On Guitar

Released in 1978 as part of Victor Entertainment's 'Professional High-Technique Series,' On Guitar is a unique entry in Masayoshi Takanaka's discography. While technically his fifth LP, it occupies a strange space in his canon, often overshadowed by the more commercially successful Jolly Jive. The album was explicitly designed as an instructional tool for aspiring guitarists, originally packaged with detailed diagrams of Takanaka's effects chain and pedal settings. This pedagogical intent results in a mix that prioritizes the guitar's clarity and 'voice' above all else. The tracklist is a curated selection of covers - ranging from Billy Joel to Santana - reimagined through Takanaka's tropical fusion lens. Despite its instructional roots, the album stands as a definitive document of the 'Takanaka Sound' before it transitioned into the more synth-heavy, maximalist production of the 1980s. It remains a cult favorite for its pure analog warmth and its role in bridging Western soul-jazz with the emerging Japanese City Pop aesthetic.