🍏Sound Collection 18 "Mr. AOR" Boz Scaggs Japan Tour Special [70s Western Music] [My Playlist]

Starting with the Tokyo performance tomorrow, May 22nd, Boz Scaggs will be holding his first Japan tour in two years across six cities nationwide.

To commemorate his visit to Japan,
this edition of "🍏Sound Collection" "Mr. AOR" will feature a special on Boz Scaggs🎧

What do you think? Boz was 36 at the time, so he was a "Middle Man" just like the album title.
It is overflowing with a fragrant, mature charm that a young man just cannot pull off.

"For 50 dollars, JoJo will arrange everything.
Making women earn money, wearing mink, and acting like a gentleman.
A middleman in the neon city. That is his true identity🎵"

Next, another song from this album, "Middle Man".
Used in a TOYOTA TV commercial, this song also became a huge hit🎧

"Spreading your wings of night, you fly away again.
I can no longer hear your voice.
Even when tonight's dream ends,
I will be right here.
So that you can always come back🎵"

I fell in love with the woman JoJo keeps.
It is the nature of a pure-hearted man, isn't it?

By the way, the one playing the passionate guitar solo in the interlude of this song is "Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile)"'s Carlos Santana (*the video features someone else)🎸


Here, let's briefly review Boz's profile✍️

Born in a small town in Ohio in 1944, Boz Scaggs joined his childhood friend Steve Miller's band before debuting as a solo artist.
He released records with a roots-rock orientation, gaining popularity among a segment of fans.
Meanwhile, the funky soul sound of "Slow Dancer" (Japanese title "Cisco Face"), released in 1974, attracted attention.

Taking that direction further and depicting a more sophisticated world of mature rock & soul was the masterpiece "Silk Degrees" (1976)🎧

Taken in by a city woman's pathetic life story, the man commits a crime and gets thrown in the slammer.

"Georgia. If only they would let me out of here, we could be together.
Won't you tell them?
Tell them I did it all for you.
They probably won't believe it though🎵"

The man vaguely realizes he has been deceived, but he wants to believe the words of the woman who said she wanted to be with him.
Isn't that endearing?

From this "Silk Degrees", "It's Over" (No. 38 in the US), "Lowdown" (No. 2), and "Lido Shuffle" (No. 11) were released as singles, and "Lowdown" became a massive hit that won a Grammy Award🏆

Naturally, one would expect "Lowdown" to be released as a single in Japan, but
surprisingly, "Georgia" was chosen as the single instead😵

This strategy worked perfectly, and the stylish, danceable sound you see here captured the public's attention.
And the second song chosen to follow it was this masterpiece that everyone knows🎧

Riding on a beautiful piano intro, Boz begins to sing.

"Outside, it started to rain.
It doesn't look like it's going to stop, so
stop crying now🎵"

Boz's breath turns into white smoke.

"Close the windows and turn down the lights.
There is no one to disturb us.
Just you and me.
Just the two of us🎵"

Women all over Japan had their hearts captured by Boz's singing voice, and men longed for Boz's dangerous scent.

"We're All Alone"
With this one song, Boz Scaggs became synonymous with stylish urban music🍷

A year and a half after the massive success of "Silk Degrees."
Boz finally released , "Down Two Then Left" (1977).

A tight rhythm you can tell from the first listen.
While following the stylish soft & mellow sound of his previous work,
Boz was one step ahead of the times, evolving into a sound with a stronger rock feel.

"Once again I'm falling into the depths of your magic.
Returning to the inescapable cell.
Caught in your hands,
I can no longer escape 🎵"



Here is a song. I'd like to introduce a request from a listener, "M-san."

"Saturday Night Fever" starring John Travolta, from the youth movie "Urban Cowboy", here is "Look What You've Done to Me" 🎧

"The bridge burned down in the fire of your eyes.
Yes, it's all your fault.
I never thought I'd fall for you so easily.
Hey, you. Don't tell me it's a lie.
After making me feel this way 🎵"

By the way, the ones providing the lovely harmonies behind Boz are Eagles members 🦅

Even so, Travolta is really a great dancer, isn't he? 🕺


We've been bringing you the "Boz Scaggs Special,"
and there is only one song left.

Finally, this is the song I listened to while looking at the night view of the strait from a bus window, holding the "Silk Degrees" record I bought at a record store run by a manager whose face looked like a mackerel when I was in high school 🎧

The sound of the electric piano begins to sway and sparkle like light drifting on the waves.

"I'm the son of Tokyo Rose.
Destined to wander far from home 🎵"

Nestled against Boz's sweet singing voice, the guitar dances in the air like a seagull.

"The memories of the Jamaican bay,
I'll save them for memories now.
Ah, the light like a goddess of beauty,
shimmering on the sea breeze,
brings me back to you.
Back to the one I love 🎵"

✍ I look forward to your opinions, impressions, and requests. (Harukaze)