Kangaroo: Difference between revisions
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In November and December of 1983, they joined Shakatak's | In November and December of 1983, they joined Shakatak's second Japan tour as the opening act. Notably on this tour, they added two vocalists, Midori Fukuhara and Emi Kuwazawa. Kangaroo's set only lasted 30 minutes, and aimed to avoid a bad impression by unfamiliar Shakatak fans<ref name=":3">Jazz Life 1984-02</ref>. They used these sets to improve their stage presence and refine their craft. Behind the scenes, they spent the entire tour with Shakatak both on and off stage. Roger Odell also wrote lyrics for Gemini, but they weren't included on the album.<ref name=":3" /> The tour final at Nakano Sun Plaza was released as both a Shakatak album and laserdisc, but without any mention of Kangaroo. Magazines often covered this tour under some variation of Shakatak vs Kangaroo. | ||
=== Visual Live (1984) === | === Visual Live (1984) === | ||
Latest revision as of 18:56, 3 March 2026
Kangaroo (カンガルー) | |
|---|---|
| Kangaroo Roppongi Pit Inn . Kangaroo Roppongi Pit Inn . | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | ???, Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres |
|
| Years active | 1982–1987 |
| Labels |
|
| Members | Hitomi "Aja" Maseki 柵木ひとみ (Keyboard) Ikuko "Ikko" Aragaki 新垣郁子 (Keyboard) Keiichi "Bon" Hidaka 日高恵一 (Guitar) Toshiro "Toshi" Mitsuda 松田俊郎 (Bass) Masashi "Pochi" Hasegawa 長谷川正志 (Drums) |
| Past members | Masayuki Tanaka 田中政行 Yoshiaki Tsukahira 塚平喜昭 Akira Ninomiya 二宮朗 Toru (Susumu) Ohya 大矢亨 Shiro Yajima 矢島史郎 Atsushi Makiuchi 牧内淳 Kazuyuki Morishita 森下一幸 Haruhiko (Harukichi) Yamamoto 山本治彦 Kimiyoshi Matsumoto 松元公良 Toshihiko Sahashi 佐橋俊彦 Masayuki Muraishi 村石雅行 Kenichi Mitsuda 光田健一 |
| Website | google |
Overview
Kangaroo (カンガルー, Kangaruu) was a Japanese Jazz Fusion and later City Pop band lead by ???. They were commonly known by the infamous nickname "Japanese Shakatak". They released 4 albums with a constantly shifting style before dissolving in 1987.
History
Formation (1982)
In 1982, keyboardists Hitomi Maseki and Ikuko Aragaki, guitarist Keiichi Hidaka, bassist Toshiro Mitsuda, and drummer Masashi Hasegawa, all based in Yokohama, formed Kangaroo. At that time, Yamaha hosted music competitions that had a precedent of both competitors and winners receiving record deals and becoming accomplished artists. The new nationwide Light Music Contest served as the final contest where the best bands of all of the regional Yamaha music contests fought for a top prize at a luxurious resort in Nemu. Last year, the prize was an album recording sessionn in LA, awarded to the winners Early Byrds. So in August of 1982, Kangaroo competed in Yamaha's EastWest '82[1]. They played one song, Taruikasu, which was written by Ikuko[1]. They won the contest, receiving the grand prix award and two best keyboardist awards, and were entered into Light Music Contest '82. They played Taruikasu again.[2] They did not win the contest, losing out to fellow fusion band Olieve's Step, but Hasegawa was given the best drummer award. Both competitions received a vinyl release,[1][2] marking the first recordings of the band. Winning EastWest was their first step towards notoriety and set them up for their debut album on Victor's Invitation label.
Meeting Shakatak (1983)
In March, somehow, they opened for Shakatak's first Japan tour, but only in Tokyo and Yokohama[3]. For unknown reasons, their sound took quite a turn from Taruikasu. Their sound was now much closer to Shakatak, and they were dubbed "Japanese Shakatak", for better or for worse. Meeting with Shakatak also resulted in Bill Sharpe and Roger Odell writing Love the Night Away on their first album, Steppin'. At the time, they had an average age of 23[3], and had a noteworthy gender split compared to other fusion bands.
On March 10th, they started recording their first album, originally set for release in July[4]. While recording their first album . On 1983 21 August, on Victor's Invitation label, they released their debut album, Steppin'. Steppin' was somewhat rushed, and added vocals and strings, distorting the original vision of what Kangaroo was.
In MONTH, They first started appearing in live houses in MONTH.
In November and December of 1983, they joined Shakatak's second Japan tour as the opening act. Notably on this tour, they added two vocalists, Midori Fukuhara and Emi Kuwazawa. Kangaroo's set only lasted 30 minutes, and aimed to avoid a bad impression by unfamiliar Shakatak fans[5]. They used these sets to improve their stage presence and refine their craft. Behind the scenes, they spent the entire tour with Shakatak both on and off stage. Roger Odell also wrote lyrics for Gemini, but they weren't included on the album.[5] The tour final at Nakano Sun Plaza was released as both a Shakatak album and laserdisc, but without any mention of Kangaroo. Magazines often covered this tour under some variation of Shakatak vs Kangaroo.
Visual Live (1984)
In January, right after finishing their tour with Shakatak, they went to the studio with their new vocalists and recorded Nice! Nice!! Nice!!!. Nice!^3 was later released on 1984 April 21.
Around 1984, they submitted a demo tape to Mitsubishi for their music to be used in a commercial, but they were turned down for not being famous enough despite having TV and event appearances.[6]
Starting in July 1984, Kangaroo started making headlines again as they started a new innovative concept. They stacked a grid of 12 27 inch TVs behind them, showcasing videos to go along with the 21 songs they performed. This received a lot of magazine coverage and helped separate them from Shakatak.
Disk (1985)
Likely as a move to further separate themselves from Shakatak, they changed their sound and it SUCKS!!!!
Switching to City Pop (1986)
Disk sucked so they switched again, but this album also SUCKS!!! This album sucked so much that they never played again. Very sad!
Members
File:KangarooMemberTimeline.png
Discography
Since 1982, Kangaroo has released 4 studio albums, no live albums or live video recordings, no archival albums, no compilations, and 500000 singles.
| English Title | Japanese/Alternate Title | Release Date | Album Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steppin' | ケンソー | 1983/08/21[8] | Studio Album |
| Nice Nice Nice | ケンソー Ⅱ | 1984/04/21[9][10] | Studio Album |
| Disk | ケンソー Ⅲ / KENSO(Ⅲ) | 1985 | Studio Album |
| Music For Unknown Five Musicians | イン・コンサート | 1986/02/21 | Studio Album |
Live Performances
Hard Rock Era 「県相 / 喧騒」 (1974-1979)
| Title | Date | Most Recent Album | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Concert | August 10th, 1976 | Pre-debut | Sagamihara Youth Hall |
| Sagamihara Sakura Festival | 1976/1977 | Pre-debut | Unknown Location |
| Kamimizo Noryo Summer Festival | 1976/1977 | Pre-debut | Unknown Location |
| Studio Live | 1979 | Pre-debut | Sagamihara High School |
Old Kenso 「ケンソー」 (1980-1989)
| Title | Date | Most Recent Album | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Live | December 1981 | Kenso | Kanagawa Dental University |
| Silver Elephant Live (with Aquapolis) | April 25th, 1982 | Kenso | Silver Elephant |
| School Festival | October 1982 | Kenso | Tokyo College of Music |
| School Festival | November 1982 | Kenso | Kanagawa Dental University |
| Silver Elephant Live (with Aquapolis) | April 3rd, 1983 | Kenso II | Silver Elephant |
| Shinjuku Loft Live (with Fromage) | May 16th, 1983 | Kenso II | Shinjuku Loft |
| Silver Elephant Live | July 24th, 1983 | Kenso II | Silver Elephant |
| Silver Elephant Live | August 1983 | Kenso II | Silver Elephant |
| Silver Elephant Live | January 15th, 1984 | Kenso II | Silver Elephant |
| Last Live 1984 | April 30th, 1984 | Kenso II | Silver Elephant |
| Silver Elephant Live | August 25th, 1985 | Kenso III | Silver Elephant |
| Music For Unknown Five Musicians | September 4th, 1985 | Kenso III | Roppongi Pit Inn |
| Silver Elephant Live | March 18th, 1987 | Music For Unknown Five Musicians | Silver Elephant |
| Sleeping Show for Kenso | March 22nd, 1987 | Music For Unknown Five Musicians | Roppongi Pit Inn |
| Silver Elephant Live | July 17th, 1988 | Self Portrait | Silver Elephant |
| Roppongi Pit Inn Live | November 27th, 1988 | Self Portrait | Roppongi Pit Inn |
| Roppongi Pit Inn Live | December 10th, 1989 | Sparta | Roppongi Pit Inn |
Yume No Oka Band (1990-2003)
| Title | Date | Most Recent Album | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roppongi Pit Inn Live | October 14th, 1990 | Sparta | Roppongi Pit Inn |
| Silver Elephant Live | October 10th, 1991 | Sparta | Silver Elephant |
| NHK-FM Session '91 | October 26th, 1991 | Yume No Oka | NHK Studio 505 |
| Club Quattro Live (with In Cahoots) | December 19th, 1991 | Yume No Oka | Club Quattro |
| Ishibashi Music Live | February 1st, 1992 | Yume No Oka | Ishibashi Music |
| Live '92 | February 29th, 1992 | Yume No Oka | Roppongi Pit Inn |
| Zaiya Live | August 3rd-4th, 1995 | Sora Ni Hikaru ~ Early Live Vol. 1 | Silver Elephant |
| Zaiya Live '96 | August 22nd, 1996 | Zaiya Live | On Air West |
| In The West | September 14th, 1997 | Zaiya Live | On Air West |
| Esoptron Live Tour 1999 | August 3rd, 1999 | Esoptron | Shinsaibashi Muse Hall |
| Esoptron Live Tour 1999 | August 5th, 1999 | Esoptron | On Air East |
| Esoptron Live Tour 1999 | August 14th, 1999 | Esoptron | Sagamihara Green Hall |
| 25th Anniversary Concert | April 30th, 2000 | 76/77 | On Air East |
| Progfest 2000 Rehearsal | August 19th, 2000 | Hitoku-sei Shinsho | Shibuya NEST |
| Progfest 2000 | September 1st, 2000 | Hitoku-sei Shinsho | La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts (USA) |
| Live 2002 | June 26th, 2002 | Fabulis Mirabilibus De Bombycosi Scriptis | On Air East |
| Roland Sound Spark 2003 | January 25th, 2003 | Fabulis Mirabilibus De Bombycosi Scriptis | Amlux Hall |
Modern Kenso (2003-present)
| Title | Date | Most Recent Album | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sagamihara High School 40th Anniversary Live | October 31st, 2003 | Fabulis Mirabilibus De Bombycosi Scriptis | Sagamihara High School |
| Ha-Re-Ki Live 2003 | November 2nd, 2003 | Ha-Re-Ki | Club Citta' |
| Chilling Heat | August 15th, 2004 | Ha-Re-Ki | Club Citta' |
| Off to the USA | June 26th, 2005 | Ha-Re-Ki | Club Citta' |
| NEARfest 2005 | July 10th, 2005 | Ha-Re-Ki | Zoellner Arts Center (USA) |
| Utsuroi Yuku Mono Live | October 22nd, 2006 | Utsuroi Yuku Mono | Club Citta' |
| Kenso at Live Spot RAG | May 4th, 2007 | Utsuroi Yuku Mono | Live Spot RAG |
| Kenso 2007 Live (Workshop & Live) | May 27th, 2007 | Utsuroi Yuku Mono | Yokohama Arena Sound Hall |
| 2008 Kenso at Kyoto RAG | July 20th, 2008 | Utsuroi Yuku Mono | Live Spot RAG |
| Persistence Pays Off | August 17th, 2008 | Utsuroi Yuku Mono | Club Citta' |
| Keep On Going On! | August 15th, 2009 | Kenso's Guide To Making Progressive Rock Music | Club Citta' |
| Uchinaru Koe Ni Kaiki Seyo | December 4th, 2011 | Kenso Aid ~ A Boy In Solitude | Club Citta' |
| Kenso Complete Box Fan Event | December 30th, 2012 | Kenso Complete Box | Silver Elephant |
| New Release And 40th Anniversary Live | August 17th, 2014 | Uchinaru Koe Ni Kaiki Seyo | Club Citta' |
| Traveller Of Eternity ~ Our Decade ~ Kenso Final Chapter Part 1 | November 12th, 2017 | Uchinaru Koe Ni Kaiki Seyo | Club Citta' |
| Life Must Go On Nevertheless ~ Kenso Final Chapter Part 2 | November 3rd, 2019 | Traveller Of Eternity ~ Our Decade | Club Citta' |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.discogs.com/release/10402417-Various-East-West-82-Live
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.discogs.com/release/27504675-Various-Light-Music-Contest-82-Live
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Adlib 1983-07
- ↑ Adlib 1983-04
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jazz Life 1984-02
- ↑ Kitagami: https://discord.com/channels/943690289695055932/1067674618346864741/1067699036213215242
- ↑ http://www.asahi.com/area/kanagawa/articles/MTW20180510150230001.html
- ↑ Adlib 1983-09
- ↑ Adlib 1984-05
- ↑ Jazz Life 1984-05
