Kazemachi Roman

Kazemachi Roman

Kazemachi Roman cover, clockwise from top left: Matsumoto, Suzuki, Hosono and Ohtaki, illustrated by Kazuhiko Miyaya
Studio album by Happy End
Released November 20, 1971
Recorded May 11 – September 12, 1971
Studio Mouri Studio
Genre Folk rock
Length 37:14
Label URC Records
Producer Happy End
Happy End chronology
Happy End
(1970)
Kazemachi Roman
(1971)
Happy End
(1973)
Singles from Happy End
  1. "Hana Ichi Monme"
    Released: December 10, 1971

Kazemachi Roman (Japanese: 風街ろまん Hepburn: Kazemachi Roman, literally "Wind City Romance") is the second album by Japanese folk rock band Happy End, released on URC Records in 1971. 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.

Background and release

Bannai Tarao, a fictional detective who has appeared in many Japanese crime thrillers, is credited on several of the album's songs. In addition, the singer on "Haikara Hakuchi", even opens the song by saying, in English, "Hi, this is Bannai Tarao. Haikara (lit. "High-collar" or "Western fashion") is... Beautiful." This song was the B-side to Happy End's single "Juuni Gatsu no Ame no hi" off their first album. This album version is different, however.

Matsumoto thought "Hana Ichi Monme" was a representative song of Happy End, and it was released as a single. Its B-side was "Natsu Nandesu".

"Kaze wo Atsumete" was featured in the 2003 American film Lost in Translation as well as on its soundtrack.

Seven bonus tracks were added when the album was included in the March 31, 2004 Happy End Box set.[1]

"Sorairo no Crayon" was covered by thrash metal band Outrage for their 2015 album Genesis I.[2] "Hana Ichi Monme" was covered by Rolly for his 2015 cover album Rolly's Rock Circus.[3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]

In September 2007, Rolling Stone Japan ranked Kazemachi Roman No.1 on its list of the "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time".[5]

Track listing

Side A - Wind ()
No. TitleLyricsMusicProducer Length
1. "Dakishimetai" (抱きしめたい, "I Want to Hold You")Takashi MatsumotoEiichi OhtakiEiichi Ohtaki 3:32
2. "Sorairo no Crayon" (空色のくれよん, "Sky Blue Crayon")Takashi MatsumotoEiichi OhtakiEiichi Ohtaki 4:05
3. "Kaze wo Atsumete" (風をあつめて, "Gather the Wind")Takashi MatsumotoHaruomi HosonoHaruomi Hosono 4:06
4. "Kurayamizaka Musasabi Henge" (暗闇坂むささび変化, "Ghosts of Flying Squirrels at Kuriyamizaka")Takashi MatsumotoHaruomi HosonoHaruomi Hosono 1:51
5. "Haikara Hakuchi" (はいからはくち, "Westernized Idiot")Takashi MatsumotoEiichi OhtakiEiichi Ohtaki 3:37
6. "Haikara Beautiful" (はいからびゅーちふる, "Westernized, Beautiful")Bannai TaraoBannai TaraoBannai Tarao 0:33
Side B - City ()
No. TitleLyricsMusicProducer Length
7. "Natsu Nandesu" (夏なんです, "Tis the Summer")Takashi MatsumotoHaruomi HosonoHaruomi Hosono 3:16
8. "Hana Ichi Monme" (花いちもんめ, "Hana Ichi Monme")Takashi MatsumotoShigeru SuzukiShigeru Suzuki, Tatsuo Hayashi 3:59
9. "Ashita Tenki ni Naare" (あしたてんきになあれ, "We hope that tomorrow is clear")Takashi MatsumotoHaruomi HosonoHaruomi Hosono, Shigeru Suzuki 2:13
10. "Taifuu" (颱風, "Typhoon")Eiichi OhtakiEiichi OhtakiBannai Tarao 6:30
11. "Haru Ranman" (春らんまん, "Spring, in full bloom")Takashi MatsumotoEiichi OhtakiEiichi Ohtaki 2:49
12. "Aiueo" (愛餓を, "Love-Hunger" or "ABC")Takashi MatsumotoEiichi OhtakiBannai Tarao 0:37

Personnel

References

  1. "はっぴいえんどbox". HMV Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  2. "OUTRAGEニューアルバムでアナーキー、頭脳警察らカバー". Natalie (in Japanese). 2015-08-10. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  3. "ROLLYがミカバンド、はっぴいえんどなど愛する70s邦楽ロックをカバー". Natalie (in Japanese). 2015-04-28. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  4. Jarnow, Jesse. "Kazemachi Roman - Happy End" (Review). Allmusic. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  5. "Finally! "The 100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time" Listed". Exclaim!. 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2012-08-18.

External links

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