Back in the mid-70s there was a club I worked in where the DJ would always plays this album that grabbed my attention.
After hearing it for a few weeks I finally asked him what it was. He showed me the album and told me it was called Rising Sun...



...by a bass player named Teruo Nakamura. (U.S. release cover shown)

2 tunes in particular i'd start asking him to play were Cat and Stepping with Lord.

A few months ago I started having a craving for the tunes but for the life of me I couldn't remember the name of the album or the artist.
The thing I did remember was the album cover. While perusing a few rare record sites, suddenly I spotted it. Unfortunately the album was unavailable. I asked a co-worker whether he was hip to this guy and he told me that the name sounded familiar. Come to find out, he's a good friend of the company president.

After a few emails that laid out my tale of woe, this showed up in the mail yesterday...



...New York Music Diary 1976-77

This is one disc includes 2 of his releases...



...Rising Sun (Japanese release artwork) & Song of the Birds

You make think you've never heard this cat but if you've ever listened to P.M. Dawn's Filthy Rich from The Bliss album...?, the sample that includes the bassline is Teruo's tune Firefly. Check the credits and you'll see Nakamura as co-writer.
Glad to see the brothers gave credit.


Disc details...
--- Tracks #1-7 from "Song of the Birds" ---
Horn arrangement by Shiro Mori
Recorded at A&R Recording Studio, New York City, February-May 1977
Recording Engineer: Tom Bush, Assistant Engineer: Olie Cotton
Produced by Teruo Nakamura for Kitty Records

--- Tracks #8-13 from "Rising Sun" ---
Produced by Teruo Nakamura for Kitty Records
Recording Engineer : Don Hahn / Ass. Engineers : Tom Bush, Ollie Cotton
Mixed by Fon Hahn
Recorded at A&R Studio, New York City, April 1, 13, 26, 1976
Produced by Teruo Nakamura
Licensed by Kitty Records for Cheetah Records
Mastered by Joe Berger / Remasterd by Masaru Takagi
Art Direction by Nobuo Kanai / Design Assistance by Tatsuji Shimooka
Illustration by Akimi Nakamura
Inner Photo by Shongo Satoh / Cover Photo by Makoto Sakai
Art Webb appears courtesy of Atlantic Records
Herbie Hancock appears courtesy of Columbia Records

CREDITS (musicians) :
Tracks #1-7 from "SONG OF THE BIRDS":
Teruo Nakamura : bass, electric bass, harmonica, synthesizer, percussion
THE RISING SUN:
Shiro Mori : guitar, synthesizer
Mark Gray : piano, electric piano, synthesizer, organ
Harry Whitaker : piano, electric piano
Carter Jefferson : tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Keiji Kishida : drums
Nobu Urushiyama : percussion

GUEST ARTISTS:
John Mosley : trumpet, flugelhorn
Art Webb : flute
Herbie Hancock : electric piano, synthesizer
William J. Ohashi, Sal Randazzo, James E.Stowe : trombone
Lani Groves : vocals
Art Gore, Bruno Carr, Robert "Chocolate" Right, James H. Madison : drums
Neil Clarke, Craig Haynes, Tadashi Yasunaga, Richard Barrata, Benny Yee : percussion

Tracks #8-13 from "RISING SUN":
Teruo Nakamura : bass
Art Gore, Keiji Kishida : drums, percussion
Bob Neloms, Harry Whitaker, Onaje Allan Gumbs : electric piano
Shiro Mori : guitar
Lonnie Smith, Jimmy Sidey, Shiro Mori : synthesizer
Steve Grossman, Carter Jefferson : saxophones
John Mosley : trumpet
Sandi Hewitt, Pricella Baskervill, Lonnie Smith : vocal

TRACKS (total time 68:51) :
from "SONG OF THE BIRDS":
1. Manhattan Special (6:24)
2. Rainbow (5:48)
3. Mescalito (4:11)
4. Firefly (4:37)
5. Wiggle Worm (4:09)
6. Mr. Cherry And Mr. T. (2:33)
7. Love Is A Reflection In The Mirrors Your Eyes / Sunrise In Africa (8:26)

from "RISING SUN"
8. Rising Sun (4:10)
9. Cat (7:20)
10. Steppin With Lord (8:18)
11. Red Shoes (3:04)
12. Precious One (6:43)
13. Sweet Pea & Collard Greens (7:13)




Cat seems to be a very popular tune among the hip DJs.

He's currently doing a concert in Japan. Hopefully i'll get to meet him the next time i'm in NYC.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

...

hmmm.... got any audio snippets?


and do you know anything about this one, called Unicorn ?----I was curious about it---- another all-star collab of his, circa 1973?





...
[Edited 8/16/06 14:59pm]

I personally haven't heard it but when you look at the cats playing on it, how bad could it be.

Btw, you might have an orgnote before too long.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

...








...

I haven't heard of Teruo Nakamura, and honestly the session musician names aren't ringing too many bells either but I would definitely check it out after peepin' ya thread, Neal.

(okay, i see herbie hancock and lonnie smith but besides them)

CinisterCee said:

Oh really.




tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

So are those all of the songs from both albums on one CD???

CinisterCee said:

Yep.

Kinda like regaining an old friend along with getting a new one.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

No one else interested? Probably the best music I heard all year.

CinisterCee said:

That's very kind CC.

I owe Mr. Nakamura a thank you email and will be including your comment.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I'm getting more and more interested in expanding my musical horizons.


I now have an hour commute each way and love good music to listen to while I'm on the road.