Album: Go
Artist: Hiroshima
1987 CBS Inc./Epic Records
CD: EK 40679

Hiroshima
Dan Kuramoto: alto sax (1), tenor sax (4), flute (7, 8), shakuhachi (5), keys (1, 3, 5, 7), synths (1, 3, 5, 7), TX816 (4), Emulator II (4), percussion (not specified), drum programming (1, 3, 5, 7), vocals (1)
June Kuramoto: koto (all), shamisen (1, 5), vocals (1)
Johnny Mori: taiko (2, 5), percussion (5), additional vocals (1)
Danny Yamamoto: drums (2, 5-7), drum programming (7), percussion (5), additional vocals (1)
Barbara Long: lead vocal (3, 6, 8), vocals (1), background vocals (3)

with
Dean Cortez: bass (1, 5, 6), vocals (not specified)
Brad Cole: keys (3, 5), synths (3), Synclavier piano (6), TX816 (6), drum programming (3), background vocals (3)

L Carl Burnett: rhythm guitar (1), guitar (4, 7)
Luis Conte: congas (1, 7), percussion (1, 2, 7)
Michael Landau: guitar (3, 4, 6), guitar solo (1)
Derek Nakamoto: synths (1, 2), keys (2), string synthesizer (7), drum programming (2)
Jon Anderson: vocals (1)
Lani Ren Kuramoto: vocals (1)
Dave "The Blade" Knight: additional vocals (1)
Philip MacConnell: additional vocals (1)
Marlena Jeter: background vocals (2)
Jim Gilstrap: background vocals (2, 3, 8)
Alexandra Brown: background vocals (2)
George Duke: Synclavier (4), Synclavier drums (6, 8), TX816 (4), keys (8), guitar (8), bass (8), background vocals (8)
Louis Johnson: bass (4)
Roland Bautista: guitar (5)
George Del Barrio: Synclavier strings (6)
Paulinho Da Costa: percussion (6)
Carl Carwell: background vocals (8)
Lynn Davis: background vocals (8)
Josie James: background vocals (8)



Produced by D Kuramoto (1-3, 5, 7), Duke (4, 6, 8)
Associate producer: J Kuramoto
Recorded & mixed by Dan Murray (1-3, 5-7), Erik Zobler (4, 8)
Mixed by Murray (1-3, 5-7), Mick Guzauski (4, 8)
Additional recording by Tommy Vicari, Knight, Stephen Shelton, Bill Jackson, Coke Johnson, Mitch Gibson
Assistant engineers: Knight, Gibson, Judy Clapp, Shelton, Jimmy Preziosi, Mike Kloster
Production assistant: Alice Murrell (4, 6, 8)
Recorded at Sunset Sound Factory/Sunset Sound Recording/Ocean Way Recording (1-3, 5, 7), Le Gonks (4, 6, 8)
Mastered by Wally Traugott
Digitally remastered for CD by Fred Mitchell

Art direction: Tony Lane/Nancy Donald
Design: David Coleman
Cover theme: Kent Tayenaka
Photography: William Hames


Tracks:
1. "Go" [D Kuramoto] (4:16)
2. "I've Been Here Before" [J Kuramoto/Nakamoto] (5:32)
3. "311" [D Kuramoto/Dianne Quander] (4:32)
4. "No. 9" [D Kuramoto] (4:41)
5. "Obon" [D Kuramoto] (4:16)
6. "Even Then" [D Kuramoto] (5:54)
7. "Hawaiian Electric" [D Kuramoto/J Kuramoto] (4:36)
8. "Why Can't I Love You" [D Kuramoto] (4:52)

Arranged by D Kuramoto (1, 3, 5-7), Nakamoto (2), D Kuramoto/Duke (4, 8)
String arrangement by Del Barrio (6)



Notes: Japanese-influenced '80s soft jazz, with Anderson providing backing vocals on 1 track that are hard to discern. It's not bad Japanese-influenced '80s soft jazz, if you're into that sort of thing. The album name isn't the English verb for to depart, but rather the English transliteration of the Japanese 五, meaning 5 and pronounced "go", this being their fifth album. It was also their second to go Gold in the US.

On the vinyl, side B starts with "Obon".

Dan Kuramoto is from Los Angeles and met June there. June is the only band member born in Japan, and had moved to LA aged 6. Inspired by how Earth, Wind and Fire introduced R&B elements into jazz, and how Santana introduced Latino influences, D Kuramoto wanted to start a band for Asian American influences. (HP, 14 Nov 22)

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