Last updated 02.10.2
(*) means I don't
own this album and have never checked it out.
(@) means I've heard this album but don't actually own a copy.
Derek Higgins added
some descriptions, they are identified by (DH:)
Ralf Kraus added some descriptions, they are identified by (RK:)
Jonas Wårstad
helped verify info. Some of the translations are from him.
Terry Green, Rodney Greenblat and Ron Kane provided info
contributed
tracks
remixes
best ofs
produced by
compiled by hosono
Bellwood Tapes
(*) 1972 King 10 track lp: K20A-370, 16 track cd: K32X-66
I think this has multiple acts on it including the Far East Family Band (members Kitaro and Fumio went on to new age fame), presumably Happy End is on it.
Orgasmus Orchestra (Hosono) play Sakisaka to momonai no gokogen ikaga 1-2-3.
INTER FACE a 1:30 television commercial track from the early 80s on YEN BOX vol 1 BONUS DISC. HH would later make a whole album of these sorts of tracks - Coincidental Music.
compiled by Kay Nakayama (Something Wonderful).
Paradise ver .1 (this track in a different mixes is on Swing Slow)
Rain Dream (a short track Naga style without Laswell)
Navigations (a longer 15 minute mix of a N.D.E. track with Shimizu and overdubs by Laswell)
Trivia: The name Akasha I think was legendary cult status band from 1970s Sweden.
Contains the track Ether Vibes (7:51) which was written by HH and Miharu Koshi .
Ether Vibes ver. 1.3
A compilation not too far from the Chillscape or Divination series in terms of selection.
esc
an album of ambient and electronica tracks by various artists. Think Sync Integral Records is run by Yasuhiko Terada who has been a long time engineer for HH and was a musical collaborator on N.D.E.. Hosono's track is ambient with lite drum machine, I guess this track is most similar to the rare Good Sport album in that there is a beat but not the ethnic content of his mid 90s work. Most of the acts are working in similar areas of electronic music as Hosono was.
catch some online previews from this label here
This is an intro for the Daisy World label (not a live album!). Many of the tracks are non-album. Includes Etherscape and Daisy (Bicycle built for Two) by Swing Slow, organic mango by H.A.T. which seems the same as the album version.
Mitsuto Suzuki later did a project called Electric Satie for JVC.
Tribute to Japan's most famous animator and cartoonist Osamu Tezuka. Hosono does the only non-cover version on this album. He does a kind of 1960s ish cartoon theme on synths, quotes the Astro Boy theme inside his melody and adds cartoon sound effects (that seem to be from the Flintstones... but anyway its the thought that counts :-)
Omukae de gonsu-- Haruomi Hosono (original composition)
(@) 2002.4.3 CTCR14214
similar daisyworld launching compilation to daisy world tour for daisyworld's relaunch
Sort of represents the direction of his reestablished label. Has newly done old style music, remixes of some favorites, soul music styled advertising jingles for the label and some ambient pop electronica. A pleasant trip.
1993 TECN-25227
Remixes by Steve Hillage (System 7), Baby Ford, Karl Bonnie, cover art by Osamu Sato. probably Out of print
I guess Hosono's catchy material plus the remix by Brian Eno alumni Michael Brook help to make this one of the best remix outings. Out of print.
Album of mixes produced by Kay Nakayama. 3 Omni Sight Seeing remixes by Graham Massey, 3 by the somehow Hosono-affiliated Tokyo group Something Wonderful. and one mix each by Tim Simenon/Bomb the Bass and the Orb. These remixes lock into a groove much better than the originals and sequence into an album quite nicely. There is a U.S. promo 12" of one of the Gram Massey mixes. Same as the album.
I generally tell people this is the best Ambient with a beat album I have heard. Kay Nakayama produced another project in this style for the Beatniks.
said to be out of print?
contains 2 remixes from Naga. Jado by Ken Ishii and Naga by Flare (which is also Ken Ishii)
nothing bad, but nothing good either. nice packaging. Thanks to Terry Green for finding this one.
(*) cd: KICS-8102
his early 70s non-electronic band.
Best of early works.
DH: This cd contains a song titled Yellow Magic Carnival, possibly Hosono's first mention of this concept.
Compilation album. Music by Haruomi Hosono, Tatsuro Yamashita, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Shigeru Suzuki, Masataka Matsutohya,Takahiko Ishikawa. The 3 Hosono tracks are compiled from Pacific and Agean Sea plus 2 tracks from Summer Nerves by Sakamoto including a reggae one.
Compilation includes material from Pacific and The Aegean Sea. This disc has the early version of Cosmic Surfin'.
11 tracks including the instrumental version of 'Sangoku-shi'
info from Coc198teau
Includes a unique track Shuyo, Mimotoe Chikazukan (Hymn, Protestant No.320) credited to the NON STANDARD CHOIR
(*) 1991 cd single : CDS-10402
Has tracks by Mikado,
Shi-Shonen and 2 by World Standard. I suspect this is a promo to coincide with
the early 1990s reissues of many of the Non-Standard releases. I notice none
of the tracks are Monad label tracks
00.3.22 daisyworld 4 cds: RWCL-20003-6
Before it came out this it was initially titled THE MUSIC MASTER OF JAPANESE POP MUSIC 1969-2000. Its a 4 CD double CD height box with a 112 page book written mostly in Japanese. Sohichiro Suzuki (of World Standard) worked on this compilation project. It also has an elaborate discography and plenty of illustrations.
(info from Jonas Warstad and Yue Yaguchi, some attrbution info seems a little simplified)
DISC1. Harry Singing 1969-1978
You can hear him transform from R&B and folk into stylized Exotica. Everything here is pretty much non-electronic
DISC2. Harry Singing and Playing 1978-1996
This is the disc that most collectors of his synth music have nearly everything on. The vinyl only Swing Slow version of Caravan is the first time on CD. Yumemiru Yakusoku and Theme of "Sangoku shi" are somewhat rare tracks.
DISC 3. Harry Playing 1978-1998
Some previously available only on compilation tracks here.
DISC 4. Odds and Ends1969-2000
All unreleased material on the final disc, much of it is early though.
Before you get too excited the YMO remixed track is like an unplugged acoustic cover version incorportating HH's available recording. Its the kind of old and new technique YMO's done on ¥en Memorial where one recording jumps to a newer somewhat more pumped up version.
Tracks 5-10 are a fine exotica-style live concert with Sakamoto on piano. Of course the non-synth cover of Martin Denny's Firecrackers is of interest to YMO fans
(@) 2000 daisyworld/Re-Wind PRW-15
This is a single disc promo-only edit, its fairly common to make a special promo single CD for press and radio of a boxed set rather than give out copies of a complete and expensive boxed set. 12 tracks are selected from all the CDs but what is unique is there are spoken word segues bu Hosono between cuts so its like an episode of Hosono's radio show Hyperballad.
He produced or executive produced (with Yukihiro Takahashi) most albums on the YEN label.
After YEN he had
his own label Non-Standard. Albums on the label I don't have are Shi-Shonen's
Singing Circuitand a Replica album.
Under the respective artist I have listed albums by also Pizzacato Five's
first 2 singles, Miharu Koshi, Urban Dance, Interior, Mikado
since I own all of these.
Some Idol songs done by HH are: (info from J P M) all (*)
MATSUDA, Seiko
: Garasu No Prism (Glass Prism) (Music And Arrangement)
Pink No Mozart (Pink Mozart) (Music, a big hit I think)
Bruge No Kane (Bell ???) (Music) 1982
KOIZUMI, Kyoko : Tsuretete Phantasien (Take Me ToPhantasien) (Music) 1987 YAMADA, Kuniko: Testugasku shi you, Viens Philosopher (Music And Arrangement)
FUJIMURA, Miki: Furnace Eiga, YumeKoibito(Music And Arrangement)
Imho kin Trio: HighschoolLulaby (Music And Arrangement) this one seems to be a recycled Miharu Koshi track with new lyrics
more idol tracks are included in albums in the Techno-cayo series
Some other album credits I've run into all seem to be 1999 reissued:
Chappie A WATER GLASS +TANABATA NO YORU (AIDT-5048/9)
TYU KOSAKA
ARIGATO (ALCA-9179)
TYU KOSAKA motto motto (ALCA-9180)
TYU KOSAKA hazukasisoni (ALCA-9181)
TYU KOSAKA horo (ALCA-9182) produced by Hosono
piles of arrangements and production in the Techno Ca-yo series
Here is a new album with young singer Chisato Moritaka on which Hosono writes most of the tracks and produces and plays most of the instruments on all of them. She herself writes some lyrics and plays some percussion. The album is billed on the back cover as "Moritaka Sun with Hosono Sun". On the track A Bientôt, Miharu Koshi does the writing and arranging with Hosono performing. Doesn't match the otherwise very summery and tropical feel of the rest of the album, but its a superbly elegant track none the less.
In 1999 the two of
them appeared in a series of commercials for Lawsons (a big chain of convenience
stores). They used their songs for the commercials and cutely played husband
and wife. Some remixes of the tie in songs can be heard on this album and on
at least one '97 CD3 single- Miracle Light/Miricle Woman.
12 new bands selected by HH. They all work in an ambient with a beat style. It is nicely programmed so as to sound like an album instead just a compilation. This also true since the bands while sounding different still work in a similar genre.
Hosono "compiled" this edition from a 1970s French piano album. Part of the great Music Interior series.
(still under construction!)
these were reissued on CD in 2001 I was hoping all would be reissued but only these have been so far
HH's ambient label. Some releases are not Hosono produced.
-distributed by SYNERGY era -
I understand this parent distributer went out of business so material from Synergy and ReWind appear to be completely out of print other than foreign pressings and possible future re-issues.
Daisy World Tour (SYDW-1)
This is an intro for the Daisy World label. Many of the tracks are non-album. Includes Etherscape and Daisy *Bicycle built for Two by Swing Slow, organic mango by H.A.T. which I seems the same as the album version. this like all the 1998 and earlier daisyworld releases are out of print
HAT TOKYO-FRANKFURT-NEW YORK (SYDW-2)
This is the first album release from Hosono's new label Daisy World (in Japan). I've listened to it, It's Drum and Bass. Nicely done but I can't personally get excited by the sounds of these little units since there is just too much of it around. Still theres a lot going on and the semi improvised sounding melodies are much better than the non-melodies in this sort of music. Thanks to Terry Green for album info. This album is was out in Europe on Atom Heart's Rather Interesting label but both are out of print AFAIK
Lisa Carbon Trio De Janeiro (SYDW-3) This is an Atom Heart project which was recently re-issued in Belgium. I think suGar from Buffalo Daughter was hunting around for this when we once went record shopping back in '99
the Belgian released reissue (seen in the scan) is on Quatermass (QS114) |
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(*) Datacide (TETSU INOUE & ATOM HEART) Ondas (SYDW-4)
(*) Terre Thaemlitz Couture Cosmetique (SYDW-5)
WORLD STANDARD COUNTRY GAZETTE (SYDW-6) Asphodel 0982 (US '98)
Hosono produced and plays guitar. Larry Campbell plays country instruments (or maybe he's just sampled with permission) and Mina (HH's daughter) sings occasionally. Sohichiro Suzuki does the rest. This is a mix of Country, Ambient with some East Indian music. Hosono wrote a track and there is a Hank Williams cover. Floaty.
VAGABOND & HARRY HOSONO Jr. "WHO WANTS THE HULA-HOOP?" (SYDW-007S)
Vagabond (the group) and Harry Hosono do a tribute to David Seville of Alvin and the Chipmunks (who's creator passed away that year) and Les Paul, though the Les Paul tribute part isn't really apparent to me. What you get is an Xmas single with Vagabond and Harry as the featured performers over a track written and performed by Instant Cytron, who also do chipmunk voices themselves. Also a sound collage like many Xmas pop and fan club B sides and an instrumental version.
(*) Mixmaster Morris & Jonah Sharp Quiet Logic (SYDW-0008)
(*) Apache 61 Danger (SYDW-009S) I'm told she is Yasuaki Shimizu's London based sister.
(*) Tipsy Trip Tease-The seductive sounds of Tipsy (SYDW-0010) this I think came as a trade of liscencing from Asphodel in the U.S.. The U.S. edition is still probably available
PACIFIC 231 MIYASHIRO (SYDW-0011) released: 98.3.21
This is the vintage 1930s ish Big Band sounding music of the American born brothers of Japanese heritage, Glenn and Steve Miyashiro who each composed tunes. Hasumi and Miyake of Pacific 231 each take on arranging one of the brothers for orchestra with synth. Plus there are 2 other pieces not by the brothers but perhaps associated with them and certainly that period. Like Gurenica, not overtly electronic per se, but certainly of interest to exotica fans (and probably big band fans!) out of print
HAT DSP HOLIDAY (SYDW-12)
The second HAT album. Perhaps more improv-y than the first. Hosono plays acoustic instruments. More different styles rather than just d&b. Each song comes with a CD-sized postcard of that song! Out of print in Japan but re-released in the U.S. on otodisc
(*) Apache 61 Apache 61 (SYDW-13)
-distributed by ReWind era -
now out of print.
Light In Darkness The Sound of Dreams (RDW-2001) release: 99.10.29
This one is very Shibuya style some tracks with lyrics some without. Light in Darkness is Fumihiro Murakami and HH executive produced. On first listen it seemed cool and fun though I felt it lost some interest with repeated listens.
WORLD STANDARD MOUNTAIN BALLAD (RDW-2002) (@) 99.11.23
VAGABOND the old music master (RDW-2003) (*) 99.12.10
Miharu Koshi L'Assassinat de la rue du Pelican (RWCL20007) (@) 00.2.23
HOSONO BOX 1969-2000 (RDW20003) 00.3.2
Tin Pan Tin Pan (RWCL-20009) 2000.11.22
Miharu Koshi Frou-frou (RWCL20012) (*) 01.4.2
-distributed by Cutting Edge -
These 2002 releases are in print
WORLD STANDARD JUMP FOR JOY~ DISCOVER AMERICA SERIES VOL.3 (CTCR-14213)
Strange Flowers vol. 1 various artists (CTCR-14214) (@)
(@) takagi masakatsu JOURNAL FOR PEOPLE (CTCR-14217)(*) also available as a DVD is said tobe scheduled for a U.S. release on carpark but I don't know the status.
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the humming of tiny people2002.8.7 CTCR-14221 Gutevolk is hirono nishiyama who recorded before on childisc under her own name. She sings several songs in English, 2 in French with a song each in German and Japanese and a couple instrumentals. Her style is definitely in the same region childisc releases. Simple pretty songs, imaginative lyrics, with light sounding instruments sometimes toy-like or children's song sounding but often with an experimental approach, if it sounds interesting then use it attitude. Includes a short computer playable video by the artist. |
(@) 02.9.19 CTCR-14224
New Hosono-Takahashi collaborative project with Sakamoto as guest! Light hearted and quite enjoyable
Turn Turn starts off the album in a YMO direction certain to please fans. It combines recent more techno Takahashi stylings seemingly with Hosono's Indian feel (not that Takahashi, with his appreciation of George Harrison is out of the loop or Hosono with the occasional F.O.E. style beat mixed in)
Wonderful To Me fits in with a fairly popular contemporary direction in Japanese electronica with a lite normal poppy melody sung over simple sine-like organ tones and lots of twitters and filter sounds. And like much of this style I find while its conceptually an intriguing combination
Microtalk a transition here to a clicks and cuts instrumental. Shows the guys are contemporary but not a lot of personality comes through.
Wilson is a tribute to presumably Brian Wilson who brought the Beach Boy's already superb harmonies into the worlds of fantastic and eccentric directions of songwriting and arrangement as he realized and tried to realize his musical ideas. (Brian is still around though his 2 brothers who were Beach Boys have passed away, Van Dyke Parks who was one of Hosono's main influences is perhaps best known for his collaborarions with Brian Wilson)
Supreme Secret is one of those hosono-style takes on funk which is either kinda fun or kinda clueless. Lighter and with a more late YMO-ish openning then mainly is like a less incessant F.O.E. piece (thats a good thing I guess).
Do You Want To Marry Me now comes a clearly Takahashi influenced one. I think the first impression of this is the song is stiff and kind of lifeless then I for one realized the lyric's seem exactly reflected in the singing and playing style. It seems to be like the man singing thinks the thing to do is get married and his approach is rather matter of fact.
Gokigen Ikaga 1.2.3 reminds me of a revision of Rap Phenomena though this time the beats do have the funk and comes out reasonably cool.
Reform instrumental with lots of electronica sounds. Doesn't go very far.
Flying George is surely a George Harrison refrence but this is pretty much YMO style with newer granular synthesis twitters mixed in with YT drums and Prophet 5.
Turn Down Day except for the up front YT played electronic drum tones this one has the guitars and stuff of a regular folky pop tune, maybe even J-Pop tune. YT is in nice expressive voice here.
Return whispered with funky blips, one of the more riffy and driving pieces here, reprising earlier lyrics on the album.
Theme From A Summer Place marvelously surreal cover of a famous (or perhaps infamous) EZ-Listening classic done with toungue in cheek electronica style. Actually the ¥EN 1980s Label act Testpattern that worked with YT and HH comes to mind right away.
03.02.26 CTCR 40156
This allmost full length EP features Keigo Oyamada (Cornelius) as a guest and doesn't have Sakamoto as a guest. Nice stuff. The style is much more focused from track to track and notably has rhythm tracks made up of ticks and pops - definitely Glitch-Pop here. 9 tracks total including 2 remixes + a music video that is computer playable.
Some Sketch Show material is said to get a fall 2003 UK release. A live DVD from 2002 with R.S. and K.O. as featured guests and some YMO covers will be out late summer 2003 in Japan and perhaps fall in the U.K.
(*) 03.03.29 daisyworld
12" - RR12-88399
seems to be a clear vinyl single from the album with the cornelius mixes of
these 2 tracks on the B side
(*) 03.03.05
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