American artist with a huge success in Japan…
It was 1979 that Dick St. Nicklaus’s 1st album “Magic” was a kind of boom in Osaka, the second largest city of Japan located in western part of Japan, near Kyoto. Osaka has a different atmosphere and their own culture and in those days they were keen to find out some unfamiliar artists by themselves. One was Dick St. Nicklaus. Sony Music Osaka branch A&R decided to release “Magic” limited in Kansai (western part of Japan surrounding Osaka) and this trial was a success.
The album sold well and thus “Magic” was released all over Japan. Dick St. Nicklaus got a deal for his 2nd album “Sweet And Dandy” with Sony Music Japan. This album is opened by the catchy tune “Bye Bye Baby” clearly inspired by the keyboard rhythm pattern used by Doobie Brothers on their smash hit “What A Fool Believes”. The beautiful ballads tune “Love, Love, Love” was covered by Bill Medley on his 1981 album “Liberty” later.
Words from Adult Contemporary Music In Japan.
Discography
Sweet And Dandy
Epic Records 1980
Tracks: Bye Bye Baby, Can´t Say Love, Love Love Love, Lies, You Better Run, Osaka Moon, You´re Living A Lie, Stuck In The Mud Again & I´m Tired.
Musicians on the Sweet And Dandy album: Dick St Nicklaus, Chuck Findley, Steve Lukather, Neil Stubenhaus, Ian Underwood and others.
Magic
Epic Records 1979
Tracks: Magic, Help Yourself, What's The Reason, Can't Give Up, Our Goodbye, Born To Love You, Sad Price To Pay, She's My Music & Changing.
Musicians on the Magic album: Dick St Nicklaus, Mitch Holder, Leland Sklar, Bill Mays, Velton Ray Bunch, Ian Underwood, Steve Schaeffer, Gary Coleman, John Kaye, Jim Horn, Pete Christlieb, Chuck Findley, Arthur Maebe, Sidney Muldrow, Ernie Watts, Vincent DeRosa & Dick Hyde.