Monta and Brothers -- Don-Zo-Ko

 

It's been almost ten months since we heard the shockingly sudden passing of singer-songwriter Yoshinori Monta（門田頼命）on October 18th 2023 at the age of 72. Just to remind readers, he and his band Monta and Brothers（もんた&ブラザーズ）were responsible for the top hit of 1980, "Dancing All Night".

Monta and Brothers' debut album was "Act I" from that same year and alongside "Dancing All Night", there was also this cool reggae-inflected track "Don-Zo-Ko" (Rock Bottom). Written by Mayumi Shinozuka（篠塚満由美）and composed by Monta himself, I couldn't find the lyrics for this one but from the title, I can only imagine that Shinozuka's lyrics may not be describing the happiest story. However, I can't deny that the reggae rhythm is underlying some laidback shoulder-shimmying arrangements and the singer's husky vocals. Also, it comes with a groovy keyboard solo near the end.