Howard Williams oversees compilation of Japanese soul, funk and disco

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  • The man behind the Japan Blues project has pulled together 15 tunes made between 1973 and 1983.
  • Howard Williams oversees compilation of Japanese soul, funk and disco image
  • Howard Williams has assembled a compilation of Japanese funk, soul and disco for Ace Records offshoot BGP International. Williams, who has worked for the distribution arm of Honest Jon's in West London for nearly two decades, is a devotee of Japanese music. He's released occasional productions as Japan Blues and also hosts a popular NTS Radio show under that name. Titled Lovin' Mighty Fire: Nippon Funk, Soul & Disco 1973-1983, this is Williams' third compilation of Japanese music for the Ace Records group of labels. (This one's coming on BGP International.) He also oversaw last year's Maki Asakawa retrospective on Honest Jon's Records. The likes of revered experimental artist Haruomi Hosono and singer Minako Yoshida, who's the subject of a forthcoming 7-inch reissue on Rush Hour, feature on the compilation, which is due out on August 26th. It comes with sleeve notes penned by Williams. Listen to clips on the Ace Records website. Tracklist 01. Lily - Bye Bye Session Band 02. Rie Nakahara - Sentimental Hotel 03. Haruomi Hosono - Barato Yajuu 04. Yasuko Agawa - Why Don't You Move In With Me 05. Pink Lady - Jiken Ga Okitara Bell Ga Naru 06. Yuko Asano - Summer Champion (Summer Dream) 07. Junko Ohashi - Dancin' 08. Masayoshi Takanaka - Rainbow Paradise 09. Mari Natsuki - Uragiri 10. Miyako Chaki - Maboroshi No Hito 11. Minako Yoshida - Tornado 12. Kay Ishiguro - Banana 13. Masaaki Hirao - Funky Miyo-chan 14. Ebonee Webb - Yashow Macashow 15. Naoya Matsuoka & Minako Yoshida - Lovin' Mighty Fire BGP International will release Lovin' Mighty Fire: Nippon Funk, Soul & Disco 1973-1983 on August 26th, 2016.
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