Nippon Girls: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966

While Japan is nowhere near the powerhouse of the U.S. or the U.K. in terms of worldwide musical influence, it's always had a thriving pop-music scene.

The mid-1960s wave of Ereki (electric rock) in Japan gave birth to a slew of solo female artists who sold out concert halls with their singles. Researching each of these singers would be a Herculean task, so it's lucky for us that Japanese girl-pop guru Sheila Burgel has done all the legwork. The result is Nippon Girls, which presents 25 of the best Japanese chick-pop songs of the '60s, in packaging so adorable you'll want to use it as wall art. The release provides a comprehensive look at the ladies of vintage Asian pop and a jumping-off point for those who want to dig even deeper. Either way, this album is an instant party-cue it up and have music geeks swooning.