DOWN TOWN

ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Released in March 1980, DOWN TOWN introduced EPO as a solo artist after she had already gained valuable studio experience singing backing vocals for artists including Eiichi Ohtaki and Mariya Takeuchi. The title track is a cover of Sugar Babe’s “DOWN TOWN,” written by Tatsuro Yamashita and Ginji Ito, but EPO’s version transforms the song into something brighter and more immediately pop-oriented, with arrangements by Tetsuji Hayashi and Nobuyuki Shimizu. The album’s studio cast is remarkably deep, including Tatsuo Hayashi, Shuichi Togashiki, Hideo Yamaki, Akira Okazawa, Hiroyuki Ito, Tsuyoshi Kon, Masaki Matsubara, Kazuo Shiina, and Shimizu himself, with Mariya Takeuchi also appearing in the wider session circle. Another clever detail is the inclusion of Tony Hatch’s entirely different song also titled “Downtown,” arranged by Yamashita, creating a playful dialogue between two generations of pop writing. EPO’s own songs, such as “Asphalt Hitori...” and “Coffee Time,” establish her instinct for rhythmic, melodic pop beyond the famous cover. The album became the foundation for a career defined by bright hooks, sophisticated harmony, and an unusually strong understanding of vocal arrangement.