Miyoko Nagao（永尾美代子）is one of those singer-songwriters who is perhaps at the same level of Takako Mamiya（間宮貴子）in terms of media exposure. In other words, there is very little information about her. Nothing written about her on J-Wiki, that's for sure.
However, there is an entry for her in "Japanese City Pop". Her 1981 debut album "Miyoko - Rivage"（美代子・リバージュ）has been described, though, as not a City Pop album, but more of a Resort Pop confection. To summarize, less Tokyo and more Karuizawa.
And certainly, the second track "Ashiya Sailing Spot" is a breezy morning AOR number that talks about enjoying oneself at Ashiya, which is a small city in Hyogo Prefecture which seems to be frequented by the hoi polloi of Japan as a resort area. Given lyrics by Nagao herself, composed by Yasuhiro Kido（木戸やすひろ）and arranged by Ichizo Seo（瀬尾一三）, it's something to be savored while tucking into that Eggs Benedict in the kitchen alcove. Mind you, the City Pop bass and horns are in there but they're complemented with a water-reminiscent keyboard, some gentle guitars and strings, and then Nagao's soft voice...my compliments to Ise. The whole song sounds as if it were actually five years older than its release date, reflecting a summer of the mid-1970s.
Not sure whether Ashiya is still a garden spot in the Kansai region, but "Ashiya Sailing Spot" does make it enticing.
Hi Canuck
ReplyDelete伊勢正三/Shozo Ise and 瀬尾一三/Ichizo Seo often get mixed up.
I don't know why that is. Their names sound similar?
Anywho, Ise is the one from Kaguyahime and Seo is one of Japan's leading producers/arrangers during the 70s & 80s who worked on all the Miyuki Nakajima's albums from those years as well as many others (inclluding one of my fave Taeko Ohnuki albums, Mignonne).
Hi, Kaz.
DeleteYeah, thanks for picking up on the error. I corrected just now, and yep, I think their names do sound similar to me.