Miho Nakayama -- Mind Game

Miho Nakayama’s (中山美穂) “CATCH THE NITE” album, which was released in February 1988, is a classic blend of aidoru and City Pop, thanks to producer Toshiki Kadomatsu (角松敏生). However, it was not the only great album released by Nakayama in that year, since “Mind Game” and “angel hearts” would also fulfill her summer and winter spot releases, respectively.

Released in July 1988, “Mind Game” was produced by Toshinobu Kubota’s (久保田利伸) team and I think it’s a standout album full of light and summery songs, alongside a couple of ballads. After a short opening called “Into The Crowd”, the first proper song, “Strange Parade”, already establishes the album’s overall sound, a very late 80s synth-heavy pop/R&B production. Besides the fat synth-bass and some great synth stabs, Nakayama’s voice shines with a sultry and velvet-like singing, which became a trademark of hers during that time, since she was not blessed with a great range and stability (especially during live performances, but that’s not important here).

Right after, it’s “Why Not?” dynamic sound that conquers the ears. It’s great how this song offers some variety to the listener with its jazzy horns that during the break reminds me of the famous Pink Panther theme song (well, just a little bit).

After the funky, yet not melodically outstanding “Cat Walk” and the tropical “Moonlight Sexy Dance”, which J-Canuck had already covered here, it’s time for the first ballad, “In The Morning”. I like how the song evokes a romantic and languid morning feeling, just like the title implies. It was released as a b-side to the hit single “Ningyo-hime Mermaid” (人魚姫), which was released at the same day of this album, and with the same cover, even though the a-side wasn’t included on it.

Right after “In The Morning”, the album follows with the title track “Mind Game”, which sounds like a more robust version of “Strange Parade”, in my opinion, since they both share this late 80s synth-heavy R&B sound. For me, the way Miho sings “baby” in the chorus is very alluring… and well, I may sound a little bit repetitive, but I think that’s a great quality of her in this album.

After the Cyndy-penned bossa-esque “I Know”, which J-Canuck had also covered here, we have “Velvet Hammer”, an upbeat and catchy pop song courtesy of Toshinobu Kubota. The guitar touches are a nice welcome, alongside the bass and Miho’s engaging delivery not only in the chorus, but especially during the verses and pre-chorus.

Next, we have “Take It Easy”, a song that I didn’t like very much years ago but has now become one of my favorites from this album. Just like “Moonlight Sexy Dance”, it introduces some tropical synths and a nice percussion break with some chants before the last chorus. It’s a simple and light song, just like most of this album, but it’s probably why it works so well when the listener is in the right mood.

Another ballad, and this time a big one, “Long Distance To The Heaven” is a strange song to be featured in a happy, summery album, since it was written and composed by Nakayama herself for Yasuko Endo (遠藤康子), a friend of hers who was also an artist, but committed suicide in 1986. In the end, while it’s not my favorite ballad by Nakayama, I’ve become used to it over the years. Again, not a song I’d put on a summer album, but it somehow works well alongside the last song, which is a short, nostalgic and almost ethereal one called “Husky Town”.

Finally, the controversial album cover was made by late painter Robert Blue, which, according to Wikipedia, was famous “for his images of pin-up girls in the 1980s and later his cowgirls of the New West series”. I call it controversial because I’ve seen a lot of people saying the cover is ugly and things like that on internet these days, which I disagree, since I’ve always liked it a lot. In my opinion, it’s charming, full of personality and a great cover for a late 80s summer album.

According to generasia, “Mind Game” reached #2 on the Oricon charts, selling over 252,000 copies. It also reached #36 on the yearly Oricon chart for 1988.