Fresh Grabs

Cosmic Eye - Dream Sequence (Regal Zonophone, 1972 First Pressing)
Neil Ardley - A Symphony Of Amaranths (Regal Zonophone, 1972 First Pressing)
Evan Parker - Saxophone Solos (INCUS, 1976 First Pressing)
Coley - Goodbye Brains (Coley Records, 1972 First Pressing)

A killer pile of British jazz with "Dream Sequence" having been on my want list for ever, I never thought I would find a copy I could afford! I already have a few copies of "A Symphony Of Amaranths" but when this came up for a really good price I decided to add yet another to the pile. "Saxophone Solos" was the result of a weekend trip to the South Coast and a quick browse of a record shop. Fianlly, another I ahve bee after for a while, Coley's "Goodbye Brains".

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The Lijadu Sisters - Danger (Afrodisia, 1976 First Nigerian Pressing)
Muriel Grossmann - MGQ live im King Georg, Köln (Powerhouse Records, 2025 First Limited Pressing)
Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt 80 - Live In Amsterdam (Philips, 1986 First Nigerian Pressing)

A mix here with Muriel Grossmann's latest offering being particualrly fantastic! I havent listened to "Danger" yet but the artwork is brilliant! I listened through "Live In Amsterdam" earlier and its a fantastic set!

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Korea Girl - S/T (Asian Man Record, 2024 First Pressing)

I've shared this already but thanks again to @Yer Ol' Uncle D! I listened to this earlier twice, its so good!!

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Vintage Jazz Poster Scrap by Yasushi Ide (Grand Gallery, 2024)
Time Capsule (2025)

A fantastic jazz related book and magazine. The "Vintage Jazz Poster Scrap" is just that, a scanned collection from Yasushi Ide that includes posters, ticket stubs, booklets, and other related paraphernalia. The "Time Capsule" was a freebie that showcases Japanese music with an emphasis on jazz. Lovely stuff!

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Welp, I absolutely did not need to buy more records after record store day... Anyway, here's what I ordered today from Plaidroomrecords.com.
Couldn't find anymore rsd titles i wanted, but used the discount to fill in a few gaps.
Living colour - stain
Selena - Entre A Mi Mundo
Maceo Parker - doing their own thing
Ani - Unprecedented shit
Doechii - Alligator Bites
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Back in this thread after two and a half weeks out of the country and ~4 months of no vinyl purchases prior.


Vacation finds 🏖️🏐🗾🍱


Naomi Akimoto (秋本奈緒美) - 4 Seasons
Anri (杏里) - Timely!!
Baker's Shop (w/Haruko) - Hot Line
Mami Ayukawa (鮎川麻弥) - 走Do愛
Bread and Butter - Late Late Summer
EPO (エポ) - Vitamin E.P.O

20250411_131625.jpg

Naomi Akimoto's music has shape-shifted considerably over her discography, going from avantgarde lounge jazz, to experimental synthpop, but never being one who has a city pop focus. Certainly more accessible here than on many of her others. ¥1200 in a Kyoto vinyl café.
Passed on the reissue of the Anri classic last year, and was not going to make the same mistake again. I'm going to guess that if you don't recognize Timely!!, you won't recognize practically any other title in this post.
Hot Line by Baker's Dozen, while having a few jams, is kinda just OK lounge music. Haruko's voice is the main draw here.
Nice to find an under the radar city pop record with jams aplenty, only ¥1320 for Mami Ayukawa's debut in the same Kyoto vinyl café mentioned above, though I did come across a copy that was half of this price a few days later 🙃
Despite being a new reissue, this Bread and Butter record was actually priced at ¥2800 at Disk Union when it lists at MSRP of ¥4730 in other avenues. Another city pop wantlist item checked off! "Summer Blue" is the choice yacht rock jam to be found here.
I took a chance on this EPO record solely on the cover art strength, and it paid off dividends. I was listening to the digital of this on the flight back home a handful of times! Side A with the groovy, upbeat title track and "土曜の夜のパラダイス" along with sweet slow-burner "Would You Dance With Me?" make for a gleeful listening session. Only ¥680 at Disk Union in Shibuya!


EPO (エポ) - Harmony
Mari Iijima (飯島真理) - Midori
Hiromi Iwasaki (岩崎宏美) - 飛行船
Hiromi Iwasaki (岩崎宏美) - Me Too
Juicy Fruits - Drink!
Mio Fou (ミオフー) - Mio Fou

20250411_132951.jpg

While not as accessible as Vitamin E.P.O from the pervious photo, Harmony harnesses a techno-kayo central focus that aims at a similar playfulness.
Another record from Mari Iijima (bought one on each trip). This one has the cutest cover of the stack, I think 🤗
A pair of Hiromi Iwasaki records, one from in her idol/kayokyoku era, and another over a decade later into her career as city pop/synthpop veteran. Old copies of Me Too were fetching triple digits quite easily, and this 2025 reissue released literally two days after having arrived at my first hotel. Thank u Tower Records for carrying these; I saw a couple of others grasping a few copies as I was on the way to checkout.
Like YMO? Try Juicy Fruits!
Tried this Mio Fou LP on a ¥2000 flyer. Despite being sorted in the "Japanese Pops" section at Disk Union, it is not that at all. It is more of a progressive pop record, with a gorgeous ~6min side-ending modern classical/ambient pop track on each side. This was a fascinating discovery.


Momoko Kikuchi (菊池桃子) - Tropic of Capricorn
Momoko Kikuchi (菊池桃子) - Escape From Dimension
Yurie Kokubu (国分友里恵) - Relief 72 Hours
Yurie Kokubu (国分友里恵) - Steps
Seiko Matsuda (松田聖子) - Squall
Naoya Matsuoka (松岡直也) - Watermelon Dandies

20250411_134515.jpg

Both of these Momoko Kikuchi records are recent color reissues, but heavily discounted through Disk Union. Only ¥680 the case of Tropic of Capricorn, practically brand new!!! Checking Discogs, it still retails for MSRP in Japan, so I was elated to take advantage of a such a steal.
Yurie Kokubu! Excited to see this pair of city pop gems, with Relief 72 Hours being a staple. Elated to have both.
Seiko Matsuda is one of the prime idols of Japan, with her debut Squall being a centerpiece of her vast discography. Can't believe I found this clean OG complete with OBI and insert for ¥480 at Disk Union!!! This would normally fetch MUCH more than that in the condition I have it in, certainly in the USA.
Found another Matsuoka record to pair with the first I bought at Musique Plastique around three years ago. Located in the ¥500 bin at Banana Record in Osaka (大阪), practically brand new.


Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷由実) - 昨晩お会いしましょう
Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷由実) - Pearl Pierce
Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷由実) - Voyager
Meiko Nakahara (中原めいこ) - Moods
Akina Nakamori (中森明菜) - Bitter and Sweet
Nujabes - Metaphorical Music

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All of these Yumi Matsutoya records were ¥980 or under. Altogether setting me back less than the other lone Matsutoya record I bought at MP three years ago ($20) 😂
Meiko Nakahara's records aren't always the easiest to find, with this slightly moldy cover of Moods being found in Kobe for ¥1400. Ended up not finding many of her others for the entire trip (including never seeing another copy of Moods), so I'm glad I didn't pass on this one.
Akina Nakamori is an absolute ICON and I won't be hearing arguments against. Bitter and Sweet captures her at (in my opinion) the prime of her career, with her powerful vocals keeping pace amidst a slick flurry of disco romps. ¥980 at Disk Union.
I'm kicking myself for not having purchased Metaphorical Music last year, as the repress of the Nujabes catalogue now comes with an additional ¥1090 price tag for any of the 2xLP titles. It helps that I had a 5% discount combined with tax-free transaction at Tower Records to bring this from a hefty ¥4950 to a slightly more reasonable ¥4275. Still ended up being the most expensive record I purchased out of everything in this post.


Taeko Ohnuki (大貫妙子) - Grey Skies
S. Kiyotaka (杉山清貴) & Omega Tribe - River's Island
S. Kiyotaka (杉山清貴) & Omega Tribe - Never Ending Summer
1986 Omega Tribe - Navigator
S. Kiyotaka (杉山清貴) & Omega Tribe - Aqua City
S. Kiyotaka (杉山清貴) & Omega Tribe - Single's History

20250411_141450.jpg

Got this Taeko Ohunki reissue on the day of departure for 10% off at Face Records in Shibuya.
All of these Omega Tribe records were ¥1500 or under. Didn't realize the last one of these was a compilation, so that will probably go to a local soon.


Piper - Gentle Breeze
Seaside Lovers - Memories in Beach House
Masayoshi Takanaka (高中正義) - Alone
Masayoshi Takanaka (高中正義) - The Rainbow Goblins (虹伝説)
Yuko Tomita (とみたゆう子) - Colors
Hitomi Tohyama (当山ひとみ) - Five Penny's

20250411_143151.jpg

This reissue of Piper's debut is actually a LitA reissue, something I didn't realize until after taking it back to my hotel. Happy to have it either way; Japanese originals are prohibitively expensive.
Memories in Beach House comes in and out of print, and I was in Japan just in time for a repress of a JPN-pressed reissue. Obvious standard in the city pop lineage of related music. On the pricier side compared to others in this post, as to be expected, but better than shelling out in the states.
Both of these Takanaka records are OG with OBIs and original inserts included. In the case of Alone, the transparent magenta 7" flexi is also included, certainly not the case for all copies on the resale market! ¥2350 and ¥3000, respectively.
The cheapest record I purchased on this trip, the debut record from Yuko Tomita is an underappreciated set of cute bops. ¥380, but actually discounted 20% to ¥304 at Disk Union as it bore a price card of a specific color.
Never knew this Hitomi Tohyama record existed until I saw it in Face Records at the time of purchase. I'm familiar with the more prolific Just Call Me Penny and of course Next Door. Playing a few tracks through, it was an easy call.


Hikaru Utada (宇多田ヒカル) - DEEP RIVER
Junko Yagami (八神純子) - Lonely Girl
Tatsuro Yamashiita (山下達郎) - Ride on Time
Tatsuro Yamashiita (山下達郎) - Melodies
Tatsuro Yamashiita (山下達郎) - Big Wave
Tatsuro Yamashiita (山下達郎) - Pocket Music

20250411_144522.jpg

Couldn't find DEEP RIVER for a price outside of MSRP until a great condition used copy sat hidden in a Face Records location in Kyoto.
A very fun Junko Yagami record for ¥1500.
All of these Tatsuro records are blessing to have come across. Six more of his records will be reissued across his Moon Records era very soon, with Melodies, Big Wave, and Pocket Music included in these. The Ride On Time reissue from the 2023 run is still plentiful.

Along with last year's vacation purchases, these will provide a wonderful variety to future Japanese city pop DJ sets I'll take part in.

EDIT: grammar
 
Last edited:
Rip_City said:
Back in this thread after two and a half weeks out of the country and ~4 months of no vinyl purchases prior.


Vacation finds 🏖️🏐🗾🍱


Naomi Akimoto (秋本奈緒美) - 4 Seasons
Anri (杏里) - Timely!!
Baker's Shop (w/Haruko) - Hot Line
Mami Ayukawa (鮎川麻弥) - 走Do愛
Bread and Butter - Late Late Summer
EPO (エポ) - Vitamin E.P.O

View attachment 231349

Naomi Akimoto's music has shape-shifted considerably over her discography, going from avantgarde lounge jazz, to experimental synthpop, but never being one who has a city pop focus. Certainly more accessible here than on many of her others. ¥1200 in a Kyoto vinyl café.
Passed on the reissue of the Anri classic last year, and was not going to make the same make again. I'm going to guess that if you don't recognize Timely!!, you won't recognize practically any other title in this post.
Hot Line by Baker's Dozen, while having a few jams, is kinda just OK lounge music. Haruko's voice is the main draw here.
Nice to find an under the radar city pop record with jams aplenty, only ¥1320 for Mami Ayukawa's debut in the same Kyoto vinyl café mentioned above, though I did come across a copy that was half of this price a few days later 🙃
Despite being a new reissue, this Bread and Butter record was actually priced at ¥2800 at Disk Union when it lists at MSRP of ¥4730 in other avenues. Another city pop wantlist item checked off! "Summer Blue" is the choice yacht rock jam to be found here.
I took a chance on this EPO record solely on the cover art strength, and it paid off dividends. I was listening to the digital of this on the flight back home a handful of times! Side A with the groovy, upbeat title track and "土曜の夜のパラダイス" along with sweet slow-burner "Would You Dance With Me?" make for a gleeful listening session. Only ¥680 at Disk Union in Shibuya!


EPO (エポ) - Harmony
Mari Iijima (飯島真理) - Midori
Hiromi Iwasaki (岩崎宏美) - 飛行船
Hiromi Iwasaki (岩崎宏美) - Me Too
Juicy Fruits - Drink!
Mio Fou (ミオフー) - Mio Fou

View attachment 231348

While not as accessible as Vitamin E.P.O from the pervious photo, Harmony harnesses a techno-kayo central focus that aims at a similar playfulness.
Another record from Mari Iijima (bought one on each trip). This one has the cutest cover of the stack, I think 🤗
A pair of Hiromi Iwasaki records, one from in her idol/kayokyoku era, and another over a decade later into her career as city pop/synthpop veteran. Old copies of Me Too were fetching triple digits quite easily, and this 2025 reissue released literally two days after having arrived at my first hotel. Thank u Tower Records for carrying these; I saw a couple of others grasping a few copies as I was on the way to checkout.
Like YMO? Try Juicy Fruits!
Tried this Mio Fou LP on a ¥2000 flyer. Despite being sorted in the "Japanese Pops" section at Disk Union, it is not that at all. It is more of a progressive pop record, with a gorgeous ~6min side-ending modern classical/ambient pop track on each side. This was a fascinating discovery.


Momoko Kikuchi (菊池桃子) - Tropic of Capricorn
Momoko Kikuchi (菊池桃子) - Escape From Dimension
Yurie Kokubu (国分友里恵) - Relief 72 Hours
Yurie Kokubu (国分友里恵) - Steps
Seiko Matsuda (松田聖子) - Squall
Naoya Matsuoka (松岡直也) - Watermelon Dandies

View attachment 231350

Both of these Momoko Kikuchi records are recent color reissues, but heavily discounted through Disk Union. Only ¥680 the case of Tropic of Capricorn, practically brand new!!! Checking Discogs, it still retails for MSRP in Japan, so I was elated to take advantage of a such a steal.
Yurie Kokubu! Excited to see this pair of city pop gems, with Relief 72 Hours being a staple. Elated to have both.
Seiko Matsuda is one of the prime idols of Japan, with her debut Squall being a centerpiece of her vast discography. Can't believe I found this clean OG complete with OBI and insert for ¥480 at Disk Union!!! This would normally fetch MUCH more than that in the condition I have it in, certainly in the USA.
Found another Matsuoka record to pair with the first I bought at Musique Plastique around three years ago. Located in the ¥500 bin at Banana Record in Osaka (大阪), practically brand new.


Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷由実) - 昨晩お会いしましょう
Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷由実) - Pearl Pierce
Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷由実) - Voyager
Meiko Nakahara (中原めいこ) - Moods
Akina Nakamori (中森明菜) - Bitter and Sweet
Nujabes - Metaphorical Music

View attachment 231347

All of these Yumi Matsutoya records were ¥980 or under. Altogether setting me back less than the other lone Matsutoya record I bought at MP three years ago ($20) 😂
Meiko Nakahara's records aren't always the easiest to find, with this slightly moldy cover of Moods being found in Kobe for ¥1400. Ended up not finding many of her others for the entire trip (including never seeing another copy of Moods), so I'm glad I didn't pass on this one.
Akina Nakamori is an absolute ICON and I won't be hearing arguments against. Bitter and Sweet captures her at (in my opinion) the prime of her career, with her powerful vocals keeping pace amidst a slick flurry of disco romps. ¥980 at Disk Union.
I'm kicking myself for not having purchased Metaphorical Music last year, as the repress of the Nujabes catalogue now comes with an additional ¥1090 price tag for any of the 2xLP titles. It helps that I had a 5% discount combined with tax-free transaction at Tower Records to bring this from a hefty ¥4950 to a slightly more reasonable ¥4275. Still ended up being the most expensive record I purchased out of everything in this post.


Taeko Ohnuki (大貫妙子) - Grey Skies
S. Kiyotaka (杉山清貴) & Omega Tribe - River's Island
S. Kiyotaka (杉山清貴) & Omega Tribe - Never Ending Summer
1986 Omega Tribe - Navigator
S. Kiyotaka (杉山清貴) & Omega Tribe - Aqua City
S. Kiyotaka (杉山清貴) & Omega Tribe - Single's History

View attachment 231346

Got this Taeko Ohunki reissue on the day of departure for 10% off at Face Records in Shibuya.
All of these Omega Tribe records were ¥1500 or under. Didn't realize the last one of these was a compilation, so that will probably go to a local soon.


Piper - Gentle Breeze
Seaside Lovers - Memories in Beach House
Masayoshi Takanaka (高中正義) - Alone
Masayoshi Takanaka (高中正義) - The Rainbow Goblins (虹伝説)
Yuko Tomita (とみたゆう子) - Colors
Hitomi Tohyama (当山ひとみ) - Five Penny's

View attachment 231345

This reissue of Piper's debut is actually a LitA reissue, something I didn't realize until after taking it back to my hotel. Happy to have it either way; Japanese originals are prohibitively expensive.
Memories in Beach House comes in and out of print, and I was in Japan just in time for a repress of a JPN-pressed reissue. Obvious standard in the city pop lineage of related music. On the pricier side compared to others in this post, as to be expected, but better than shelling out in the states.
Both of these Takanaka records are OG with OBIs and original inserts included. In the case of Alone, the transparent magenta 7" flexi is also included, certainly not the case for all copies on the resale market! ¥2350 and ¥3000, respectively.
The cheapest record I purchased on this trip, the debut record from Yuko Tomita is an underappreciated set of cute bops. ¥380, but actually discounted 20% to ¥304 at Disk Union as it bore a price card of a specific color.
Never knew this Hitomi Tohyama record existed until I saw it in Face Records at the time of purchase. I'm familiar with the more prolific Just Call Me Penny and of course Next Door. Playing a few tracks through, it was an easy call.


Hikaru Utada (宇多田ヒカル) - DEEP RIVER
Junko Yagami (八神純子) - Lonely Girl
Tatsuro Yamashiita (山下達郎) - Ride on Time
Tatsuro Yamashiita (山下達郎) - Melodies
Tatsuro Yamashiita (山下達郎) - Big Wave
Tatsuro Yamashiita (山下達郎) - Pocket Music

View attachment 231344

Couldn't find DEEP RIVER for a price outside of MSRP until a great condition used copy sat hidden in a Face Records location in Kyoto.
A very fun Junko Yagami record for ¥1500.
All of these Tatsuro records are blessing to have come across. Six more of his records will be reissued across his Moon Records era very soon, with Melodies, Big Wave, and Pocket Music included in these. The Ride On Time reissue from the 2023 run is still plentiful.

Along with last year's vacation purchases, these will provide a wonderful variety to future Japanese city pop DJ sets I'll take part in.
Click to expand...
What a haul!! I am not familiar with a lot of these I am gonna have to explore a bit.
 
I didn't participate in RSD this year, but still found some great records recently.

Lafayette Afro-Rock Band - Soul Makossa (Musidisc, 1974 First French Pressing)
The Tony Lee Trio - British Jazz Artists Vol.1 (Lee Lambert, 1976 First Signed Pressing)
Evan Parker - Saxophone Solos (INCUS, 1976 First Pressing)

A mixed bag of goodness here, with the Lafayette Afro Rock Band being a killer album that I've been hooked on ever since VMP released their reissue 8 years ago!! I came across the Tony Lee at a charity shop yesterday for just a couple of quid AND its signed by 2 of the 3 on the back. Finally, an Evan Parker album that I think I actually shared already.

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Tubby Hayes And His Orchestra – The Little Giant (Tempo, 1955 First 7" Pressing)
Quincy Jones And His Orchestra - The Birth Of A Band! (Mercury, 1961 First 7" Pressing)
Lee Konitz - Jazz At Storyville Volume 2 (Vogue Records, 1956 First 7" Pressing)
Jimmy Yancey - S/T (Vogue Records, 1958 First Pressing)
Downbeat Jazz Record Review - Vol VIII

I lucked out on this 7" bundle, paying just £14 for the 4 of them. The gem here is the Tubby Hayes which I already have but the disc of this one is super clean (the sleeve....less so). The Downbeat books have always been difficult to find and in recent years collectors have been sweeping them up, so im glad to have found this volume I was missing. Finally, an oddity in an autograph card signed by the British pianist Stan Tracey!

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