After finding success in Hawaii, the band relocated to California and recorded this album in 1975. Hugely popular in Japan as well, they've toured here many times, even as the lineup shifted. Rights issues kept the record out of circulation until a few years ago, when the band finally reclaimed the masters — and now it's here, courtesy of ALOHA GOT SOUL, of course. Incidentally, it came out on CD from a Japanese major in '94, under the wonderfully on-the-nose title "Blue Skies of Waikiki" — very much a sign of the times. They also collaborated with Kiyotaka Sugiyama back in the day. All told, this is the dazzling debut from a band that truly lived through its era. Carefree melodies and tropical vibes turned all the way up — a golden record for any AOR fan, and just as essential if you're coming from the Japanese/city pop side. For the record, the 2nd album is slated for release this summer, but preorders are already full. (Original Japanese text by Shhhhh)