written by  David Foster, Boz Scaggs & David Lasley

Chikuzen Sato is one of Japan’s best all-around  talents. He’s a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who was originally a member of the successful pop/soul trio, Sing Like Talking.

Sato is one of the rare examples of a Japanese popular singer perfectly at ease singing in English with a smooth voice and perfect pronunciation.

Since his Sing Like Talking days, Sato was clearly inspired by the refined sounds of quality pop and often enlisted in their albums master players like Jeff Porcaro and Nathan East. This influence became even more evident with the release of his 1995 solo album, “Cornestones.” That album presented fantastic renditions of some of the brighter gems of the golden era of West Coast Pop originally performed by Bobby Caldwell, Eric Tagg, Pages and Ned Doheny. Sato’s arrangements and vocals on the album were top notch and “Cornestones” is a must have for any serious music fan.

In 2005, after many other interesting music works including a couple more “Cornestones” projects, Sato released a new solo album entitled “Okra.” This time around the talented music-maker wrote or co-wrote the majority of the songs except a spectacular cover of Boz Scaggs’ “Jojo” which was co-written by Scaggs with David Foster and David Lasley. Sato reworked the song respectfully, yet he adds his spicy flavor to the mix. His voice is in top form well supported by a tight rhythm section and smokin’ horns. This cover version of “Jojo” shows once again the superior talent of Chikuzen Sato who is a sure bet when it comes to quality pop music.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/jojo.mp3|titles=Jojo|artists=Chikuzen Sato]

All Vocals: Chikuzen Sato
Guitars: Hiroyuki Asano
Piano: Shingo Kobayashi
Bass: Akira Okazawa
Drums: Shin Takada
Trumpet & Flugelhorn: Eric Miyashiro & Masahiro Kobayashi
Trombone: Satoshi Sano
Tenor Sax & Flute: Yoshinari Takegemi

Brass Arrangement by Masahiro Kobayashi

Lyrics

Look out behind you, Jojo’s got his gun
He wouldn’t mean to, you know he likes his fun

Jojo dig those spinning lights
Way out games and dizzy heights below him
Jojo dig those Broadway nights, flashy lines
You know him (You know him)

He’s got you covered, you’ll know it right out front
Hey, fifty dollars, he’ll get you all you want

Jojo dig those spinning lights
Way out games and dizzy heights below him
And it’s all below him
Jojo dig those Broadway nights, flashy lines
You know him

Ever so rarely that man in a millon’s born
Gentle and soft, but who’d just as soon off you
For looking the wrong way as not, (Jojo) Go Jo

His baby stays high, got to keep her sweet
He keeps her just right, keeps her on the street

Jojo dig those spinning lights
(Way out games and dizzy heights) below him
Jojo dig those Broadway nights (flashy lights)
Oh, you know him

Jojo dig those spinning lights
Way out games and dizzy heights below him
(Jojo dig those) Broadway nights (flashy lights)
You know him

Say, what do you think of gentlemen wearing mink
Gentle and soft, but who’d just as soon off you
For looking the wrong way as not, (Jojo) Go Jo

So look out behind you, Jojo’s got a gun
Though he wouldn’t mean to do
But he likes his fun

Jojo dig those spinning lights
Way out games and dizzy heights below him
(Man, it’s way below him)
Jojo dig those Broadway nights
Flashy lines, you know him