One of Japan’s endearing rock bands from the 70’s are Bow Wow, legends in their time, and still revered today, led by the mercurial Kyoji Yamamoto, they were a huge draw in the homeland, to me, they are the perfect cross between hard rock and hard pop.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Bow Wow
ALBUM: Super Live
LABEL: Invitation
SERIAL: VIH-6022
YEAR: 1978
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Japan
LINEUP: Kyoji Yamamoto – vocals, guitars * Mitsuhiro Saito – guitars * Kenji Sano – bass * Toshihiro Nimi – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Introduction (Hey You Ready) * 02 Heart’s On Fire * 03 Jet Jive * 04 Explosion * 05 Still * 06 Just A Rockin’ Time * 07 Get On Our Train * 08 Just One More Night * 09 Theme Of Bow Wow * 10 Summertime Blues
WEBLINKS: Official Website
Background
One of Japan’s endearing rock bands from the 70’s. Legends in their time, and still revered today. Bow Wow were prolific when it came to releasing albums in their native Japan, and prior to them coming to England in 1982.. Their output was high and regular. Sounds like an ad for eating All-Bran, but I digress.
Led by the mercurial Kyoji Yamamoto, BW were a huge draw in the homeland, and drew cursory responses and raised eyebrows from music followers elsewhere around the globe. To me, they are the perfect cross between hard rock and hard pop.
The Songs
We reviewed their second LP ‘Signal Fire’ many years ago, and a few of the tracks from that set are on this one. I did also mention the Canadian band Teaze, and that reference point is reiterated once again in a live setting.
Considering the Canucks released a live album the same year (‘One Night Stands’), the connection is a pure coincidence, but a good one nonetheless. The dual opening pair of ‘Introduction (Hey You Ready)’ and ‘Hearts On Fire’ is the go-to opening sequences which literally sets this album on fire. Kyoji then kicks the show into high gear with the bruising ‘Jet Jive’, a quite frantic of work. Love it.
BW ease up a bit through the middle section of the LP, with ‘Explosion’ and ‘Still’ bother longer pieces, and drifting into progressive space rock. ‘Still’ in particular could be early 70’s era Scorpions with Uli Jon Roth guitar parts.
The band then lift for a big delivery on songs like the classic ‘Get On Our Train’ (one of my favourite songs of theirs), the galloping hard rock of ‘Just One More Night’, the manic singalong of ‘Theme Of Bow Wow’ and the raucous finale ‘Summertime Blues’ which brings down the curtain on a sonic performance.
In Summary
The other week, Malcolm wrote about the quality of live albums from the 70’s when he was reviewing Mott The Hoople‘s live LP. I wouldn’t go so far as to class ‘Super Live’ in the same bracket, but it surely is an enjoyable listen, and one which has a load of character.
There is much to discover with 70’s Japanese hard rock, and with bands like Carmen Maki’s Oz, Lazy, Murasaki and Bow Wow, we’re only just touching the sides. Grab all their Rock Candy reissues while you can.
Bow Wow on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
