Yoshida Minako (吉田美奈子) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, composer, and producer.
History[]
Yoshida always had a desire to work in the music industry, and while in high school she temporarily joined the Tokyo Kid Brothers musical troupe as a backing musician alongside studio musicians Hosono Haruomi and Matsumoto Takashi, who befriended her and recommended she start out in songwriting. She continued her career as a backup musician for various different bands, but also began writing her own music and lyrics around 1971. In 1972, she was recruited by singer-songwriter Otaki Eiichi and began her professional career. In 1973 she was introduced to fledgling studio musician Yamashita Tatsuro and the pair became frequent collaborators on each other's work as well as for other singer-songwriters such as Matsutoya Yumi.
She remains relatively active to this day, mostly as a live performer.
Discography[]
Studio Albums[]
- [1973.09.21] Tobira no Fuyu (扉の冬)
- [1975.10.25] MINAKO
- [1976.03.25] FLAPPER
- [1977.03.25] Twilight Zone
- [1978.10.25] Ai wa omou mama -LET'S DO IT- (愛は思うまま -LET'S DO IT-)
- [1980.10.21] MONOCHROME
- [1981.11.21] MONSTERS IN TOWN
- [1982.09.21] LIGHT'N UP
- [1986.09.xx] BELLS
- [1989.04.10] DARK CRYSTAL
- [1990.10.25] gazer
- [1995.02.22] EXTREME BEAUTY
- [1996.10.23] KEY
- [1997.10.22] SPELL
- [2002.10.09] Stable
- [2003.11.27] REVELATION
- [2006.02.22] spangles
Best Hits Albums[]
Remix Album[]
- [2004.03.24] RECONSTRUCTION
Live Albums[]
- [1975.12.20] MINAKO Ⅱ –Live at Sun Plaza Hall October 3,1975–
- [1983.03.25] in motion
- [2016.xx.xx] YOSHIDA MINAKO GLORIOUS CONCERT「calling」
Collaboration Albums[]
Singles[]
- [1973.09.21] Neko (ねこ)
- [1975.12.xx] CHINESE SOUP (チャイニーズ・スープ)
- [1977.03.25] Koi wa Ryuusei 「SHOOTING STAR OF LOVE」 (恋は流星 「SHOOTING STAR OF LOVE」)
- [1978.xx.xx] Yume de Aetara (夢で逢えたら)
- [1978.11.05] Ai wa Omou Mama -LET'S DO IT- (愛は思うまま -LET'S DO IT-)
- [1979.10.21] Aishiteru Terukara Sayonara wo -I'D RATHER LEAVE WHILE I'M IN LOVE- (愛しているからさよならを -I'D RATHER LEAVE WHILE I'M IN LOVE-)
- [1980.11.21] BLACK EYE LADY
- [1982.04.15] TOWN
- [1995.01.21] BEAUTY
- [1995.07.21] Koe wo kika sete (声を聞かせて)
- [1996.09.21] GRACES
- [1997.09.22] SHADOW WINTER
- [2002.09.11] TEMPTATION
- [2004.10.20] STAY〜Traumerei Yori (STAY〜トロイメライより)
Compilations[]
Videos[]
Songs Written[]
Songs Composed[]
Songs Produced[]
Trivia[]
- Her older brother is recording engineer Yoshida Tamotsu.
- She is considered one of the first significant female singer-songwriters in J-Pop.
- When she first started songwriting, she based her compositions on works by Western artists Carole King and Laura Nyro.