岡林信康 Okbayashi Nobuyasu (Happy End) "見るまえに跳べ" 1976 Japan Psych Folk Rock
Nobuyasu Okabayashi. In Japan he is known by the nicknames of Bob Dylan Japanese, and as God of Folk. There is that. Nobuyasu was born on July 22, 1946 in the small town of Omihachiman, located in Shiga prefecture. His father was a pastor of a church in that city, and that’s where the good guy from Nobuyasu grew up.
Nobuyasu seemed to follow in his father’s footsteps when he began studying theology, but in September 1968 he participated in the third edition of the Folk Camp in Tokyo and after a few months he was already recording his first single. In 1969 his debut album was released. His subjects were vetoed in the media because of its subject matter. So he decided decidedly for the protest song.
He disappeared from the scene for 3 months until in 1970 he appeared out of nowhere with a new band, with four boys who played well and seemed to have some future, they were Happy End . With them he recorded some singles and the album reviewed here, but Happy End launched the majestic “Kazemachi Roman” while Nobuyasu in 1971 disappeared again and retired to the field.
But this time it was not months but years. 1973 was the date of his return. During that time I only had an old stereo radio as an external contact. His music was no longer just folky but as Dylan had switched to electricity. He released more rock albums that were well received by the public since his fans were avid for his songs. He would not stay there, he tried the Enka too, from the hand of the great Hibari Misora. For this reason it has not been uncommon for one of his latest releases to be an album of versions as a tribute. And during the 80’s he went from making records with parody themes to going through the whole country with only a harmonica and a guitar. Keep in shape and keep playing. Here is this exalted “見 る ま え に 跳 べ” where Nobuyasu is shown in all its splendor….~
Credits
Band – Happy End (tracks: A1,2,3 B2,3,4,6)
Bass – 細野晴臣*, 稲葉正三* (tracks: A4,5)
Drum – 小川敏夫* (tracks: A4,5)
Drums – 松本隆*
Flute – 木田高介* (tracks: B5)
Lead Vocals – 岡林信康*
Organ – 渡辺勝* (tracks: A1,4,)
Performer – 大滝栄一*, 鈴木茂*
Piano – 渡辺勝* (tracks: A-4,5)
