"Four Seasons" by Samurai (Japan, 1970)

https://www.facebook.com/prognotfrog Samurai -- a Japanese group led by vocalist/flautist Miki Curtis. They went to Europe in late 1967, picking up some European members and thus becoming half-Japanese. In London they recorded a single and their debut album, the double-LP [so I'm told] 'Samurai' a.k.a. 'Miki Curtis & Samurai' [German Metronome, 1970], as well as a single only released in Italy. They should not be confused with the UK group of the same name, who released a self-titled LP on Greenwich in 1971.

Their second album, 'Green Tea' [Philips, 1970], is as far as I can tell simply a single-LP repackaging of the debut only released in Japan, to where the band had returned. The last album that I know of is 'Kappa' [Philips, 1971]. The band played a varied kind of psychedelic progressive rock, occasionally a bit hard-rocking, with jazzy and exotic Asian touches. They've been compared by Vernon Joyson to Andwella's Dream and early Traffic. The music on their first album [the only one I've heard] is fairly accessible, but without at all sacrificing quality or creativity. On 'Kappa' they reputedly played lengthier tracks with more of a heavy progressive leaning. 'Samurai'/'Green Tea' [single LP version] was reissued on CD by P-Vine. The bass player, Tetsu Yamauchi, was later in Friends [see above], Free and The Faces, as well as pursuing a brief solo career. Drummer Yujin Harada was later in the last incarnation of Far East Family Band [see above]. Graham Smith, credited on harmonica on the first 2 albums, is probably the same person who later played violin in String Driven Thing and Van Der Graaf.
http://www.recordheaven.net/japan.htm

- Miki Curtis: Vocals, Flute
- Joe Dunnet: Guitar
- Yamauchi Tetsuo: Bass
- Harada Yuji: Drums
- John Redfern: Organ
- Hiro Izumi: Guitar, Koto
- Mike Walker: Vocals, Piano
- Graham Smith: Harmonica

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Four Seasons
• Green Tea
• Samurai
• Miki Curtis
• Joe Dunnet
• Yamauchi Tetsuo
• Harada Yuji
• John Redfern
• Hiro Izumi
• Mike Walker
• Graham Smith
• Japan
• 70s
• prognotfrog
• prgntfrgsnds

[BadButNotSad]

The best part is 1:29 to 9:53 IMHO!

[flamingoes88]

Great!!!!!

[TheBahnhofskino]

eine erfreuliche entdeckung...

[jonsilence]

Musically, this sounds like Dave Lawson's Samurai. Very nice.

[Casbahs19]

Where is Joe Dunnett now - anyone have a point of contact, please.

[cuntsgab]

hot.

[sexual9130]

doooope

[GrayBebout]

yes, very 70s, groovy indeed

[gonnabaroberts]

Groovy man!!

[TPBXDRicky420]

Great.