Notes

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Size: 122 MB
Bitrate: 256
mp3
Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
Artwork Included
Source: Japan 24-Bit Remaster

Challenge is a 1969 album by Flower Travellin' Band (credited to Yuya Uchida and the Flowers). It featured mainly cover songs, and was a means for producer Yuya Uchida to explore the emerging psychedelic rock movement outside his own career, and to introduce the work of upcoming bands such as Cream to a Japanese audience.

The band was initially started as a side-project by Yuya Uchida when he returned to Japan after visiting his friend John Lennon in England, where he was introduced to various upcoming artists such as Cream, and attended a Jimi Hendrix concert. Yuya wanted to introduce their work to a Japanese audience, and formed the "Flowers" as a cover band with various group sounds musicians, and two vocalists; male singer Chiba Hiroshi, and female singer Remi Aso. They released an album titled Challenge! in 1969, featuring covers of songs by Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Jefferson Airplane, and Big Brother and the Holding Company, in addition to an original song. The art-work caused a stir in the Japanese media as it depicted each member posing naked.

In 1969, after the release of the album; Remi Aso, and guitarist Katsuhiko Kobayashi relocated to the United States. Later that year Yuya reorganized the remaining Flower members; recruited vocalist Joe Yamanaka from the group sounds band 491, and formed the Flower Travellin' Band as a way to produce and explore a new music direction outside his own career. Their first release was a mini-album in 1970, made to emulate the Flowers release by means of cover songs and nude art work. Their first original album Satori was being produced in the same year, and was released in 1971.

They became friends with the Canadian band Lighthouse, and relocated to Canada where they performed with artists such as Dr. John, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. While in Canada they recorded their second original album Made In Japan and signed a deal with Atlantic Records. They returned to Japan for a home show at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, and in 1973 were billed to perform with the Rolling Stones throughout their Japanese tour, however all concerts were canceled when Mick Jaggers visa was rejected due to a drug conviction. They released a live album titled Make Up later that year and performed at Maruyama Park.

At this time Yuya became involved in numerous projects and the band went on a long hiatus, with each member going onto individual careers. Joe Yamanaka recorded numerous solo albums, and collaborated with the reggae band The Wailers in the 1980s. Guitarist Hideki Ishima moved to India and studied the sitar under Indian classical musician Pandit Mani Lal Nag, and later invented the sitarla, which combines the qualities of a solidbody electric guitar and the sitar.

01. Combination Of The Two
02. Intruder
03. Summertime
04. I'm So Glad
05. Greasy Heart
06. Hey Joe
07. White Room
08. Hidariashi No Otoko
09. Piece Of My Heart
10. Stone Free

Bonus Tracks:
11. Fire
12. Five To One
13. Last Chance
14. Flower Boy
15. Yogiri No Trumpet