Tokyo's Coolest Sound

City Pop on Vinyl is being held for the 4th time, on August 5, 2023. There are many exciting releases this time again, and below are some recommendations to Tokyo's Coolest Sound's readers.

There's also a lot more to find on the official site's full list (some of the releases on the page are older ones, so look for the "新譜" = "new release" label). Many individual pages have titles and some descriptions in English.

See also the previous years: 2022, 2021 & 2020.

Paper Moon Project "City Pop Avenue" (12")

Vinyl edition of the recent compilation featuring various female singers.

1. Simple Love (feat. Shiori Sasaki)
2. Fly-Day Chinatown (feat. Monari Wakita)
3. Candy (feat. Kojima Michiru)
4. Remember Summer Days (feat. cherry (SPARKLING☆CHERRY))
5. Natsu No Klaxon (feat. Atsuko Hiyajo)
6. Scotch and Rain (feat. Mari Mizuno (from paris match))
7. Dress Down (feat. Yuko Imai)
8. Goodbye Transfer (feat. Natsu Summer)
9. Still I'm In Love With You (feat. Shiori Sasaki)
10. Kimi wa 1000% (feat. Mari Mizuno (from paris match))

Life and Music TEJL-44003
Out now (8/5), ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Various Artists "City Pop Story - Urban & Ocean" (2x12")
オムニバス 「シティポップ・ストーリー ～Urban & Ocean」

Vinyl edition of the 70s/80s city pop compilation released in March 2023 as a double-CD. 14 of the songs are from the CD compilation (which contained a total of 36 songs), to which 6 others are added. Selected by Hitoshi Kurimoto.

Disc 1 "Urban Side"
(Title/Artist)
A1. LIGHT'N UP / Minako Yoshida
A2. doyō no yoru wa Paradise / EPO
A3. Chūō Freeway / Hi-Fi Set
A4. Just a Joke / Yurie Kokubu
A5. Vibration / Kimiko Kasai
B1. Leonids no kanatani / Yōichi Takizawa
B2. Campus Street '81 / Saki Kubota
B3. Pillowcase ni sayōnara / Takako Shirai
B4. Warming Up / Yūko Ohtaki
B5. City Lights by the Moonlight / Tomoko Sōryō

Disc 2 "Ocean Side"
C1. natsu ni koi suru onnatachi / Taeko Ōnuki
C2. Pool Side / Yoshitaka Minami
C3. Rainy Wednesday / Eiichi Ohtaki
C4. Summer Blue / Bread & Butter
C5. irie nite / Hiromi Gō
D1. Wind Surfin / Jin Kirigaya
D2. Little Bit Easier / Ken Tamura
D3. yūgyotō / Minako Itō
D4. hadashi no mama de / Kaoru Sudō
D5. Goodbye Summer Breeze / Mariya Takeuchi

Great Tracks MHJL-288
Out now (8/5), ¥5500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

DÉ DÉ MOUSE & hitomitoi "Love Groovin'" (7")
DÉ DÉ MOUSE & 一十三十一 「Love Groovin'」

7" edition of the recent collaboration first released digitally.

A. Love Groovin'
B. Love Groovin' (Dance Mix)

not records NOT0050
Out now (8/5), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Ryusenkei "distant horizon feat Nao Kodama" (7")
流線形 「遠い水平線 feat. 児玉奈央」

7" cut of the song that appeared on compilation "Sea of Love 8 -Collaboration with SHONAN by the Sea", featuring singer-songwriter Nao Kodama.

A. distant horizon feat Nao Kodama
B. distant horizon (Instrumental)

Insense Music Works Inc. IMWVR-1019
Out now (8/5), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Aya Nakano & The Bremen "Como você Quiser c/w Mayonaka No Door ~Stay With Me~ feat. CENTRAL (Special 7" Mix)" (7")
なかの綾とブレーメン 「Como você Quiser c/w 真夜中のドア ~Stay With Me~ feat. CENTRAL (Special 7" Mix)」

2 songs from recent album "Second" ("Nimaime"), with for B-side an exclusive mix.

A. Como você Quiser
B. Mayonaka No Door ~Stay With Me~ feat. CENTRAL (Special 7" Mix)

Bloom Music BLMS-006
Out now (8/5), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

The Romans "Lily e no kimochi c/w Good Morning Mademoiselle" (7")
THE ROMANS 「リリィへの気もち c/w グッドモーニング・マドモアゼル」

New single by The Romans.

A. Lily e no kimochi
B. Good Morning Mademoiselle

Toyokasei TYO7S1031
Out now (8/5), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Kanako Hara "Tonight is the night feat. Kyoko / Tokyo Neon feat. Hiromi" (7")
はらかなこ 「Tonight is the night feat.杏子 / Tokyo Neon feat.宏実」

Two 7" cuts (this and the one below) from recent mini-album "Tokyo City Pop vol.1 'Portrait'".

A. Tonight is the night feat. Kyoko
B. Tokyo Neon feat. Hiromi

DOBEATU DBEP28
Out now (8/5), ¥2273 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Kanako Hara "Last Kiss feat. Hitomi Shimatani / 360 feat. Shō Kurashina" (7")
はらかなこ 「最後のキスなら feat.島谷ひとみ / 360 feat.倉品翔」

Two 7" cuts (this and the one above) from recent mini-album "Tokyo City Pop vol.1 'Portrait'".

A. Last Kiss feat. Hitomi Shimatani
B. 360 feat. Shō Kurashina

DOBEATU DBEP29
Out now (8/5), ¥2273 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Especia "Gusto" (2x12")

First ever vinyl edition of idol group Especia's classic first full-length album "Gusto" (2014).

A1. Intro
A2. BayBlues
A3. FOOLISH
A4. Aventure wa giniro ni (GUSTO Ver)
A5. Mount Up
B1. BEHIND YOU
B2. usotsuki na Anela
B3. Intermission
B4. No1 Sweeper
C1. L'elisir d'amore
C2. umibe no Satie (PellyColo Remix)
C3. Midnight Confusion (Pureness Waterman Edit)
D1. kuru kana
D2. Abyss
D3. YA-ME-TE! (GUSTO Ver)
D4. Outro

Toyokasei TYOLP1049
Out now (8/5), ¥5000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

The Happies "Andromeda Express" (12")
ザ・ハッピーズ 「アンドロメダ急行」

2nd and last album of The Happies, a band of five featuring singer Joe Nakamura and guitarist Takeshi Wakabayashi. Originally released in 1997, here it is newly remastered and available on vinyl for the first time.

A1. Morning Blues
A2. Maximum Rock
A3. haguregumo
A4. kirei ni natte Kure
A5. Freaky
A6. suki kirai
B1. Short Short
B2. Ema no Boutique
B3. akichi ni saita hana
B4. moshimo no sekai
B5. matsuri no ato no sasurai no hibi o
B6. Andromeda Express

Midi Inc. MDJL-1014
Out now (8/5), ¥3700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Sunaga t experience "CoБaka (Crouka)" (2x12")

The classic first album of Tatsuo Sunaga's solo unit, released on CD in 2001, is released in its entirety on vinyl for the first time. An exclusive bonus remix by Muro is included.

A1. istonichcoff(theme from T.R.A.P)
A2. it's you
A3. prologue
A4. Kid
B1. Chitose Airport
B2. welcome!
B3. satellite beats (it's yours)
B4. C'est vous sur le pont
C1. onde'a'Palmspring
C2. an announcement for COБAKA (crouka)
C3. COБAKA (crouka)
C4. GEMINI IV space dub
C5. a preview
C6. voet op de mann
D1. theme from Sunaga t Experience
D2. times 24h by starlight
D3. kasukana shirushi
D4. It's You (It's Muro Mix) (Bonus Track)

Cutting Edge / HMV record shop AQJH-77593
Out now (8/5), ¥4800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

bice "bice" (12")

Two EPs by bice released in 1998 on CD are available on vinyl for the first time. "bice" was her first major release.

A1. akubi
A2. Still Life
B1. Lazy Trip
B2. Behind Summer

Pony Canyon PCJA-00117
Out now (8/5), ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

bice "sneakers" (12")
bice 「スニーカー」

Two EPs by bice released in 1998 on CD are available on vinyl for the first time. "sneakers" was her second major release.

A1. Sneakers
B1. Missing Words
B2. Time After Time

Pony Canyon PCJA-00118
Out now (8/5), ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Yasushi Ide Presents Lonesome Echo Strings "Purple Noon" (12")

2nd album of Yasushi Ide, first released on CD in 1998. First time on vinyl. Featured vocalists include Yukihiro Takahashi, Monday Michiru, Clémentine and Tony Joe White.

A1. Fresh
A2. The Great Silent Song of Your Eyes
A3. Tatiana no namida
A4. Plein soleil
B1. Spiritual Serenade
B2. Jealous Guy
B3. A Certain Peace
B4. Someday

Grand Gallery GRGALP0013
Out now (8/5), ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Norio Maeda meets Tin Pan Alley "Soul Samba" (12")
前田憲男とティン・パン・アレー 「ソウル・サンバ」

Re-issue of the 1977 album of pianist/arranger Norio Maeda with Tin Pan Alley (Haruomi Hosono, Shigeru Suzuki & Tatsuo Hayashi).

A1. Manha De Carnaval
A2. The Look Of Love
A3. Wave
A4. Desafinado
A5. The Constant Rain
B1. One Note Samba
B2. Summer Samba
B3. The Girl From Ipanema
B4. Laia Ladaia

Nippon Crown / HMV record shop CRJ-1022
Out now (8/5), ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.