Takako Mamiya – Love Trip

Bought this in 2022 in Tokyo. Although I am a huge fan of this album, I have an assumption why it wasn't successful (beside being marketed poorly) back in the 1980s, which is the track listing on the A-side.

It is very serene, very nocturnal and lacks a "danceable" funky pop track. These are on the B-side. Even though the 1980s still had much more of an album culture than today, it was also a time where mainstream pop was craving for high pace radio-friendly hits.
Nonetheless, a highly underrated album. Great songs, beautiful lush arrangements and a great contrast to other female city pop artists, which sometimes lean a bit too heavy into the pop-sound.

Considering the reissue: I think the sound is decent! It has a very japanese sound signature (which means one will miss a bit of treble here and there). While also not being very dynamic, you get a bit of a "hazy" effect over the music. In that regard, there is a lot of better sounding japanese reissues on the market, but it is still very much enjoyable. We should be grateful to live in times, where these hidden gems even reface as a vinyl reissue.

I owned this version and the pink vinyl remastered version. The new version sounds more transparent, more high, just modern sounding. But the reissued version apparently having more weighty low ends, mids more prominent, authentic vinyl sound. I’m guessing it’s very much the same like the 1st press. If you like the vintage sound definitely go to this version.

I'm thinking about buying love trip but I was wondering if there is a difference in quality between the 2014 and 2023 reissue

don't remove the obi strip worst mistake of my life

Ive had this pressing for two years now, and it still sounds great. Beautiful sounding and quiet record.

a pure hidden gem in the landscape of city pop album... Every song is a hit. I got 2014 reprint and it's a great quality LP

A very nice repress of the original album, so similar to the original that it can only be distinguished by the date of the reprint at the bottom of the back.
Quality: Very quiet, no surface noise or any crisps, the disc is flat and the music is very clear. A good point for this reissue.
Packaging: Like I said, pretty the same of the original, including the famous obi usually included in the japanese discs, and which brings a little more for me (even if it is a matter of taste.)
I highly recommand this record !

Finally no shitty vinyl rips — this is worth importing wherever you are in the world. Beautiful.