Meiko Kaji – Hajiki Uta LP WeWantSounds (UK)

LP version. Wewantsounds announce an extensive reissue program of Meiko Kaji‘s first five albums released in Japan between 1972 and 1974 on Teichiku Records. The program, in partnership with Teichiku and Meiko Kaji, will see her first five albums reissued on vinyl for the first time ever in their original Japanese artwork and remastered audio. Famous for her early ’70s exploitation movies (Lady Snowblood, the Female Prisoner Scorpion and Stray Cat Rock series) revered by Quentin Tarantino, Meiko Kaji was also a singer releasing albums to tie in with her movie career. These albums are a fascinating mix of Japanese pop and groove with superb funky cinematic orchestrations as displayed in Hajiki Uta. A cult icon on the international film scene, Japanese actress Meiko Kaji, born in Tokyo, has been put into the spotlight internationally by Quentin Tarantino when he heavily based his Kill Bill film on the 1973 revenge genre film Lady Snowblood. By the time she appeared in it, she had already made almost fifty feature films (she began her career in 1965) and she was one of the most famous exploitation actresses in Japan doubling as a sex symbol. This gave the studios the idea of getting her to start a singing career and release music closely associated with the films she starred in often singing the theme songs. Thus, she began releasing records at the dawn of the ’70s, recording several 7″ singles and five albums for Teichiku which have become sought-after and almost as cult as her films. Drawing on her film roles, the music on these albums were an uber-cool mix of kayokyoku (Japanese pop), traditional enka music, acid folk, and funky beats arranged by the best producers of the time in a cinematic way that could sound like Ennio Morricone or Jean-Claude Vannier. The album featured two film songs, namely “Urami Bushi” used for Female Prisoner Scorpion, and “Onna No Jumon” featured in Female Prisoner Scorpion – Jailhouse 41, which have been composed by Shunsuke Kikuchi who also composed the score for these films. Reissued with original artwork. Features new liner notes by Hashim Kotaro Bharoocha who has interviewed Meiko for the occasion. LP version comes in gatefold sleeve; OBI strip and insert.