New York, 1967. Tom Wilson, man behind the mixing desk for such legendary a… Read Full Bio ↴New York, 1967. Tom Wilson, man behind the mixing desk for such legendary artists as Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, The Velvet Underground, and Simon and Garfunkel, has persuaded Verve Records to sign and fund his newest project for distribution on their Forecast imprint. Unlike the other acts that Wilson helped shape into the defining sounds of an era, this artist will barely make a mark on history. His name is Harumi, he's from Japan, and he creates a psychedelic pop album that would eventually be heralded as everything from lost classic to hopelessly frazzled to Holy Grail among squares and psych-heads decades later, but not before he manages to completely disappear from the music industry and into the void of complete and total obscurity.

There is very little known about the man named Harumi, if that's even his real name (and it's debatable, as "Harumi" has female connotations in Japanese). Virtually every source-every blog, every website-has the exact same information on him: He came from Japan to New York to record an album, and disappeared. Did he remain in America to take part in the flower power movement? Could he have returned to Japan, sealing the fate on his obscurity by becoming a salaryman? Presumably, nobody outside his family knows. He could be anywhere in the world. He could be dead.

The actual album itself only adds to the mystery. Recorded between 1967 and 1968, it was a product of its time: a psychedelic gem released at the height and in the heyday of the genre's popularity and ubiquity. A double LP with a gatefold sleeve, its richly colored artwork (courtesy of "Sherri Berri") stands out even considering the acid-and-sun soaked milieu of the time. Inside, though, there is little information regarding its musicians. Harumi does indeed seem to be the singer's name (as evidenced by the strange side story written on the back end of the sleeve), but aside from the usual professional credits such as Producer (Tom Wilson), Arranger (Larry Fallon, Harvey Vinson, and Harumi), and Engineer (Val Valentin), there is nothing regarding who played the actual music.

"Harumi" isn't perfect, but in its imperfections it creates a certain charm and allure completely unique to itself. Harumi sounds like Your Friendly Neighborhood Acid-Head (though psychedelic blogger/uberenthusiast Dr. Schluss likened him to "a stoned cosmonaut," which actually seems to work pretty well as a compliment, I guess) and the album itself plays out as such; innocent rock, folk, or soul filtered through the lysergic brain of a Japanese expatriate and the adventurous producer willing to capture it all on tape.

"Harumi" does deserve the praise and cult following its gathered over the years, and the title of "lost classic" is well earned. In fact, if it hadn't been for Fallout Records, it might truly be lost; copies of the original double LP are rare and go for upwards of 50 dollars, and that's considering someone is even willing to part with their treasure. Harumi also recorded a second record, also self titled, but unfortunately it only came out in Japan and seems to be all but completely lost.

First Impressions
harumi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Look again
Are you sure what you saw
Is as sturdy or safe
As before
First impression

Touch again
Can you feel what I feel

Do we both have the same
In common
One direction

Full of life
That is you
I am trying
To catch you
Can you love?
Can you love?

Mesmerize
No doubt any more
You have a face I can stare at
Forever
Your expression

Full of life
Such is you
I am trying
To catch you
Can you love?
Can you love?

Hey, look again
Are you sure what you saw
Is as sturdy or safe
As before
First impression

Touch again
Can you feel what I feel
Do we both have the same
In common
One direction

Full of life
That is you
I am trying
To catch you
Can you love?
Can you love?
Can you love?

Can you love?
Can you love?

Overall Meaning

The song "First Impressions" by Harumi seems to be about the different layers of perception that we use to form our opinions about people or situations. The first stanza speaks about looking again, implying that the initial impression we had may have been flawed. The line "Are you sure what you saw is as sturdy or safe as before?" suggests that our initial judgments may not always be accurate or trustworthy. The focus then shifts to touch, exploring the idea that our physical senses can also be deceiving. However, the repeated refrain of "first impression" seems to suggest that even though it may not always be reliable, that initial judgment still holds some weight.

The second stanza seems to focus more on the subject of the singer's admiration, addressing them directly with lines like "Full of life, that is you" and "Mesmerize, no doubt anymore." The line "Can you love?" creates an interesting dynamic, suggesting that it may be the singer who is uncertain about their own feelings towards the subject. The repetition of the refrain and the questions "Can you love?" at the end seem to leave the answer open-ended, as if to say that even if we can't always trust our first impressions or physical perceptions, love can transcend those limitations.

Line by Line Meaning

Look again
Take another look at what you previously saw

Are you sure what you saw
Are you confident in what you have perceived

Is as sturdy or safe
Is it as reliable and secure as you initially thought

As before
Previously when you saw it

First impression
What we form when we see something for the first time

Touch again
Revisit it by touching it once more

Can you feel what I feel
Do you experience the same thing as me

Do we both have the same
Do we share a common understanding

In common
Something that we both have equally

One direction
Moving forward together in the same path

Full of life
You possess an energetic and lively spirit

That is you
That is an accurate representation of your character

I am trying
I am endeavoring or attempting

To catch you
To understand or keep up with you

Can you love?
Are you capable of loving

Mesmerize
To captivate or hold one's attention completely

No doubt any more
No longer being unsure or unconvinced

You have a face I can stare at
You possess a countenance that I can gaze intently upon

Forever
For all eternity or an infinite amount of time

Your expression
The way your face conveys your feelings or thoughts

Hey, look again
Hey, take another look

Can you love?
Are you capable of loving

Contributed by Benjamin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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01Talk About It4:10

02First Impressions3:10

PT3M10S

Harumi

03Don't Know What I'm Gonna Do3:09

04Hello4:02

05Sugar In Your Tea3:22

06Caravan3:05

07Hunters Of Heaven2:52

08Hurry Up Now3:51

09What A Day For Me2:47

10We Love2:17

11Fire By The River3:35

12Twice Told Tales Of The Pomegranate Forest0:01

13Samurai Memories0:01

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Comments from YouTube:

littlemikey1954

12y↑4

An overlooked gem, this selection came from the self titled 2-record set, HARUMI released in early 1968.

Jeff Campbell

2y↑1

Pure beauty 🌜🌪

Chris Gutierrez

7y↑1

Can you love? Great song. getting me by

YANHAP1

7y↑2

loving the nod to Bach.

Graham Entwistle

7y↑1

Might be a stupid question, but are you referring to the bit @ 1:58 -ish? (Because if so, it's been driving me crazy that I can't think what I know that musical theme from haha)