Early Techno-pop version of Martin Denny's Firecracker

Okay, so I just realized that Y.M.O.'s (Yellow Magic Orchestra) first single, "Computer Games" is really a cover version of Martin Denny's "Firecracker":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGYbhSmuZMo

Apparently, one of their members (Hosono) was in an exotica band in the early 70s called Happy End playing a mixture of country/western and Hawaiian music.

Yep ...I bought the rare yellow vinyl 12" of this when in first came out many moons ago . Have seen it in Tokyo used record shops going for $ 150 .

Saw YMO in NYC around 1980 and they played it live . Super show with the addition of Sakamoto's wife ( now ex ) Akiko Yano on keys . I had the hots for her !

[ Edited by: sushiman 2008-07-10 00:10 ]

Dang, I think I have the 45 version of this on yellow vinyl in my basement somewhere...have to go dig it out!