Nippon Girls: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966-1970 [Import]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 22, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Big Beat UK
• ASIN: B002S1VQJ8
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,454 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #67 in Music > Jazz > Brazilian Jazz

Track Listings

1. Black Room - Jun Mayuzumi

2. Sharock No. 1 - Mie Nakao

3. Peacock Baby - Reiko Ohara

4. Suki Sa Suki Sa Suki Sa - Nana Kinomi & Leo Beats

5. Taiyou Wa Naite Iru - Ayumi Ishida

6. Yé-Yé - Eiko Shuri

7. Nagisa No Tenshi - Mieko Hirota

8. Koi No Ban Ban - Linda Yamamoto

9. Kiiro No Sekai - J. Girls

10. Suki Yo Ai Shite - Mari Atsumi

11. Watashi No Inori - Rumi Koyama

12. Komacchau Na - Linda Yamamoto

13. Bazazz Tengoku - The Cupids

14. Doyou No Yoru Nanika Ga Okiru - Jun Mayuzumi

15. Hatsu Koi No Letter - Miki Obata

16. Ame Agari No Samba - Ryoko Moriyama

17. Taiyou Ga Kowai No - Kaoru Hibiki

18. Uwasa No Futari - Mie Nakao

19. Koi Wa Heart De - Aki Izumi

20. Tenshi No Itazura - Emy Jackson

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

The Big Beat International label returns with a bang and another celebration of the wonderful world of Japanese 60s pop. After our acclaimed GS I Love You volumes, it's the girls turn, as we examine the distaff side of the country's remarkable GS pop scene with Nippon Girls.

The likes of Shonen Knife and The 5-6-7-8s have given more face to women in Japanese pop, but they draw on a tradition that stretches back to the wild 1960s 'Group Sounds' era, when the Land Of the Rising Sun was smitten with westernized rock 'n' roll, yet came to develop its own distinctive brand of the same. Like in the west, female artistes tended to be solo, though their accompaniment often came from some of the top GS acts like the Bunnies. Major female stars of the period represented here include Miki Obata, Linda Yamamoto and Mie Nakao, the latter with the fuzztoned classic Sharock No 1.

The sound was eclectic, drawing upon not only the full smorgasbord of 60s styles like groovy go-go, lounge-y bossa nova and wobbly pop-psych, but also traditional Japanese songwriting and themes. There's dance floor fillers such as Ye-Ye and the usual fascinating interpretations of western material, such as Nana Kanomi's take on the Zombies' I Love You.

Nippon Girls is annotated by noted girl group expert and latter-day Japanese pop champion Sheila Burgel of Cha Cha Charming magazine, who provides a fascinating overview of this tremendous and compelling tributary of 60s pop. Highly recommended to girl group fanciers, GS groovers and any one else with a keen ear for eclectic 60s pop.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sixties J-Pop Genius, July 14, 2010

By 

David Smay (San Francisco, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nippon Girls: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966-1970 (Audio CD)

This is one of the best sixties girl singer compilations I've ever heard, (and I own a lot) hand picked by Cha Cha Charming's own Sheila Burgel. This stuff is super groovy though it covers a wide range of styles. Only a couple tracks are in the Bossa Nova vein, most of them are uptempo and very mod girl singer raveups. There's fuzz guitar, there's a track by Emy Jackson "Tenshi No Itazura" that even has a bit of Les Yper Sound to it. My favorite is probably "Black Room" by Jun Mayuzumi" which is absolutely electric. "Sharock No. 1" by Mie Nakao contrasts heavy fuzz guitars against sassy girl vocals (drenched in reverb). If you're a fan of the recent spate of Pinky Violence movies (Japanese early 70s exploitation) "Taiyou Na Waite Iru" sounds very similar to the haunting theme songs of films like "Stray Cat Rock." Some tracks emulate bouncy French Ye-Ye, others are more in the style of sixties soul, some play like some go-go interlude from Shindig. But every song has something distinctive and interesting to recommend it.

Great pictures and notes in the interior by Sheila.

This is what a great compilation should do: introduce you to an entirely new world of fantastic music.

Highest recommendation.

David Smay, co-editor of Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth and Lost in the Grooves: Scram's Capricious Guide to the Music You Missed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 16 ways to sing I Love You, December 15, 2010

By 

Sarah M. Ingram "starryeyes" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nippon Girls: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966-1970 (Audio CD)

This CD is a rock-out party music CD that pretty much everyone I know loves. The lyrics, all in Japanese, all pretty much say that they love whomever. The important aspect is how great the beat, instrumentation, melodies, and cheesy pep sound together. This will put a skip in your step and blow away all those sad stereotypes about Japanese music.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Groovy good time, February 15, 2011

By 

Nor'easter - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nippon Girls: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966-1970 (Audio CD)

Wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but have been pleasantly surprised by the tunes on this compilation. If you have an interest in Asian pop from this era, pick it up.