Rie Ida & 42nd Street/ Star (original 1980)

Their second album features a refreshed backing band lineup with guest musicians including Hiro Tsunoda, Hiroki Inui, Kiyoshi Hasegawa, and Tatsushi Umegaki. Highlights include the beloved wa-floor killer “Party wo Nukedashite,” reissued on 7-inch in 2014, the sophisticated soul dancer “Star,” the mid-tempo funk groove “Victory or Defeat” composed by Hiro Tsunoda, and the breezy Latin groove “South Big Wave.” A rare gem spanning AOR, city pop, and soulful Japanese grooves.