How many groups have a plug from a Filipino dictator on the back cover of their album?

“‘Your theme and vision are identical with mine. The future of Asia is in your hands. Go out and give it to the continent.’ – Fernand [sic] Marcos, President of the Phillipines”.

Up With People’s “Sing-Out 65” tour of Asia inspired the creation of Sing-Out Asia. The Sing-Out Asia group seems to be primarily Japanese with a number of Filipinos.

This album is credited to the United Sound, though only musical director Takao Nanri is named. In 1966 Nanri had a light pop group called the Village Singers. The liner notes say he resigned from the group to direct Sing-Out Asia.

Not surprisingly, this record repeats the Up With People formula of cheery, vacant songs sung in chorus, though the stiff accented English provides a twist. It would be forgettable, even offensive to people with any musical sense, except for one track, “Isn’t There Something”, which throws a good rock backing behind the chipper harmonies.

Sing-Out Asia actually made a lengthy tour of the U.S. in 1968, probably in conjunction with the release of this record, which is almost certainly a U.S. pressing [deadwax: stamped “H”, stamped “1001” etched “(stereo)”]. Some photos and recollections of the tour were at soa1968.multiply.com (website defunct as of 2013).

As an organization it seems to be still active, with recent tours of Indonesia and Japan.

The only mention I could find of Takao’s later career is production work with Kitaro on his LP “Ten Kai / Astral Trip” and the Manhunter soundtrack, though that name is sometimes listed as Taka Nanri – so is it the same person?

Background on Up With People from Wikipedia.