Osamu Kitajima - Osamu
Review by Ken Morrill
Osamu Kitajima's album "Osamu" is a unique fusion of traditional Japanese music and modern Western sounds. The album takes listeners on a journey through a variety of styles and genres, blending together elements of rock, jazz, and world music with traditional Japanese instruments and melodies.
From the opening track "Benzaiten" to the closing notes of "Tengu," the album is a masterclass in musical craftsmanship. Kitajima's virtuosity on the guitar and shamisen is on full display, while his use of electronic and synthesizer elements adds an otherworldly dimension to the music.
The album's standout tracks include "Toward the Wind," which features a haunting melody played on the koto, and "The Source," a percussive and rhythmic piece that showcases Kitajima's skill on the taiko drum.
Table of Contents
Download
Filename: osamu-kitajima-osamu.rar- MP3 size: 70.4 mb
- FLAC size: 888.8 mb
Tracks
| Track | Duration | Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Yesterday And Karma = 昨日-因縁 | 4:59 | |
| Sui-In = 水陰 | 1:03 | |
| Sui-Yo | 1:20 | |
| Hear the Rain, See It Fall | 06:06 | |
| Fur, Fin and Feather | 7:15 | |
| Purple Hills And Crystal Streams = 山紫水明 | 6:11 | |
| Elemental Spirits | 5:19 | |
| Purple Hills And Crystal Streams 山紫水明 | 6:11 | |
| Sui-Yo 水陽 | 1:30 | |
| Endless Steps | 3:51 | |
| Hear the Rain, See It Falls | 6:4 | |
| Yesterday And Karma 昨日-因縁 | 4:59 | |
| Purple Hills And Crystal Streams | 6:11 | |
| Yesterday and Karma | 5:0 | |
| Sui-In 水陰 | 1:03 | |
| Frost Flowers | 5:20 | |
| Purple Hills and Crystal Streams | 6:5 | |
| Fur, Fin And Feather | 7:11 | |
| Hear The Rain, See It Fall | 6:03 | |
| Sui-Yo = 水陽 | 1:30 | |
| Yesterday And Karma | 4:59 | |
| Sui-In | 1:3 |
Video
Osamu Kitajima - Osamu (full album)
Images
Catalog Numbers
- ILS-80936
- DOO1704LP, MNLG0036
- AN-7061
- 1837787
- DOO17004LP, MNLG0036
- ILPS 9426
- ILPS 9426, ILPS-9426
- Everland Psych 005 CD
Labels
- Island Records
- Oom Dooby Dochas, Merlins Nose Label Group
- Antilles
- East Quest Records
- Everland Psych
Listen online
- lytte på nettet
- ouvir online
- écouter en ligne
- online luisteren
- ascolta in linea
- lyssna på nätet
- kuunnella verkossa
- escuchar en línea
- online anhören
Formats
- Vinyl
- LP
- Album
- Reissue
- Promo
- CDr
- CD
- Test Pressing
Companies
| Role | Company |
|---|---|
| Manufactured By | Toshiba EMI Ltd |
| Phonographic Copyright (p) | Island Records Inc. |
| Published By | Island Music |
| Recorded At | Paramount Recording Studios |
| Mixed At | Paramount Recording Studios |
| Mastered At | Kendun Recorders |
| Distributed By | Island Records Inc. |
| Copyright (c) | Island Records Inc. |
Credits
| Role | Credit |
|---|---|
| Acoustic Guitar | Osamu Kitajima |
| Electric Guitar | Osamu Kitajima |
| Koto | Osamu Kitajima |
| Biwa | Osamu Kitajima |
| Vocals | Osamu Kitajima |
| Arranged By | Osamu Kitajima |
| Mandolin | John Hug |
| Art Direction | Deirdre Morrow |
| Drums | Geoffrey Hales |
| Percussion | Geoffrey Hales |
| Electric Bass | Dennis Belfield |
| Acoustic Bass | Dennis Belfield |
| Electric Piano | Brian Whitcomb |
| Organ | Brian Whitcomb |
| Clavinet | Brian Whitcomb |
| Synthesizer | Brian Whitcomb |
| Keyboards | Brian Whitcomb |
| Engineer | Larry Hirsch |
| Management | Jack Nelson |
| Mastered By | John Denham |
| Producer | Kinji Yoshino, Osamu Kitajima |
| Shakuhachi | Tatsuya Sano |
| Design | Kintaro Arai |
| Photography | Kintaro Arai |
| Performer | John Hug |
| Composed By | Osamu Kitajima |
| Photography By | Kintarow Arai |
| Synthesizer [Arp Odyssey | Brian Whitcomb |
| String Ensemble] | Brian Whitcomb |
| Chamberlin | Brian Whitcomb |
| Flute | Tatsuya Sano |
| Bass | Dennis Belfield |
| Organ [Yamaha | Brian Whitcomb |
| Mellotron | Brian Whitcomb |
| Guitar | John Leslie Hug |
Notes
- While there are distinct tracks on this album the music on each side is continuous.
- Recorded and mixed at Paramount Studios L.A., CA., Feb. 3-Mar.28, 1977
- Mastered at Randum Recorders, Burbank, CA. April, 1977
- Ms. Ripperton appears courtesy of Epic Records
- Special thanks to Ms. Riperton for her amazing talents on "Yesterday and Karma."
- Ms. Riperton appears courtesy of Epic Records
- Management by Jack Nelson and Associates
- Recorded and mixed at Paramount Studios L.A., CA., Feb. 2 - Mar. 28, 1977
- Mastered by John Golden at Kendum Recorders, Burbank, CA. April, 1977
- Artwork restoration by Amadeus Wachtler
- This album is dedicated to Yoko, Mye, Birds, Whales, Lion, Rain, Thunder, Fire, Streams, Forest and Love.
- Japanese press by Toshiba EMI.
- Antilles is a division of Island Records, Inc.
- Recorded and mixed at Paramount Studios L.A., CA., Feb. 3-Mar.28, 1977.
- Recorded and mixed at Paramount Studios, L.A., CA., Feb.2-Mar.28, 1977.
- Mastered at Kendun Recorders. Burbank, CA., April, 1977.
- [Sleeve:]
- Manufactured and Distributed by Island Records Inc., 7720 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90046 Printed in U.S.A.
- [Spine:]
- © ℗ 1977 Island Records, Inc.
- [Labels:]
- Published by: Island Music (BMI)
- ℗ 1977 Island Records, Inc.
- Black Island labels, with no mention of RCA Limited.
- Test Pressing
- Sleeve:
- Manufactured & distributed by Island Records Inc., 7720 Sunset BLVD., Los Angeles, California 90046
- Labels:
- Manufactured and distributed in Canada by RCA Limited...
Barcodes
- Barcode: 0710473604352
- Matrix / Runout: 0241978-A-1
- Matrix / Runout: 0241978-B-1
- Barcode (Text): 8 85444 45023 5
- Barcode (Scanned): 0885444450235
- Matrix / Runout (Side 1 Label ): ILPS 9426-A
- Matrix / Runout (Side 2 Label ): ILPS 9426-B
- Rights Society: JASRAC
- Matrix / Runout (Side A, etched): ILPS-9426-A A
- Matrix / Runout (Side B, etched): ILPS-9426-B Ⓘ PIX A
- Matrix / Runout (Both sides, stamped): KENDUN
- Rights Society: BMI
- Matrix / Runout (Side A runout area): ILPS-9246-A ➀ PIX KENDUN-A
- Matrix / Runout (Side B runout area): ILPS-9246-B ➀ PIX KENDUN-A
- Barcode: 0710473184892
About Osamu Kitajima
Japanese musician, producer, composer and multiinstrumentalist. Born February 3, 1949 in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Real Name
- ֜चඋ (Kitajima Osamu)
Name Vars
- Doctor O. Kitajima
- Doctor Osamu Kitajima
- Dr. O. Kitajima
- Dr. OK
- Dr. Osamu Kitajima
- Kitajima
- O. Kitajima
- Osamu
- Osamu Kitajima / ֜चඋ
- Osamu Kitajime
- ªµà
- ªµà = Osamu
- ֜च
- ֜चඋ
- ֜चඋ
Aliases
- Justin Heathcliff
Summary by Ken Morrill
Comments
Osamu sensei, arigatoo gozaimasu ?
This is a five star album. A review of this album was featured in Audio magazine in the late 70's. The magazine graded albums on performance and sound, and this earned an A in each category. Based on this review, I acquired the album (OK, I stole it from my college radio station!}. It was a revelation, with a sense of incredible sense of dynamics from a combination of acoustic and electric instruments. You can hear the texture of each instrument. This collection of songs is strong from start to finish. One song to check out is "Yesterday and Karma", featuring the unearthly voice of Minnie Riperton. I recently bought this CD from the artist's website, and it still sounds terrific. Some might be inclined to call this a "new age" album, but new age never sounded this good.
Had the Benzaiten LP just found this and it sounds Awesome! Thanks!
Thank you ?
oui
"Samurai Groove". Spread the idea.
I really need this to be an entire genre of music called samurai groove.
Excellent
1977
Genius. Fucking genius. This album is the comedown from Benzaiten
This is Good man
Benzaiten was 74, not 76
????? Beautiful! Thank-you for the share. I'm less than a minute in, but they remind me of an old favorite group called Hiroshima.
Inferior to Masterless Samurai or Benzaiten.
final exam is here i dont wana cry anymore if thats all u have for me. ive been upset 4 yeers and have to end things officially.
.....yes, yes... ;-) I heared this music at the beginning of the 80'ies.....the music was new, black and polished.... ;-)
I love Osamu Kitajima and his band's music!
I love Osamu Kitajima, and this is my favorite channel of music in YouTube