Sunday, April 15, 2012

Various - "Rhodes In Japan" - comp. 16

PREVIEWS :
White Fire - Takaeo Uematsu
  Satsuki - Terumasa Hino
  Green Caterpiller - Masaru Imada
  Cat - Teruo Nakamura

In 2000 I went to Tokyo for the first time, and immediately injured my knee. I hobbled around the city on crutches immersing myself in the amazing range of jazz, funk and soul. It wasn't just the hidden, special 2nd hand vinyl stores that blew me away - even Tower Records had the largest jazz collection I'd ever seen; with racks and racks of Japan-only CD releases of USA albums that could only be found on expensive, scratchy vinyl in their home country.

I'd finally found somewhere that had a large population of people who loved the same music as I do, and even today, my DJ partner and some of my closest music buddies at home are Japanese.

However, at the time I knew nothing of Japanese jazz - it's only in the decade since then that my blog brothers have introduced me to Japanese music of the 1970s, music that soaked up electric Miles and electric Herbie in the jazz diaspora, and that even today continues to develop its idiosyncratic permutations through people like DJ Mitsu, Gagle, Sleep Walker and others. There's far too much beautiful music to fit onto one compilation, so expect more.

This is dedicated to my blogger friends, past and present, who've introduced me to this music and taken me on the type of journey that I hope you experience as well.

Thanks to El Goog Ja, Reza, Greg, Bacoso, Ish, Katonah, Taro Nombei, Vesper, Hoochie, Wara Katsu and many more ..... 

More rhodes compilations here


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69 comments:

  1. klfApril 15, 2012 at 2:15 AM

    Greetings from Pennsylvania! Thanks for sharing your compilations.

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  2. vesperApril 15, 2012 at 2:43 AM

    Hi mate! great to see some life here also :) Massive Herbie, of course. DL the Jap mix, tracklist obviously is familiar, see how all these pieces go together in this order :)

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  3. This MuthaApril 15, 2012 at 3:37 AM

    You're the best!

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  4. DJ Mista ReeseApril 15, 2012 at 3:55 AM

    thanks for sharing, it's always a pleasure downloading your posts.

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  5. WallofsoundApril 15, 2012 at 4:53 AM

    Looking forward to your mix.

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  6. AnonymousApril 15, 2012 at 7:39 AM

    Thanks a lot! Fantastic compilation!

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  7. E-mileApril 15, 2012 at 11:57 AM

    hi Simon! thought you went awol for a bit there.... well, to be honest I thought you "gave the pipe to Maarten" as we say in Dutch.
    Nevermind.
    will send you a PM very soon, good to see you still have the goodies, time, stamina & utter madness to post.
    peace, E-mile

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  8. AnonymousApril 15, 2012 at 3:06 PM

    thank you for great blog sir

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  9. DmitriApril 15, 2012 at 4:07 PM

    All the best from New Zealand! Thanks for your incredible job and inspiration, big fan of this place for the last three years.

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  10. Simon666April 15, 2012 at 8:28 PM

    Thanks for comments guys, good to see some old friends here, and new :) Vesper, yes all very hits and memories for you, hope you enjoy :) E-Mile just saw your mail, will get back to you!

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  11. jazzobsessiveApril 16, 2012 at 2:36 AM

    Hi Simon

    What a great surprise present you have given us all today.

    This looks excellent & I have downloaded straight away to give a good listen to later.

    Thanks so much & its great that you are back blogging again-you've definately been missed.

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  12. AnonymousApril 17, 2012 at 1:32 AM

    Brilliant!
    Domo arigato!

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  13. RezaApril 17, 2012 at 7:45 AM

    A post !!!!

    Cheers Simon, looking forward to a listen ;)

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  14. the jazzstronautApril 18, 2012 at 1:21 AM

    Another superb compilation, cheers Simon.

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  15. GildasApril 19, 2012 at 7:58 PM

    Hey hey ! Stamina indeed.
    I should have keep some when digging into Masabumi Kikuchi long time ago.

    I started with LP But no for me. Amazing tracks. Check "Pumu"

    Then the OST A Short Story For Image _ hairpin circus. This is where I first listen to "05 Yellow carcass in the blue", what a lovely song!

    Then Poo Sun, Wishes and In Concert (famous cover!)

    Then I tried Susto and ...bouhhhh except the one you put here Simon. The rest of the LP is just average.

    And BAM''' ! here is the Comp in Japan Comp16!!

    Masabumi and Gil Evans !! I thought it would have been just ok. Well it is definitly very nice. Though again, you pointed us the best song of the LP.

    The last is the "morceau de choix" : Masabumi Kikuchi with his LP Re-confirmation. You just put an awsome teaser in the compilation.

    That's a tease man !!it works.

    Now I have to buy it somewhere. 99 eur on ebay. BUt sale is finished. Not available any more at Amazone. Only at cdinJapan for 45 eur...

    Nothing on youtube!

    It reminds me this weird documentary about Masabumi
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jAEetkw6vU

    All the best to you Simon. Thanks for being here now !

    Gildas

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  16. steve.dApril 20, 2012 at 12:32 AM

    A really classy mix Simon, nice theme of Japaneese electric jazz,thanks.

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  17. becks darkApril 20, 2012 at 7:40 PM

    Thank you and thank you

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  18. GarySApril 20, 2012 at 8:30 PM

    Magnificent! As ever. Always enjoy your comps and this up there with the best, great work :)

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  19. taro nombeiApril 22, 2012 at 2:18 AM

    Another never enough rhodes comp!
    And Japanese too. Fantastic!
    And some gems on it indeed.
    cheers Simon!

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  20. Ian GApril 22, 2012 at 9:48 PM

    Hey Simon, Just road tested this IN Japan no less.
    I've always thought that the sound of the Rhodes is made for the road, as it were & this is no exception.
    Great selection, only had a few of them already but they sound better here. Just driven around for an hour or so in the rain on a Sunday, perfect! You MUST make more 'Rhodes for the road' comps!!

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  21. AnonymousApril 23, 2012 at 3:54 AM

    Thank you very much!! I had missed your posts.

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  22. -nits-April 23, 2012 at 7:53 AM

    curious about this comp and i'm going to give it a listen.
    really great blog. so many different layers and flavors here.

    btw, how would i go about being added to your blogwatch? i'll wait for your response before i post the link.

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  23. DonHo57April 23, 2012 at 10:01 AM

    Haven't checked your spot for awhile, and so I am glad to find you still here? Great Japanese comp.

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  24. Simon666April 23, 2012 at 11:12 PM

    Thanks again for the comments, and glad people are enjoying this.
    Nits, the blogwatch is just something I set up for myself to track blogs that I personally like or find unique, so I guess it's all about my taste.

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  25. -nits-April 24, 2012 at 1:17 AM

    no prob. i guess you can stop by and visit whenever you like. either way, thanx for the tunes.

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  26. NiallApril 24, 2012 at 2:15 AM

    Cheers Simon, More great Rhodes to add to the already well stocked liberary.....all thanks to your impecable taste....greatly appreciated around these parts(no rising sun just falling rain)
    Great to have you back !!
    Niall

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  27. BacosoApril 27, 2012 at 4:37 PM

    Nicely comped - cheers!

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  28. AnonymousApril 28, 2012 at 4:31 PM

    nice nice nice...

    thnx for a rainy saturday of good listenin'

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  29. polluxApril 29, 2012 at 2:13 AM

    Fender rhodes is really a great invention, every tune is so nice :) thanks a lot Simon !

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  30. matt s.April 30, 2012 at 8:14 AM

    Nice looking compilation, thank you! Hard to get japanese jazz (both rare and expensive) so this is a nice treat!

    Thanks again
    Cheers
    M.S.

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  31. Audio CAMeraMay 13, 2012 at 4:22 AM

    Really nice material here! Thanks for all your precious posts! Firstclass taste for music!
    Greetings from Italy!

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  32. AnonymousMay 15, 2012 at 5:45 AM

    fantastic
    I discover your return this day

    thanks a lot for one of the best music blog

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  33. Simon666May 15, 2012 at 12:01 PM

    Thanks Niall, Bacoso, pollux. Matt S, Audio Camera and others for the comments - bit busy now but hopefully back soon with some more music :)

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  34. AnonymousMay 15, 2012 at 6:31 PM

    Thanks man, really looking forward to check this one out, Definetly one of the best blogs on the web.


    greetings from Holland

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  35. bearwolfMay 19, 2012 at 11:02 AM

    Thanks for this Simon. Looks great. BTW do you have an email address I could contact you on? Would like to drop you a quick note. Cheers!

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  36. AnonymousMay 20, 2012 at 2:08 PM

    Glad to see you active again, Thanks!

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  37. AndyMay 24, 2012 at 7:31 PM

    great stuff once more,thank you.

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  38. AnonymousMay 25, 2012 at 10:07 AM

    thanks these comps are always great

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  39. GildasMay 25, 2012 at 5:13 PM

    Dear all, may I ask for your help to find Masabumi Kikuchi/Re-Confirmation.

    It is now unobtainable at cdjapan (see message below) and could not find it elsewhere as well.

    If you have it, I would be grateful that you can share it with the fusion community .

    THANKS
    Gildas

    -------------------
    Hi. Thank you for shopping at CDJapan.
    We have just received a further update on
    availability from the distributor.
    They are no longer able to make the item(s) below
    available to us at this time.
    ================================
    UCCJ-4068
    Masabumi Kikuchi/Re-Confirmation [SHM-CD][SHM-CD]
    CDA 1 x 2381 yen 2009/05/27 release

    Therefore, the following order consisting of
    the item has been cancelled.
    We are sorry for the inconvenience.
    Thank you for your patience.

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  40. Paco's brotherMay 26, 2012 at 3:48 AM

    Glad to see you on the Rhodes again!

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  41. AnonymousMay 27, 2012 at 11:46 PM

    dear simon

    blogs like yoursd, made me start my own jazz blog.
    maybe you can have alook see, and even mor emaybe add it to your bloglist

    its called

    kool for katz
    and its at:
    http://koolforkatzz.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  42. AnonymousJune 1, 2012 at 6:04 AM

    japan rhodes... why not? thanks

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  43. AnonymousJune 4, 2012 at 2:56 AM

    thanks so much; always love these comps...as much as i love learning about the new (to me!) sounds they contain. Yours has been one of my favourite (Canadian spelling!) music blogs for years...! peace,rs

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  44. AnonymousJune 8, 2012 at 4:03 AM

    what a treat! Thank you so much for this great comp!I just love it...pls give us some more! :-)

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  45. katonahJune 10, 2012 at 3:04 AM

    Man, really slept on this one Simon, sorry for taking so long to find this gem.

    Great to see your you're still in the mix.

    best wishes

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  46. makumaJune 11, 2012 at 9:23 AM

    Thank You Simon! Looking forward to hear this!

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  47. E CraigJune 19, 2012 at 11:04 AM

    Great Compilation!

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  48. HCMJune 20, 2012 at 9:20 AM

    how did I miss this post?!?!?

    downloading now...

    Thanks Si ;)

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  49. Simon666June 21, 2012 at 2:28 AM

    Thanks for all the comments guys, enjoy :)

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  50. GildasJune 21, 2012 at 8:28 AM

    Next in Line: Masabumi Kikuchi/Re-Confirmation

    Man, I could not find it either on cd in japan, ebay, amazone, recordmania...or within the solidarity of the funky blogosphere!!

    You teased us; you need to give us the food now.

    You people are starving !! HELP!

    Regards,
    Gildas

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  51. GildasJune 28, 2012 at 11:18 PM

    Someone looking for Masabumi Re-Confirmation ?

    http://www.sendspace.com/file/cq8fms

    A big thanks to Thad who posted the link on Orgy. He can't remember where he picked it up, so all thanks to the original ripper/poster.

    Thad is Da man as we used to say !
    You make my day!

    TO all: check this LP; I heard it is a magnificience from track 1 till the end.

    This is the magic of blogosphere!

    It reminds me when my now good friend DavySan shared a live show from 1995 featuring Digable Planets and a funky band of players. It was back in 2002 but I still remember the magic of a rare gift

    KeepDaFunkAlive
    Gildas

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  52. GildasJune 29, 2012 at 1:03 AM

    Once you will have download it use this

    PHILIPS/Nippon Phonogram 1970

    Recorded Mar/16/1970 at Victor Studio,Tokyo

    Piano - Masabumi Kikuchi
    Electric Piano - Masahiro Kikuchi
    Alto Sax - Kousuke Mine (aka Kohsuke Mine)
    Bass, electric bass - Yoshio Ikeda
    Drums - Hiroshi Murakami, Keiji Kishida
    Producer - Masaharu Honjo

    Masabumi Kikuchi (菊地 雅章 Kikuchi Masabumi, born 19 October 1939) is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer born in Tokyo, Japan. Playing piano and rhodes with incredible sensitivity, Masabumi Kikuchi participates in Japan Jazz history along with Sadao Watanabe, Terumasa Hino, Kosuke Mine, Hideo Hichikawa, Hozan Yamamoto...

    He also worked with a variety of well known US jazz musicians such as Bill Evans, Lionel Hampton, Sonny Rollins, Woody Herman, Mal Waldron, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Azzedin Weston, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, Billy Harper, Al Foster, Badal Roy and Hannibal Peterson.

    -Full bio-
    Born Oct.19, 1939, in Tokyo. Masabumi Kikuchi also known as ‘Poo’ started the piano lessons and music theory study. After graduating from Tokyo Art College High School, Kikuchi started his professional career leading his own trio. Right after his debut, he played in wide fields by joining Lionel Hampton’s Japan Tour, playing as a featured pianist for the movie “……” (directed by Masahiro Shinoda, script by Shuji Terayama, music by Toru Takemitsu) In 1966, together with Masahiko Togashi (ds), Kikuchi joined the recording of Sadao Watanabe’s “Jazz Bossa”. In 1967, he formed Hino-Kikuchi Quintet, which he led with a trumpeter Terumasa Hino. “Hino-Kikuchi Quintet”, recorded the same year, became a best-seller album. In the meanwhile, Kikuchi had won a scholarship by winning a contest for overseas musicians by downbeat magazine to enroll at Berklee College of Music, and the quintet was performance was interrupted in September the following year. Before going to Berkley, Kikuchi sat in Sonny Rollins’ Japan Tour. At Berkley, he studied composition from William Maloof, music and arrangement from Herb Pomeloy. In 1969, after returning to Japan, he formed his own sextet with 2 pianos and 2 drums, recording “Re-confirmation and …” and “Poo-sun”. In 19** he joined the recording of Hozan Yamamoto(bamboo flute)’s “Silver World” (featuring Kikuchi,p and Gary Peacock, b) as a pianist and composer-arranger. Kikuchi’s collaboration with Peacock started about this time.

    1971～1975 The year 1971 found Kikuchi with a lot more chances to perform with the artists of the States such as Mal Waldron (joining his Japan tour and recordings), Joe Henderson (touring Japan and live recordings). Following 1972, Kiukchi went to the States to join Elvin Jones, touring New Port Jazz Festival, Toronto and many other places in EJ’s group. Also recorded “Hollow Out” with Elvin Jones with L.V.Gelder. After coming back to Japan, he recorded the sound track album for the movie “Hairpin Circus”, which also made a hit album. In July that year, he held a recital inviting Gil Evans for the arrangement (+ Marvin Peterson;trumpet, Billy Harper; tenor saxophone) and recorded “Masabumi Kikuchi with Gil Evans”. This was the very start of the musical bondage of Kikuchi & Evans. Also joined the Japan Tour of Jonny Hartman. In 1973, Kikuchi finally moved his base to New York and re-joined Elvin Jones Group, touring the States and South America. In 1974, Kikuchi joined Sonny Rollins’ concert in Boston. In 1975, with Terumasa Hino, who also moved to N.Y. after him, Kikuchi formed a new group Kochi, touring Japan.

    1976～1980 In 1976, Kochi recorded their album “Wishes” with Steve Grossman, Al Foster et al. In 1977 Kikuchi joined Gil Evans Orchestra and joined the tour and recording “Live at the Royal Festival Hall” England. For the following three yearsKikuchi played in Gil Evans Orch. Furthermore, in 1978, with the recommendations by Al Foster and Gil Evans, Kikuchi joined Miles Davis group, in which he rehearsed for one year with Miles, Al Foster, Sam Morrison, T.M.Stevens, Jack De Johnette. (The recording has yet to be released!)

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  53. Astral TravellerJuly 2, 2012 at 11:34 PM

    A Pleasure, as always. Greets from Space.

    WWW.INLOVEWITHABEAT.BLOGSPOT.COM

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  54. BennyBenBeatsJuly 9, 2012 at 12:39 AM

    Love your blog. You're doing great job with it. Greetings from Finland.

    hertzicabeach.blogspot.fi

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  55. Black MosesJuly 10, 2012 at 2:10 PM

    homey, you gotta do a post on Bertrami (R.I.P.) and Azymuth.

    big ups.

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  56. peskypeskyJuly 15, 2012 at 3:52 AM

    this should be a cool listen. looking forward to blasting it. thank you.

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  57. AnonymousJuly 21, 2012 at 10:56 PM

    thanks

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  58. AnonymousSeptember 5, 2012 at 12:06 AM

    thanks :) great stuff arregato

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  59. AnonymousNovember 12, 2012 at 5:06 AM

    dy-no-MITE!!

    thanks, Simon

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  60. Simon666November 12, 2012 at 4:49 PM

    Thanks hideo, peskypesky, Black Moses, BennyBen, Astral Traveller, and Gildas for comments :)

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  61. AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 5:33 AM

    Pure GOLD. Thank you so much!

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  62. AnonymousFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:01 AM

    Just picked up on this one late,
    always been a big fan of Cat by Teruo Nakamura.

    Thank you poster a real treat for friday!

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  63. AnonymousMarch 9, 2013 at 10:56 PM

    Thank you for a great compilation!

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  64. ThadJuly 14, 2013 at 3:18 PM

    Very nice. Thanks for putting this together!

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  65. Simon666July 15, 2013 at 11:43 AM

    You're welcome Thad, glad you're enjoying it :)

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  66. pianoplanetAugust 2, 2013 at 2:56 AM

    Fantastisch!!!

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  67. AnonymousDecember 14, 2013 at 7:20 PM

    What a great music, I love it! Thanks

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  68. AnonymousAugust 4, 2015 at 6:28 PM

    domo arigato gozaimashita!

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  69. DaneeJanuary 17, 2017 at 6:31 AM

    Oh my god! I've just discovered this blog and I love it so much!!! Gosh!! Please come back ;)

    ReplyDelete