Masaki Ueda -- Night Train to the Stars

 

There was that episode of "Uta Con"（うたコン）about two weeks earlier which had hit my head and heart so hard that I quickly devoted space on "Kayo Kyoku Plus" to it. Singer-songwriter Masaki Ueda（上田正樹）was part of the lineup, and though I didn't mention it in that article, I had to say that I was a tad worried about Ueda's health since he looked so frail at the age of 74 and I know that one of his contemporaries, Shinji Tanimura（谷村新司）, had passed away some weeks ago at the same age. However, he and fellow singer-songwriter Diamond Yukai（ダイアモンド☆ユカイ）took care of the former's famous hit "Kanashii Iro ya ne" (悲しい色やね....Osaka Bay Blues) with caressing aplomb.

"Osaka Bay Blues" is one of the great City Pop songs by Ueda with all of its stylish bluesiness. Recently though, I came across the B-side to the original October 1982 single, "Night Train to the Stars" which is actually a bit more playful and upbeat. Written and composed by the singer, the night train of note is simply the metaphor for a couple of enjoy their evening together, fueled not by coal but by some fine and strong libations. As someone who went a little overboard on the screwdrivers and creamsicles early in his drinking career, I can certainly sympathize.

The arrangement was handled by Akira Inoue（井上鑑）, and there's an interesting melange of tropical, some Tin Pan Alley and maybe even some Steely Dan swimming about. Plus, a rock guitar crashes into the proceedings from time to time. Perhaps those aforementioned libations include the Scorpion Bowl, another product made from a melange of ingredients.