"standard of 90's" re-issue series part 1
EMI and BMG have got together and decided to re-issue a bunch of Shibuya-kei related CDs, under a "standard of 90's" theme. Part 1 and 2 (out in October and November) got my interest with titles by Original Love, Spank Happy, Great 3, Scha Dara Parr and Tokyo No.1 Soul Set. Many of those titles are now rare, especially the Spank Happy early albums, I think.
All are offered in mini-LP paper sleeves, remastered with bonus tracks! The price is ¥2500 except for Original Love "Love! Love! & Love!" (2 CD set) that's ¥2800.
For those in Japan, there's a contest to win an eco bag, probably adorning the logo designed by Contemporary Production. Two titles must be bought to enter the contest.
So here goes the list for part 1 (Original Love and Spank Happy), stay tuned for part 2.
standard of 90's official site
Original Love "Love! Love! & Love!" (1991)
オリジナル・ラヴ 「Love! Love! & Love!」
Bonus tracks:
Body Fresher (Pre Debut CD Version)
yoru o buttobase (Let's Spend The Night Together) (Brand new Mix)
EMI TOCT-26390
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.
Original Love "Soul Liberation" (1992)
オリジナル・ラヴ 「結晶」
Bonus tracks:
tsuki no ura de aimashou (Single Version)
Million Secrets of Jazz (Tajima Takao Mix)
EMI TOCT-26392
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.
Original Love "Sessions" (1992)
オリジナル・ラヴ 「Sessions」
Bonus track:
Love Vista (Smooth Dub)
EMI TOCT-26393
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.
Original Love "Eyes" (1993)
オリジナル・ラヴ 「Eyes」
Bonus tracks:
Let's Go! (Cosmo-Phase Mix)
Teardrop (Rare Mix)
EMI TOCT-26394
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.
Original Love "Sunny Side of Original Love" (1993)
オリジナル・ラヴ 「Sunny Side of Original Love」
Bonus tracks:
seppun ~ Kiss (Single Version)
EMI TOCT-26395
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.
Original Love "kaze no uta o kike" (1994)
オリジナル・ラヴ 「風の歌を聴け」
Bonus tracks:
The Rover (Takao Tajima Remix)
It's Wonderful World (Takao Tajima Remix)
EMI TOCT-26396
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.
Spank Happy "My Name Is" (1994)
Bonus tracks:
hashiri naku otome (Single Version)
mori e tsuzuku michi no tochū de
boku wa gakki
naku hōhō
EMI TOCT-26397
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.
Spank Happy "Freak Smile" (1995)
Bonus tracks:
mori e iku hōhō
Chocolate Folk Song
Sleep Me (Previously unreleased)
EMI TOCT-26298
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.
Posted on October 21, 2007 at 14:33
| Released on October 24, 2007
| Comments (5)
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Comments
Good to see that the excellent OL first albums are re-released. I've got all of them thanks to Tokyo Recohan ;) but it's a good chance to recover the original sound of a great band that has lost many of the interest for me with their recent releases, more rock orientated. I speaciily reccomen the album Eyes, a masterpiece of soul orientated pop.
But I might get the Spank Happy old albums. No idea if they sound like the last ones. patrick, do you have any info?
Posted by Damian on October 21, 2007 at 17:53
I also recommend Eyes. I got a used copy in a Book Off, and I quickly fell in love with the album. I wonder if "Teardrop" on the reissue is a remix or not. "Teardrop" was the B-side to the "Sunshine Romance" single, and it fits in with the vibe of the rest of the album. With the title of Rare Mix, I wonder if that is just a cryptic mislableing of a non-album track.
Posted by wbwolf on October 22, 2007 at 00:49
Thanks for the recommendation! I have to admit that I'm not too familiar with a lot of Original Love's early works, as I've mostly listened to greatest hits albums. I'll definitely give "Eyes" a try!
I'll also be looking into grabbing the Spank Happy albums. I've never heard of "Freak Smile", but "My Name Is" is good idol pop that may remind of Les 5-4-3-2-1. Kikuchi-san didn't seem to sing much then. The singer was HARA Midori who was part of Kichijoji 3-shimai a few years ago.
http://www.chipple.net/mt/agenda/2004/09/13_001270.php
Posted by Patrick on October 22, 2007 at 13:57
I've always thought of Original Love as "Shibuya-kei by association". Is it? It's jazzy soul pop, but I seem to think of Shibuya-kei as sample-heavy, French and Italian-influenced.
I have most of these Original Love albums. Tajima Takao is a great songwriter, he always seems to have a good melody or hook. "Desire", not on offer here, is a great album.
I don't have any Spank Happy. I'm not that familiar with them.
Posted by ted mills on October 24, 2007 at 02:55
I think of Shibuya-kei of a mixture of genres but also the cliques of people around them. There's lots of non-sample artists and bands that fall in the category. Original Love is definitely in. At least their early years anyway. :)
Posted by Patrick on October 24, 2007 at 11:56