Off Course - Three and Two (1979) Vinyl LP • Sayonara, Japan, Don't Stop Loving

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Condition Details:

Vertical pricing strip included. Import from Japan. Vinyl plays nicely; a few light hairlines (play-graded). Cover has a few creases, very light-scuffing and some surface impressions (front/back); sticker residue near top-right of front. Inner-sleeve is original (Credits/lyrics/pictures). Spine is easy-to-read with mild-wear (crooked text). Minor shelf-wear along top/bottom-edge and corners. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. 4-panel poster NOT included. (Not a cut-out.)

Tracks:

1. 思いのままに
2. 恋を抱きしめよう
3. その時はじめて
4. 歴史は夜つくられる
5. 愛を止めないで
6. Save The Love
7. 汐風のなかで
8. 愛あるところへ
9. 生まれ来る子供たちのために ～「いつもいつも」 (1979年8月5日 田園コロシアム・ライブより)

About The Record:

^ i^Three and Two by Off Course marks the pivotal moment when the Japanese folk rock duo fully transformed into a dynamic five-piece band by officially adding bassist Hitoshi Shimizu, drummer Jiro Ohma, and guitarist Kazuhiko Matsuo as full members, infusing their sound with powerful rhythm section drive and dual electric guitars that amplified their signature delicate harmonies and emotional songcraft. This shift brought a smoother, more urban pop energy with hints of emerging city pop influences while retaining the group's heartfelt ballad style and mature arrangements led by Kazumasa Oda's prominent vocals. A standout track is the fan-favorite Ai wo Tomenaide (Don't Stop Loving), alongside emotionally resonant pieces like Ai Aru Tokoro He that showcase lush harmonies and bridge work reminiscent of Western soft rock. The album itself proved historically significant as a boundary line in the band's evolution, propelling them toward greater mainstream success in Japan's evolving music scene of the late 1970s. The single Sayonara, released shortly after, became a massive hit reaching No. 2 on the Oricon charts and is regarded as one of the defining Japanese ballads of the 1980s era.