Moonglow is the fourth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Tatsuro Yamashita, released in October 1979.
This was his first LP under the AIR label and was also the first studio album released by AIR.
Overview Moonglow was one of Tatsuro Yamashita's studio albums that stayed the most weeks in the Oricon charts, staying in for fifty weeks. Most of the songs included in this album were written by Minako Yoshida and composed by Tatsuro Yamashita.
Before the album came out, "Let's Kiss The Sun" was released as a lead single. The song was used as a commercial song for Japan Airlines Okinawa campaign.
At this time, Yamashita's director Ryuzo Kosugi launched an independent label "AIR" within the RVC he belonged to because of his desire to take a more free production stance without being controlled by the company's restrictions. This work "Moonglow" was released in the fall of 1979 as the first new record of this new label AIR. It became a stepping stone to the next work "Ride on Time".(2002) Tatsuro Yamashita's "Moonglow" album booklet notes. RCA/BMG Funhouse (BVCR-17016).
When the album finally came out, "Eien no Full Moon" (永遠のFull Moon) was released as a single at the same time as the album. Its B-side would include the song "Funky Flushin'" which was also included on the Moonglow album. Though both of the singles failed to enter the Oricon Singles Chart.
In 1980, the album would win in the 22nd Japan Record Awards for "Best Album Award".
2002 remastered edition In 2002, a remastered reissue (BVCR-17016) was released as part of The RCA/AIR Years 1976–1982 series. The reissue would include three additional tracks that were previously unreleased before. It would enter the Oricon charts, peaking in at twenty-six for two weeks.
Track listing
2002 remastered edition
Personnel "Taken from the inner sleeve notes of the 1979 album (AIR-8001)."
Musicians Drums Yutaka Uehara (A-2, 5, B-1, 3, 4, 5) Shuichi "Ponta" Murakami (A-4, B-2) Yukihiro Takahashi (A-3) Tatsuro Yamashita – Syndrum (A-2, B-5)
Bass Akihiro Tanaka (A-2, 5, B-1, 3, 4, 5) Akira Okazawa (A-4, B-2) Haruomi Hosono (A-3) by the courtesy of ALFA RECORDS
Guitars Kazuo Shiina (A-2, 5, B-1, 3, 4, 5), solo (A-5, B-1) Tsunehide Matsuki (A-4, B-2), solo (A-4) Masaki Matsubara (A-3) Tatsuro Yamashita (A-2, 5, B-1, 3, 4, 5), solo (B-4)
Keyboards Hiroyuki Nanba – acoustic piano (A-2, 5, B-3, 5), electric piano (A-2, B-1, 3, 4, 5), Minimoog solo (B-3) Hiroshi Satoh – electric piano (A-3, 4, B-2) by the courtesy of KITTY RECORDS Tatsuro Yamashita – synth strings (B-1) Ryuichi Sakamoto – Korg PS-3100 synthesizer (B-4)
Percussion Nov Saitoh (A-5, B-3) Pecker (A-2, 3) Tatsuro Yamashita – glockenspiel (A-2), vibraphone (A-4), other (A-1, 3, B-1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Background Vocals Minako Yoshida (A-2, 5, B-1, 3, 4, 5) by the courtesy of ALFA RECORDS Tatsuro Yamashita (all tracks) Kazuo Shiina (B-4) Hiroyuki Namba (B-4)
Other Instruments Trumpet — Shin Kazuhara, Yoshikazu Kishi (A-2, 3, 5, B-5) Trombone — Shigeharu Mukai, Tadanori Konakawa (A-2, 3, 5, B-5) Tenor Sax — Kazuo Suzuki (A-2, 3, 5, B-5) Alto Sax – Hidefumi Toki (solo on A-2, 4, B-2) Baritone Sax — Shunzo Sunahara (A-2, 3, 5, B-5) Strings Concert Master — Tadaaki Ohno (A-2, 3, 4) Conductor — Koji Haijima Harp — Keiko Yamakawa (A-4, B-2)
Chart positions YearAlbumCountryChartPositionSales1979MoonglowJapanOricon Weekly LP Albums Chart (top 100)20146,000Oricon Weekly CT Albums Chart (top 100)3345,0002002Moonglow [Remastered edition]Oricon Weekly Albums Chart2613,000
Awards 22nd Japan Record AwardsDateTitleCategoryWinnerDecember 31, 1980MoonglowBest Album AwardTatsuro Yamashita
Release history Country Date Label Format Catalog numberJapanOctober 21, 1979AIR/RVCLPAIR-8001CTART-8001June 21, 1984CDRACD-8August 15, 1986R32A-1018March 15, 1987R28H-2804August 21, 1990RCA/BMG VictorBVCR-7004September 21, 1990BVCR-2502June 4, 1997RCA/BMG JapanBVCR-1031May 21, 1999BVCK-37009February 14, 2002RCA/BMG FunhouseBVCR-17016February 20, 2002LPBVJR-17006
See also 1979 in Japanese music
References