としごろ - Toshigoro

Release:  8/21/1973
Rank:  55th (Oricon)
Singles:  「としごろ」 A & B sides
Obi:  スター誕生! 山口百恵のファースト・アルバム キラキラした太陽のようにまぶしい14才の世界!  (A STAR is born! Yamaguchi Momoe's FIRST ALBUM/14 Year Old's world sparkling like the sun!)
Notes:  Tracks 7-12 are covers.
Opinion:　　Here she is, in all her nasally young-girl voice glory!  Momoe's debut album is nothing but cliche idol fare suiting her childish image.  Unfortunately, compared to her other albums, most if not all the original tracks are forgettable.  Her voice is peppy and bright on her debut single, though (Track 1).  The ballads (Tracks 4 and 5) have nice melody to them, but the lyrics are pretty standard teenage angst.  Apparently in the early 70s, it was popular for artists to have half of their albums feature cover tracks, either from recent hits in Japan or America/UK/France, or hits from the previous decade.  Momoe's album was no exception.

1.  としごろ (toshigoro) [That Age]
2.  ひとりぼっちのあなた (hitori-bocchi no anata) [You're All Alone]
3.  叱らないでね (shikaranaide ne) [Don't Scold Me]
4.  文通 (buntsuu) [Exchanging Letters]
5.  明日はいいことが．．． (ashita ha ii koto ga...) [Tomorrow A Good Thing Will...]
6.  あのひと (ano hito) [That Person]
7.  バケイション (VACATION) - Connie Francis cover 
8.  悲しき16才 (kanashiki juu-roku sai) - Kathy Linden's "Heartaches At Sweet Sixteen" cover
9.  可愛いベイビー (kawaii BABY) - Connie Francis' "Pretty Little Baby" cover
10. レモンのキッス (LEMON no KISS) [Lemon Kiss] - Nancy Sinatra's "Like I Do" cover
11. ボーイハント (BOYHUNT) - Connie Francis' "Where the Boys Are" cover
12. 大人になりたい (otona ni naritai) [Wannabe an Adult] - Connie Francis' "Too Many Rules" cover


1st album としごろ

青い果実／禁じられた遊び - aoi kajitsu/kinjirareta asobi

Release:  12/21/1973
Rank:  26th (Oricon)
Singles:  「青い果実」 A side;  「禁じられた遊び」 A & B sides
Obi:  まっ赤な気持をぶつける世代! 悩み多い十代の世界!  (A generation that throws about bright red feelings! A world of teenage worries!)
Notes:　　Track 5 is a duet with Utsui Ken (宇津井健).  Tracks 7-12 are covers.
Opinion: Another forgettable album by a young Momoe; aside from her eye-brow raising single "Aoi Kajitsu", nothing is too spectacular.  Track 4 is a fun little ditty though.  Covers from Japanese hits, most of them from the same year, and also one is from a fellow member of Hana no Chuu-San Trio (花の中三トリオ) (Track 11).  I think Track 5 is ironic because Momoe never had a good relationship, if at all, with her father.  The duet is with a fellow actor of the Akai series.

1.  禁じられた遊び (kinjirareta asobi) [Forbidden Games]
2.  お月様の下で (otsuki-sama no shita de) [Under Mr. Moon]
3.  恋人ごっこ (koibito gokko) [Playing Pretend Lovers]
4.  悩み多い14才 (nayami ooi juu-yon sai) [Worry-laden 14 Year Old]
5.  パパは恋人 (PAPA ha koibito) [Papa's My Love]
6.  青い果実 (aoi kajitsu) [Unripe Fruit]
7.  乙女の祈り (otome no inori) [Maiden's Prayer] - Mayuzumi JUN (黛ジュン) cover
8.  個人授業 (kojin jugyo) [Private Lesson] - FINGER 5 (フィンガー5) cover
9.  草原の輝き (sougen no kagayaki) [Splendor in the Grass] - Agnes Chan (アグネス・チャン) cover
10. 初恋のひと (hatsukoi no hito) [First Love] - Ogawa Tomoko (小川知子) cover
11. 中学三年生 (chugaku san-nensei) [3rd Year Middle Schooler] - Mori Masako (森昌子) cover
12. わたしの彼は左きき (watashi no kare ha hidari-kiki) [My Boyfriend's Left-handed] - Asaoka Megumi (麻丘めぐみ) cover


2nd album 青い果実／禁じられた遊び

15歳のテーマ 百恵の季節 - juu-go sai no THEME Momoe no kisetsu

Release:  4/21/1974
Rank:  7th (Oricon)
Singles:  「春風のいたずら」 A & B sides
Obi:  待っていた百恵オリジナル・アルバム ヒット・メーカーでつづる15才の詩集  (The awaited Momoe ORIGINAL ALBUM 15 year old's anthology composed by a HIT MAKER)
Notes:  Title is "Theme of 15 Momoe's Season".  Her first full album of original tracks.  Although the only single on here didn't break the top 10 (it was 11th), the album broke into the top 10.
Opinion:  I love the lead track, probably my favorite early Momoe song.  The hints of sexiness (probably because of the slightly lower voice) are starting to show through.  But still, very childish lyrics of grade-school love abounds.

1.  めまいの季節 (memai no kisetsu) [Dizzying Season]
2.  15才の恋 (juu-go sai no koi) [15 Year Old's Love]
3.  秘密をもった少女 (himitsu wo motta shojo) [Girl With A Secret]
4.  雨に濡れた少女 (ame ni nureta shojo) [Girl Drenched by the Rain]
5.  陽のあたるアパート (hi no ataru APART) [Sunlit Apartment]
6.  春風のいたずら (harukaze no itazura) [Teasing Spring Wind]
7.  お元気ですか (ogenki desu ka) [How Are You?]
8.  放課後 (houkago) [After School]
9.  恋のニュース (koi no NEWS) [News of Love]
10. 片想い (kata-omoi) [Crush]
11. 夢の恋人 (yume no koibito) [Dream Lover]
12. さよならの季節 (sayonara no kisetsu) [Season of Goodbyes]


3rd album 15歳のテーマ 百恵の季節

15歳のテーマ ひと夏の経験 - juu-go sai no THEME hito natsu no keiken

Release:  8/1/1974
Rank:  3rd (Oricon)
Singles:  「ひと夏の経験」 A & B sides
Obi:  まぶしいようなひと夏の思い出! 百恵の世界が果てしなくひろがる・・・・・ ヒット・メーカーで構成されたオリジナル・アルバム  (A single summer's memory like a glare! Momoe's world expands endlessly... An ORIGINAL ALBUM made by a HIT MAKER)
Notes:
Opinion:

1.  ひと夏の経験 (hito natsu no keiken) [One Summer's Experience]
2.  わたしの悩み誰も知らない (watashi no nayami dare mo shiranai) [No One Knows My Worries]
3.  まばたきの夏 (mabataki no natsu) [Summer in a Blink]
4.  風になりたい (kaze ni naritai) [Wannabe the Wind]
5.  太陽の友達 (taiyou no tomodachi) [Friend of the Sun]
6.  海の友達 (umi no tomodachi) [Friend of the Sea]
7.  まぶしい視線 (mabushii shisen) [Dazzling Glance]
8.  恋は…ING (進行形) (koi ha...ING (shinkoukei)) [Love is...ING (Progressive Verb Tense)]
9.  私を選んで (watashi wo erande) [Choose Me]
10. 朝陽の庭 (asahi no niwa) [Garden in Morning Light]
11. 教室を出たら大人 (kyoshitsu wo detara otona) [Leave the Classroom as an Adult]
12. バラの誘惑 (BARA no yuuwaku) [Tempting Rose]

4th album 15歳のテーマ ひと夏の経験 

 

15才 - juu-go sai

Release:  12/10/1974
Rank:  8th (Oricon)
Singles:  「ちっぽけな感傷」 B side; 「冬の色」 B side
Obi:  よろこびと涙でめくれてゆく15のページ・・・・・・・・・ 15才のテーマ完結篇  (Turning through joy and tears to the 15th page... Theme of 15 Final Volume)
Notes:
Opinion:

1.  ちっぽけな感傷 (chippokena kanshou) [Little Sentiment]
2.  倖せのまえぶれ (shiawase no maebure) [Herald of Happiness]
3.  名前のない時間 (namae no nai jikan) [Nameless Time]
4.  聖少女 (sei shojo) [Holy Girl]
5.  清潔な恋 (seiketsu na koi) [Pure Love]
6.  慕情 (bojou) [Longing]
7.  伊豆の踊り子 (Izu no odoriko) [Dancing Girl of Izu]
8.  野菊の墓 (nogiku no haka) [Grave of Wild Chrysanthemums]
9.  たけくらべ (takekurabe) [Comparing Heights]
10. 誰も愛せない (dare mo aisenai) [Can't Love Anyone]
11. 乙女は待っている (otome ha matteiru) [A Maiden Waits]
12. 嵐の中の少女 (arashi no naka no shojo) [Girl in a Storm]


5th album 15才

16才のテーマ - juu-roku sai no THEME

Release:  5/1/1975
Rank:  3rd (Oricon)
Singles:  「冬の色」 A side; 「湖の決心」 A & B sides.
Obi:  何が起る! 16才の新しいページ!  (What will happen! A new page at 16!)
Notes:  Narration is included in some of these tracks.  The title is "Theme of 16".
Opinion:

1.  湖の決心 (mizuumi no kesshin) [Resolution of a Lake]
2.  冬の色 (fuyu no iro) [Color of Winter]
3.  春の奇蹟 (haru no kiseki) [Spring Miracle]
4.  ふたりに春が (futari ni haru ga) [Spring is To Us...]
5.  ともだちそれとも妹 (tomodachi soretomo imouto) [Friends or Little Sister?]
6.  新しい地図 (atarashii chizu) [New Map]
7.  少年の海 -出逢い- (shonen no umi -deai-) [Sea of Youths -Encounter-]
8.  乾いた唇 (kawaita kuchibiru) [Dry Lips]
9.  炎の前で (honoo no mae de) [Before a Flame]
10. 噂の少女 (uwasa no shojo) [Rumored Girl]
11. 涙のことづて -手紙- (namida no kotozute -tegami-) [Message of Tears -Letter-]
12. 美え貝 (miegai)***

***I'm not sure how to translate this...


6th album 16才のテーマ

ささやかな欲望 - sasayakana yokubou

Release:  12/5/1975
Rank:  15th (Oricon)
Singles:  「夏ひらく青春」 A & B sides; 「ささやかな欲望」 A & B sides
Obi:  青春の扉をつきぬける 話題のオリジナル・アルバム。  (Piercing through youth's door/The talked-about ORIGINAL ALBUM.
Notes:  The album originally came with an 8-page color photo collection.
Opinion:

1.  ささやかな欲望 (sasayakana yokubou) [Tiny Desire]
2.  昨日までの顔 (kinou made no kao) [Your Face Since Yesterday]
3.  野薔薇 (nobara) [Briar Rose]
4.  愛がひとつあれば (ai ga hitotsu areba) [If I Had One and Only Love]
5.  ありがとうあなた (arigatou anata) [Thank You, Darling]
6.  感傷旅行 (kanshou ryokou) [Sentimental Travels]
7.  夏ひらく青春 (natsu-hiraku seishun)[Youth in Summer]
8.  感じる季節 (kanjiru kisetsu) [Season of Feeling]
9.  燃える海 (moeru umi) [Burning Sea]
10. 少女の誇り (shojo no hokori) [Girl's Pride]
11. あなたが死んだら (anata ga shindara) [If You Died]
12. 空はこんなに青い (sora ha konnani aoi) [The Sky Is This Blue]

7th Album ささやかな欲望 

17才のテーマ - juu-nana sai no THEME

Release:  4/21/1976
Rank:  2nd (Oricon)
Singles:  「ささやかな欲望」 B Side; 「白い約束」 A & B Sides; 「愛に走って」 A & B Sides
Obi:  めくるめく世代の詩!  (Song of a sparkling generation!)
Notes:  Title is "Theme of 17".  Track 12 was included on the previous album.
Opinion:

1.  愛に走って (ai ni hashitte) [Run to Love]
2.  昨夜からの雨 (sakuya kara no ame) [Rain from Last Night]
3.  木洩れ日 (kimorebi) [Sun Filtered through the Trees]
4.  そして出逢い (soshite deai) [And We Meet]
5.  赤い運命 (akai unmei) [Red Fate]
6.  葡萄色の雨 (budou-iro no ame) [Wine-colored Rain] 
7.  白い約束 (shiroi yakosuku) [White Promise]
8.  碧色の瞳 (ao-iro no hitomi) [Emerald Eyes]
9.  土曜日の楽しみ (doyoubi no tanoshimi) [Can't Wait for Saturday]
10. 幸福の実感 (koufuku no jikkan) [Reality of Happiness]
11. 山鳩 (yamabato) [Turtledove]
12. ありがとうあなた (arigatou anata) [Thank You, Darling]


8th Album 17才のテーマ

横須賀ストーリー - Yokosuka STORY

Release:  8/1/1976
Rank:  3rd (Oricon)
Singles:  「愛に走って」 B side; 「横須賀ストーリー」 A & B sides
Obi:  傷つきやすく壊れやすい青春・・・・・・でも求めてゆきたい  (Hurtable, breakable youth... But still wanting to seek it.)
Notes:  Momoe spent her childhood in Yokosuka, up until the time of her debut.  Track 9 was included on the previous album.
Opinion:

1.  陽炎 (kagerou) [Heat Haze]
2.  GAME IS OVER
3.  横須賀ストーリー (Yokosuka STORY)
4.  自転車の上の彼 (jitensha no ue no kare) [Boyfriend on a Bike]
5.  クラブサンドウィッチはいかが? (CLUB SANDWICH ha ikaga?) [How About a Club Sandwich?]
6.  風たちの午後 (kaze-tachi no gogo) [Afternoon Winds]
7.  いま目覚めた子供のように (ima mezameta kodomo no you ni) [Like a Child Who Just Woke]
8.  ひとにぎりの砂 (hito-nigiri no suna) [Handful of Sand]
9.  赤い運命 (akai unmei) [Red Fate]
10. それでも明日が… (sore demo asu ga...) [Nevertheless, Tomorrow...]
11. 愛の暮色 (ai no boshoku) [Dusk of Love]
12. 甘い裏切り (amai uragiri) [Sweet Betrayal]

9th Album 横須賀ストーリー