Tag Archives: Kunihiko Murai

Casiopea: Same

On May 25, 1979, “Alfa” label released the self-titled, debut Casiopea album. It was recorded December 1978 – March 1979, at “Studio A” in Tokyo, “Power Station” in New York City, and was produced by Kunihiko Murai, Syoro Kawazoe, Shinji Sawada  and Kazusuke Obi.

Personnel:

  • Issei Noro – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, arrangements
  • Minoru Mukaiya – Fender Rhodes piano, acoustic piano, Yamaha SK-20, Yamaha Electone EX-1, vibraphone
  • Tetsuo Sakurai – 1974 Natural Finish Fender Jazz bass guitar
  • Takashi Sasaki – drums
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • Tomato Strings Ensemble – strings
  • Jun Fukamachi – horn arrangements
  • Hiroki Inul – string arrangements
  • Al Schmitt, Norio Yoshizawa, Yasuhiko Terada – recording
  • Neil Dorfsman – recording
  • Mitsuo Koike – engineer assistant
  • James Farber – engineer assistant
  • Yasuhiko Terada – mixing
  • Toshikuni Okubo – illustration
  • Shigeru Wada – photography
  • Kunihiko Murai, Syoro Kawazoe – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Issei Noro.

  1. Time Limit
  2. Tears of the Star
  3. Space Road
  4. Midnight Rendezvous
  5. Far Away
  6. Swallow
  7. Dream Hill
  8. Black Joke

Yellow Magic Orchestra: Solid State Survivor

On September 25, 1979, “Alfa” label released “Solid State Survivor”, the second Yellow Magic Orchestra studio album. It was recorded March – June 1979, at “Alfa Studio A” in Shibaura, Tokyo, Japan, and was produced by Haruomi Hasono.

Personnel:

  • Ryuichi Sakamoto – keyboards, vocoder, electronics, arrangements, remix, cover conception
  • Haruomi Hosono – bass guitar, synth bass, keyboards, vocoder, electronics, arrangements, remix, cover conception
  • Yukihiro Takahashi – vocals, drums, electronic drums, electronics, arrangements, remix, cover concept, costume design
  • Hideki Matsutake – Microcomposer programming
  • Sandii – vocals
  • Makoto Ayukawa – electric guitar
  • Norio Yoshizawa – recording, remixing
  • Mitsuo Koike – recording
  • Masako Hikasa, Akira Ikuta – recording coordinators
  • Heikichi Harata – art director
  • Lou Beach – logo type
  • Masayoshi Sukita – photography
  • Kunihiko Murai, Shōrō Kawazoe – executive producers
  • Bricks – costumes
  • Takehime, Fumiko Iura, Mayo Tsutsumi – stylists
  • Mikio Honda (Clip) – hair

Track listing:

All tracks by Chris Mosdell, except where noted.

  1. Technopolis – Ryuichi Sakamoto
  2. Absolute Ego Dance – Haruomi Hosono
  3. Rydeen – Yukihiro Takahashi
  4. Castalia – Ryuichi Sakamoto
  5. Behind the Mask – lyrics by Chris Mosdell, music by Ryuichi Sakamoto
  6. Day Tripper – Lennon – McCartney
  7. Insomnia – lyrics by Chris Mosdell, music by Haruomi Hosono
  8. Solid State Survivor – lyrics by Chris Mosdell, music by Yukihiro Takahaski