It's been a while since I last posted up anything by 1970s City Pop group Fujimaru Band（藤丸バンド）led by Yoshino Fujimal（芳野藤丸）. And it looks like this is quite the whopper from their 1977 album "BGM". And unlike what that album title intimates, this middle song on Side B of the original LP is anything but mundane.
"Don't Ever Say Good-bye to The Sun" is a glorious soul-filled love song written and composed by Fujimal himself. Armed with those disco strings, I couldn't help but be reminded by The Love Unlimited Orchestra's iconic "Love's Theme", although of course, "Love's Theme" is significantly louder and brassier. That's not to take anything away from "Don't Ever Say Good-bye to The Sun" whose orchestra is a bit more muted if present but also has plenty of warmth glowing from inside. It's quite reassuring and I thought it would have made for a great final track on "BGM".
This time around Youtube told me that this video is unavailable because 'KING RECORD CO., LTD.," has blocked this video from display on this website, but that I could watch it on Youtube. And, I was pretty impressed by Fujimaru Band! Who is the lead singer? AND, why did this group try to market their music aboard or did they?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've got that "unavailable" message on this article, too. It happens a lot but I'm just lucky that at least viewers can watch it on YouTube instead of the blog. I get enough of those messages stating that the video is no longer available because the source channel has been terminated because of too many copyright violations.
DeleteAs for your other question, I'm pretty sure that it's Yoshino himself singing. I don't know whether Fujimaru Band intentionally tried to market their music abroad; they were actually set up in the early 1970s to be Hideki Saijo's backup band.
DeleteReminds me of Kalapana
ReplyDeleteI've heard of the band before but don't know anything of their music. Any recommendations, Robert?
DeleteWell, actually I found out about Kalapana from looking at the Discogs.com credits to Haruko Kuwana's record "Million Stars" which had Mackey Feary on it:
Deletehttps://www.discogs.com/release/2895572-Haruko-%E6%A1%91%E5%90%8D%E6%99%B4%E5%AD%90-Million-Stars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpwFoaBB25w&list=PL40F13BCD956D1CAE
Their first album is pretty good. Not amazing song writing, but great vibes.
Actually, you have one post with Kalapana mentioned in it:
https://kayokyokuplus.blogspot.com/2023/03/japan-billboard-special-interview-with_17.html
Thanks for the reminder. Memory needs jogging quite a bit now. :)
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