Mami Horie -- Loving You

This is another entry in the "Light Mellow" series of City Pop/AOR tunes from Japan, specifically from the "Avenue" disc.

At the time that Mami Horie's（堀江マミ）"Loving You" was included on "Avenue", the entry was given that asterisk denoting that it was the first time that it had been converted into a CD format, but since then, the original 1979 single has come out via Tower Records.

Horie is now a piano-playing jazz singer and the introduction to "Loving You", her debut single, definitely has those jazz influences, but going into the song full speed, it transforms into the light and mellow mode of City Pop and AOR. It is that type of tune that brings to mind large cocktails, poolside umbrellas and eternally summery weather as Horie gives that love tribute to a currently parted paramour. Indeed it was Tatsuro Yamashita（山下達郎）who composed "Loving You" with Machiko Ryu（竜真知子）behind the lyrics.

From her website, Horie became a professional musician in her teens in her native Kochi Prefecture, and with an invitation from Pedro himself of the band Pedro and Capricious, she moved up to Tokyo. She began her career in a Roppongi jazz club, and she received a number of offers from the major record labels. Afterwards, there was some stormy weather with a dispute with a music publishing company which meant that her songs wouldn't be released. From 1981, she started releasing only jazz music through an indies label, and has basically followed that course ever since.