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Title |
Mecha-Godzilla
The Album: Against G |
International Title |
[Compilation] |
Music By:
Various |
Record Label:
King Records |
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Running Time: 70:46/75:47 |
Discs: 2 |
Release: December 2003 |
CD Number: KICA-626/7 |
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Comments |
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Robert
Storch (Submission) |
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Released
in 2003, this two disc compilation from King Records
is a rather interesting release from the company,
as it focuses solely on Mechagodzilla music, and also
includes a few rare MG themes which were taken from
various sources. Now, there are probably people out
there who don't care too much for compilation
CDs (especially if they own the full, original soundtracks),
but I for one have always enjoyed owning certain Japanese
compilation discs, as I feel that some of the better
ones make an enjoyable listening experience in their
own right. This Mechagodzilla set is certainly one
of the more unique compilations ever released, and
is loaded with a lot of music and sound effects to
keep the listener entertained for almost 2 ½
hours.
What's special about this particular release is that
besides offering selected cues from all of the Mechagodzilla
films which were released from 1974-2003, this set
also collects a few rare tracks from various CDs and
CD singles which are now out of print. Disc 1 starts
off with eight tracks from 1974's Godzilla
vs. Mechagodzilla which was composed by Masaru
Sato. After this comes four different Toho robot
monster themes, two of which were taken from The
Mysterians (1957) and King
Kong Escapes (1967). Next up is seven tracks
from 1975's Terror
of Mechagodzilla which was composed by Akira
Ifukube, followed by one track each from Makoto
Inoue's Godzilla Legend and Ifukube's Ostinato.
Track 20 features a variety of Mechagodzilla sound
effects from the Showa period and runs 3:34 in length.
Disc 2 focuses on the Heisei and Millennium Mechagodzilla
films, and starts off with twelve selections from
1993's Godzilla
vs. Mechagodzilla II which was composed by
Godzilla maestro Akira
Ifukube, and is one of his all-time best Godzilla
scores! Track 13 is a rare promotional song from this
film called "Godzilla's Sorrow", recorded
by the female group Buka-Buka, and was originally
released on a 1993 Sony Records CD single (SRDL-3750).
This song is excellent and in my opinion is one of
the standout tracks on this CD! It's a very
energetic and extremely catchy pop song, and the girls
have very pleasant voices - you can even hear Godzilla
roaring in the background during the track. Tracks
14 thru 21 are taken from 2002's Godzilla
Against MechaGodzilla which was composed by
Michiru Oshima,
and is arguably the best Mechagodzilla score to date.
Unfortunately, there are only two tracks present from
Godzilla:
Tokyo S.O.S. (2003), but this is probably
due to the fact that King Records released it the
same year as this compilation set. Track 24 features
the Mechagodzilla sound effects from the Heisei period
and runs a generous 4:14 in length. The last two tracks
are taken from the Godzilla 40th Anniversary Symphonic
Concert, which was conducted by Masaru
Sato and originally released on CD in 1994 (SLCS-5029).
As for the audio quality these two discs sound excellent,
as the tracks appear to have been mastered very well
and have nice clarity throughout. I haven't had the
opportunity to compare them with their past releases
on Futureland or VAP, or with the Godzilla Perfect
CDs, but all of the tracks sound great. Regarding
the packaging, each disc is housed in its own slimline
CD jewel case which fits inside a very attractive
cardboard sleeve. The jewel cases have no front or
back inserts, but the top of each CD is a nicely designed
picture disc, with Disc 1 showing the Showa MG firing
its ray and Disc 2 showing the Millennium one doing
the same. Interestingly, disc one is labeled as "Hanger
1" actually, and disc two is labeled as "Hanger
2" directly on the CDs and in the booklet. This
15 page booklet is oversized and fits inside the cardboard
sleeve, but unfortunately there are no photos, only
text printed in Japanese.
As with most King Records CDs which were released
earlier this decade or in the 90's, this set is now
long out of print and has completely sold out everywhere.
If you are someone who currently owns all of the original
Mechagodzilla soundtrack CDs, then this set isn't
completely necessary to have, unless you want all
of the other rare tracks and the sound effects. However,
for those people who don't own any or all of the Mechagodzilla
scores, then this release makes an excellent sampler
from all of those films and throws in some added treats.
Highly recommended and worth a listen if you can find
it!
Rating:  |
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Tracks |
Disc 1
Godzilla
vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)
Composer: Masaru Sato
- Mechagodzilla's Theme
- Main Title
- Legendary Prophecy - Mechagodzilla's Challenge
- Miyarabi's Prayer (Movie Version)
By: Beru-Bera Lin
- The Three Giant Monsters: Battle of Okinawa
- Ending
- Miyarabi's Prayer
By: Beru-Bera Lin
- Defeat Mechagodzilla
By: Beru-Bera Lin
The Mysterians
(1957)
Composer: Akira Ifukube
- Moguera Advances
King
Kong Escapes (1967)
Composer: Akira Ifukube
- Mechani-Kong's Sortie
Godzilla
vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)
Composer: Masaru Sato
- Mechagodzilla Repaired - Mechagodzilla vs. King
Caesar
Terror
of Mechagodzilla (1975)
Composer: Akira Ifukube
- Mechagodzilla 2
- Main Title
- The Living Dinosaur
- The Mafune's Tragedy
- Godzilla Appears!
- Mechagodzilla Reawakened
- Katsura's Death - Ending
- Mechagodzilla Sound Effect Collection (Showa
Era)
Godzilla Legend
By: Makoto Inoue
- Godzilla Showdown Series - Extract
Ostinato
Composer: Akira Ifukube
- Premonition of the Invaders
Disc 2
Godzilla
vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)
Composer: Akira Ifukube
- Introduction
- Main Title
- G-Force Training Center
- Godzilla vs. Rodan
- Mechagodzilla Preparation Sortie
- Mechagodzilla vs. Godzilla
- G-Force March I
- Rodan Attacks Sendai
- Mechagodzilla Restarts
- G-Force March II
- Godzilla's Theme
- Rolling Titles
- Godzilla's Sorrow
By: Buka-Buka
Godzilla
Against Mechagodzilla (2002)
Composer: Michiru Oshima
- Opening
- Godzilla's Landing - Main Title
- Akane: Burning Desire to Fight
- MG's Theme
- Team Kiryu's Theme
- Kiryu, Running Wild
- Marching Orders
- Dragon Clash
Godzilla:
Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)
Composer: Michiru Oshima
- Main Title
- Mothra's Song 2003 Version
By: Masami Nagasawa
- Mechagodzilla Sound Effect Collection (Heisei
Era)
Godzilla 40th Anniversary Symphonic Concert
By: Masaru Sato
- Mechagodzilla's Theme
- G-Force March
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