I just keep meeting the absolutely coolest and nicest people in the world on this project. What a brilliant little way to interact with the world that I seem to have just stumbled into. Though every person I meet is unique with totally different taste in music, it kinda feels like I keep meeting members of a sorta Secret Society, “The Illuminadio”, “Knights of the Turntable”, “Order of the Black Circle”, “The Fellowship of the Ringwear”, the “Fraternal Order of Record Collectors” and these two knew the secret handshake.
As soon as I started speaking Japanese, I could sense that Johnny and Bora were about to interrupt me and tell me what, in a split second, I was already starting to recognize. “We’re not Japanese. We’re from Korea.” “Wow,” I thought again, “You’re the 4th Korean person I have met collecting records n the last 2 weeks” (And spoiler alert: they’re a couple more Korean record collectors in the pipeline!) “It’s time for me to learn a for more phrases than, “Hello, Thank you, and I love you / Annyeonghaseyo, Gamsahabnida, Salanghaeyo / 안녕하세요, 감사합니다, 사랑해요”
Not only were Johnny and Bora friendly and cute, not only were they rawking some laid-back but subtly-dope fashion, not only did they score a heavy-hitting mother-load of killer records, some of which I was drolling over (especially that Gal e Caetano Domingo record and the Tamba 4 California Soul record), not only did they recommend some Korean musical legends both old and new (Cho Yong-pi – HOLY SHIT – Listen to “Return to Busan Port” – What a JAM! and newschooler DJ Soulscape) but they also shared the story of their absolutely wicked vintage hi-fi and select shop, LEMON SEOUL! You gotta check this place out! I’d lift some photos from the web to share but Johnny and Bora bought too many damn records and I ran out of space. We’ll have to go see it for ourselves.
I think the universe is telling me to go to Seoul, for a little Seoul Record Style. Will most DEFINITELY rendezvous with these two characters when I do.
Bun Itakura – Roujin-Z 老人Z サウンドトラック 30th Anniversary Vinyl
Label: Great Tracks (2) – MHJL 179
Format: Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition, Remastered, Translucent Red
Country: Japan
Released: Apr 24, 2021
Genre: Rock, Pop, Classical, Stage & Screen
Style: Soundtrack
https://www.discogs.com/release/18433795-Bun-Itakura-Roujin-Z-%E8%80%81%E4%BA%BAZ-%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A6%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF-30th-Anniversary-Vinyl
Yutaka Hirasaka – Anecdotes Tape 2
Label: Keep Your Eyes Open Records – KYEO-004
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Album, Limited Edition
Country: Japan
Released: Mar 31, 2021
Genre: Hip Hop, Jazz, Folk, World, & Country
https://www.discogs.com/release/19958047-Yutaka-Hirasaka-Anecdotes-Tape-2
Keiichi Suzuki – Mother Music Revisited
Label: Columbia – COJA-9391~2, Better Days (2) – COJA-9391~2
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: Japan
Released: Jan 27, 2021
Genre: Rock, Stage & Screen
Style: Video Game Music
https://www.discogs.com/release/17121813-Keiichi-Suzuki-Mother-Music-Revisited
Gal e Caetano Velloso – Domingo
Label: Elemental Music – 700104, Philips – 700104
Series: Collector’s Reissues
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: Sep 22, 2016, (origianlly 1967, Brazil)
Genre: Latin
Style: Bossanova
https://www.discogs.com/release/9122990-Gal-E-Caetano-Velloso-Domingo
Yama & Jiro’s Wave – Girl Talk
Label: Three Blind Mice – TBM-59, Craftman Records – CMRS-0154, CS Record – DQJP-5389
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Country: Japan
Released: May 25, 2022 (originally 1975, Japan)
Genre: Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/master/383470-Yama-Jiros-Wave-Girl-Talk
Tatsuro Yamashita – For You
Label: Ariola – BVJL-90
Series: Tatsuro Yamashita RCA / Air Years Vinyl Collection
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, 180g
Country: Japan
Released: May 3, 2023
Genre: Jazz, Rock, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Ballad, City Pop, Funk, Soft Rock, Soul
https://www.discogs.com/release/26948018-Tatsuro-Yamashita-For-You
Tamba 4 – California Soul
Label: Elemental Music – 620867, A&M Records – 620867
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition
Country: US
Released: Nov 29, 2019
Genre: Jazz, Latin
Style: Bossa Nova, MPB
https://www.discogs.com/release/14442770-Tamba-4-California-Soul
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