Sotaro "Daisuki" (7"+Download code)
Sotaro (Twitter), the 11-year-old son of the couple who form chorus group Smooth Ace, has just released a new 7" single! Included is a cover of Okamura Yasuyuki's "Daisuki", which had appeared on mini-album "Smile", and also a new...
Posted on September 6, 2022 at 00:47. | Released on August 24, 2022
COUNTJOKE "One" (CD)
COUNTJOKE (Facebook page), the unit of Maezono Naoki and Arai Toshiya (SoundCloud, Mixcloud), released last year their first album "ONE" as an LP for Record Store Day which had since sold out. Here it is back as a CD, and...
Posted on July 17, 2022 at 22:36. | Released on July 13, 2022
Sotaro "Smile"
Following the release of two 7" singles ("Parade" and "Someday"), here comes a first CD mini-album by Sotaro (Twitter), the 10-year-old son of the couple who form chorus group Smooth Ace. Included are all 4 songs from the two singles...
Posted on March 13, 2022 at 22:54. | Released on March 16, 2022
Sotaro "Someday" (7"+Download code)
Here's already a 2nd single by Sotaro (Twitter), the 10-year-old son of the couple forming chorus group Smooth Ace who debuted last month with "Parade". This times he covers Tatsurō Yamashita's "itsuka (Someday)" and Jackson 5's "I Wanna be...
Posted on January 19, 2022 at 00:12. | Released on January 19, 2022
Sotaro "Parade" (7"+Download code)
Happy New Year 2022! Still doing a little bit of catching up on late 2021 releases that shouldn't be missed. Sotaro (Twitter), the 10-year-old son of the couple forming chorus group Smooth Ace, has released his debut single on...
Posted on January 2, 2022 at 23:38. | Released on December 15, 2021
Record Day 2021 Day 2
Record Day, previously happening only on November 3 for "Culture Day" (a public holiday), has being held once more this November, on Saturday November 27. Also check out the post about day 1! Items can be ordered online. Below is...
Posted on December 4, 2021 at 00:54. | Released on November 27, 2021
RSD Drops 2021 Day 2
Here comes the 2nd of Record Store Day's "RSD Drops" for 2021, following the first held on June 12. Online sales will start at 13:00 (JST) on release day. Below are some picks for July 17, followed by some related...
Posted on July 17, 2021 at 02:04. | Released on July 17, 2021
RSD Drops 2021 Day 1
Record Store Day is happening this year, as two "RSD Drops" on June 12 and July 17! It seems in good shape looking at the impressive list of releases, with many good ones. Online sales will start at 13:00 (JST)...
Posted on June 10, 2021 at 00:16. | Released on June 12, 2021
COUNTJOKE "ZERO" (Download)
COUNTJOKE (Facebook page), the unit of Maezono Naoki and Arai Toshiya (SoundCloud, Mixcloud), has just released digitally a compilation of previous 7" singles including rare track "city line" that was only released on CD-R. All songs were newly remastered or...
Posted on August 19, 2020 at 21:14. | Released on August 19, 2020
COUNTJOKE "Moon Ride!" (Download)
COUNTJOKE (Facebook page), the unit of Maezono Naoki and Arai Toshiya (SoundCloud, Mixcloud), has another new song that has just been released digitally! This follows last month's "A.D. 2020". The new song "Moonride!" has music and lyrics written by...
Posted on July 27, 2020 at 12:09. | Released on July 27, 2020
City Pop on Vinyl 2020
"City Pop on Vinyl" is a campaign organized by Japan's famous record press Toyo Kasei, and on August 8 will be a special day with many releases that file under the "city pop" category that we love! While only sold...
Posted on July 27, 2020 at 00:30. | Released on August 8, 2020
COUNTJOKE "A.D. 2200" (Download)
COUNTJOKE (Facebook page), the unit of Maezono Naoki and Arai Toshiya (SoundCloud, Mixcloud), is back with a brand new song! It had been 4½ years since their previous single, although they had since contributed many songs and arrangements to...
Posted on June 29, 2020 at 20:37. | Released on June 29, 2020
Wakita Monari "AHEAD!" (12")
Wakita Monari's excellent 2nd album "AHEAD!" (2018) is being released on vinyl! This album includes several songs produced by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke), and also ones produced by microstar, Illicit Tsuboi (co-written by YUI (Bakubaku Dokin)), Sasaki Jun (ex-Cosa Nostra)...
Posted on February 14, 2020 at 21:55. | Released on February 19, 2020
Wakita Monari "I am ONLY" (12")
Wakita Monari's excellent 1st album "I am ONLY" (2017) is finally being released on vinyl! Included are songs written by Hase Hajimu, Microstar, Fukutomi Yukihiro, Yafune Tetsurō, Nishidera Gōta (Nona Reeves), Count Joke, Hase Yasuhiro (Yume to Cosme), ikkubaru (from...
Posted on April 23, 2019 at 21:28. | Released on April 24, 2019
Kaji Hideki "Autumn Olive"
Kaji Hideki has a brand new EP being released just ahead of fall. The EP's two lead songs take their theme from fashion magazine Olive (published from 1982 to 2003). Both of these songs were produced by Horie Hirohisa (Neil...
Posted on August 19, 2018 at 13:23. | Released on September 5, 2018
Wakita Monari "Ahead!"
Wakita Monari has a 2nd album being released this month! This is the follow-up to the excellent "I am ONLY" (2017). Included are several songs produced by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke), and also ones produced by microstar, Illicit Tsuboi (co-written...
Posted on July 15, 2018 at 23:59. | Released on July 25, 2018
Wakita Monari "Take It Lucky!!!!" (CD+7")
Wakita Monari's latest song "Take It Lucky!!!!", released digitally last month, is being released on 7" with a previously unreleased B-side! Both songs have music written and produced by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke). The A-side has lyrics by singer UKO,...
Posted on April 20, 2018 at 22:01. | Released on April 25, 2018
Wakita Monari "Wingscape / LED" (CD+7")
Wakita Monari has a new single out this week! Her new funky jazz tune "Wingscape" was written and produced by COUNTJOKE (aka jōdan hakushaku, unit of Maezono Naoki and Arai Toshiya) (Facebook page) and features Smooth Ace on chorus! The...
Posted on November 20, 2017 at 23:15. | Released on November 22, 2017
Wakita Monari "I am ONLY"
After three great singles, here comes Wakita Monari (ex-Especia)'s 1st solo album! All songs are said to be worth single cuts. Included are songs written by Hase Hajimu, Microstar, Fukutomi Yukihiro, Yafune Tetsurō, Nishidera Gōta (Nona Reeves), Count Joke, Hase...
Posted on July 22, 2017 at 23:38. | Released on July 26, 2017
Smooth Ace "Sing Like Talking Complete"
First released in 2014, this 6th album by chorus group Smooth Ace had become rare. This time it is reissued on a major label, remastered and with two newly recorded songs added! Including the new songs, a total of 5...
Posted on May 8, 2017 at 21:34. | Released on May 10, 2017
Count Joke "nikyu tenshi no Theme / ame ni hohoemi o" (7"+CD)
Count Joke (aka jōdan hakushaku) (Facebook page) have released yet another 7" single this month! "nikyū tenshi no Theme" is a brand new original, while "ame ni hohoemi o" is a Japanese lyrics disco cover of Neil Sedaka's "Laughter in...
Posted on December 30, 2015 at 21:53. | Released on December 9, 2015
Count Joke "Pink Shadow / tamago" (7"+CD)
Count Joke (aka jōdan hakushaku) (Facebook page) have a brand new 7" out now! The A-side is a cover of Bread & Butter's "Pink Shadow" (1974), while the B-side is a brand new original written by singer Maezono Naoki. Like...
Posted on September 3, 2015 at 23:05. | Released on August 26, 2015
Count Joke "itsuka dokoka de c/w yūrei no Ballad" (7"+CD)
This release completes Count Joke's "Air-Replay Series" trilogy of 7" singles. These two songs were being released on CD last December. This packaging includes both 7" and CD (with instrumentals). "itsuka dokokade" features Smooth Ace, and was written in memory...
Posted on March 21, 2015 at 20:19. | Released on March 25, 2015
Count Joke "LED c/w nagisa" (7"+CD)
A 2nd 7" from this trilogy by Count Joke (aka jōdan hakushaku) (Facebook page), unit of Maezono Naoki & Arai Toshiya, was released this week! Also check out the January-released "bird man c/w ameagari". The next will be released on...
Posted on February 27, 2015 at 22:38. | Released on February 25, 2015
Count Joke "bird man c/w ameagari" (7"+CD)
Count Joke (aka jōdan hakushaku) (Facebook page) is the unit of Maezono Naoki and Arai Toshiya. Starting this January they are releasing a series of 7"'s (coming with a bonus CD) of songs limitedly released on CD throughout last year....
Posted on February 6, 2015 at 23:50. | Released on January 28, 2015
jōdan hakushaku "nagisa"
jōdan hakushaku (aka Count Joke, at least according to their Facebook and Twitter account names) is the unit of Maezono Naoki (Maezono Naoki Group) and Arai Toshiya (Missing Linc). Together they deliver catchy pop tunes. This 2nd single is available...
Posted on October 26, 2014 at 22:52. | Released on October 21, 2014
Full-text search results for Count Joke
Wakita Monari "Right Here"
Wakita Monari has a 3rd album being released at the end of July! With Arai Toshiya (Count Joke) as the main producer and songwriter of several tracks, the album also includes latest single "Espadrille de tsukamaete" that has music written...
Posted on July 24, 2019 at 23:16. | Released on July 31, 2019
Wakita Monari "A la Espadrille (Espadrille de tsukamaete)" (7")
Singer Wakita Monari has a brand new album coming at the end of the month (stay tuned!), but first here's a 7" cut of two songs from it! Title track "A la Espadrille" (Japanese title "Espadrille de tsukamaete") is...
Posted on July 7, 2019 at 01:19. | Released on July 10, 2019
Kaji Hideki "Goth Romance"
Kaji Hideki has a brand new album being released! With the title "Goth Romance", he revisits his early music days and also invites a whole lot of friends to participate. The album is produced by Horie Hirohisa (Neil and Iraiza),...
Posted on June 5, 2019 at 00:04. | Released on June 5, 2019
Gig report: Adieu, Vanilla Beans!: Retrospective & last gig reports
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound They came carried by winds from Northern Europe, where they returned to last October 7 (2018). So goes the setting of Vanilla Beans, a unique idol group that had debuted...
Posted on December 31, 2018 at 22:03.
Wakita Monari "I Love You Oh! Oh! from The Planet (Get Loose Mix)" (Download)
Just days ahead of Wakita Monari's new single "Just a 'Crush for Today'", a new remix of song "yūsei kara no I Love You oh! oh!" has been released digitally. The remix was done by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke) who...
Posted on November 24, 2018 at 20:45. | Released on November 24, 2018
Wakita Monari "Just a 'Crush for Today'" (CD/7")
Wakita Monari has a new single about to be released! Both tracks have music written and arranged by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke), and Monari wrote the lyrics of title track "Just a 'Crush for Today'". The A-side is said...
Posted on November 23, 2018 at 22:13. | Released on November 28, 2018
Wakita Monari "Callin' You (Nite in the Groove Mix)" (Download)
A new remix of "Callin' You" from Wakita Monari's 2nd album "Ahead!" has been released digitally. The remix was done by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke) who wrote the song's music. He said on Twitter that he used a Korg...
Posted on October 20, 2018 at 19:45. | Released on October 17, 2018
Wakita Monari "Take It Lucky!!!!" (Download)
Wakita Monari has a brand new song out now on iTunes, Spotify, etc.! "Take It Lucky!!!!" was written and produced by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke), and it was featured as the theme song of online drama "Lucky" aired earlier...
Posted on March 28, 2018 at 00:28. | Released on March 24, 2018
SOLEIL "My Name is SOLEIL"
After having debuted last year with single "Pinky Fluffy", band SOLEIL is already back with a first full-length major album! This consists of only new previously unreleased songs, and matching the band's 60's style all was recorded and mixed in...
Posted on March 7, 2018 at 23:58. | Released on March 21, 2018
Hoshino Michiru "12 signs of the zodiac"
Hoshino Michiru has a new album out now! "12 signs of the zodiac" contains three new songs from singles "kagami no naka no watashi" and "nagareboshi Rendez-vous" (with also B-side "kyōkaisenjō no futari") released just last month, plus 9 brand...
Posted on June 20, 2017 at 22:46. | Released on June 21, 2017
Wakita Monari "I'm with you" (CD+7")
Wakita Monari (ex-Especia) has a 3rd single being released this week, ahead of a 1st solo album to come later on July 26! The new single's title song is a house tune written and produced by Fukutomi Yukihiro! Mellow jazz...
Posted on June 17, 2017 at 10:57. | Released on June 21, 2017
Nakano Aya "Mambo Alc.0.00% feat. Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys" (CD+7")
Nakano Aya's new single is a song featuring Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys! The song was written by Comoesta Yaegashi and Fukuhara Mari with lyrics by Paradise Yamamoto. The B-side is a cover of Etta James' "Seven Day Fool", and features...
Posted on December 10, 2016 at 16:51. | Released on December 14, 2016
Wakita Monari "In The City / anone,,," (CD+7")
Wakita Monari (ex-Especia) is back as a solo artist! She now shows up on the great Vivid Sound label with a first solo single. Both songs are originals, with the A-side "In The City" arranged by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke),...
Posted on November 14, 2016 at 23:56. | Released on November 16, 2016
Record Day 2016
Record Day (not the same as "Record Store Day") has been set to coincide with Japan's "Culture Day" public holiday on November 3 since 1957. Since last year, Japan's only record press Tōyō Kasei takes the lead inviting Japanese artists...
Posted on November 6, 2016 at 23:02. | Released on November 3, 2016
Hoshino Michiru "watashi ga obasan ni nattemo" (7"+CD)
Hoshino Michiru has released a single cut (7" with CD) of two songs from her new cover album "My Favorite Songs". Title song "watashi ga obasan ni nattemo" is a cover of Moritaka Chisato (1992), co-arranged by Arai Toshiya (Count...
Posted on October 31, 2016 at 22:39. | Released on October 19, 2016
Hoshino Michiru "My Favorite Songs"
Hoshino Michiru has a cover album coming! Selected by herself and producer Hase Hajimu, this includes many new recordings and a few songs from recent singles, such as "koi suru Fortune Cookie feat. The Scooters" that is sold at live...
Posted on September 4, 2016 at 12:30. | Released on September 7, 2016
Hoshino Michiru "Discotheque ni tsuretette (Single Version)" (CD+7")
Hoshino Michiru has a new 7" and CD set coming this month! Included is a single version of song "Discotheque ni tsuretette" from latest album "You Love Me", and a cover of Yamashita Tatsurō's "zutto issho sa". The latter was...
Posted on May 4, 2016 at 13:19. | Released on May 25, 2016
