Sunshine, Moonlight Explained

Sunshine, Moonlight
Type:Album
Artist:Toshinobu Kubota
Cover:ToshiKubotaSunshineMoonlight.jpg
Released:September 5, 1995
Recorded:1994–1995
Genre:R&B, soul, go-go
Length:67:50
Label:Columbia (USA)
Sony Music (Japan)
Producer:Toshinobu Kubota, Kim Burse, William Burke, Camus Mare Celli, Israel Embry, Kaz Hayashida, Ralph MacDonald, Rex Rideout, William Salter, D'Wayne Wiggins, Bill Withers
Prev Title:Bumpin' Voyage
Prev Year:1995
Next Title:La La La Love Thang
Next Year:1996

Sunshine Moonlight is the eighth studio album of Japanese singer Toshinobu Kubota, released on September 5, 1995. The album credited under the name, Toshi Kubota.[1] This was also Kubota's first English-language album. The album's musical style ranges from 1980s–90s R&B and pop to funk elements such go-go. Synth instrumentation was not employed in recording most of the song as the album contains live instrumentation.

In 1996, Kubota released a follow-up album, La La La Love Thang, and proceed with his tour, which was titled Oyeees! Tour.

Recording and production

Kubota began working on the project in 1995. After the release of his previous album "Bumpin' Voyage" in January 1995, Kubota returned the studio to begin recording a new album. Songs from "Bumpin' Voyage" were re-recorded and mastered for the "Sunshine, Moonlight" album. The songs that were re-recorded were "DJ Fonk / Funk It Up", "6 to 8 / My Love (6 to 8)", "Too Lite 2 Do / Too Light to Do", "Sunshine, Moonlight", "Kimi Wa Nani O Miteru / Oh Honey", "Not Yet! / Ain't Nobody", and "Tawawa Hit Parade". Kubota also wrote and recorded new songs for the project which include "Holding You", "Jam With Me", "Angel", "Get It Together", and "Nice & Ez".

In addition to producing, Kubota also enlisted in the production team of Kim Burse, William Burke, Camus Mare Celli, Israel Embry, Kaz Hayashida, Ralph MacDonald, Rex Rideout, William Salter, D'Wayne Wiggins, and Bill Withers. All the song were written or co-written by Kubota except the song "Just the Two of Us".

Release and promotion

On September 5, 1995, Kubota released his eighth album "Sunshine, Moonlight", which is his first English album. The album was also Kubota's first international release outside Japan. The album peaked number one on the Oricon Albums chart and sold over a half of million units.[2] [3]

Singles

The album's lead single "Funk It Up" was released in the United States in August 1995. A music video was shot for the single. On October 21, 1995, Kubota released a maxi-single EP "Funk It Up / Nice & EZ". The singles charted at number ninety-one on the Oricon Singles chart.

In June 1996, the second single "Just the Two of Us", a duet with Caron Wheeler, was also released in the United States. Kubota and Wheeler shot a music video for their rendition of the song. The single charted at number thirty on the Oricon Singles chart.

Tours

In 1996, Kubota began the Oyeees! Tour. The tour was to promote the albums "Bumpin' Voyage", "Sunshine, Moonlight", and "La La La Love Thang". This was Kubota's first nationwide tour, which lasted for the remainder of 1996. During his performance at Yoyogi Daiichi Taiikukan in 1996, the show was filmed and released on VHS and DVD on March 1, 1997.

Track listing

  1. "Funk It Up"
  2. "Just the Two of Us" (featuring Caron Wheeler)
  3. "Too Light to Do"
  4. "Holding You"
  5. "Jam With Me"
  6. "Angel"
  7. "Get It Together"
  8. "Nice & EZ"
  9. "My Love (6 to 8)"
  10. "Oh Honey"
  11. "Sunshine, Moonlight"
  12. "PaLaLeYa"
  13. "Ain't Nobody"
  14. "Tawawa Hit Parade"

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sunshine, Moonlight – Toshi Kubota, Toshi Kubuta : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards . AllMusic . September 5, 1995 . 2013-03-28.
  2. http://www.hiponline.com/1867/toshi-kubota.html Toshi Kubota Interview
  3. Web site: Toshinobu KubotaのCDアルバムランキング. Oricon. Japanese. 2012-08-05.

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