Tropical Dandy is the second solo album by Haruomi Hosono, released on 25 June 1975. It launched the exotica-tinged “tropical” style that defined his mid-1970s work, continued on Bon Voyage co. and Paraiso.[1]
Background
Following Hosono House (1973), the album features his band Caramel Mama, by then renamed Tin Pan Alley — Shigeru Suzuki, Masataka Matsutoya and Tatsuo Hayashi — along with Hiroshi Sato and Minako Yoshida.[1] The cover parodies the sailor packaging of Player’s Navy Cut cigarettes and shows a ship resembling the Titanic, which Hosono’s grandfather Masabumi Hosono survived.[1]
Reception
The Wire reviewed it favourably, describing an infectious, kitschy blend of cabaret, rock, traditional instruments and synths.[1] “Silk Road” backed with “Honey Moon” was issued as a single, and the album was later reissued in a Crown-years box set with Tin Pan Alley bonus tracks.[1]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Chattanooga Choo Choo”Mack Gordon, Harry Warren | 2:49 | |
| 2. | “Hurricane Dorothy” | 5:46 | |
| 3. | “Silk Road”絹街道 | 3:32 | |
| 4. | “Tropical Night”熱帯夜 | 4:55 | |
| 5. | “Peking Duck”北京DUCK | 2:36 | |
| 6. | “Drifting Chronicle”漂流記 | 3:08 | |
| 7. | “Honey Moon” | 2:37 | |
| 8. | “Three o’Clock Lullaby”三時の子守唄 | 2:31 | |
| 9. | “Three o’Clock Lullaby”instrumental | 2:26 | |
| 10. | “Drifting Chronicle”instrumental | 4:02 |
All tracks written by Haruomi Hosono unless noted.
Personnel
- Haruomi Hosono – vocals, bass, guitar, Mellotron, marimba, producer
- Masataka Matsutoya – piano, Hammond organ, string arrangements
- Shigeru Suzuki – electric guitar
- Tatsuo Hayashi – drums, percussion
- Hiroshi Sato – piano, clavinet
- Minako Yoshida – duet and backing vocals
- Taeko Ōnuki – backing vocals
References
- “Tropical Dandy”. Wikipedia. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
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