Prologue (Jomaku)
Prologue (Jomaku) is the debut studio album by Japanese singer Akina Nakamori. It was released on 1 July 1982 under the Warner Pioneer label. The album includes the debut single "Slow Motion". It was recorded in the Los Angeles music studio, three months before Nakamori's debut.
Prologue (Jomaku) | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1 July 1982 | |||
Recorded | February 1982 (Los Angeles) | |||
Genre | Idol Kayokyoku | |||
Length | 38:58 | |||
Language | Japanese | |||
Label | Warner Pioneer | |||
Producer | Hiroo Oda | |||
Akina Nakamori chronology | ||||
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Singles from Prologue (Jomaku) | ||||
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Background
Prologue (Jomaku) is the first studio album released in 1982, two months after the release of her debut single Slow Motion.[1][2]
The early production of the album began in February and was finished within 5 days. There were five candidate songs to be chosen as a debut single: Slow Motion, Ginga Densetsu, Anata no Portrait, T-Shirt Sunset and Jōken Hansha. From among them, Slow Motion was chosen. During that time, most of the idols had debuted with an uptempo single, while the production staff wanted to make a difference in Nakamori's case and made a debut with a slow ballad.[3]
The music production team consisted of Motoki Fuyunaga, siblings Etsuko and Takao Kisugi, Mayumi Shinozuka, Tsuzuru Nakasato, Yuji Ohno and Shizuka Ijūin.[4]
Promotion
Single
The album consists of one promotional single, Slow Motion. The single itself wasn't such a huge success as the following single, Shoujo A. The single debuted at number 30 on Oricon Single Weekly Charts and charted 39 weeks.[5]
Music home video
On 1 May 1985, a second music home video was released Hajimemashita Nakamori Akina. It was released on Nakamori's third debut anniversary. The music videoclips were filmed in the United States, mainly in Los Angeles and Santa Monica. The filming of the music home video began before her debut, between the 11th and 17th of March 1982.[6] From the original album Prologue, was recorded Bon Voyage, Slow Motion, Ginga Densetsu and T-Shirt Sunset.[7]
Stage performances
Akina performs Slow Motion in all of her live tours.[5] Some of the songs were performed in the first live tour Milky Way in 1983, such as Anata no Portrait, Ginga Densetsu, and Down Town Story.[8] Bon Voyage, Jōken Hansha, T-Shirt Sunset A-Gata Melancholy, and Imāju no Kageri were performed in the live tour Rainbow Shower in 1983.
Chart performance
The album reached number five on the Oricon Album Weekly Chart for four consecutive weeks, charted 47 weeks and sold over 453,100 copies.[9]
Track listing
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arranger(s) | Length |
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1. | "Anata no Portrait" | Etsuko Kisugi | Takao Kisugi | Mitsuo Hagita | 4:20 |
2. | "Bon Voyage" | Mayumi Shinozuka | Eriko Tsukayama | Kazuo Ootani | 3:46 |
3. | "Imāju no Kageri" | Shinozuka | Juichi Sase | Hagita | 4:08 |
4. | "Jōken Hansha" | Noboru Mimuro | Nakasato | Funayama | 4:03 |
5. | "T-Shirt Sunset" | Masamitsu Tayama | Nakasato | Funayama | 3:12 |
6. | "Ginga Densetsu" | Shinozuka | Sase | Funayama | 3:42 |
7. | "Slow Motion" | E.Kisugi | T.Kisugi | Funayama | 4:06 |
8. | "A-gata Melancholy" | Masao Urino | Nakasato | Hagita | 3:13 |
9. | "Hitokakera no Emerald" | Alice Satou | Yuji Ohno | Kazuo Otani | 4:19 |
10. | "Down Town Story" | Shizuka Ijūin | Kuniko Fukushima | Otani | 4:13 |
Covers
Japanese singer-songwriter, Takao Kisugi covered Slow Motion in his solo album VISITORS in 1983.[10]
References
- "ファンタジー〈幻想曲〉 (中森明菜 ) - Warner Music Japan". wmg.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-03-02.
- "中森明菜 / ファンタジー〈幻想曲〉". cdjournal.com.
- 中川, 右介 (2014-12-30). 松田聖子と中森明菜 1980年代の革命. 朝日新聞出版. ISBN 978-4-02-261814-6.
- 馬飼野, 元宏 (2006-07-20). Hotwax presents 歌謡曲 名曲名盤ガイド 1980's. シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント. pp. 64, 221–222. ISBN 440175106X.
- Akina (Media notes). Warner Music Japan. 1993-11-10. WPCL-770〜3.
- "DVD Collection 2 | Akina Nakakamori | Warner Music Japan". Warner Music Japan. Archived from the original on 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
- Akina Nakamori (1 May 1985). Hajimemashite Nakamori Akina (VHS). Warner Music Japan. 10PV-38.
- (1983年) 中森明菜 Ballade Best: 25th Anniversary Selection〜#Akina Milkyway '83 Haru no Kaze wo Kanjite|Akina Milkyway '83 Haru no Kaze wo Kanjite Tour Pamphlet. (MILKY HOUSE)
- Oricon Album Chart Book Complete Edition 1970-2005. オリコン・マーケティング・プロモーション. 25 April 2006. pp. 3, 455–457, 883. ISBN 4871310779.
- "Discography of special albums (Takao Kisugi)". Takao Kisugi's Official Website.