- 2LP
- Recommended
Lily
O Genki Desu Ka
Japan Blues
- Cat No: JBRIRI1
- updated:2026-10-16
Having spent her 20s in the 1970s, singer-songwriter Lily—who also worked as an actress known for her roles in films such as director Nagisa Oshima’s 1972 film *Summer Sister* and the 1979 film “Execution Game,” among others. It features numerous recordings with the Bye Bye Session Band, which included Ryuichi Sakamoto, Hiroshi Sato, Jun Fukamachi, Tsuda☆Hiro, and Ryoichi Kuniyoshi. Originally released on vinyl in 2022. Deadstock copies are now in stock.
Track List
Essential retrospective of Japanese singer songwriter Lily, selected by Japan Blues for this limited edition release.
Grooves set in stone with her Bye-Bye Session Band - including Ryuichi Sakamoto (pre YMO) and jazz keyboardist Hiroshi Sato - this selection covers her 70s period, with strong seams of soul, funk, touches of folk- and space-rock, and her signature heartbreaking ballads.
All original melodies and grooves, parallel lines to Curtis Mayfiled, The Isley Brothers, Cymande and the rest, all with Lily's distinctive gritty voice.
Grooves set in stone with her Bye-Bye Session Band - including Ryuichi Sakamoto (pre YMO) and jazz keyboardist Hiroshi Sato - this selection covers her 70s period, with strong seams of soul, funk, touches of folk- and space-rock, and her signature heartbreaking ballads.
All original melodies and grooves, parallel lines to Curtis Mayfiled, The Isley Brothers, Cymande and the rest, all with Lily's distinctive gritty voice.
Having worked with labels such as Honest Jon’s and The Trilogy Tapes, Cafer Oto, and others, and possesses a deep knowledge of genres ranging from reggae, blues, and world music to new wave and experimental music. As “Japan Blues”—aka Howard Williams—he has introduced Japanese music to the UK and the rest of the world from a unique perspective that is neither City Pop nor Showa-era pop. Japan Blues has also produced compilations featuring Maki Asakawa, Takeshi Terauchi, Masaaki Hirao, and music from the 1960s and 1970s associated with Japanese cinema.
The appeal of Ririi and the Bye Bye Session Band, spanning blues, New Soul by artists like Curtis Mayfield, jazz-funk, and psychedelic rock. The album comes with a 4-page booklet featuring English translations of the liner notes by producer Koji Teramoto—who has worked on her various works as well as those of Maki Asakawa, Masato Minami, and Masahiro Kuwana—along with photographs. (Original Japanese text by Saito)