The Best Of Godzilla 1984-1995: Original Film Soundtracks [Soundtrack]

Akira Ifukube, Various Artists - Soundtracks - Film Scores, Godzilla (Related Recordings) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 1, 1998)
• Original Release Date: July 29, 1970
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: GNP Crescendo Records
• ASIN: B000007OF8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,341 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Godzilla's Theme [From Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah]

2. Main Title [From the Return of Godzilla]

3. Take Shelter/Godzilla vs. Super X [From the Return of Godzilla]

4. Japanese Army March [From the Return of Godzilla]

5. Godzilla's Exit [From the Return of Godzilla]

6. Ending [From the Return of Godzilla]

7. Scramble March [From Godzilla Vs. Biollante]

8. Bio Wars [From Godzilla Vs. Biollante]

9. Ending [From Godzilla Vs. Biollante]

10. Main Title/UFO Invasion [From Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah]

11. King Ghidorah Attacks Fukuoka [From Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah]

12. Get King Ghidorah [From Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah]

13. Main Title [From Godzilla Vs. Mothra]

14. Mahara Mothra [From Godzilla Vs. Mothra]

15. Mesa March [From Godzilla Vs. Mothra]

16. Rolling Title Ending [From Godzilla Vs. Mothra]

17. Mothra's Song [From Godzilla Vs. Mothra]

18. Main Title [From Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla II]

19. G-Force March #1 [From Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla II]

20. Prologue/Main Title [From Godzilla Vs. Spacegodzilla]

See all 29 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A mostly excellent compilation, with a few odd choices., December 16, 2002

By 

Thanos6 (Chapin, SC USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best Of Godzilla 1984-1995: Original Film Soundtracks (Audio CD)

This is a collection of "the best" of the music from the second series of Godzilla films, known in fan circles as the Heisei series, which were released from 1984 to 1995.

After a very nice version of Godzilla's signature theme, by Godzilla's signature composer, maestro Akira Ifukube, we listen to a suite of five songs from THE RETURN OF GODZILLA (aka GODZILLA 1985). These pieces by Reijiro Koroku, a severely underrated composer, are some of the best on the disc; "Main Title," "Take Shelter/Godzilla vs. Super X," "Japanese Army March," "Godzilla's Exit," and "Ending" can be re-listened to over and over again, espeically "Super X."

Next are three songs--"Scramble March," "Bio Wars," and "Ending"--from GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE, composed by Koichi Sugiyama. They are also quite nice, but are rather long, which cuts down on their replay value a bit.

Now we enter Ifukube-sama's section. The first of the Heisei films he scored was GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH. "Main Title/UFO Invasion," "King Ghidorah Attacks Fukuoka," and "Get King Ghidorah" are, sadly, the only songs from this excellent soundtrack.

This album's first misstep comes with the songs from GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA. Although "Main Title," "Mahara Mothra," "Mesa March," and "Rolling Title Ending," are all good Ifukube works, there are too many; this soundtrack was not as good as the previous (or the next), and it is over-represented. They also erred by including "Mothra's Song," when they'd already included a version in "Mahara Mothra."

The next misstep was including only two songs from GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA II, the soundtrack of which is widely considered to be one of Ifukube's best soundtrack's ever. "Main Title" and "G-Force March #1" are excellent, but together they are not even 4:30 minutes long. At least one more should have been added.

The final misstep was including so many songs from GODZILLA VS. SPACEGODZILLA, composed by Takayuki Hattori; with "Prologue/Main Title," "Bass Island," "Mogera vs. Spacegodzilla #2," "Mogera vs. Spacegodzilla #3," and "Crystal," this is another overrepresented title. Only the first and last songs should have been included; the middle three are not that good.

Fortunately, they also include five songs from Ifukube's swan song: GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH, which at the time of production was also thought to have been Godzilla's own, final film. "Main Title/Hong Kong's Destruction" is a majestic, sweeping piece; "Attack Of Super X III" and "Mesa Tank Super Freeze Attack" are stirring militaristic marches. "Requiem" is a truly moving piece played during Godzilla's death, and "Ending Title" is a blending of some of Ifukube's greatest hits that ran as a montage of some of Godzilla's was shown.

The last track on this CD is "Monster Zero March," a rearrangement of one of the great Ifukube pieces of the 60's by Neil Norman and his Cosmic Orchestra.

Despite some flaws, this CD is definitely worth a buy, not just for Godzilla fans, but for movie music fans in general.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Contains most of the best of the recent Godzilla themes., June 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Best Of Godzilla 1984-1995: Original Film Soundtracks (Audio CD)

This CD contains themes from all of the Godzilla movies post Godzilla 1985. It opens with an appropiate Godzilla theme by Ifukabe and then proceeds into five tracks from Godzilla 1985, not by Ifukabe. The forth of these is particularly amusing, as it was the music that was supposed to make us feel for sorry Godzilla when he died, even though the movie built up absolutely no sympathy for the monster. It sounds kind of like something from the end of Dr. Zhivago.

Next up are upbeat themes from Godzilla vs Biollante.

After that we get some of Ifukabe's great music from the recent films. True, he recylced a bunch of his old themes, but it's all good. The suite of themes from Godzilla vs Destroyah is probably the best.

The CD also includes two sung pieces from Godzilla vs Mothra, Mahara Mothra (as it appeared in the movie) and Mothra's Song (in its rockified single version).

My only complaint is that the CD devotes way two much time to non-Ifukabe scores, particularly the blatantly John Barry inspired themes from Godzilla vs Space Godzilla.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but music from first series was better., September 6, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Of Godzilla 1984-1995: Original Film Soundtracks (Audio CD)

I've just ordered the earlier album (1954-whatever); I got this one at a store not knowing previously that such CDs existed. These recordings are OK -- a few of the tracks are actually good -- but on the average, this music isn't as vibrant as the music from the first series. Two standouts: the end title of Godzilla vs. Destroyer quotes the old tribal music from King Kong vs. Godzilla, which I didn't notice when I watched the movie; the Mothra song is pretty memorable. The last track, Monster Zero March, is a heavy-synthesizer remix of some music from the first series. It's pretty tinny and ultimately rather cheesy.

If you like the Godzilla movie music at all, this is worth picking up. I suspect the album of music from the first series is probably better.