[Song Rev. #187] "City Lights by the Moonlight" by Tomoko Sōryō
Hi. Today's song is "City Lights by the Moonlight" by "Tomoko Sōryō".
This is an elegant and gorgeous pop song released by a talented singer, "Tomoko Sōryō".
She is a known good vocalist, and her atmospheric delivery is making this song really charming.
If you like, please listen.
Links to the music shops, offering song samples, are located on the bottom of this page.
Some contents have been put away in tabs with " ▼ " marks in each section, so please click it to read.
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Cover art today
Song data
| Title | City Lights by the Moonlight |
|---|---|
| Artist | Tomoko Sōryō |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | RVL-8025 |
| Track No. | 1 |
| Duration | 3:52 |
| Released | 1977 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist(s) | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Kuro & Kyozo Lyricist(s)
"Kuro & Kyozo" is a combined name of 2 lyricists, namely "Kuro" (Akiko Nishioka) & "Kyōzō Nishioka".
In fact, they were partners for each other.
Although both "Kuro" & "Kyōzō Nishioka" were professional songwriters, they were actually a married couple, and were often working together closely.
So, we would like to introduce them together in one section, just briefly.
Kyōzō Nishioka
"Kyōzō Nishioka" was a folk and popular music singer-songwriter, active from the late '60s to 1999.
His 1972 song, "Puka Puka", which is a bit cynical but comical track, is widely known. And it has been loved as one of the memorable pieces born of so called "Kansai folk" music movement in the early '70s.
Early days
"Nishioka" started his music career in Osaka in the late '60s, by teaming up a unique folk group "The Dylan" with 2 other members.
In 1971, "Nishioka" left from the band to seek for an opportunity to debut as a solo singer.
And it was lucky enough, he managed to draw a chance, and released his 1st album "Dylan nite" (At Dylan) in 1972.
In 1973, "Kyōzō Nishioka" married with "Kuro" (Akiko Nishioka), who he had been going out with, since 1970.
Then, "Nishioka" & "Kuro" moved to Saitama (near Tokyo), to seek for their new direction.
Meeting with Haruomi Hosono
In the early '70s, there was a commune of artists called "America village" in Sayama, Saitama. And "Haruomi Hosono"" was also moved to there from Tokyo in 1972.
The village attracted a lot of talented musicians. "Nishioka" & "Kuro" were also ones of them, and became a part of the community.
In 1974, "Nishioka" released his 2nd album, "Machi-yuki Mura-yuki" (To Town, To Village) by inviting "Haruomi Hosono" as a producer.
Thanks to this collaboration, "Nishioka" came to know "Hosono" better.
And "Nishioka" got a lot of inspirations from "Hosono".
As songwriters
"Nishioka" continued to release albums of his style. And at the same time, he began to put muscle in his work as a songwriter writing songs for other artists.
Above all , his cooperation with a renowned rock singer "Eikichi Yazawa" is well known.
"I love you, OK?", "Travelling Bus", "Kuroku nuritsubuse" (Black out everything), etc are famous signature hit song of "Yazawa", but the lyrics for them were written by "Nishioka".
"Nishioka" has written songs not only for "Yazawa", but also for many other notable singers.
Today's song "City light by the moon light" is also a creation in 1977, which he worked with a talented music artist, "Yasunori Sōryō".
His wife "Kuro" was also started working as an independent lyricist since around 1975.
Responding to her interest, "Nishioka" began to compose a melody for her lyrics, or adding & altering lyrics sometimes. And they gradually moved to work as a team.
"Kumiko Yamashita", "Ruriko Ōgami", "Yūsaku Matsuda", etc are notable singers that the team "Nishioka" offered songs.
Later
It was too early, but in 1997, "Nishioka"'s partner "Kuro" passed away from illness in her mid 40s.
And in 1999, "Nishioka" himself also departed to heaven at the age of 50.
Since then, "Nishioka" & "Kuro"'s close music friends are holding a memorial concert periodically even now.
-
(Ref: www2c.biglobe.ne.jp,
Kyōzō Nishioka home page)🇯🇵
Yasunori Sōryō Composer & Arranger
"Yasunori Sōryō" is a composer, arranger, and was a leader of a fabled pioneering pop group "Brown Rice", which was debuted and performed almost solely in the United States in the early '70s.
In the late '90s, he founded a vocal school & entertainment agency, and has been active as a principal.
Early days
There aren't plenty of references, but it seems "Sōryō"'s band "Sparrows" won second place on an amateur band contest on TV in 1968.
In 1969, "Sōryō" formed (or participated in) an 11-piece pop group, "Sing out", and worked as a leader & guitarist.
In July the same year, one of their song, "Namida wo koete" (Beyond tears) won the top prize in a prestigious "Nemu Popular Festival 1969" hosted by "Yamaha".
And this provided an opportunity for the band to become cast members of a legendary TV music program "Stage 101", aired by NHK.
"Namida wo koete" (Beyond tears) was used as an ending theme in the program. And not only it became a smash hit, but has been a standard for chorus contests, or music classes.
Brown Rice
In 1971, "Sōryō" pulled out from "Stage 101", and teamed up a new group "Brown Rice" with 4 other members. Then, he moved to the United States, and dived into a show business.
For more story about "Brown Rice", please have a look at the reference linked here. (Brown Rice, At the end of the journey, @plaza.rakuten.co.jp), since it is well summarized, and detailed.
The machine translation version could be funny. But please just laugh.
Jim Rock Singers
In the end of 1974, the members of "Brown Rice" came back to Japan, and in the mid 1975, the group was broken up after released 1 and only album, "Tabi no owarini" (At the end of the tour).
"Sōryō" remained active as a musician after the break up of "Brown Rice".
In 1977, he formed another band "Jim Rock Singers", with music peers he had been familiar with, and began to perform new songs.
Today's song, "City Lights by the Moonlight" was also created in this period.
As an arranger
At the same time, "Sōryō" began to put more emphasis on arrangement works.
In 1979, "Sōryō" arranged a popular ballad "Okuru kotoba" (A message for you, leaving from me now), which was released as the 16th single of a popular folk group "Kaien-tai".
This became a tremendous big hit, and sold 3 million disks. The band perfectly made their name with this song.
And "Sōryō" further enhanced his reputation as a trusted arranger.
Recent
In 1997, "Sōryō" founded a vocal school & entertainment agency, and became a head of the school.
And in 2003, he moved to Okinawa to together with his school.
Since then, he is continuing his effort to develop next generation of music artists.
-
(Ref: www.jimrock.com,
profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, we would like to introduce a popular singer "Banjo Ai"'s 2014 song, "Sashiki road".
"Banjo Ai" is an Okinawan pop singer, featuring an excellent self accompaniment of the Banjo, (like her stage name), & lively dancing,
"Sōryō" has participated in this song as a composer & arranger.
You can listen a characteristic sound design of him on this track.
If you like, please listen.
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Elegant & mellow
This might be one of the most elegant & mellow urban-pop tunes in Japanese popular music scene of the '70s.
Shooting stars
Shooting stars like an ascending & descending piano glissando, and a gorgeous sound of the soprano saxophone open up an introduction.
Then, the bass, drums, electric piano, electric guitars, and percussion joins.
In the main part, soft, mellow, and tuneful main melody is played in a slow 16-beat rhythm.
And supports "Tomoko Sōryō"'s delicate and charming vocal.
In the bridge, a beautiful & impressive soprano sax solo is performed.
The player was a renowned master saxophonist, "Jake H Concepcion".
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Tomoko SōryōSupreme power of expression
"Tomoko Sōryō" is a singer, lyricist, composer, and a former member of a pop group "Brown Rice" (1971-1975), "Jim Rock Singers" (1977-1982), and pop duo "Tinna" (1978-1981), active since 1971.
She has been a meditator since around the late '90s, and even more active after she became a meditation instructor in 2006.
Tomoko Sōryō debuted in 1971 in the United States, with a pop group "Brown Rice"'s single, "On The Road Side" when she was a vocalist of the band.
As a solo singer, she has released 12 singles, and 5 originals, plus 2 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Tomoko Sōryō)
Early days
"Tomoko Sōryō" seems to have started her professional career by joining a "Yasunori Sōryō"'s band "Brown Rice" in 1971, while she was still a music student in college.
Brown rice
In March 1971, "Yasunori Sōryō" & the members of his group "Sing out" left from a hugely popular TV music program "Stage 101", which "Sing out" had been performing as a part of core members.
Almost immediately, "Yasunori Sōryō" expressed his plan to form a truly independent professional band, to perform brand-new popular music sounding in his mind.
Responding to "Yasunori Sōryō"'s call, 4 other members, including "Tomoko Sōryō" (or Tomoko Yoshihara at this point), gathered, and teamed up a new band.
The members of the band began to call themselves "Brown Rice" from sometime later, though the exact timing was not clear.
But seemingly, the band name "Brown Rice" was given in view of an organic-food boom in the United States at that era, according to "Tomoko Sōryō"'s blog.
In May the same year, MGM Records chairman, "Mike Curb" had a chance to come to Japan.
Mr. Curb auditioned "Brown Rice" and found them interesting. He scouted the group, and suggested them to start a new career soon in the United States.
In August '71, the members of "Brown Rice" moved to the United States, and began to receive training from a renowned arranger "Don Costa".
And September the next month, "Brown Rice" released their first single, "On the Roadside" by having "Mike Curb" & "Don Costa" as producers.
Since then, the band started concert tours across the United States.
In September 1973, "Brown Rice" was presented a nice song titled "Country dreamer", surprisingly from "Paul McCartney". They soon released this number from MGM.
Like that way, the group continued to perform in America until the end of 1974. (except from Oct.1972 to May 1973, when they were recording a local album in Japan.)
In December 1974, "Brown Rice" returned to Japan, and released their first domestic album "Tabi no owarini" (At the end of the tour) in May.
Then, the group decided to break up. And the history of the band ended after 4 years.
Solo & Jim Rock Singers
After come back to Japan, "Tomoko Yoshihara" & "Yasunori Sōryō" married, and "Tomoko" began to use "Sōryō" as her family name. (She is still using it when she performs as a singer, even after remarried.)
Before too long, "Yasunori Sōryō" set to prepare for recording solo albums of "Tomoko Sōryō" & himself, as a music producer.
Thanks to him, "Tomoko Sōryō" successfully released her 1st solo album, "Yasashiku ai shite" (Love me tender) in 1976 from RCA.
("Yasunori Sōryō"'s solo album became on sale a bit later in 1977.)
And in 1977, "Tomoko Sōryō"'s 2nd solo album, "City Lights By The Moonlight" was recorded, and launched. Afterwards in 1978, her first best album, "Tomoko Now And Then" were also planned, and released also from RCA.
After these albums, she move to "Express" label, so fans are calling this period "RCA years".
Her well known hit song, "Owari-no nai uta" (An endless song) a creation in this era as well.
At the same time, "Tomoko Sōryō" was participating in a "Yasunori Sōryō"'s new band "Jim Rock Singers" as a vocalist.
The group released their first album. "Good-Bye! Good-Bye! Good-Bye!" also in 1977.
Just for your information, here is a member list of "Jim rock singers", since it is rarely seen on the internet. (Ironically, it means we also are not 100% sure about the names of the members, because there aren't enough references. But anyway...)
- Vocal (+ α)
- Tomoko Sōryō
- Miwako Hiro
- Miyuki Maki
- Yoshikazu Ikeda
- Kiyoshi Hiyama
- Hiroaki Serizawa
- Yasunori Sōryō
Tinna
In 1978, "Tomoko Sōryō"'s partner, "Yasunori Sōryō" had been participating in a recording of a sound track album, for an Formula 1 race documentary film, "Pole Position" (or "Speed Fever").
"Tomoko Sōryō" & her fellow vocalist "Mariko Takahashi" at "Brown Rice", were asked from "Yasunori Sōryō" to help his recording together with an instrumental team of ex-"Brown Rice".
This is just information for you, but "Mariko Takahashi" is a Japanese-American singer belonged to "Brown Rice" & "Tinna", and not a same person with "Mariko Takahashi" who used to be a member of "Pedro & Capricious".
This album, titled "Let Me Love You" was released in September 1978. The vocalist team, "Tomoko" & "Mariko" showed an excellent performance on this album.
Thanks to this success, the unit became independent, and started singing as a pop duo "Tinna".
In December 1978, "Tinna" released their first album "Long Distance" from Express label, and attracted a lot of fans with their remarkably beautiful, and dynamic harmony.
Since then, "Tinna" has released 7 singles, and 4 albums including their hit song "Shining Sky" (Campaign song for ANA), until they stopped the activity in 1981.
Strangely, none of "Tinna"'s albums, except "Let Me Love You" have not been re-issued in any format until now.
We don't know what is the reason. But certainly, "Tinna" is one of the music artists, that the reissues of their albums have been the most eagerly awaited.
Solo again...
In 1981, "Tomoko Sōryō" brought out her 3rd studio album, "It's about time", and resumed her solo activity.
"Sōryō" actively participated in sound tracks, or new albums of other artists, as a main vocal or backing chorus, throughout the '80s.
And in 1984, she recorded a duet song "Two in the wind", by having a prominent arranger, "Akira Inoue" as a duet partner.
Recent
After remarried in the early '90s, "Tomoko Sōryō" has been working at her own pace, at least as a musician.
In 1997, she began to practice a certain school of meditation, and in 2001 she move to "Okinawa".
In 2010, she was recognized as a meditation trainer. Since then, she is having a busy life for teaching meditation to the students of her training establishment.
-
(Ref: omoya.ti-da.net,
profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
We couldn't find a suitable video clip of "Tomoko Sōryō" so far.
So, we would like to post a link if we discover anything good sometime.
Music Samples
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recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp)
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Japanese Letters
| Song Title | City Lights by the Moonlight |
|---|---|
| Artist | 惣領智子(Tomoko Sōryō) |
| Album Title | City Lights by the Moonlight |
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