Always nice to get that palate cleanser of enka and/or Mood Kayo once in a while. So I've found this song of the two genres that seems to have become a well-covered classic.
Hokkaido-born Aya Katsu（勝彩也）became an apprentice for composer Masao Saiki（彩木雅夫）who provided Katsu's hit in 1970 with "Koi Azami" (Thistle of Love), about drowning those sorrows over a lost romance with lyrics by Junzou Izumi（泉淳三）*. I mentioned both enka and Mood Kayo in the same breath since I think while the bluesiness (including that sax) and lost romance are tropes for that latter genre, there is something deeper in the arrangement that hints at a gentle enka out in the countryside.
According to J-Wiki, Katsu may have had his success with "Koi Azami" but due to health issues, he had to leave show business. However, having learned yoga, he was able to set up some studios in Saitama Prefecture along with a karaoke training school, and then he was even able to revive the singing part of his career.
As I mentioned above, "Koi Azami" has been covered but unfortunately I haven't been able to track down when these other singers did their versions. Still, that won't prevent me from showing Aki Yashiro's（八代亜紀）bouncier take on the song, including some poppier drums. This arrangement almost takes things straight into pop.
Hearing Katsu, I had thought that "Koi Azami" would also be ideal for veteran Shinichi Mori（森進一）due to that warbling delivery. Well, Mori must have gotten the memo, too. Here's his very brief performance of the song.
Finally, we have Katsu once more some years later with his claim to fame. He's got quite an interesting voice with a softer rasp than Mori's and even some crystalline qualities.
*There are a number of ways of reading 「淳三」but I went with one of them for Mr. Izumi. If anyone can confirm or correct the reading, please let me know.
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