Makoto Kubota & The Sunset Gang – Dixie Fever LP

Description

Wewantsounds close theMakoto Kubotareissue series with the release ofDixie Feverrecorded in Hawaii in 1976 and co-produced byHaruomi Hosono. Like its predecessors,Dixie Fevercontinues to explore American and Island music through a Japanese prism with a skillful mix of blues, swamp funk and America adding an exotic edge to the whole. A year after the release of their highly-acclaimed albumHawaii Champrooin 1975, Makoto Kubota andThe Sunset Gangreunited at Sounds of Hawaii studios with co-producer Haruomi Hosono to record a new album,Dixie Fever. They used pretty much the same ingredients that had made the success ofChamproo— an effortless mix of Japanese folk and American roots music with some tropical influences. The same mix that Haruomi Hosono was applying to his own albums, especiallyTropical Dandywhich was experimenting with the same ideas — in fact the front cover of bothTropical DandyandDixie Feverare illustrated byYasuo Yagi. As perHawaii ChamprooandSunset Gang,Dixie Feverincludes a mix of original compositions and covers. On the album, you spotThe Lovin’ Spoonful‘s “Wild About My Lovin’” and a funked-up version of UK singer songwriterRalph McTell‘s song “When I Was A Cowboy”. They feature the Gang’s usual musicians (Keni Inoueon guitar,Yosuke Fujitaon slide guitar andTakashi Onzoon bass and keyboards) complemented by a handful of guests includingTin Pan AlleydrummerTatsuo Hayashi,Motoya Hamaguchion percussion and New Orleans pianist andDr. Johnfriend,Ronnie Barron. Together they play a superb brew made of blues, soul, Hawaiian music and southern swamp rhythms. One of the highlights of the album is undoubtedly “Hoshikuzu (Stardust)” which has become a cult classic over the years on the international city pop scene and whose sunshine mid-tempo vibe is the perfect reflection of the group’s musicianship. The first time the album is released outside of Japan. Features original artwork with OBI and insert plus remastered audio by Makoto Kubota himself.