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Title
 Monster Island's Decisive Battle: Godzilla's Son (Perfect Collection 2)
International Title
 Son of Godzilla
Music By: Masaru Sato
Record Label: Toho Music
 
Running Time: 47:08 Discs: 1
Release: December 2004 CD Number: G-008 (Set)
Comments
Anthony Romero
For whatever reason, the original Futureland release of Son of Godzilla (TYCY-5352) became one of the hardest CDs to find from the 1993 line up. To that point, it's nice to see the entire soundtrack get a much deserved re-release 11 years later. Anyway, this score marks the third by composer Masaru Sato in the long running Godzilla series. Sato has a very distinct style compared to series regular Akira Ifukube and ends up being the perfect fit for this 1967 production. The composer weaves a very playful score for this picture, which listeners experience right off the bat with the "Main Title", that seems right at home with the subject matter and the tropical setting. I'm not sure how much of this is due to my own experiences, but this score always manages to give me a nostalgic sense of childhood, in particular the "Main Title" and the more whimsical theme for Minilla. Sato has managed to craft a number of excellent cues for this score, such as the ever memorable theme for the Kamacuras, the rousing "Experiment Preparation" and "Godzilla vs. Kumonga", which was later reused for King Caesar's battle with Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974). Another thing that I always get a kick out of is Sato's update of his Godzilla theme for this particular entry. Taking the gothic, almost dirge-like theme he established for the character in Godzilla Raids Again (1955), the composer has greatly increased the tempo while adding additional instruments to the mix. The result, which is heard on "Parent Godzilla Comes Ashore", is almost unrecognizable from its source, unless played back-to-back, but ends up being the perfect fit for this film as it still contains an element of dread while not seeming out of place in the context of the rest of the music. Another track worth singling out is the ever majestic "Ending" theme. This cue starts off with a slow, sorrowful tone, yet gels with the rest of the score thanks to the use of trumpets and the way it majestically transitions into the very upbeat part in the cue where the submarine emerges. All in all, it's simply a beautiful sounding track.

In terms of the added content, this disc includes five bonus tracks not found on the earlier Toshiba disc. The first of these tracks, interestingly, seems to indicate that the second half of the "Snowflakes on the Southern Sea" cue is actually a recycled version of "Parent Godzilla Comes Ashore" except slowed down. The remaining four tracks are standard outtakes that feature minute differences from the final version that most probably won't pick up on unless hearing the two side-by-side.

Overall, it's hard to say how much of my general enjoyment of this CD is due to nostalgia. To Sato's credit, he certainly illicits this feeling from his work much more than any of the other Godzilla soundtracks manage to evoke. Regardless, there are enough fantastic cues included here that the score as a whole gets a pretty sound recommendation.
Rating:
Tracks
  1. Opening (M1)
  2. Main Title (M2)
  3. The Sherbet Plan (M3)
  4. Visitor from the Sky (M4)
  5. The Uninvited Guest (M5)
  6. Giant Praying Mantis (M6)
  7. The Young Woman at the Seacoast (M7)
  8. Experiment Preparation (M8)
  9. Freezing Sonde I (M9)
  10. Synthetic Radioactive Sonde I (M10)
  11. The Tragic State of the Island (M11)
  12. Kamacuras (M12)
  13. An Egg Appears (M13)
  14. The Silhouette on the Tree (M14-T2)
  15. Minilla's Birth (M15)
  16. Parent Godzilla Comes Ashore (M16)
  17. Saeko and Minilla (M17)
  18. Maki and Saeko (M18)
  19. Godzilla and Minilla I (M19)
  20. Godzilla and Minilla II (M20)
  21. Night on Sollgel Island (M21)
  22. The Hot Red Pond (M22)
  23. The Research Team's Impatience (M23)
  24. Saeko's Crisis (M24-T2)
  25. Minilla vs. Kamacuras (M25)
  26. Kumonga Appears (M26)
  27. Escape Preparation (M27)
  28. Minilla vs. Kumonga (M28)
  29. Preparing the Last Experiment (M29)
  30. Freezing Sonde II (M30)
  31. Synthetic Radioactive Sonde II (M31)
  32. Godzilla vs. Kumonga (M32)
  33. Snowflakes on the Southern Sea (M33)
  34. Ending (M34-T3)

    Bonus Tracks
  35. Parent Godzilla Comes Ashore (M33 · Edit & Slow)
  36. The Silhouette on the Tree (M14-T1)
  37. Saeko's Crisis (M24-T1)
  38. Ending (M34-T1)
  39. Ending (M34-T2)
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