Smooth Sailing: Mellow Madness

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Joan Smalls
You have to check out Sky Restaurant by Yumi Seimo! It is from the City Pop compilation Tokyo Nights, out on Cultures of Soul now.

Japanese city pop of the 1980s was influenced by American R&B and boogie, fusion, and adult-oriented rock (AOR). The lyrics were sung primarily in Japanese (with a word or two of English sprinkled in), because city pop was initially meant for the domestic market, but in retrospect the songs sound even better than contemporary similar tracks from the US and Europe.

The track by Personal Life is from The Heart Volume 4, out on Tokyo Dawn Records:
“Once again TDR diligently and delicately delivers well-seasoned soul stirring flavours, nurturing niceness and warmth from the heart.”
Enjoy this fresh episode of Smooth Sailing!

Tracklist:

Deniece Williams – Free (1976)
Johnny Bristol – Everyday She’s Around (1978)
Ben E. King – Made For Each Other (1981)
GQ ‎– Make My Dreams A Reality (1979)
Personal Life – Distance Can Be Sweet (2013)
Lil Albert – Outrageous (1976)
Brothers Johnson – Daydreamer Dream (1981)
Richard Stepp – When We Meet Again (1979)
Bill Withers – Green Grass (1974)
Quincy Jones Feat. Paulette McWilliams – Mellow Madness (1975)
Raphael Saadiq – Calling (2008)
Bobbi Humphrey – Ain’t No Sunshine (1971)
Deodato – Super Strut (1979)
Al Jarreau – Feels Like Heaven (2002)
The Crusaders – Soul Shadows (1980)
Don Scott – Come With Me (1977)
Yumi Seimo – Sky Restaurant (1977)
Donna Summer – I Remember Yesterday (1977)
Phoebe Snow – The Married Men (1978)

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