KOIBITO YO Mayumi Itsuwa (LP) / 五輪真弓「恋人よ」 [SSAR-043]

tem description

The tools were U.S.-made lathe and cutting head―a good match for LP.

The cutting and mastering room of STUDIO Dede in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Shinya Matsushita, a cutting engineer of STUDIO Dede, is still in his mid-30's but has a detailed knowledge of vintage equipment and provides maintenance by his own hands.

U.S.-made Scully lathe and Westrex cutting head, both in operation at STUDIO Dede. Equipment in the studio can be kept in good condition by due diligence and daily fine-tuning.

MAYUMI ITSWA's "KOIBITO YO" was originally released in 1980, and since then has been well known as her signature work. Following the hybrid SACD of "KOIBITO YO" [SSMS-036] released by Stereo Sound in January of 2020, an analog record of the same album, we are pleased to announce here, was introduced in April of the same year.

While the mastering of the hybrid SACD was done by Koji Suzuki of Sony Music Studios Tokyo, the production of lacquer discs of the analog record was entrusted to STUDIO Dede in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Thanks to the full cooperation of Sony Music Entertainment Inc., we were granted exceptional permission to move the original master tapes to an outside studio and were able to produce the analog record.

For making the sound quality high enough to meet the need of audiophile, STUDIO Dede's engineers carefully played back the musical signal recorded in the original analog master tapes, and successfully uncovered further attractiveness and the quality still underlying in the original source.

The lacquers, master for production of LP, were produced by Shinya Matsushita, who is a cutting engineer of STUDIO Dede. Using the two TELEFUNKEN tape recorders―modified permanent equipment of STUDIO Dede―1/4-inch master tapes were once duplicated, then, with the Dolby A―a professional nose reduction system chosen by Matsushita―the noise in the background was carefully reduced during the playback. Thus, the master of the superb-quality LP of "KOIBITO YO" was completed.

It is also worth noting that the Scully lathe and Westrex cutting head, both are U.S.-made, were used for producing the LP. This well-fitted combination of vinyl record cutting tools made it possible to extract the recorded musical signals to the maximum and reveal the atmosphere and presence that had lain dormant on the original master tapes. Listened to the finished sound, you can clearly see the reason why MAYUMI ITSUWA and the production staff of "KOIBITO YO" at the time adhered to the recording in France.

The record pressing was done in the Sony DADC Japan Inc., a vinyl pressing plant in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, which is reputed for its stable product quality. The more you increase the volume, the more you can feel straightforwardly the subtle beaty of the combinational harmony of MAYUMI ITSUWA's voice and backing, and can absorb her inspirational musical messages as if it spreads out in front of you.
 

収録曲

　[Side A]

　[Side B]

Cutting Engineer: Shinya Matsushita (STUDIO Dede)
Liner Notes: Koji Yamamoto