Osaka Song Recording History

Music has always been a major part of Osaka’s culture. From traditional enka and minyo songs to contemporary J-pop and EDM, Osaka has a diverse musical landscape that reflects the city’s rich cultural history. In addition to the city’s vibrant entertainment scene, Osaka has also produced a number of well-known musicians and groups. Some of the most notable include Hikaru Utada – Queen of J-pop, NMB48, and Shonen Knife.

NMB48 is a group of young female Japanese idols who formed an all-female rock band in 2012. The band has sold over 100 million albums and holds the record for the longest running time with the same members for an all-female group.

The band has also gained attention for its colorful costumes and energetic live performances. The group is based in Osaka and consists of 12 members, including vocalist, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, and drummer. The members are aged between 20 and 22 and are well-known in Japan as well as around the world.

Although their music is a blend of different styles, NMB48’s sound has become synonymous with Osaka. Their unique style has attracted many fans from across the country and abroad. They are known for their catchy and upbeat songs.

While Tokyo was recovering from the 遊技機　サウンド制作 devastating earthquake in 1923, some of the jazz musicians moved to Kobe and Osaka. The city was home to the head offices of both Victor and Columbia, which allowed for the recording of a wide variety of jazz tunes. Interestingly, some of these early jazz recordings included Filipino musicians. It is said that the Philippines was an American colony at the time, and it is likely that Filipinos learned how to play jazz from the Americans.

In the late 70s, a mysterious Osaka-based label named Vanity Records was set up to experiment with emerging electronic equipment. The label was short-lived, but it left behind an archival legacy of grainy albums that blurred the lines between post-punk oddities, gritty new wave, minimal synth, and radio noise experiments. This ethos of experimental exploration makes their records alluring to international crate diggers today.

In 1995, UK label Grind/Crust released the posthumous compilation LP “Eye of Thrash Guerrilla”. This album marked the end of Crow’s Osaka era and featured songs that were previously recorded in much rawer form on their debut EP “Last Chaos” and 1995 album “The Crow.” These recordings feature frontman John Cafiero and a revolving lineup of punk-rock legends as his backing band. While the lineup changed throughout the Crow’s lifespan, Cafiero always remained at the forefront of their creative vision. The five tracks on the album showcase a fuller, metallic crust sound.