Label:Tropical Guild – OT-3023
Country:Japan
Used 7" 1980
Disc:VG+/VG (faint mark on each side that causes a pop sound but otherwise the playback is excellent, check audio clips)
Jacket:VG+/VG (few light creases)
"Kyukyoku" (The Ultimate) was a legendary Okinawan folk duo formed by Shigeo Kakinohana and Hitoshi Nakayama. While still in high school, the pair won the Grand Prix out of 4,000 competing acts nationwide. Although they initially stepped back to focus on their studies, they were scouted by Susumu Takahashi who was Shoukichi Kina’s manager and the owner of the label behind this release. They were slated for a major-label debut featuring arrangements and production by Makoto Kubota, but the project was ultimately shelved. This is a rare self-released single that came out prior to the planned album; while it was a hit in Okinawa at the time, surviving copies are extremely scarce. It features two tracks that capture the pure, bittersweet essence of youth while displaying a level of musical polish rarely seen in high school musicians. Although the album was finally remastered and reissued in 2020, after a gap of 40 years, this single remains the only material actually released during that original era. This is the first time we’ve ever seen it.
沖縄では伝説のフォークデュオとして知られる垣花繁夫と中山 仁による究極。当時高校生だった二人が全国4000組の中でグランプリに輝き、一時は学業に専念するも喜納昌吉のマネージャー高橋進（本作のレーベルオーナー）にスカウトされ久保田麻琴のアレンジとプロデュースでメジャーデヴューするつもりがお蔵入り。本作はアルバムに先駆けリリースされ、当時沖縄ではヒットしたものの現存が限られているという幻の自主リリースシングル。ピュアで青春の甘酸っぱさが残るものの高校生らしからぬ完成度も随所に感じ取れる2曲を収録。2020年にそのアルバムが40年の時を経てリマスター再発されていますが当時のリリース物はこちらのみ。初めて見ました。
A - 六月の雨
B - 雨
