Unused EP Mayo Shono / Minagoroshi no Hallelujah + Yoake no Hero RSD2021

★★July 17, 2021 RSD DROPS Limited Edition★★

7-inch domestic pressing / 45 RPM / donut hole / includes insert jacket

Masayo Shono's 45th Anniversary = 45 RPM vinyl, first 7-inch release and double A-side!
Curated and supervised from a DJ perspective by DJ CHINTAM (BLOW UP) of WAMONO A to Z!

The A-side, Minagoroshi no Hallelujah, is an album-only track from her 3rd album, Pastel 33 1/3, released in 1977. Written and composed by Masayo Shono herself, it's a killer Latin kayōkyoku that races to the thrilling end with a powerful Latin-style arrangement! Featuring Jun Sato as sound producer and a stellar lineup of musicians including Tatsuo Hayashi, Tsugutoshi Goto, Fujimaru Yoshino, Kosei Mizutani, Tsunehide Matsuki, Jun Sato, Nobu Saito, and Larry Sunaga.

The B-side, Yoake no Hero, was recorded at A&M Studios in L.A. and is an album-only track from her 5th album, Masquerade, released in 1978. Composed by Kyōhei Tsutsumi, it unfolds into a groovy medium-soul style. The arrangement is superb, reminiscent of Kyōhei Tsutsumi's alter ego, Dr. Dragon & Oriental Express, who often explored approaches beyond kayōkyoku. The musicians include many overseas artists, such as Ed Greene, a master session musician who participated in numerous AOR works by artists like Donald Fagen; Bob Grove, one of the busiest musicians in LA at the time, who played with Donna Summer, Rita Coolidge, and Jackson Browne; Fred Tackett of Little Feat; Hiroshi Shibui; Jake Conception; and Keiko Yamakawa. The arrangement is by Kazumi Seno.

Thank you for looking.