatest Japanese rock albums of all time.[1]

Contents

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Side one: "Wind"

  1. "Dakishimetai" (lit. "I Want To Hug") - 3:35
    • Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Eiichi Ohtaki
  2. "Sorairo no Crayon" (lit. "Sky-colored Crayon") - 4:09
    • Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Eiichi Ohtaki
  3. "Kaze wo Atsumete" (lit. "Gather The Wind") - 4:06
    • Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Haruomi Hosono, Produced by Haruomi Hosono
    • This song was featured on the soundtrack to the 2003 film Lost in Translation.
  4. "Kurayamizaka Musasabi Henka" (lit. "The Flying Squirrel Transformation at Kuriyamizaka Hill") - 1:57
    • Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Haruomi Hosono, Produced by Haruomi Hosono
    • Originally this song was called "Momonga" (lit. Flying Squirrel). Kurayamizaka is located in the Azabu district of Tokyo, and Matsumoto clearly shows his nostalgia for this area of the city in this song.
  5. "Haikara Hakuch'" (lit. "Fashionable Idiocy") - 3:37
    • Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Eiichi Ohtaki
    • This was a B-side to Happy End's single Jyunigatsu no ame no hi (lit. December's rain's sun) off their first album. This LP's version is different from the single version, however.
  6. "Haikara Beautiful" (lit. "Fashionable, Beautiful") - 0:33
    • Lyrics, music, and production: Tarao Bannai (this is a fictional Japanese detective)

[edit] Side two: "City"

  1. "Natsu nandesu" (lit. "'Tis the Summer") - 3:16
    • Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Eiichi Ohtaki
    • This was the B-Side on the Hanaichimonme single.
  2. "Hanaichimonme" (lit. "Hana Ichi Monme" (a children's game)) - 3:56
    • Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Shigeru Suzuki　Production: Shigeru Suzuki and Tatsuo Rin
    • Matsumoto thought this was a representative song of Happy End, and it was released as a single.
  3. "Ashita Tenki ni Naare" (lit. "We hope that tomorrow is clear") - 2:13
    • Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Haruomi Hosono, Produced by Haruomi Hosono and Shigeru Suzuki
  4. "Taifuu" (lit. "Typhoon") - 6:30
    • Lyrics: Eiichi Ohtaki, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Tarao Bannai (fictional Japanese detective)
  5. "Haru Ranman" (lit. "Spring, in full swing") - 2:55
    • Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Eiichi Ohtaki
  6. "Aiueo" (lit. word play: "Love-Hunger", or "ABC") - 0:33
    • Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Tarao Bannai (fictional Japanese detective)

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Neojaponisme blog's English translation and summary of the Rolling Stone Japan article. Accessed February 9, 2008
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