Kazemachi Roman
Encyclopedia
translated literally as Wind City Romance, is the second album by Japan
ese folk rock
band Happy End, released in 1971 in Japan on URC Records. 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.
, a fictional Japanese 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-collarhttp://jisho.org/words?jap=haikara&eng=&dict=edict" or "Western fashion") is... Beautiful."
In September 2007, Rolling Stone
Japan rated Kazemachi Roman #1 on the list of the 100 greatest Japanese rock albums of all time.
, vocals
, keyboards
- drums
- guitar
, vocals - guitar
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
band Happy End, released in 1971 in Japan on URC Records. In this concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
, Happy End attempted to paint a musical picture of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
before the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, through which sweeping changes transformed the city forever.
, a fictional Japanese 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-collarhttp://jisho.org/words?jap=haikara&eng=&dict=edict" or "Western fashion") is... Beautiful."
In September 2007, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
Japan rated Kazemachi Roman #1 on the list of the 100 greatest Japanese rock albums of all time.
Side one: "Wind"
- - 3:35
- Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Eiichi Ohtaki
- - 4:09
- Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Eiichi Ohtaki
- - 4:06
- Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Haruomi Hosono, Produced by Haruomi Hosono
- This song was featured in the 2003 film Lost in TranslationLost in Translation (soundtrack)Lost in Translation is the soundtrack from the 2003 film Lost in Translation, released by Emperor Norton Records on September 9, 2003. The soundtrack features bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Air, and Happy End, as well as music by composers Brian Reitzell and Roger J...
as well as on its soundtrackLost in Translation (soundtrack)Lost in Translation is the soundtrack from the 2003 film Lost in Translation, released by Emperor Norton Records on September 9, 2003. The soundtrack features bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Air, and Happy End, as well as music by composers Brian Reitzell and Roger J...
.
- - 1:57
- Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Haruomi Hosono, Produced by Haruomi Hosono
- Originally this song was called "Momonga" (lit. Flying SquirrelFlying squirrelFlying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of 44 species of squirrels .- Description :...
). Kurayamizaka is located in the AzabuAzabuis an area within Minato in Tokyo, Japan, built on a marshy area of foothills south of central Tokyo. Its coverage roughly corresponds to that of the former Azabu Ward, presently consisting of nine official districts: Azabu-Jūban, Azabudai, Azabu-Nagasakachō, Azabu-Mamianachō, Nishi-Azabu,...
district of Tokyo, and Matsumoto clearly shows his nostalgia for this area of the city in this song.
- - 3:37
- Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Eiichi Ohtaki
- This was a B-side to Happy End's single "Jyunigatsu no Ame no hi" (lit. "A Rainy Day in December") off their first album. This LP's version is different, however.
- - 0:33
- Lyrics, music, and production: Tarao Bannai (fictional Japanese detective)
Side two: "City"
- - 3:16
- Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Eiichi Ohtaki
- This was the B-Side on the "Hanaichimonme" single.
- - 3:56
- Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Shigeru Suzuki Production: Shigeru Suzuki and Tatsuo Rin
- Matsumoto thought this was a representative song of Happy End, and it was released as a singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
.
- - 2:13
- Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Haruomi Hosono, Produced by Haruomi Hosono and Shigeru Suzuki
- - 6:30
- Lyrics: Eiichi Ohtaki, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Tarao Bannai (fictional Japanese detective)
- - 2:55
- Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Eiichi Ohtaki
- - 0:33
- Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto, Music: Eiichi Ohtaki, Produced by Tarao Bannai (fictional Japanese detective)
Personnel
- bassBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - guitar