Singer-songwriter Meiko Nakahara, known for providing songs to idols like Yū Hayami, released her debut album "Coconut House" in 1982.
The connections or networks that enabled her to gather such an extraordinary lineup of musicians remain unclear, but the supporting talent on this record is nothing short of legendary. Featuring Shogo Kindaichi (bass), Shuichi "Ponta" Murakami (drums), Fujimaru Yoshino, Tsuyoshi Kon (guitars), Nobu Saito, Pecker (percussion), Jake H. Concepcion (saxophone), Eiji Arai (trombone), Shin Kazuhara (trumpet), and Kayoko Ishū on backing vocals, the album is a showcase of the top-tier players who shaped countless masterpieces in Japan during the 1970s and 1980s. All tracks were written and composed by Meiko herself, with arrangements by Toshiyuki Komori. One can’t help but wonder where she developed such a deep understanding of samba. Rather than treating samba as a passing influence, her music is firmly rooted in the genre, enriched by the exceptional musicianship on display. While the opening track, "Konya Dake Dance Dance Dance" is often hailed as the album’s highlight, our personal pick is A5, “Koi wa Samba ni Nosete” ("Love on a Samba"), which features an extended break with samba whistles and a groove perfectly suited for the dancefloor. Other standout tracks include B3, “Honno Choppiri Old Man”, a charming oldies-inspired tune reminiscent of RATS & STAR, and B4, “City Night” which diverges from the rest of the album with its weighty bassline and Meiko’s take on urban grooves. This album is a delightful mix of originality and expert craftsmanship, making it a must-hear for fans of Japanese pop with a Brazilian flair.
早見優ら当時のアイドルに楽曲提供していたことでも知られるシンガーソングライター、
中原めいこの
デビューアルバムとなる1982年リリース作「ココナッツ・ハウス」
どういった繋がりやコネクションがあったのかわかりませんが、サポートしているミュージシャンが金田一昌吾(b),
村上"ポンタ"秀一(ds),
吉野藤丸, 今剛(g), 斎藤ノブ, ペッカー(perc), Jake.H.Conception(sax), 新井英治(tb), 数原晋(tp), コーラスで伊集加代子等、70～80年代の我が国の名盤に名を連ねる一流ミュージシャンが集結しています。
収録曲は全曲彼女が作詞曲、アレンジを小森敏之が務めたオリジナル・チューンで、彼女はどこでサンバの感覚を養ったんだろう?と率直に疑問だったりしますが、ポップスにエッセンス的に取り入れるというよりはベースがサンバといった印象で、前述ミュージシャンのサポートもあり結構なお手前。
冒頭曲「今夜だけDance Dance Dance」が本作の白眉といった評価が一般的ですが、当店はサンバホイッスルをフィーチャーした長めのブレイクもナイスで、充分フロアユースなA5「恋はサンバにのせて」を本命に挙げたい。ラッツ&スターあたりに通じるオールディーズ・テイストのB3「ほんのちょっぴりOld Man」, これまでの楽曲にはない重量感のあるベースがグルーヴィーなめいこ流アーバンのB4「City Night」等、好曲を収録していまス！
Meiko Nakahara – Coconuts House ’82 EastworldA1.
今夜だけDance Dance Dance
Credit;
Arranged By, Conductor – Toshi Kimori
Art Direction – Hajime Kobayashi
Bass – Shogo Kindaichi
Chorus – Adam, Kayoko Ishu, Kayoko Wada, Michiko Ogata
Coordinator [Production] – Kazuo Ikeda
Directed By – Ken Sugaya
Drums – Eiji Shimamura, "Ponta" Shuichi Murakami, Yasushi Ichihara
Engineer [Assistant At Onkio Haus] – Shigeru Minagawa
Guitar – Fujimaru Yoshino, Masaki Matsubara, Touru Aoyama, Tsuyoshi Kon
Harmonica – Nobuo Yagi
Illustration – Mick Itaya
Keyboards – Haruo Togashi, "Elton" Ichiro Nagata, Nobuo Kurata
Marimba – Isao Kaneyama
Mastered By – Koji Yamaguchi
Percussion – Nobu Saito, Pecker
Photography By – Seiji Okumiya
Recorded By, Mixed By – Yutaka Tomioka
Saxophone – Jake.H.Conception, Makio Shimizu, Masao Suzuki, Shigeo Fuchino, Shunzo Sunahara
Strings – Fujisawa Group, Kobayashi Group
Trombone – Eiji Arai
Trumpet – Shin Kazuhara
Vocals, Lyrics By, Music By – 中原めいこ
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