Maria Monti – Il Bestiario
Originally released in 1975, Tropical Dandy is a cult classic from Haruomi Hosono’s pre-YMO “Crown Years” that marked a shift toward genre-blending, fusing exotica, jazz, and pop that would lay the groundwork for Japanese City Pop – described by none other than Van Dyke Parks as “cinematic romance with sonic texture.” Hosono experiments with the Western conception of “exotica” on this album, blending traditional tropical instruments with Eastern melodies and early Japanese electronic instruments. Hosono: “The thing was to take these western ideas of the exotic, but to subvert them. With Martin Denny, the exotica is kind of fake. But I am real!” All time Hosono favorite B2 “Honey Moon” utilizes an Ace Tone rhythm box for percussion and a strangely tropical koto played through shimmering delay effects.
Recommended – Full Listen
Tags: Exotica / Soft Rock / Tropical
Tracklist:
A1 チャタヌガ・チュー・チュー
A2 ハリケーン・ドロシー
A3 絹街道
A4 熱帯夜
A5 北京ダック
B1 漂流記
B2 ハニー・ムーン
B3 三時の子守唄
B4 三時の子守唄
B5 漂流記
Credits:
Arranged By [Horn & Strings] – 矢野誠*
Artwork [Cover & Back Tropical Concept] – 八木康夫*
Artwork [Liner Art Concept] – 大島美智子*
Chorus [Tropical Boys] – 市橋一宏*, 南こうせつ*, 久保田麻琴*, 鈴木茂*
Chorus [Tropical Lady Singers] – 伊集加代*, 吉田美奈子*, 大貫妙子*
Directed By – 国吉征之*
Drums – 林立夫*
Electric Guitar – 伊藤銀次*, 鈴木茂*
Engineer [Assistant] – 市橋一宏*
Flute – 国吉征之*
Liner Notes – Haruomi Hosono
Mixed By [Re-Mixed] – 古崎信一*
Other [The General Staff] – 桑原節*, 佐藤継雄*
Pedal Steel Guitar – 駒沢裕城*
Percussion – 浜口茂外也*
Photography By [Back & Liner] – 内田巧*
Piano, Clavinet – 佐藤博*
Piano, Organ [Hammond] – 松任谷正隆*
Producer – 細野晴臣*
Trumpet – 福島照之*
Ukulele – 山下洋治*
