HiFi-Do E-mail Newsletter

Hello everyone. This is Minako Hotta from Hi-Fi Do Record Shop. Here in Japan, the heat of summer has gone and now the climate is getting milder and milder. Which means it has already been one year since I started working here. It has been fun and fruitful for me to discover new ways to enjoy music. I am very grateful for that.
By the way, do you like beautiful ladies? I like them very much, especially those with beautiful voices. Many of our customers who visit my store acquire for female vocal records and most of them request something comforting or seductive in a way. This time, I pick my favorite records that I recommend to such customers. *The picture on the left is from Panasonic's ad campaign that is very well known in Japan with its iconic line "Do you like beautiful ladies?".

The first two are very refreshing and charming. [Left] Day By Day - Doris Day I cannot think of any other songs that makes me feel refreshed as this album does. It just makes me happy. [Right] Anatomy of Love - Vikki Carr This is one of the masterpieces and definitely one of the best of Vikki Carr. If you like pop and something cute, this is for you.
	Silver - Solveig Slettahjell I often forget how to pronounce her name. She is one of the dos acknowledges singers from Norway. The clean impression is very Scandinavian I would say. I was petrified when I saw her age on wikipedia. I wonder if she is a fairy or something.

Miraculously, the next two has very similar artworks. Both has very vivid and bright voices. [Left] Now We May Begin - Randy Crawford This album is well known for one of the tunes Street Life which is originally a jazz song. [Right] Abbey Lincoln She has a powerful but not too thick voice. Her vividness reminds me of blooming sunflowers.
Blue Burton - Ann Burton I heard this Dutch singer was not very popular in her own country but I adore her honest & warm voice. The first tune I Can't Give You Anything But Love was translated "Sasagerumono ha ai nomi" in Japanese, meaning "It is only love that I give you". The title is very passionate & honest and so is her voice. She is the most intent singer I know.

The next singers are cute but seductive. They are not classic jazz but there is something attractive about them. [Left] Blossom Dearie - Blossom Dearie Many of strict jazz fans consider this unorthodox and don't take it seriously but I think this is a very good album also from technical side. [Right] Red - Diana Panton Diana is also known as "Sweet Voice" or "Canadian Fairy". Her voice is very cute in a natural way.



The next ones are from more recent years. [Upper left] Groovin' Jazz Night - Karen Aoki She is getting more attentions due to feature of her songs in one of famous Japanese soap operas "Hirugao. Her English is very fluent and she has a nice low voice. Her voice makes feel her intelligence. [Upper right] My Room the LP vol.1 - Hiroko Williams This one had been in the news among audiophiles for a while because of its superb sound quality. Her voice is relaxing and warm. She is very keen to try new methods and technologies. She is one of the artists I always keep an eye on. [Middle left] Butterfly Blue - Halie Loren Her voice is light but on a mid-low range. It is sweet but not too heavy to listen to. [Middle right] Essentials - Karen Souza I thought she was a bad girl when I saw the cover but the contents are really not and the impression is frank unexpectedly. Her voice has strength and all tunes including covers and originals are well sang and attractive. [Bottom] Brand-New Orleans - Ann Sally As the line "Music is about how you live" in the liner notes, this album is a summary of her background as a musician. Her voice is soft & tender. It reminds me of a slow & relaxed noon on a Sunday.

[Right] But Beautiful - Monica Lewis Can you see this sidelong glance...? The expression is just...♥ Everything about her is perfectly beautiful. The voice is on a lower side and sound like your older sister who takes care of you well.

These are ones with sweet husky voice. [Left] Born To Be Blue - Beverly Kenney One of only 6 albums of Beverly Kenney. She passed away young at twenty eight. There is nothing to complain about her quality of voice and technique. It is no wonder there are many fans among maniacs. [Right] Lonely Girl - Julie London I don't think she needs an introduction. Every album of hers is very good in look and sound but this would be my personal favorite. I think the minimal composition makes her shine very well.
I am not sure if you noticed but the orders are from cute to sexy from the top to the bottom. The ladies are all beautiful in look & voice and they never bore me. Their charms gives me supreme time and just blows all of my fatigues from work. There are many more beauties who are not on my list or waiting to be discovered out there. As a collector of "beauties on record jackets", I will continue to collect them and learn how to reproduce their voices with audio equipments as beautifully as possible.
By the way, we are currently featuring jazz vocal records in our store. We have the albums on the list in stock as well. And from this Saturday (Sept 10th), we are starting Global Beats Fair. We are waiting for your visit at Hi-Fi Do Record Shop.

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