Sharp Five cdr

cd
2011/1968
new
Instrumental Eleki band (the Jap precursor to Group Sounds) led by their drummer Munetaka Inoue. Touches of organ, but mostly you'll notice Nouhiro Mine's tinkling, surfy leads- like Davie Allan on speed, as the saying goes. The band began in 1963, but fashions of the day demanded vocals along about 1965, so they became the backing group behind the Sharp Hawks for awhile (it's just a publicity manager's dream coincidence that both bands started with the word 'sharp'). However, the Sharp Five were sharp enough that they soon got their own contract without the Hawks and stepped back into the spotlight in 1967. Along the way they recorded albums of Beatles covers, classical repetoire (just like the Bunnys' 'Let's Go Classics'), and plenty of spy themes. Tracklisting: Haru No Umi, Rokudan, Chidori No Kyoku, Yakkosan, Etanraku, Sakura Sakura, Gion Kouta, Kiyari Kuzushi, Sonasha Bushi, Haru No Umi.