Keiko Saijo -- Otoko to Onna no Story（男と女のストーリー）

 

I introduced jazz singer Keiko Saijo（西城慶子）at the end of August and was instantly smitten by her refined and classy "Twilight Silence"（トゥワイライト・サイレンス）, the title track from her 1981 album when she was also exploring some of that City Pop. There is something quite Michael Franks about that one.

Well, from the same album, I give you "Otoko to Onna no Story" (The Story of a Man and a Woman) which has a bit more urgency and action. In fact, the intro is rather reminiscent of Taeko Ohnuki's（大貫妙子） "Grand Prix" on her "Aventure" album from the same year. Written by Mimi Yokosuka（よこすか未美）and composed by Hiromasa Suzuki（鈴木宏昌）, there's also a goodly amount of disco and funk powering this one as Saijo's vocals fly effortlessly through the air. I also gotta give my respects to the keyboard solo.