Masayoshi Takanaka – Takanaka (180g, Red Vinyl, Limited Edition)

Masayoshi Takanaka's Takanaka captures the Japanese guitarist at an important early peak: originally released in 1977, it arrived just after Seychelles and alongside the run of records that established his blend of jazz, pop, and sunlit fusion. Takanaka was already a major figure in Japan long before his recent international resurgence, and this album shows why, balancing virtuoso playing with a relaxed, melodic pull that never feels showy for its own sake.

The music moves easily between breezy instrumentals, Latin touches, and tightly arranged band interplay. “Mambo No. 5 (Disco Dango)” became so well known in Japan that Takanaka’s version is often treated as virtually synonymous with the tune, while “Ready To Fly” appears here in its original form, a piece he has kept in his live sets for decades. The album was recorded at Polydor Studio in Tokyo, with Takanaka not just on guitar but also credited as arranger, producer, and vocalist, supported by a larger ensemble that includes keyboards, horns, percussion, bass, and even harp.

This edition is part of the recent campaign revisiting key Takanaka titles from original master tapes. For anyone coming to him through the renewed interest in city pop and Japanese fusion, Takanaka is a smart place to start: bright, rhythmically agile, and full of the easy confidence that made his 1970s catalogue endure.

Features

• LP, 180g, Clear Red Vinyl, Limited Edition
• Remastered and cut by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios
• Sourced from the original master tapes

Genre: City Pop (Japan)