PAINTED WOMAN

ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Released in 1983, PAINTED WOMAN gives one of Japan’s most prolific session guitarists a rare opportunity to place his own tone and arrangement ideas at the center. Masaki Matsubara had already appeared on an enormous number of pop recordings, but here his guitar is surrounded by a carefully chosen fusion/AOR ensemble including Eiji Shimamura, Nobu Saito, Michio Nagaoka, Hiroshi Shinkawa, and horn players such as Shin Kazuhara. American AOR singer Erik Tagg and Mike Dunn also contribute vocals, giving tracks like “Silly Crush” and the title song a distinctly international West Coast flavor. The instrumental material is just as important: “Tequila Toast,” “S.O.S.,” “Pacific Coast HWY.,” and “Sky High” show how naturally Matsubara moves between clean rhythm guitar, melodic lead playing, fusion harmony, and polished studio funk. What distinguishes PAINTED WOMAN from a guitarist’s showcase is restraint. Matsubara rarely fills every available space; his parts are arranged to support the ensemble, reflecting the same discipline that made him one of Japan’s most trusted session players. That balance has helped the album find a new global audience through streaming and AOR collecting.