Track 1: "Rokka Bai Mai Baby"

Mr. Hosono, how does it feel to be honored with a tribute?

SakamotoNow, in Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Sound Museum," we welcome Haruomi Hosono. Good evening.

HosonoGood evening.

SakamotoAs I recall, this is the first time we've spoken together on the radio.

HosonoWe've never spoken face-to-face like this before, it's unusual.

SakamotoIt is unusual. A historic moment. Ah, perhaps not (laughs). That's an exaggeration. The Haruomi Hosono Tribute Album will be released on April 25th.

HosonoI feel rather apologetic about being honored with a tribute.

SakamotoUntil now...

HosonoNo, there hasn't been (laughs).

SakamotoFor a writer, it might feel like a complete works has been published.

HosonoNo, it's completely different. A tribute is a complex thing; you think, 'It's already happened, and I'm still alive' (laughs).

SakamotoIs that how you feel?

HosonoFor example, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, he's a bit wobbly (laughs), but for someone like him, a tribute might be nice, to make him happy. So I thought, 'Has it finally come to this?' (laughs).



SakamotoThis time, Van Dyke Parks is also involved...

HosonoYes, I was very happy about that. That great senior figure, or rather, master, is involved.

SakamotoIn a sense, he's a guru, isn't he?

HosonoNot quite a guru (laughs), but a master I respect. As for seniors, I think of Monsieur Kamayatsu and Mickey Curtis, ho ho ho. I respect them too.

SakamotoWho are as important to you as Van Dyke Parks, Mr. Hosono?

HosonoWell, yes, people from my generation who greatly influenced me include Van Dyke Parks, The Band, and so on. Many musicians from the 70s, based around California. Or Woodstock. People from Woodstock also performed this time.

SakamotoJohn Sebastian.

HosonoI was so grateful, so incredibly grateful. It almost feels like an imposition.

SakamotoI wouldn't say so (laughs).

HosonoWhat made me very happy was that, in essence, the results were excellent, truly excellent. I was delighted.

SakamotoWe are also very happy to be able to release this from our label, 'commmons'.

HosonoYou can savor each and every song.

SakamotoIt's deeply flavorful.

HosonoYour rendition, Mr. Sakamoto, was also wonderful. Truly, truly.

SakamotoTo hear you say that makes me blush.

HosonoNo, no (laughs). You didn't cut any corners, did you? (laughs)

SakamotoI didn't cut any corners. Although it sounds quite simple, it took about two weeks. That's unusual for me. Shall we listen to the first track? Actually, the first track on the album comes from a hidden tape of yours, Mr. Hosono.

HosonoYes, yes. They keep turning up all the time. Buried amongst the rubbish (laughs).

SakamotoI've heard that you tend to keep everything, Mr. Hosono.

HosonoI don't intend to keep them, I just don't throw them away...

SakamotoThat's why they accumulate.

HosonoI don't organize things. The other day, someone came over looking for an important cassette tape from that era, searched for it, but it wasn't there. In the end, it was found in a shoebox, in the most unexpected place (laughs).

SakamotoYou must have put it there yourself (laughs), surely. It's strange, but it's on the first track. It's from a demo tape of me playing "Rokka Bai Mai Baby" on the piano. This was in Sayama, wasn't it?

HosonoYes, Sayama.

SakamotoThen please listen.

──DISC 1
01. "Rokka Bai Mai Baby - Piano Demo ver.- " Haruomi Hosono

──Next, we continue with Track 2, "Yellow Magic Carnival."