[Pop & mellow]
No.163 "I Can't Help It" by Eri Ohno
Hi. Today's song is "I Can't Help It" by "Eri Ohno".
This is a mellow-pop cover version of Michael Jackson's 1979 hit song, "I Can't Help It" performed by an authentic Jazz vocalist, "Eri Ohno".
If you like, please listen.
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Song data
| Title | I Can't Help It |
|---|---|
| Artist | Eri Ohno |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | COCB-54199 |
| Track No. | 2 |
| Duration | 5:02 |
| Released | 1980 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Susaye Greene & Stevie WonderLyricist
Susaye Greene & Stevie Wonder are notable America musicians. And, both of them are credited as Lyricists & composers on this song.
So, we don't know who did which role, or possibly both did both.
Then, in this section, we would like to touch a little about Ms. "Susaye Greene", and in the next section, about Mr. Stevie Wonder.
Summary
Susaye Greene, "The Last Supreme", is an American vocalist, lyricist, and composer active since 1975.
She is perhaps most well-known by being a member of "The Supremes" from 1976 to 1977. The Supremes was a world popular American soul-crossover vocal group from the '60s to the '70s, promoted by the Motown label, but disbanded in 1977.
She is also known as a song-writer written a hundred of songs for the various artists.
Among them, her 1979 song, "I Can't Help It", written for Michael Jackson is particularly popular and well known.
Reference
Hence, there are excellent references available in English, we think it is better introducing them, than we write something.
Please have a look below articles for starters. And if you need some more, please search her name, and you can get plenty.
Video clip
For your information, this is a video clip of "Susaye Greene" singing her 1986 song, "Children of the Ghetto".
This seems to be filmed by handy camera, so the sound condition is not perfect. (like, the sound of the left channel will suddenly disappear for short time in the beginning, or the sound becomes monaural in the mid point of the video.)
But it's a tiny thing, since the performance itself is excellent & great. Please enjoy her amazing overwhelming vocal.
* "Children of the Ghetto" by "Susaye Greene"
Susaye Greene & Stevie WonderComposer
In this section, we would like to introduce Mr. Stevie Wonder, though he is also credited as a lyricist.
"Stevie Wonder" is a prominent American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer active since 1961.
He is often referred as one of the most notable musicians of the 20th century.
Summary
"Stevie Wonder" was born in Michigan, U.S. in 1950.
He was showing his talent on music since childhood, and in 1961, he contacted with the Motown label only at 11 years old.
Then in 1963, his 4th single record, "Fingertips – Part 1", a single cut from album, "The 12 Year Old Genius - Recorded Live", topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Since the, he has been releasing No.1 hit song constantly, and certainly, he is one of the greatest musician in the world, at the moment.
Reference
There are many English references about him, and many of them are readily available on the inter-net.
So, we would like to introduce few of them.
Please have a look at them as starters. And if necessary, please search further.
Video clip
Finally, here is a nice soul ballad, "Someday At Christmas", performed by Stevie Wonder & Andra Day.
Andra Day is a Soul, R&B singer, that Mr. Stevie Wonder provided an opportunity for her to debut.
Her 2015 smash hit, "Rise up", which is a soulful nice ballad, is well known.
If you like, please listen.
* "Someday At Christmas" by "Stevie Wonder & Andra Day"
Toshiyuki DaitokuArranger
"Toshiyuki Daitoku" is a Jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and music producer active since 1972.
Short bio
"Daitoku" started his music career while he was a University student.
In 1972, he joined a rising, and one of the most active Jazz group, "George Ōtsuka quintet", where a star trumpeter, "Shunzō Ohno", was also playing. And debuted as a professional pianist.
And in 1974, "Daitoku" participated in a recording of "For My Little Bird", which was the first leader album of "Shigeharu Mukai", who is often praised as one of the finest Trombonist on Jazz in Japan.
In 1976, "Daitoku" finally released his first leader album "Snapdragon".
Around 1980, he began to take part in an album production of "Eri Ohno", as a producer, and a member of her backing band, "Good question". And supported her to release good albums.
Actually, "Eri Ohno"'s albums in this period are still quite popular. It might mean that "Daitoku" also did a good job.
And since around 1983, "Daitoku" has been concentrating on the activity of his own group.
On the other hand, he formed a Jazz-Fusion group, "3 x 3" (Three by three) in the late '90s, with expert Jazz musicians like, "Masatoshi Mizuno (B)", "Rikiya Higashihara (Dr)", & "Koichi Yabori (G)", and released few nice albums.
Video clip
Finally, here is a live performance video clip of "Daitoku"'s session band, "≒3X3" (nearly equal to 3 X 3), which is close to his group, "3X3", but slightly different.
Because, there was no guitar, and an up-and-coming drummer, "Yū Torigaki" was sitting in front of the drum set, instead of the powerful Drum master, "Rikiya Higashihara".
It's a relaxed, homely live session at a Jazz restaurant (Ogikubo Rooster), which is located in the suburb of Tokyo.
The music titles are listed with the video clip on Youtube.
If you like, please listen.
* "Jail Break, and more." by "≒3X3"
Cover art today
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Smooth & active
This seems to be a pop arranged version of smooth vocal Jazz.
It is a lot more lively & active, while the original is a melting smooth crossover tune.
Pop & Jazzy
The drums, bass, acoustic piano, percussion, and a lightly overdriven electric guitar, play an introduction with a pop-rock feel.
In the main melody, natural sound of the electric guitar, and a drifting like sound of Fender Rhodes generates a floaty background.
Slightly husky, and attractive alto voice of "Eri Ohno" creates Jazzy & stylish sound space.
About the artist
Eri OhnoTrad but progressive
"Eri Ohno" is a Jazz singer, active since 1979.
She has been one of the most popular, and notable Jazz vocalist since debut. Her orthodox, authentic, but progressive singing of Jazz has been attracting a lot of Japanese Jazz fans.
"Ohno" debuted in 1979 with her 1st album, "Touch my mind". Since then, 4(?) singles, and 16 original, 2 live, and no(?) best albums have been released until now.
Early times
"Eri Ohno" started her music career when she entered a university in Kyoto.
(There seems to be no much information about her earlier career. We would like to update if there is any reference.)
Dōshisha University, which she entered in 1973, is one of the oldest private university in Japan, and has a reputed college Jazz big band, named "The third hard orchestra", in one of the student circle, "Light music society".
After getting settled into campus life, she joined this "Light music society", and began to sing Jazz.
In 1975, "Ohno" entered the most statusy college Jazz contest, "Yamano Big Band Jazz Contest" (YBBJC) together with "The third hard orchestra".
The team won a Grand Prix, and "Ohno" was also received a jury award.
By this good showing, she impressed her potential to the audience, as well as the people in music business.
Debut
"Ohno" chose to continue singing Jazz after graduating from the University.
In 1977, she began to perform in various Jazz venues in the cities near Kyōto.
In 1978, she moved to Tokyo, and began to collaborate with shining Jazz musicians like , Masahiko Satō, or "Motohiko Hino".
And finally in 1979, "Eri Ohno" debuted with her 1st album, "Touch my mind", which was produced by that talented Jazz pianist and composer, "Masahiko Satō".
Authentic
Since debut, she had been quickly recognized as the most authentic type of Jazz singer, singing orthodox Jazz in traditional style.
But on the other hand, she also performed stylish, and urban crossover Jazz very well, particularly in the early '80s.
And almost in the same time, she formed her exclusive backing band "Good Question", with members like, "Toshiyuki Daitoku", "Cozy Sakuyama", "Yoshifumi Okajima", and "Masao 'U-tan' Suzuki".
Then, they soon became one of the regular bands performing at the various domestic Jazz festivals.
Collaboration
To interact with other players might be a thing for musicians in Jazz.
In 1982, "Ohno" released a nice album, "Eri My Dear" as the 5th, by having American super Jazz players, "Cecil McBee (Bs)", and "Billy Hart (Ds)" as guest musicians.
And in 1984, she also launched another amazing collaboration album, "Easy to love", which was recorded with "The Great Jazz Trio", namely "Hank Jones (Pf)", "Eddie Gómez (Bs)", and "Jimmy Cobb (Dr)".
Short break
Around the early '90s, she eased her level of activity on music, maybe for private reasons.
But after year 2000, she gradually came back to the stage, and in 2006, she released her 9th album, "Sweet Love" for the first time in 21 years.
Since then, she's been actively singing on stage like before.
Live at PIT INN
In 2018, "Ohno" released a set of live albums for the first time in her 40 years as a Jazz singer.
She recorded her live stage in August 2018, at a famous Jazz club, "Shinjuku Pit inn", and launched it in 2 volumes, namely "Vol.1 - Lotus Blossom", and "Vol. 2 - Feeling Good.
The venue, "Shinjuku Pit inn" is a known Jazz space operating since 1966.
It was initially an instrumental only Jazz place, and vocal Jazz was not in their program.
But one day, the club allowed the first Jazz vocalist appearing on stage. It was "Eri Ohno", according to her talk on the radio.
These are very nice, and precious live albums of "Eri Ohno".
If you like, please listen.
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e-kia.net:
About me, Eri Ohno)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a music clip of her song, "Sweet Love", from "Ohno"'s 9th album, "Sweet Love", released in 2006.
"Ohno" released her 8th album "L'Eveil" in 1985. So, "Sweet Love" was an album first in 21 years after she released the last album.
This album was produced by an excellent music producer, "Shunzō Ohno", who is also known as a a super Jazz trumpeter.
The recording was done in New York, having great musicians like, George Colligan (pf, Rhodes), Clarence Penn (Ds), James Genus (Bs), and Shunzō Ohno (tp) with her.
But this video clip is not that "Studio recorded" version.
This is a live version of "Sweet Love", perhaps performed in 2016, accompanied by her regular band musicians, namely, "Jun Ohkuchi (p)", "Yasushi Yoneki (b)", and "Dairiki Hara (ds)".
It's a nice & relaxing vocal Jazz.
If you like, please listen.
* "Sweet Love" by "Eri Ohno"
Music Samples
2
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Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp)
2
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | I Can't Help It |
|---|---|
| Artist | 大野えり(Eri Ohno) |
| Album Title | Eri |
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