Nippon Rock 'n' Roll: The Birth of Japanese Rokabirii

Nippon Rock 'n' Roll: The Birth of Japanese Rokabirii

by Masaaki Hirao
Nippon Rock 'n' Roll: The Birth of Japanese Rokabirii

Nippon Rock 'n' Roll: The Birth of Japanese Rokabirii

by Masaaki Hirao

Vinyl LP(Long Playing Record)

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Overview

He was called the Japanese Elvis and, unlike some who bore such a title, Masaaki Hirao actually recorded somewhat close to the peak of Presley. While Hirao recorded between 1958 and 1960, perhaps giving birth to a Japanese rock & roll scene that remained enraptured with rockabilly well into the new millennium, he actually made a valiant effort to make moody rock & roll that could possibly hold its own with its American forefather. Ace's 2013 collection Nippon Rock 'n' Roll pairs studio work with live cuts, and it's a fascinating listen as the music certainly gets within the ballpark of American rock & roll -- the band jives and wails, while Hirao croons and caterwauls, taking pains to mimic his idols but never quite sounding as if he was outright stealing. Perhaps the language barrier made a difference: apart from "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," he took the pains to translate lyrics, so his versions of classic rockers "Jailhouse Rock," "Lucille," "Sittin' in the Balcony," and "Jenny Jenny" are suitably different enough where he can stamp them with his own personality. That's important, but it's also notable that his backing band didn't sound too concerned with making their marks; they were happy to swing and rock, so this has air and groove, something that is particularly evident on the live material, which also benefits from a worshipful audience. Some of the original songs dip into a cinematic melodrama that fits Hirao's American pastiche, but the whole thing is a surprise: it's not a novelty, but a credible refraction of early rock & roll through an Eastern lens. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date: 07/02/2013
Label: Ace
UPC: 0029667001212

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Masaaki Hirao   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Traditional   Composer
Bert Carroll   Composer
Mick Patrick   Coordination
Enotris Johnson   Composer
Howard Williams   Liner Notes
Jerry Leiber   Composer
Nick Robbins   Mastering
Mike Stoller   Composer
Alain Goraguer   Composer
Hank Hunter   Composer
Paul Anka   Composer
Jack Keller   Composer
Johnny Dee   Composer
Lloyd Price   Composer
Maurice Williams   Composer
Richard Penniman   Composer
Masaaki Hirao   Composer
Shin Kusakawa   Composer
Niall McCormack   Package Design
Russell Moody   Composer
Hiroshi Tsutsumi   Composer
Ukou Nakamura   Composer
Takashi Otowa   Composer
Satoru Mizushima   Composer
Ryohei Terazak   Composer
Kohei Miyazaki   Composer
Albert Collins   Composer
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