I  Love You   Philips:FS-1018
Ai Takano was Drummer and Vocalist of Carnabeats in '60s.
Carnabeats formed in early '67in  Tokyo.
Takano  was only 16 years old at the time, another elder members (around 20 years old)were,Keikichi Usui(vocal),Hiroshi Koshikawa(lead gtr.),Jiro Kitamura(side gtr.),Tadao Oka(bas.).
Originally the band was called Robin Hood. When they release their first 45, they changed the name to Carnabeats.
you can see Robin Hood caractor on their tour mobil.
In June '67 they released their first single "Sukisa Sukisa Sukisa (I Love You)" ,it was Japanese cover version of Zombies.
It was their first and biggest hit. The song is one of GS standard number still now.They became one of  famous GS.
original version of  'I Love You' was released again as  a A side.



Their  second single 'Koioshiyouyo Jenny " became their next hit. It was original sung by Takano,
you can listen it on "Monster A Go Go" comps as "Jenny". The flip side was cover of Canadian Great Scots' "Give Me Lovin' ". PlanetX trilogy aslo include "Sandy", Takno wrote the song,and
sung by himself. Girl chorus in the song was their fan called Carnabeaty.

They released 10 singles and 2 albums(one is one-sided with Jaguars) till they broken up in fall '69.
Thier sound mainly influenced from Zombies,They recorded another Zombies number "She's Not There" and "Time of  the Season".
In  Feb.'68, they relesed a single with Gary Walker (Walker Brothers) .Scot Walker worte the lylic
and a Japanese wrote the music . The song is "Cutie Morning Moon", you know I took the name for my webpages! The flip side was backing track with Gary's message.

When  Gary Walker and Rain toured in  Japan, Carnabeats joined the show.

After carnbeats broken up, Takano joined Eddie Ban group .

 Back to Interview with Takano

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