365 Days #361 - Toru & Kojima - Smiley / Pot Sounds (mp3s)

Ok, so here's my weird story behind this disc. Many years ago I was visting a friend in Japan and searching for rare records. This was during my obsession with the Beach Boy's Smile Sessions. I actually found a version of Smile Outtakes on vinyl, but the store keeper decided not to sell, since he wanted it to prove that he had rare records in his store.

At a completely different shop, I found this oddity on a shelf of completely Japanese CDs that I couldn't read accept for the spine "Smiley/Pot Sounds". I was like, "what the?" The original Smile cartoon cover was redrawn and altered.

Thinking I had found another Japanese bootleg, I put it in the player when I got home. I was so MAD! Lol! At the time, it just sounded like some Japanese guy singing Karaoke! It tossed it in my suitcase, feeling completely gypped.

MP3:
01 Meant For You (0:42)
02 Surfer Girl (2:23)
03 Little Saint Nick (2:04)
04 Don't Worry Baby (2:58)
05 Wonderful (2:09)
06 Surfer Moon (2:24)
07 I DO (2:02)
08 Please Let Me Wonder (2:49)
09 You're So Good To Me (2:22)
10 God Only Knows (2:53)
11 I Wanna Pick You Up (2:49)
12 I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (3:18)
13 Your Summer Dream (2:44)
14 Much Love (5:13)
15 By The Time it Changes to Memory (3:36)
16 Never Come Back Boys' Days (3:50)
17 Let The Wind Blow (2:58)
18 Yesterday's Promise (3:40)
19 Mysterious Night (5:34)
20 Surfing USSR (2:55)
21 For You, 100 Years Ago (2:40)
22 I Want To Eat Whale (3:49)
23 WOMAN (4:45)
24 Spirit Of Rock'n Roll (3:30)

Sometime later I came back to the mystery of this cd. And quickly realized that I had found something even more rare, before I even knew about the labeling of Outsider Music. I would often play tracks for friends during one of those, "Look what I found" occasions. I've grown to love it, though it's headache inducing at times. Looking at the photos on the back cover and the song credits, I think I've figured out that Toru & Kojima are the same person. It's just his first and last name.

Pot Sounds is also included, for the completist. Not as interesting to the English speaker, this album is full of some of Toru's originals and a couple cover songs. The best part about Pot Sounds is that amazing art work! lol

Happy Holidays!

- Contributed by: B.C. Sterrett (The Lost Media Archive)

Images: CD 2-Fold Cover, CD Back Cover, CD Liner Notes

Media: CD
Album: Smiley / Pot Sounds
Label: Sister Records
Catalog: BWTK-2683
Date: 1997

Comments

[art]

this is awesome! particularly as such obscurities as "i wanna pick you up" and "meant for you" are included. a+ win for the find :D

[johnny alonso]

Oh my God, its almost genius! I stumbled on Toru & Kojima's "Surfer Girl" while trying to post music on my myspace page. I couldn't get over what they (or he) was trying to do with the song. So, I did a web search on "Toru & Kojima" to see if anything else existed out there, that's how I found you. I listened to their version of "Don't Worry Baby" (my all time favorite song) and couldn't get over how serious this cover act really is! I now believe this cd was put out not as a joke, but as something to be marveled and listened to with respect. Hey, knock your socks off if thats the intent. But wow - maybe its the difference is cultures, but I can't really listen to it without saying to myself (and I'm not trying to be mean) but what are they thinking?? Maybe its for the love of the Beach Boys music. I give them the courage to put it out in public. More power to you, guys. I think :)

[David]

I feel this album would be best enjoyed :
*In a diaper
*Covered in tapioca pudding
*Locked in a cabin in the Ozarks
*Spanking small Dutch boys who are dressed like Jacqueline Kennedy.

[BC Cabin Rentals]

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