Various Artists – Around 40 ～サマフォー～ (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

ARTIST: Various Artists

ALBUM: Around 40 ～サマフォー～ (Sumafro)

LABEL: SME Records Inc.

CATALOG #: SECL-782

DURATION: 1:05:35

RELEASE DATE: June 17, 2009

TRACK LISTING:

1. TUBE – 夏を待ちきれなくて (Natsu wo Machi Kirenakute)
2. PRINCESS PRINCESS – 世界でいちばん熱い夏 (Sekai de Ichiban Atsui Natsu)
3. 森高千里 (Chisato Moritaka) – 私の夏 (Watashi no Natsu)
4. 松田聖子 (Seiko Matsuda) – 夏の扉(Natsuno Tobira)
5. 吉川晃司 (Koji Kikkawa) – モニカ (Monica)
6. カルロス・トシキ & オメガトライブ (Carlos Toshiki and Omega Tribe) – アクアマリンのままでいて (Aqua Marine no Mamadeite)
7. 杉山清貴 & オメガトライブ (Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe) – ふたりの夏物語 NEVER ENDING SUMMER (Futari Natsu no Monogatari NEVER ENDING SUMMER)
8. 浜田省吾 (Shogo Hamada) – ラストショー (Last Show)
9. 稲垣潤一 (Junichi Inagaki) – 夏のクラクション (Natsu no Klaxon)
10. 岡村孝子(Takako Okamura) – 夢をあきらめないで (Yume wo Akiramenaide)
11. REBECCA – MOON (Remixed) Edition
12. 久保田利伸 with ナオミ キャンベル (Toshinobu Kubota with Naomi Campbell) – LA.LA.LA LOVE SONG
13. 小泉今日子 (Kyoko Koizumi) – あなたに会えてよかった – Anata ni Aiete yokatta
14. 渡辺美里 (Misato Watanabe)- サマータイムブルース (Summer Time Blues)
15. 井上陽水 & 安全地帯 (Koji Tamaki & Yousue Inoui) – 夏の終りのハーモニー (Natsu no Owari no Harmony)

In the US, we tend to regard 70-90′s songs as “Classic Music” but in Japan, the term “Around 40″ is used (especially for songs created in the 1980′s).

And to capitalize on those who reminisce of that 80′s, SME Records released their first “Around 40 ~Arufro~” compilation album which met with success. So, the label releases another compilation featuring tracks from the 80′s and 90′s for the Summer titled “Around 40 ~Sumafro~”.

Granted, there are going to people who question the label tactic of selling these “Around 40″ albums and some who feel it makes those who are performing the songs and those listening to an older age demographic. Also, depending on the viewer, selections of songs are going to be up to the preference of the listener.

With that being said, personally, for me…it was the 90′s songs that I tend to have gravitated to. I enjoyed were Chisato Moritaka’s “Watashi no Natsu”, Shogo Hamada’s “Last Show”, Toshinobu Kubota and Naomi Campbell with “LA.LA.LA. Love Song”, Kyoko Koizumi’s “Anata ni Aete yokatta”, REBECCA’s “MOON” and Tamaki Koi and Yosue Inoue with “Natsu no Owari no Harmony”.

The CD insert is a booklet which features the lyrics to the songs and the CD jewel case fits into a slipcase.

But I would expect that this compilation is a mixed bag of sorts and not sure if a listener will enjoy all songs as opposed to few (depending on their preference) and of course, if that was the case, a listener might as well go digital and find the songs that they enjoy versus spending over $25 for a compilation album that they may only find a few songs to their liking.

Overall, “Around 40 ~Sumafro~” is an entertaining, walk back into memory lane and for many listeners, I’m sure that there will be some music fans that will be attracted to the complete tracklisting on this “Around 40″ compilation.  But for those that want only a few songs from this compilaton, in this day and age and people wanting to save money, I foresee most people downloading those few tracks they want via digitally online.

Purchase this album:

Around 40 – Sumafo -

V.A.