Artist: The Mops
Album: Psychedelic Sounds in Japan
Released: 2002 (originally released in 1968)
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 173 MB
The Mops are one of Japan's best know "group sounds" bands, particularly noted for their psychedelic period. The group was founded in 1966 by high school friends Mikiharu Suzuki (drums), Taro Miyuki (guitar), Masaru Hoshi (lead guitar) and Kaoru Murakami (bass), playing mostly instrumental rock ala the fabulously popular Ventures. Suzuki's older brother Hiromitsu joined in later and became the group's main vocalist, sharing the job with Hoshi. The Mops started playing clubs and discos early on, but did not immediately distinguish themselves. In the summer of 1967 their manager visited San Francisco, and was very excited about the hippie movement that was booming there. He brought a copy of a Jefferson Airplane album back with him to Japan, which he impressed the Mops with. The band became enthusiastic about the new sounds, and singer Hiromitsu Suzuki especially became a big fan of Animals singer Eric Burdon. In what seems a fairly commercially driven decision, the Mops, prodded by their manager, became a "psychedelic band", and signed with JVC Records. In November 1967 they released "Asamade Matenai", which went to #38. The Mops album of April 1968 Psychedelic Sound in Japan, was full of flower power flourishes, including cosmic artwork, ethnic clothing, fuzz guitars and sitar playing. It included covers of the Airplane's hits "Someone To Love" and "White Rabbit", the Doors' "Light My Fire", the Animals' "San Franciscan Nights" and "Inside Looking Out", as well as the Mops theme song "I Am Just A Mops" (which later became a cult favorite after being included on the obscurities album Nuggets 2). more info
