Vodka Collins-Tokyo - New York[''73 Japan Glam Rock]

you guys wanted more Glam from Japan
ive been diggin' the internet and found this band
a japanese band with an american vocalist.
Allan Merril

Vodka Collins was the # 1 glam rock band in Japan in the early 1970s. It is rumoured that David Bowie's story of "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars" was based on this group. Vodka Collins even featured a guitarist from The Spiders, Monsieur Kamayatsu, which strongly supports this theory. The first incarnation of Vodka Collins disbanded in the winter of 1973, at the peak of their popularity, with lead singer Alan Merrill leaving Tokyo for London to form another succcessful glam pop band The Arrows, who had hits with "I Love Rock N Roll", "Touch Too Much" and "My last Night With You". Drummer Oguchi left for Africa, to study drum techniques after the band's breakup. Monsieur went solo to much success, and bassist Yokouchi formed the band Tensaw a few years later, who recut the Vodka Collins' song "Automatic Pilot" and had a hit with it.
source:

Rock & roll journeyman Alan Merrill has made a career of unique choices, and his early work with Vodka Collins ranks with one of the most bizarre. The band, a trio consisting of Merrill and Japan-born Hiroshi Oguchi and Take Yokouchi, was a mix of cultures that came together for one common goal: catchy power pop. Singing in both languages, the group was adept at both T. Rex-style rockers and gorgeous pop tracks, although the group's strengths were emphasized by the latter. Merrill's bluesy tendencies are reined in by the other two, while his smooth vocals put his distinctive stamp on the material. Although quite hard to find in the United States, Tokyo-New York is an inspiring meld of styles and cultures that speaks volumes for the power of rock music. The musicians' blend of amateurish performance and obvious enthusiasm makes this a treat for fans of obscure gems, although be warned that this is very much a product of the early '70s. Those looking to enhance their collections of quality overlooked rock should give this a shot; it would be hard to think of any other bilingual pop/rock albums that are as catchy as this.
[allmusic.com]
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