Saeko Suzuki - Studio Romantic (1987)

Here is the last of Saeko Suzuki's studio albums (that I know of), 1987's Studio Romantic. This album has three of Suzuki's best known songs, the brilliant "Happy End," which had been released as a single the year before, a re-worked version of "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday in the UK" and "Happy Families", an XTC cover (a big improvment, imo). There's also a version of Thunderclap Newman's "Something in the Air". The album seems mostly made up of covers, singles and remixes; the title of the album even stresses the process of recording, as opposed to composition. That isn't to say that there aren't original jams on the album, or to slight the creative integrity of the cover versions contained in Studio Romantic.

I don't have much info on the players. Peter Gabriel-associate David Rhodes played guitar on "Blow Up", according to this website.

"Happy End" doesn't appear to be a cover of YMO's track of the same name. But to confuse the matter, here is a two-part television presentation titled "Happy End" featuring an interview with Hosono followed by a performance from Suzuki and then from Takahashi. A bizarre sequence at the beginning features a cybernetic cow and a title card which reads "Friends of Earth". If any of our Japanese readers can shed some light on this video, please share in the comments section.

Part One: http://youtu.be/vJSVD8yLSbg
Part Two: http://youtu.be/YRtvx4LOrT8

I'll be posting some of Suzuki's soundtrack work as well as a few singles and miscellaneous tracks in the coming days.

Here's the video for "Happy End" from Music Tomato Japan. Nice to hear from our old friend Michael again:


Discogs:
Label: Midi Inc.
Catalog#: MDCZ-1030
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: Japan
Released: 1987

Tracklist:
01. Blow Up
02. You're My Special
03. Something In The Air
04. Happy Families (XTC Cover)
05. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday In The UK
06. TV Dinner
07. Happy End
08. Freak In
09. Studio Romantic
10. Dear Walt
11. Adventure In South Pacific



ENJOY