Nishoku no Koma (二色の独楽) is the fourth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Yosui Inoue, released in October 1974.

Nishoku no Koma
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 1, 1974
RecordedJune 22 – July 12, 1974, at the A&M Studios, Los Angeles, United States
GenreFolk rock
Length45:47
LabelPolydor Japan
ProducerHidenori Taga
Yōsui Inoue chronology
Kōri no Sekai
(1973)
Nishoku no Koma
(1974)
Good Pages
(1975)
Singles from Nishoku no Koma
  1. "Yūdachi"/"Zenmai Jikake no Kabutomushi"
    Released: September 1, 1974
  2. "Gomen"/"Tabi kara Tabi"
    Released: June 21, 1975

All tracks which appeared on the album were recorded at the studios in Los Angeles, owing to a record producer Hidenori Taga's suggestion. Except an arranger Katz Hoshi and a guitarist Hiromi Yasuda, recording for the album were completed by the Western session musicians. In addition to Hoshi who had participated in Inoue's previous albums, Gene Page joined the arrangement for some songs. The title track was arranged by Jack Nitzsche, who appointed all personnel and controlled the recording of the song rigidly.

Highly recommended by the recording artist himself, the song "Yūdachi" was released as a single prior to the album. It features an arrangement reminiscent of "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones. Because of the contribution for the song, an arranger Katz Hoshi won the 16th Japan Record Awards for "Best Arrangement" category.[1]

Like a predecessor, Nishoku no Koma also reached the top on the Japanese Oricon Weekly LP charts, and remained there for ten consecutive weeks.

Track listing

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All songs written and composed by Yōsui Inoue

Side one

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All songs arranged by Katz Hoshi (except "Gomen", "Tsuki ga Warau" arranged by Gene Page, "Nishoku no Koma" arranged by Jack Nitzsche)

  1. "Kasa ga Nai (傘がない) (Introduction)" - 1:09
  2. "Yūdachi (夕立)" - 2:35
  3. "Taiyou no Machi (太陽の町)" - 1:11
  4. "Happy Birthday" - 3:56
  5. "Zenmai Jikake no Kabutomushi (ゼンマイじかけのカブト虫)" - 3:05
  6. "Gomen (御免)" - 2:59
  7. "Tsuki ga Warau (月が笑う)" - 3:43
  8. "Nishoku no Koma (二色の独楽)" - 5:18

Side two

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All songs arranged by Katz Hoshi (except "London Kyūkou" and "Taiyou no Machi" arranged by Gene Page)

  1. "Kimi to Boku no Blues (君と僕のブルース, Kimi to Boku no Burūsu)" - 3:31
  2. "No-ichigo (野イチゴ)" - 2:54
  3. "London Kyūkou (ロンドン急行)" - 3:38
  4. "Tabi kara Tabi (旅から旅)" - 4:29
  5. "Nemuri ni Sasoware (眠りにさそわれ)" - 4:14
  6. "Taiyou no Machi (太陽の町)" - 3:03

Personnel

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Production

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  • Hidenori Taga - Produce
  • Yasuo Kawase - Assistant
  • Katsuya Amuro - Assistant
  • Yoshiyuki Okuda - Management
  • Henry Lewy - Engineer
  • Bruce Botnich - Engineer
  • Susumu Ohno - Engineer
  • Fuyuo Nakamura - Photography
  • Yosui Inoue - Photography
  • Fukuyo Inoue - Photography
  • Osamu Sakai - Layout design

Chart positions

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Album

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Year Country Chart Position Sales
1974-76 Japan Oricon Weekly LP Albums Chart (top 100)[2] 1 668,000+
Oricon Weekly CT Albums Chart (top 100) 1

Singles

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Year Single B-Side Chart Position Sales
1974 "Yūdachi" "Zenmai Jikake no Kabutomushi" Japanese Oricon Weekly (top 100) 15 140,000
1975 "Gomen" "Tabi kara Tabi" 29 80,000

Awards

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Japan Record Awards
Year Title Category Winner
1974 (16th) "Yūdachi"[1] Best Arrangements Katz Hoshi

Release history

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Country Date Label Format Catalog number Notes
Japan October 1, 1974 Polydor LP MR5050
Audio cassette Unknown
Unknown LP 25MX-1057 Re-issue with alternative cover art
September 1, 1983 CD 3113-12
September 1, 1990 POCH-1024
June 25, 1996 POCH-1575 Original recording digitally remastered (20-bit)
December 19, 2001 Universal UPCH-1127 Original recording digitally remastered (24-bit)
October 4, 2006 UPCY-6256 2001 Remaster
LP UPJY-9004
December 17, 2009 SHM-CD UPCY-6504

References

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  1. ^ a b "History of the Japan Record Awards - List of the 16th Award Winners". Japan Composer's Association (in Japanese). 1974-12-31. Archived from the original on 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2008-12-28.
  2. ^ "Yamachan Land (Archives of the Japanese record charts) - Albums Chart Daijiten - Yosui Inoue" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 19, 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-24.