One of the coolest, most unusual books we've ever had on rare records – a set that's shaped like a pic sleeve 7" single, and which offers up page after page of listings of rare Japanese disco singles! As the title promises, the book has a strong focus on the b-sides – cuts that are even cooler than the main tracks for the singles, emphasized here in the listings to call attention to these overlooked funky gems! The book follows the format of other Japanese disc guides – with four records on each page, each represented with a full color replica of the original picture sleeve – plus artist, title, year, and label in English – and a short review of the record in Japanese, which you could easily read using Google Translate on your phone. The book is only 40 pages, but it's very well-priced – and provides a window into hundreds of rare and beautiful records you'd never find otherwise! (Books, Japanese) Book

One of the rarest Japanese hard rock albums of the 70s – and one of the heaviest too – a record that's definitely got plenty of the "too much" promised by the title and group! Juni Rush handles lead vocals, but the guitar work of Tutomu Ogawa may well be the equally strong main attraction – a searing, burning approach that really adds a lot to Juni's surprisingly soulful vocals, sometimes a bit freewheeling, other times with plenty of influence from blues and soul, and sung in English too! The group clearly have an influence from blues rock, but open up to much harder, heavier territory – on titles that include "Song For My Lady", "Gonna Take You", "Grease It Out", "Love That Binds Me", "Love Is You", and "Reminiscence". LP, Vinyl record album

Toshiyuki Miyama really makes the New Herd cook with this cool 70s session – a smoker of a large group date, and one with a great mix of funky rhythms and complicated instrumentation! The set's got a feel that's as exotic as its cover, yet comes across with a solid, soulful punch throughout – a wonderful blend of elements that always maintains its swing – and which holds onto the older Herd reputation for tightness of horns, while still allowing lots of room for creative instrumental expression. The lineup is large, but often comes across with a nice lean groove – and titles include "Adult's Day", "Hide & Seek", "Sun Shower Parade", "When A Swan Goes To Sleep", and "Grief For Enka". (Jazz, Japanese) LP, Vinyl record album

Really lovely guitar work from Masayoshi Takanaka – music that's part of that great solo change after his work in Sadistic Mika Band – as he really expanded his sound on guitar with all these cool chromatic touches that are perfect for the light fusion-based sound of the record! Masayoshi sings a bit too, but his main "voice" is the guitar – set up here in a small combo that features saxophone work from the great Jake Conception, and keyboards from Hiroshi Imai – all at a level that's nicely laidback, compared to some of Takanaka's later records. Titles include "Tropic Birds", "Oh Tengo Suerte", and "Funkee Mah Chan" – plus other titles in Japanese. (Jazz, Japanese) LP, Vinyl record album

A key showcase of some of the fantastic groups who were starting to shape the sound of jazz on the Japanese jazz scene at the start of the 60s –a set that's a nice contrast to the first volume in this series, which featured all of the different musicians jamming together! Here, leadership is the focus – as each number has the musicians showing of the way that they were moving Japanese instrumental music past some of the more mood-based styles that were still pretty dominant in the mainstream, and instead taking very strong lessons from the 50s American wave of players who revolutionized the sound of jazz with hardbop! Nearly every player here is at the start of their career, but about to unfurl music that would shape Japanese jazz for decades to come – and titles include "Late At Night" played by the combo of pianist Masao Yagi, "With A Feeling Of Love" played by tenorist Akira Miyazawa, "Four On Six" by guitarist Shungo Sawada, "For Singers Only" by pianist Norio Maeda, "What's Now" by pianist Keitaro Miho, and "Alone Together" by altoist Sadao Watanabe. (Jazz, Japanese) LP, Vinyl record album