Masami Yoshida -- Natsu no Kioku ni（夏の記憶に）

 

Singer/songwriter/TV personality Masashi Sada（さだまさし）has been a familiar face to millions of Japanese for decades since he was involved in his folk duo Grape（グレープ）from the late 1960s up to the present day where I often see him hosting a late-night NHK chat show. And of course, for a lot of kayo fans, he is responsible for the calming and rustic theme song for the Fuji-TV drama "Kita no Kuni kara"（北の国から）which is set up in Hokkaido. He also has some good representation on "Kayo Kyoku Plus".

However, I've never mentioned his former Grape partner, singer-songwriter Masami Yoshida（吉田政美）until now. Affectionately known as Machami（まちゃみ）by Sada and fans, the duo had a good run when they broke up the act in April 1976. Less than 6 months later, though, Yoshida started a new band called Tchabows（茶坊主...The Tea-Servers） with 6 members including co-vocalist Mami Kikuchi（菊池まみ）with a release of one single and one album. Alas, sales didn't really impress anyone so Tchabows didn't last too long.

In 1980, Yoshida released his first solo single "Natsu no Kioku ni" and an album "My tune My turn masami". The single can be directly translated into "In Summer Memories" but the English title is actually "Sailing For Two". And certainly from seeing the cover of "My tune My turn masami" which includes "Natsu no Kioku ni" and hearing the West Coast good-time sound of the single, it brings that feeling of languid Resort Pop into full focus. The soothing and crooning voice of Yoshida plus his guitar kinda make me wish that the song wouldn't end so soon but it's only about three minutes and thirty-five seconds long.

Don't know for sure but I think that's Kikuchi helping out on chorus since she was also behind the lyrics for "Natsu no Kioku ni" while Yoshida took care of the relaxing melody. Kikuchi herself would also be writing for other singers and there's even a KKP article of one song that she's recorded "Neo Silk Road"（ネオ・シルクロード）.