Genre: Folk, Alternative, Psychedelic

Tracklisting LP
A1. Bokyo
A2. Sasurai
A3. Kazaguruma
A4. Hashi Mukou No Ie
A5. Sayonara No Kane
B1. Taketombo
B2. Kage Ga Mienai
B3. Kibun O Kaete
B4. Tobimasu
B5. Komori Uta

Release Info:
WRWTFWW Records is proud to present the first official worldwide reissue of the debut album from fabled Japanese folk singer-songwriter/actress/writer Hako Yamasaki, Tobimasu. The limited edition 180g vinyl LP comes in a heavy sleeve with the original artwork, and the digipack CD has one bonus track. Tobimasu is also available in digital formats.

Originally released in 1975 on legendary independent label Elec Records, Tobimasu is a masterpiece of melancholy carried by one of the most beautiful, moving, melodic, and haunting voices in the history of Japanese music. An extraordinary singer and guitar player, Hako Yamasaki wrote the album at only 18 years old, showing incredible emotional maturity and music making skills, and creating, out of nowhere, a downright classic of folk music, brilliantly arranged and sequenced.

Hako Yamasaki’s folk is bluesy, psychedelic, soft, and poetic, perfectly fitting the themes of nostalgia, love, and nature she covers with heartbreaking intensity. Her songs capture sorrow ravishingly, offering glimpses of empowering hope and uplifting wisdom. A unique voice, a unique approach, and nothing less than magnificent music.

Hako Yamasaki, a pioneer in both the creative boom and the rise of feminism in 1970s Japan, went on to release over thirty albums, building an impressive discography and a fascinating career filled with ups and downs. Her work, inimitable and timeless, deserves the utmost recognition and should be celebrated. Again and again and again.

Tobimasu is released in conjunction with Hako Yamasaki’s beautiful follow-up Tsunawatari, also available on WRWTFWW Records.

Points of interests

- For fans of folk, alternative, ballads, psychedelic, poetic music, the joy of love, the sorrow of love, nostalgia, nature, life, just life life life.

- Official reissue of Hako Yamasaki’s debut album in pristine 180g vinyl.




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Format Notes: 2022 re-press, 180g vinyl

Territories: Worldwide no restrictions

Track List:

A1 : Season For Love (3:06)
A2 : The Twelfth Of Never (2:25)
A3 : Trying To Understand A Woman (2:27)
A4 : When A Boy Falls In Love (2:38)
A5 : The Shortest Distance (0:36)

B1 : Hurt So Bad (3:16)
B2 : Walking On My Love (3:02)
B3 : Wichita Lineman (3:21)
B4 : Let's Try It Over Again (2:09)
B5 : The Magic Of Love (2:47)

Release Notes:

Mr Thing: "I've pretty much given up trying to find Season For Love. I'm glad you're doing these."

A monumental force firmly rooted in the soul canon, Willie Hutch is most notable for recording two of the best Blaxploitation soundtracks, The Mack and Foxy Brown. Yet his legacy is much greater. Outside of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, Hutch was arguably Motown's top male solo artist of the 70s. Prior to his association with Gordy et al, Hutch crafted his opening statements for RCA, two vital LPs that Be With Records is honoured to present today.

Often-overlooked, his second album Season For Love (1970) is a must for all deep soul fans and has been sought-after by collectors of different stripes for decades. Whereas his debut featured thundering, gritty numbers, Hutch treats us to a mellower soul here - sumptuous, warm and string-led. He compared his approach to that of Otis Redding and there are definite parallels; from the raspy, rough-hewn vocals that tend to roam between sweet and deeply impassioned to the horn-heavy, emphatic sonic backdrops.

With flawless originals presented alongside a few well-chosen classics (his stunning cover of "Wichita Lineman" arguably bests the original's splendour), it's easy to see why sample-based musicians have been falling over themselves to plunder from this album. Witness the sweeping strings that grace "The Magic Of Love" and the heartbreaking "Walking On My Love"; the mellifluous guitar work on the contemplative instrumental "The Shortest Distance" and gorgeous single "When A Boy Falls In Love".

Whilst the arrangements and playing are subtly jaw-dropping throughout, Hutch's uncontrived voice has a certain warmth to match a Nat “King” Cole and a purity of tone that even recalls the great Sam Cooke. Indeed, a few numbers are almost in a jazz vocal territory reminiscent of artists Lou Rawls. That's not to say that others lack the righteous energy and undeniable groove of Willie's later sound.

Remarkably consistent throughout – a rare commodity for many 70s soul albums – the lack of one signature song likely hindered its progress. Regardless, it deserved to make more of an impact and now, paired with the majestic debut, Soul Portrait, these recordings shine a new light on the early work of a soul legend.

Original vinyl copies of this album are extremely rare – and correspondingly expensive – so we’re thrilled to present the first ever vinyl reissue of a true lost classic. Mastered for vinyl by our esteemed engineer Simon Francis. It has been pressed on 180g vinyl for the first time and features the original, rarely seen artwork.
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