Keiko Ishihara -- Yukue Fuumei（行方不明）

 

I have to admit that this is truly an odd tune.

And it doesn't just start and stop with the title "Yukue Fuumei" (Whereabouts Unknown) which I would usually hear in urgent police reports. To dive further, this was the 1977 debut single of Keiko Ishihara（石原圭子）, a singer that I could barely find anything about except for a mention on a couple of Japanese blogs that she was once known as The Queen of Showa Apathetic (Nonchalant?) Kayo Kyoku! So, does that mean she was the progenitor for all of those Fashion Music singers? Does she sing from a chaise lounge? No idea.

Those blogs also state what I had suspected when I first heard "Yukue Fuumei". The main chorus sounds a whole lot like Linda Ronstadt's September 1977 cover version of "It's So Easy!" originally by The Crickets in 1958. One of the bloggers even wondered whether composer Taiji Nakamura（中村泰士）really put his foot in it when he came up with the song. Well regardless, Konosuke Fuji（藤公之介）came up with the lyrics for this kayo kyoku that has that country twang. Also, for a singer who has been called The Queen of Showa Apathetic Kayo Kyoku, Ishihara seems to have a pretty solid and crisp delivery here.

According to Discogs, Ishihara released one album and six singles up until 1984.