Hi-Fi Set

Hi-Fi Set was a Japanese recording group formed in 1974, and later disbanded in 1994. The group's line-up consisted of Junko Yamamoto, Toshihiko Yamamoto and Shigeru Okawa.

Hi-Fi Set
ハイ・ファイ・セット
OriginJapan
GenresFolk
New Music
Pops
Years active1974–1994
LabelsAlpha and Associates
(1975-1978)
Toshiba EMI
(1978 ]-1983)
CBS/Sony
→ CBS/SONY RECORDS
→ Sony Records
(1984–1994)
Past membersJunko Yamamoto
Toshihiko Yamamoto
Shigeru Okawa

History

Early Years: Debut

In September 1974, the folk group known Red Bird was disbanded due to creative differences. Later, former members of the group Junko Yamamoto (vocal guitar), Toshihiko Yamamoto (guitar), and Shigeru Okawa (bass) decided to form their own group: Hi-Fi Set.

Breakthrough

Recording a new set of tracks, the group returned in 1975 with a Yumi Arai written song "Graduation photo" which was released simultaneously with the group debut album of the same name – same year. Throughout the year, the group re-recorded a series of Arai's song's who wrote for their album, songs such as "Cold Rain" and "Smile in the Morning Sun" which was later covered by Arai herself, these songs helped the group gain some momentum.

In 1977, Brazilian singer-songwriter Morris Albert's "Feelings" was covered by the group and it became an instant hit, the same year the group also made an appearance at the New Year annual TV special NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Since then, with outstanding vocal work by Junko Yamamoto's soprano, Toshihiko Yamamoto's tenor, and Shigeru Okawa's bass voice, and an urban and sophisticated arrangement sound, the group became a very popular folk group during the heyday of new music in Japan.

During the early years in their careers, the quartet performed as opening acts for established artists of the time as the likes of Miwako Hiromatsu. The group also gained fame with hits such "My Beautiful Music" and "Sky Restaurant" which was sampled by American recording rapper J. Cole,[1] these hit songs helped spur the group career and helped introduce them to a wider audience. In 1980, the group went into a hiatus but resumed a year later with their music, breaking a record by being the first act in Japanese music history to sing 4-beat jazz with Japanese composition.

In 1984, "I want to be honest" was released and the song became the group's most commercially successful song. With 26 single songs and 19 albums released throughout their years active as a group, In 1994 the group officially announced their disbandment and was disbanded.

Disbandment: Aftermath

Throughout the years, Junko Yamamoto was active as a singer/songwriter.[2][3]

After disbanding, Toshihiko Yamamoto continued his career as a music producer until his death in March 27, 2014.[4]

In 1995, groups Shigeru Okawa was arrested for an attempted theft at a supermarket in Aoba-ku, Yokohama. However, he was not charged. Ever since the group's disbandment, he has not returned to music.[5][6]

Members
  • Junko Yamamoto (December 30, 1949) (71 years old) was born in Tenkawa-mura, Yoshino-gun, Nara Prefecture.
  • Toshihiko Yamamoto (February 23, 1947 – March 27, 2014) (67 years old) Yamamoto was born in Osaka City.
  • Shigeru Okawa (b. September 6, 1945) (76 years old) was born in Mie Prefecture.

Discography

Albums
Sheets Release date Title Tracks
EMI Music Japan Toshiba EMI/ EXPRESS
1st 1975 February 5 Graduation Photo
  1. OVERTURE
  2. AGES OF ROCK AND ROLL
  3. Graduation photo
  4. Warmth of the chest
  5. Between today and tomorrow
  6. Big town
  7. Museum #Tenmaru wooden horse
  8. Fish and Chips
  9. Afternoon watching the sea
  10. Ai no Hana Blooming Road
2nd 1976 June 5 Fashionable Lover
  1. Star Stranger
  2. Chaoyang Smile inside
  3. Juman Nui
  4. Fairwell Party
  5. Cold Rain
  6. Fashionable Lover
  7. Desolate
  8. Midnight Remnants
  9. Moonlight
  10. Grand Canyon
3rd 1977 February 5 Love Collection
  1. On Any Sunday
  2. Rain Station
  3. Sleepy Morning
  4. Dazzling You
  5. Night Scratch
  6. Crystal Night
  7. Love Fee Ring
  8. Hi-Fi Set Version "Feeling"
  9. Country Boy
  10. Dreaming Jamaica
  11. Central Freeway
4th 1977 September 5 THE DIARY
  1. Love Diary
  2. Wind City
  3. Memo Random
  4. At the seaside summer resort
  5. Love is everything
  6. Marshmallow at the fireplace
  7. Someday to the star
  8. Personal message
  9. Little Baroque
5th 1978 June 5 Swing
  1. Swing
  2. Slightly detour
  3. Firebird
  4. Hang glider in the evening sky
  5. To the airport
  6. Dawn
  7. Lady Gray
  8. Dance Dance Dance
  9. Oh Lucky Lady
  10. Let me go
6th 1978 November 20 Coming Up
  1. Knockdown
  2. Shooting Star
  3. Midnight Angel
  4. Alone Christmas
  5. HAVANA CANDY
  6. Burbon Trip
  7. Monday Prologue
  8. Monochrome
  9. Night Sky South (WE ARE FLYING)
  10. Winter Sea
7th 1979 July 5 Flash (Flash)
  1. Two people along the line
  2. Last spring vacation
  3. School band girl
  4. 22 Hour 15
  5. Rain Waltz and Rubbing You
  6. Slow Dance
  7. Kimagure Trump
  8. Night Long Distance Bus
  9. Spring Begins
  10. Singing
8th 1979 December 20 QUARTER REST
  1. Dinner on Broadway
  2. Fluffy Melody
  3. Flying Down in the Green Town
  4. TWO IN THE PARTY
  5. Waiting for the Snowfall
  6. DESTINY
  7. Smiley Smile
  8. When May Comes
  9. CONCERT LANE
  10. PARTY IS OVER
  11. PS
9th 1981 June 21 3 NOTES
  1. Dangerous Friendship
  2. Life is Jam Session
  3. LAST BALLAD, LAST COIN
  4. Boots And Sake and Wedding Dress
  5. I Love You Again
  6. Bop's clubhouse
  7. Conceit Smile
  8. Flame-colored August
  9. Trio Koi SOUNDS
  10. starlight lullaby
10th 1982 April 1 1 & 2
  1. BIG BRASS
  2. Hello MR.TELEPHONE
  3. Distant call from the past
  4. Wow!
  5. Midnight Bye Bye-Show
  6. Long Good-bye
11th 1983 February 21 I miss you
  1. Downtown LOVE Renaissance
  2. Kokoro Hanareru
  3. Blue Dream
  4. Lose but win
  5. Season Off No Santaclaus Santa Claus
  6. Big Apple
  7. Sentimental Morning
  8. Catherine
  9. Indian Summer no Futari
  10. miss you
CBS Sony
12th 1984 February 25 PASADENA PARK
  1. Light blue wagon
  2. I want to be honest
  3. I can't see it in the rain
  4. July Christmas
  5. 1999
  6. Catherine on air
  7. Magic Mountain Lady
  8. Viva! Off・ Loader
  9. Midnight TV
  10. Good-bye school days
13th 1985 February 25 INDIGO
  1. Rainbow signal
  2. Love madness
  3. Boy friend
  4. Champagne and Earth Movement Theory #Milky way
  5. Star Makeup Halley
  6. Bloomin'blue
  7. Love Double fault
  8. Demian
  9. Rainy Sentosa
  10. Star / Guidance / Night
14th 1986 April 10 SWEET LOCOMOTION
  1. Rosy White
  2. Sweet Locomotion
  3. Do You Remember Me? Graph
15th 1987 April 1 Gibraltar
  1. Ceramic Smile
  2. Time Table
  3. End of Affair
  4. Can Someone Dance?
  5. Summer Finale
  6. Secret Trip
  7. Via Arctic
  8. Paris Vision
  9. White Night
  10. Terminal Station
CBS / SONY RECORDS
16th 1988 March 21 Eyebrow
  1. Platonic Shimasho
  2. Shadow Love
  3. Egg Benedict
  4. Slow Number
  5. Too hot day
  6. NARITA
  7. Sabrina
  8. Cold Summer
  9. Pink Sand Dune
  10. Ferris
17th 1990 March 21 White Moon
  1. Moon Highway
  2. Angels Fly
  3. Eternal Sunny Days
  4. Shall We Dance Again?
  5. Lover only tonight
  6. Morning Flight
  7. Blue Lagoon
  8. Shoot the Moon
  9. Gloria
  10. Gift for Tomorrow
Sony Records
18th 1991 April 25 Get A Move On
  1. I will never forget
  2. Her lover
  3. GENESIS LOVE
  4. Love roulette
  5. Sincerely
  6. Shooting star island
  7. ABC again
  8. Long dream
  9. Promised Land
  10. Tear of mother, smile of father
19th 1992 April 22 Tender Loving Care
  1. Map
  2. All for You
  3. Decision
  4. Little May Sick
  5. Whereabouts

Singles
Sheets Release date Title C / w
Toshiba EMI/ EXPRESS
Alfa Records
1st 1975 February 5 Graduation Photo

Lyrics: Yumi Arai
Composition: Yumi Arai
Arrangement: Katsuhisa Hattori

 Museum
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Hiroshi Okazaki, Katsuhisa Hattori
2nd 1975 May 5 Age's of Rock and Roll
Lyrics: Kazue Ohashi
Composition: Kunihiko Murai
Arrangement:Matsutoya Masataka		 Warmth of the chest
Lyrics:Michio Yamagami
Composition: Kunihiko Murai
Arrangement: Katsuhisa Hattori
3rd 1975 July 5 I dream about it.
Lyrics: Jack Fishman
Japanese lyrics:Michio Yamagami
Composition:Kunihiko Murai
Arrangement:Anita Kerr		 Turmental)
Composition:Kunihiko Murai
Arrangement:Anita Car
4th 1975 November 5 Sky Restaurant
Lyrics:Yumi Arai
Composition:Kunihiko Murai
Arrangement:Yumi Matsutoya		 Come to Haneda on Saturday night
Lyrics:Yumi Arai
Composition: Kunihiko Murai
Arrangement:Yumi Matsutoya
5th 1976 April 20 Cold Rain
Lyrics: Yumi Arai
Composition: Yumi Arai
Arrangement: Masataka Matsutoya		 Fashionable Lover
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Masataka Matsutoya
6th 1976 March 6, 20 To be happy
Lyrics: Yumi Arai
Composition: Kunihiko Murai
Arrangement: Yumi Matsutoya		 Starry Midnight
Lyrics: Yumi Arai
Composition : Kunihiko Murai
Arrangement: Masataka Matsutoya
7th 1976 December 1 Feelings
:Rei Nakanishi
Composer: Maurice Albert
Arrangement: Shinichi Tanabe		 Another Dance
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composer: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Keitaro Miho
8th 1977 April 20 Wind Town
 : Shigeru Okawa ・ Takashi Matsumoto
Composer: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Ichizo Seo		 Crystal Night
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composer: Yamamoto Toshihiko
Arrangement: Ichizo Seo
9th 1977 July 5 Memorandum
Lyrics: Rei Nakanishi
Composer: Yoichi Takizawa
Arrangement: Bob aleiver		 Personal Message
Lyrics: Yu Aku
Composition: Ken Sato
Arrangement : Bob aleiver
10th 1977 October 20 Love Diary
Arrangement: Howard Greenfield < br/> Japanese lyrics: Tokiko Iwatani
Composer: Neil Sedaka
Arrangement: Bob aleiver		 Love is everything
Lyrics: Rei Nakanishi
Composer: Carole King
Arrangement: Bob aleiver
11th 1978 April 20 Just a little around the road
Lyrics: Machiko Ryu ・ Rei Nakanishi
Composer: Tadao Inoue
Arrangement: Kentaro Haneda		 Lady Gray
Lyrics: Machiko Ryu
Composer: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Kentaro Haneda
Toshiba EMI/ EXPRESS
12th 1978 August 20 Amerika Monogatari
Lyrics: Toyohisa Araki
Composer: Yuji Ohno
Arrangement: Yuji Ohno		 Summer Separation
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Shun Yamamoto Hiko
Arrangement:Hiroshi Shinkawa
13th 1978 November 5 Tropical Night
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Hiroshi Shinkawa
Arrangement by Strings: Shinichi Tanabe		 Moeru Aki
Lyrics: Hiroyuki Itsuki
Composition: Toru Takemitsu
Arrangement: Shinichi Tanabe
14th 1979 May 20 Two people along the line
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Shinkawa Hiroshi
Chorus Arrangement: Toshihiko Yamamoto		 Monday's Prologue
Lyrics: Machiko Ryu
Composition: Ken Sato
Arrangement: Shinichi Tanabe
Chorus Arrangement: Junko Yamamoto
15th 1981 October 21 NOVEMBER RAIN
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Mitsuhiko Sato		 BYE-BYE BOY
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Mitsuhiko Sato
16th 1982 March 3, 21 Hello MR.TELEPHONE
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Mitsuhiko Sato		 AIR MAIL from home
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Mitsuhiko Sato
17th 1982 October 21 miss you
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Mitsuhiko Sato		 Downtown Love Renaissance
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement : Mitsuhiko Sato
18th 1983 February 1 When i'm away from my heart
Lyrics:Yoshitaka Minami<
Arrangement: Mitsuhiko Sato		 LAST BALLAD, LAST COIN When i'm away from my heart Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Mitsuhiko Sato
19th 1983 Year April 5 Love story is about to come
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Yoshitaka Minami
Arrangement: Ichizo Seo		 Blue Dream
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Mitsuhiko Sato
CBS Sony
20th 1984 January 21 I want to be honest DON'T YOU TELL HIM?
Lyrics: Masamichi Sugi
Composition: Masamichi Sugi
Arrangement: Akira Inoue		 Goodbye school days
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Akira Okamoto
Arrangement: Akira Inoue
21st 1984 May 21 Light Blue Wagon
Lyrics: Shun Taguchi
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Hiroshi Shinkawa
Chorus Arrangement: Toshihiko Yamamoto		 Christmas in July
Lyrics: Shun Taguchi
Composition: Ginji Ito
Arrangement: Ryoichi Kuniyoshi
Chorus Arrangement: Toshihiko Yamamoto
22nd 1984 November 1 Star Makeup HalleyLyrics: Shun Taguchi
Composition: Masamichi Sugi
Arrangement: Akira Inoue
Chorus Arrangement: Toshihiko Yamamoto / Mari Sugi		 Demian
Lyrics: Shun Taguchi
Composition: Yamamoto Toshihiko
Arrangement: Akira Inoue
Chorus Arrangement: Toshihiko Yamamoto
23rd 1985 February 5 Rainbow signal
Lyrics: Aundai
Composition: Ginji Ito
Arrangement: Akira Inoue		 Boy friend
Lyrics: Ryo Koizumi
Composition: Masamichi Sugi
Arrangement: Akira Inoue
24th 1985 February 5 ] Hitokire no Koi
Lyrics: Ryo Koizumi
Composition: Masamichi Sugi
Arrangement: Akira Inoue		 Koi no Double fault
Lyrics: Dai Aun
Composer: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Akira Inoue
CBS / SONY RECORDS
25th 1988 May 21 Platonic Shimasho
Lyrics: Shun Taguchi
Composition: Masamichi Sugi
Arrangement: Hiroshi Shinkawa		 For the time being NARITA ANYWAY TO NARITA
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composer: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: HEXAGON
26th 1989 December 1 Lover only tonight
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composer: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Osamu Koike		 Moon Highway
Lyrics: Shun Taguchi
Composer: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Hiroshi Shinkawa
27th 1990 March 1 Angels Fly ~ Angel's Season ~
Lyrics: Megumi Sato
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Hiroshi Shinkawa		 Morning Flight
Lyrics: Megumi Sato
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Norimasa Yamazaki
Sony Records
28th 1991 April 25 I will never forget
Lyrics: Kazumasa Oda
Composition: Kazumasa Oda
Arrangement: Kazumasa Oda		 ABC again
Lyrics: Shigeru Okawa
Composition: Toshihiko Yamamoto
Arrangement: Hiroshi Shinkawa

Live album
Sheet Release date Title Recorded songs
ーニー-ミュージックレコーズ/CBS/SONY RECORDS
1st 1989 3/21 COLLECTION
Disc-1
  1. Light blue wagon
  2. SWEET LOCOMOTION
  3. Graduation photos
  4. Sky Restaurant
  5. Come to Haneda on Saturday night
  6. Lady Grey
  7. NOVEMBER RAIN
  8. TWO IN THE PARTY
  9. 恋 恋の日記日記 (The Diary)
  10. OH! LUCKY LADY
  11. Fairwell party
  12. Good-bye School Days
Disc-2
  1. Feeling
  2. More than two people
  3. Museum
  4. Downtown Love Renaissance
  5. Bop's Clubhouse
  6. DUKE ELINGTON MEDLEY
  7. Fish and chips
  8. Fashion rubber
  9. I want to be honest
  10. DAY LIGHT
  11. Boy Friend

Videography
Sheet Release date Title
Sony Music Records/CBS・Sony
1st 1985 "'Rainbow Signal'"

Other songs/ Projects
Songs Tie-up Recorded works Time of year
To be happy Nippon TV series drama "Tanpopo (TV drama)#3 Series/Tanpopo" Theme song Single "To be happy" 1976
Smiling in the Chaoyang Theme song for the movie "Frozen River" Album "Fashionable Lover"
City of the Wind Yamaha"Yamaha-Passol/Passol" CM image song Single "City of the Wind" 1977
Firebird Movie"/火の鳥"Theme song Album "Coming Up" 1978
Amerika Monogatari Japan Airlines"COME TO UNITED States/AMERICA '78" CM image song Single "Amerika Monogatari"
Burning autumn Mitsukoshi・ -Toho collaboration work "Burning autumn" theme song Single "Tropical Night"
Night Sky to the SOUTH (WE ARE FLYING) Morinaga Seika "High Crown" CM image song Album "Swing"
I Love You Again Isetan CM song Album "3 NOTES" 1981
Two of Indian Summer Isetan Campaign Song Album "I miss you" 1983
Love story from now on Shiseido "Benefit" CM image song Single "Love story is coming"
Blue Dream Employment Information Center CM Image Song
I want to be honest Citizen watch / Citizen "19-year-old Riviere" CF image song Single "I want to be honest" 1984
Star Makeup Halley Kanebo cosmetics Image song Single "Star Makeup Halley"
Let's Platonic en:BVD/BVD CM image song Single "Let's Platonic" 1988
Tonight Only Lover Xebio Holdings/Victoria '90 WINTER Image song Single "Tonight only lover" 1989
Moon Highway HUMAX/HUMAX GROUP Radio CM song
Angels Fly -Season of Angels〜 Hitachi Hitachi room air conditioner "White Kumakun" Image song Single "Angels Fly 〜 Season of Angels" 1990
Eternal Sunny Days Yamada Homes / Kobori Sumiten CM image song Album "White Moon"
A gift for tomorrow Yomiuri TV Broadcast/Yomiuri TV-NTV Broadcasting Network/NTVsystem Morning drama series"Flower pearl" Theme song
I will not forget TV Asahisystem "Tuesday Mystery Theater" Theme song Single "I won't Forget" 1991
GENESIS LOVE Shoko Chukin Bank/Shoko Chukin CM image song Album "Get A Move On"

Unreleased songs

NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen participation history
Year/Broadcast time song Order of appearances Opponents
1977(Show 52) 28th Feeling First Koichi Morita and Top Gallant
Notes
  • The appearance order is expressed as "Appearance order / Number of contestants".

References
  1. "Urban Ubiquity". November 2017.
  2. "山本潤子、無期限休養へ". テレビ朝日. March 13, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021.
  3. "シンガー・ソングライター山本潤子が無期限休養へ". ORICON NEWS. March 13, 2014. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014.
  4. "なぜ…元ハイ・ファイ・セット山本俊彦さん死去「悠々自適の暮らしだった」". Sponichi Annex. March 30, 2014. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014.
  5. "ハイ・ファイ・セットのメンバーが窃盗未遂 横浜で逮捕". 朝日新聞、朝刊、１面. June 10, 1995.
  6. "犯行で解散宣言 ハイ・ファイ・セットの元リーダー大川茂さんに聞く". 朝日新聞、夕刊、１面. September 1, 1995.
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