The Top 10 City Pop Albums

In every genre there are albums that exemplify the sound, and City Pop, while more loosely defined than others, still has a distinctive style that is recognizable to those who know what to look for. The checklist for City Pop almost always includes a fusion of two or more elements from genres like Funk, Jazz, Pop, or Disco crowned with English chorus sections, blaring instrumental solo, and warm production quality. While these are accepted traits City Pop often exhibits, there are also songs that can veer off from that recipe and still be considered City Pop, which shows just how vague the term can be. City Pop is the definition of mood music

Overall, the style can be described as a nebulous mix of Eastern and Western musical ideas. There is alot of interchanging of musicality and creativity in the genre that points to a very cosmopolitan minded generation of artists that were experimenting with sounds that were at once edgy as they were simple. For Japan, this subset of Kayo-kyoku, or ‘New Music’ was at the frontier of a new beginning of international music. City Pop very much has to “feel” like something you’ve heard a very long time ago in a hazy memory of the 80s even though you’re maybe born in 2000. Regardless of when you were born, it’s consensus that this particular kind of music has a timeless quality to it that speaks to people of all ages.

I’ve compiled my list of the top 10 essential City Pop albums so that you can become familiar with the genre and its distinct sonic fluidity.

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10. Taeko Ohnuki - Sunshower (1977)

Taeko-san was a fellow bandmate of Tatsuro Yamashita in a proto-City Pop band called Sugar Babe. She then went on after the band’s breakup to create a large discography of solo work that touched on the core principle of City Pop; genre fusions. She wasn’t shy about mixing Jazz, Bossa Nova, Samba, French, Disco, Synth-Pop, and more into her work and it pays off in a great way. Sunshower is a Jazzy, melancholy tour of Taeko’s talent that leaves you feeling somber just as rain on a sunny day.

Buy it on: Discogs

#9

Junko Yagami - Full Moon (1983)

Junko Yagami has a large discography and has some very interesting bigger sounding songs that exemplify the post 70s larger-than-life sound that the genre was starting to develop as hi-fi sound systems required more production quality. Full Moon is perhaps her best work as it was right before the style started to become hyper-commercialized and more cosmopolitan generic. Her anthem, Tasogare Bay City, is one of the most well-known songs in the genre.

Buy it on: Discogs

8. Takako Mamiya - Love Trip (1982)

Few albums have the mystique and intrigue it takes to get a re-release 38 years after its original pressing with nothing in between. That’s how much hype surrounded this album after its re-introduction to the world had almost been lost to time if not for City Pop’s resurgence. It’s one of the best Jazz-Fusion Pop records ever created and Mamiya Takako delivers an incredible performance that fully transports you to a tiny bar in 80s Tokyo at midnight while heart-broken after a long flight where you probably cried and had too many drinks. There are a few amazing tracks on this album but Mayonako no Joke (Midnight’s Joke) is definitely my favorite.

Buy it on: Discogs

7. Miki Matsubara - Pocket Park (1980)

Miki Matsubara sadly passed away in 2004 and so never was able to see her music become popular in the West like other stars from her time. Her personality, voice, and charm shine through all of her music, and on Pocket Park she delivers one of the anthems of the City Pop scene; ‘Stay With Me’. This song alone exemplifies what fans have come to love about this style of music and Matsubara-sama deserves far more recognition for her talents. I never knew her personally but I still miss her―that’s how you know the music is powerful…

Buy it on: Discogs

6. Tomoko Aran - Fuyu Kukan (1983)

Tomoko Aran’s album Fuyu-Kukan, translated as “Floating Space”, can be beautiful, emotional, complicated, and even confusing sometimes. Her voice cuts the night like a midnight blade sending you on an infinite drive through Tokyo in a decked-out CRX. Already on its 4th re-pressing since 2018, this album is on track to become one of the most widely sought-out physical LPs in the genre. This is late-night driving music at its finest. Standout tracks include Midnight Pretenders & I’m In Love.

Buy it on: Discogs

5. Toshiki Kadomatsu - After 5 Clash (1984)

After 5 Clash is an epic dance-floor saga that takes you on a ride through boogie, funk, soul and a flawless understanding of how to use hooks in music. This record exemplifies the Bubble Economy that made Japan a global superpower. Toshiki had been in the City Pop game long before others as a fan of Tatsuro Yamashita’s Sugar Babe band in the 70s. You can tell the influence is there as they both top the charts as City Pop’s biggest male stars. Standout tracks are If You Wanna Dance and Step Into The Light.

Buy it on: Discogs

4. Anri - Timely!!! (1983)

Anri is a pop princess and one of Japan’s most iconic singers. This album was produced by Toshiki Kadomatsu and so it goes without saying that it’s a complete banger. Almost every track is peak City Pop and it definitely feels like Summer on vinyl. Stand-out tracks are Remember Summer days, Windy Summer, and Shyness Boy.

Buy it on: Discogs

3. Momoko Kikuchi - Adventure (1986)

Momoko-chan is known for being an idol, but she veered off into City Pop with the production of Adventure. This album is full of beautifully soft synth sounds and driving arps that feel like you really are going somewhere distant for an adventure as cheese as that sounds. Her innocent demeanor and gentle lyrics can charm even the most unwilling and this record proves it having been given the repress treatment by the American label Light In The Attic. Stand-out tracks are Mystical Composer & Adventure.

Buy it on: Discogs

2. Mariya Takeuchi - Variety (1984)

Mariya Takeuchi is one of Japan’s most celebrated musical artists with a career spanning 4 decades. Her song Plastic Love became a viral hit 35 years after it was initially released thanks to YouTube’s algorithm. She’s married to Tatsuro Yamashita, and the hit song Plastic Love was produced by him with lyrics credited to her. I think it goes without saying that it’s the most iconic City Pop song there is, and this album brought it to us.

Buy it on: Discogs

1. Tatsuro Yamashita - For You (1982)

Tatsuro Yamashita defines City Pop. His love for western music brought us classic songs that presented Japanese music in a way never heard before. Undeniably a pioneer and musical genius. For You specifically embodies the magic of his music and the production quality that screams affluent Japan. Hot off the heels of his previous hit record, Ride On Time, comes this gem of an album, with almost every song being pretty much iconic. The standout tracks for me are Sparkle & Love Talkin’, but nearly everything on it is gold. You can’t go wrong with the king!

Buy it on: Discogs

While these are my personal favorites in terms of what defines City Pop since I started in 2015, there are tons of other records that embody the spirit of the genre. I will definitely be doing another post on the topmost under-rated albums soon also! Stay tuned - Van

AUTHOR

Van Paugam is an Internationally-Acclaimed DJ and leading figure specializing in 70s and 80s Japanese Music, dubbed City Pop. He has organized and hosted over 100 events dedicated to the style, and actively promotes Japanese culture while on the board of the Japanese Arts Foundation of Chicago. He has been featured on CNN, NHK, and many other publications for his dedication to City Pop. Van is credited with being the first person to begin popularizing City Pop online through his mixes on YouTube in 2016, and subsequently through live events. Learn More…