HAMADA, MARI love never turns against VIH-28331

Enduring Love for Rock: Mari Hamada’s ‘Love Never Turns Against’ (Promo Pressing VIH-28331)

Today we explore another chapter in the illustrious career of Japan’s premier female rock vocalist, Mari Hamada. This entry focuses on her eighth studio album, “Love Never Turns Against,” released on the Invitation label (Victor) with the catalog number VIH-28331. The specific copy highlighted here is a promotional sample pressing.

Issued in 1988, this 12-inch vinyl LP followed the stylistic shift towards polished melodic rock and AOR showcased on her previous album, “In the Precious Age.” “Love Never Turns Against” solidified this direction, further establishing Hamada as a sophisticated rock artist with broad appeal.

Continuing the successful formula, the album features Hamada’s powerful and emotive vocals backed by top-tier international session musicians. Renowned players contributed their talents, lending the album a distinctly polished, professional sound characteristic of high-quality late 80s AOR and melodic rock productions. The songwriting emphasizes strong melodies, sophisticated arrangements, and Hamada’s exceptional vocal delivery.

Notably, this album includes the powerful anthem “Heart and Soul,” which had gained massive exposure as the NHK theme song for the 1988 Seoul Olympics broadcast, significantly boosting Hamada’s mainstream visibility.

VIH-28331 captures Mari Hamada confidently embracing a refined, internationally-geared rock sound. “Love Never Turns Against” stands as a key release from her late 80s period, showcasing her vocal mastery within a flawlessly produced melodic rock framework. The promotional sample pressing adds an extra layer of rarity for collectors, representing a piece distributed before the official commercial release.