Terror of Mechagodzilla LP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the past several Fridays I've be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

Here we are, the final LP in this fifteen album boxset containing the soundtracks to all of the Showa era Godzilla movies.  It's been a blast revisiting the movies and the music over the past many weeks.  While I'm sure it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, it was very satisfying for me to write about all of these.  I also think that it is appropriate that the box set wraps up with my favorite Godzilla movie, Terror of Mechagodzilla.

This was a movie that I had on VHS at a pretty young age and boy oh boy did I wear it out watching it over and over and over again.  I love the design of Mechagodzilla.  I love the wacky Interpol storyline.  And even though I always watch the Japanese language version these days, I even love the ridiculous dubbed English version as it's just the sound of my childhood.  But my favorite part might actually be the third monster in the film, Titanosaurus.  The design is fabulous and he might have the best roar (warble?) in all of Toho.  A terribly overlooked monster that needs more toys and shirts immediately.

For the soundtrack Akira Ifukube makes his return and final appearance in the Showa series, providing a dark and ominous soundscape that has a great mix of new passages and previously known Godzilla music.  The triumph of the main title from the original 1954 Godzilla making multiple appearances whenever Godzilla is around is just perfect for this film.

And that wraps it up for the Waxwork Showa Era Godzilla box set.  I really cannot say enough great things about how amazing this set ended up being.  The art for every album is incredible.  The box itself is super sturdy and looks beautiful on the shelf.  The extra turntable slipmat is a lot of fun and most important of all, the records all sound amazing.  Hearing these soundtracks on vinyl, coming from my old 70s Marantz receiver is just one of the most perfect sounding things I've ever heard.  I am so grateful they took on this project and am eagerly awaiting some of the other Toho soundtracks that I already have on preorder from them.

Terror of Mechagodzilla - "Main Title Theme":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz1wuhHPazQ&ab_

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla LP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

The 1970s Mechagodzilla is such an amazingly cool design.  I have loved it since I was a small child, but it took me a while to finally see the movie where it first appeared.  While I will write about it more next week, Terror of Mechagodzilla is my favorite Godzilla movie and one that I saw a million times as a young kid.  I'm not even completely positive I knew that there was a prior movie with Mechagodzilla in it, though the big long intro that happens during Terror of Mechagodzilla does point that out pretty clear.  This is pre-internet folks, do you really think there was an easy to find list of what Godzilla movies existed when I was 8 years old in 1984?

I did finally come across a VHS copy of Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla, I'd say when I was maybe twelve or thirteen years old?  I remember being very surprised with how odd it was.  Especially considering Godzilla's new buddy King Caesar.  King Caesar is a giant, brown, furry rabbit like thing that moves really fast and gesticulates wildly.  He was there to give Godzilla the two on one babyface advantage, which everyone knows is poor psychology.  

This fulfills the prophecy that the movie is built around: "When a black mountain appears above the clouds, a huge monster will arise and try to destroy the world; but when the red moon sets and the sun rises in the west, two monsters shall appear to save the people."  Not sure why that is still so clear to me after all of these years, but they do really hammer it home during the human part of the plot.

The soundtrack was handled by Godzilla veteran Masaru Sato.  There are elements of Ifukube style suspense and dread, but there's also a lot of weirdly upbeat passages where characters just kind of feel like they're bebopping around.  It's an interesting mix, but one that I do still find enjoyable.  And look at the art on this LP cover.  It's gorgeous and like all of the others in this set, it just sounds superb.  Next week we tackle the very last LP on the Showa collection.  For the ones that have enjoyed this fifteen week odyssey, sadly it's coming to an end.  For those looking for pop punk, don't worry you've only got one more Friday to go.

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla - "Main Title Theme":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u0DJFWXVpg&ab_ 

Godzilla vs. Megalon LP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

Godzilla vs. Megalon is not one of the more lauded entries in the Godzilla series, but it is one that is so very near and dear to my heart.  It was the first Godzilla movie I ever owned on VHS as my mom bought it for me one day when we were at the supermarket.  I'm not sure why they were selling a Godzilla tape, but as soon as I saw it and thought that I could then watch a Godzilla movie whenever I wanted, instead of hoping to see one on Saturday morning on channel 9 or 11, I was hooked.

I watched that tape so many times as a kid and it became the cornerstone while I tried to add more VHS tapes to the collection.  I don't think I finally had all of the Show era VHS tapes until I hit high school, but I had Megalon the longest.  It's a very campy movie that is certainly weird in places.  Gigan teams up with Megalon to make a pretty fun monster tag team.  Godzilla receives help from Toho's Ultraman knockoff, Jet Jaguar - who is probably the character/thing this movie is most well known for.

Riichiro Manabe handles the score for this one, which features a pretty upbeat and jaunty feel throughout the movie.  While it doesn't have the same sort of ominous tones one would expect from an Akira Ifukube soundtrack, at least they did a proper score for this movie instead of recycling music like they did for Godzilla vs. Gigan.

Broken record time where I repeat myself again.  What Waxwork has done with this album is fantastic.  Sounds great, looks even better.  Another piece of joy on my record shelf.

Godzilla vs. Megalon - "Main Theme":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m07T85lxgyQ&ab_

Godzilla vs. Gigan 2xLP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

I've always felt that by the time we hit Godzilla vs Gigan, we've reached a new section of the Show series Godzilla movies.  This and the next two Godzilla films have a vibe to them for sure.  I'm not always sure exactly what that vibe is, but it's different than the others.  It feels like they are simultaneously trying to be more comical and kid friendly, while at the same time using more blood and gore (albeit in a cartoony manner).

The real star of this film is Gigan.  What a wonderfully designed monster.  In a lot of ways I think it's actually a shame that Ghidorah is even in this movie as I think you could have very easily gotten Gigan over as a major threat without recycling a top villain from past films.  That said, I remember my younger brother and I having conversations about if Gigan and Ghidorah were the most devastating monster combo in the series.  Based on the amount of stock footage destruction, probably not...

Speaking of stock footage, that's what most of the soundtrack is as well.  Although it's credited to Akira Ifukube, it's mostly just reused passages from prior Godzilla films mixed in with sections of Atragon, Battle in Outer Space, Frankenstein Conquers the World, King Kong Escapes and some pieces that Ifukube composed for the Mitsubishi Pavilion at Expo '70 (so says Wikipedia anyway).

While not the most necessary of soundtracks, you have to release it if you're doing Godzilla soundtracks so I'm glad it's here and given the same sort of loving, attention to detail that Waxwork has given all of the soundtracks in this box set.

Godzilla vs. Gigan - "Main Title":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdbZldLDAHo&ab_

Godzilla vs. Hedorah LP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah, or as I knew it as a kid; Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster, is definitely one of the odder Godzilla movies out there.  But I think its inherent wackiness is one of the reasons I'm so fond of it.  Whether it's Godzilla flying as he's propelled by his own atomic breath or the sheer fact that he's fighting a monster made from pollution, this is a Godzilla movie that may not go down quite as smoothly as some of the other Showa entries.  But again, I love it.

The soundtrack is equally wacky.  The score by Riichiro Manabe shrieks and wails and then chills out only to get ramped up again.  In some ways it's kind of cartoony and in other ways it's bizarrely appropriate.  And let's not forget the SIX versions of "Give Back The Sun" which cover varying degrees of psych rock weirdness.

Again, like the others, the LP was handled in an outstanding manner by the Waxwork folks.  Sounds great, looks great and is just a shocking thing that I am allowed to have in my record collection.

Godzilla vs Hedorah - "Opening/Give Back The Sun I":
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5ttz35

All Monsters Attack LP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

As the US has gotten better access to the original Japanese versions of Godzilla movies, they are also starting to be more commonly referred to by their Japanese names.  I'm having a little trouble adjusting to some of them, particularly Godzilla vs The Smog Monster and this film, what I've always known as Godzilla's Revenge.  All Monsters Attack is certainly a cooler sounding name than Godzilla's Revenge is, though I'm not sure that either is really a great title when you consider that the vast majority of the movie is about Minilla (the Son of Godzilla) and a kid named Ichiro.

This was historically derided as the worst Godzilla movie, though further analysis of it as a kids movie that focuses on the latchkey kid generation and the concept of standing up for yourself has seen it painted in a much more favorable light in recent years.  While I can see it for what it is in that regard, it's still my least favorite Godzilla movie and one that I don't really get a ton of joy watching.  It was always the least played VHS tape in the collection as it relies so heavily on stock footage from older films.  And that status of it being least watched hasn't changed since I upgraded to DVD and then again to Blu Ray.

The music on the soundtrack has its hits and misses.  The general score is ok and is handled by Kunio Miyauchi.  There's also a few rock style numbers that are pretty fun and break things up in a positive way.  But holy crap, the first two songs with vocals, "Monster March I" and "Monster March II" are rough listens.  Kids singing isn't my bag at the best of times, but the vocals are particularly grating here.

Like all of the albums in this box set, it looks and sounds great.  But of all of the LPs, I imagine I'll probably play this one the least.

All Monsters Attack - "Monster March":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCh2l47cRck&ab_

Destroy All Monsters LP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021)

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

After Son of Godzilla, the Showa series really bounces back in the strongest possible way with Destroy All Monsters.  It's always been one of my favorite Godzilla movies with its all star cast of Monsters from the Toho universe.  At this point, the alien invaders taking control of a monster trope was well established, but it still doesn't take away from how much fun the movie is, particularly when we get to the battle royal at the end.  My only wish would have been a bit more of Varan, but that's picking nits.

Akira Ifukube is back for the score and it's as wonderful as anything he ever did.  Menacing when it needs to be, triumphant when it has to be.  It pulls you into the world and builds tension while reviving familiar themes and feelings.  Top notch stuff for what I've read was originally imagined to be the last Godzilla movie.

At this point I'm a broken record about the Waxwork level of quality on this thing.  As with the others, it looks great and sounds even better.  I'll say this over and over, I'm just so happy to finally be able to have something like this in my collection.

Destroy All Monsters "Main Title/Title Credits":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5DF9FuWwjo&ab_

Son of Godzilla LP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

Son of Godzilla isn’t one of my favorite Godzilla movies.  It starts with how ugly the suit is.  This is a bad look for Godzilla and I just will never understand why they designed his head to look the way it does.  And then there’s the whole concept of Minilla.  Putting aside the bad design, he’s pretty much just the butt of jokes and abuse for the duration of the film.

I don’t hate it or anything, but when compared to just about any other Godzilla movie, it just comes up short for me.  Luckily the soundtrack is pretty solid.  While I think it falls a little short on the tropical good times of Ebirah, it still feels like a somewhat similar vibe,, though there are certainly more moments of childlike innocence.  While I’ll always probably like Akira Ifukube’s work best, Masaru Sato’s scores are ones that I don’t seem to remember that I like as much as I do until I’m listening to them.

Vinyl sound and art design is great like the rest of the box set.  It’s probably not the first LP I’d grab if I wanted to listen to something, but it’s good to know it’s there if the spirit moves me.

Son of Godzilla - "Main Title Theme":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBbuiMlx7oc&ab_

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep LP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

Next up in Godzilla land is Ebirah, Horror of the Deep - or as it was called in the US - Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster.  The Sea Monster being Ebirah of course.  This was one of those Godzilla movies that I did like as a kid, but not quite as much as the ones that came before it, though I'm somewhat unsure if I was full cognizant of the order that the Godzilla movies had come out as a youngster.  

To me, the biggest thing missing was the city crushing destruction.  As this movie was set on an island, they didn't really need to construct the elaborate sets that they had done for previous films.  But the plot is fun and I do dig the island motif more now than I did when I was 10.  I've also always enjoyed the bit during a fight scene where Godzilla and Ebirah bat a large rock back and forth at each other.  It's wacky, but a good kind of wacky.

The soundtrack is one of the Show Godzilla scores not done by Akira Ifukube.  This one has Masaru Sato back again and I think he hit this one out of the park.  The island/tropical orchestral themes that he weaves in and out mixed with the rousing 60s instrumental rock that creeps up from time to time is a blast.  As I've repeated every time so far, Waxwork did a great job with this LP just as they have with all of the others.  Sounds great and looks great, what more could I ask for?

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep - "Main Title":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttd17rPuIUQ&ab_

Invasion Of Astro-Monster LP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

Me, I'll probably always call this movie Monster Zero even if that's not it's proper Japanese name.  Monster Zero was one of the earlier Gidzilla VHS tapes I had in my collection as a kid so I have watched it a ton over the years.  It's definitely one of the ones I'm most familiar with, though admittedly I've probably watched the dubbed version twenty times more than the subtitled Japanese one.  

It's mostly built around Godzilla and Rodan against King Ghidorah who is now controlled by spacemen from Planet X.  In particular I love the alien invader plot, which quickly became a staple in Godzilla movies, and I think the Planet X denizens are probably the coolest batch of marauding space people. 

Soundtrack wise, it's another Ifukube masterpiece.  The main title and battle scene scores are impeccable, not only calling on some past themes, but really bringing in new, atmospheric pieces that really set the stage.  I don't know that it's my favorite score, but it's definitely way up there.  As per the rest of this set, Waxwork did great with this LP.  Sounds great, looks great and is happily part of my collection.

Invasion Of Astro-Monster: "Main Title Theme":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smnWKHVNw-g&ab_

Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster LP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

When I am ranking Godzilla movies, Ghidorah The Three Headed Monster is usually pretty high on my list.  As a kid, I had the VHS tape of it's sequel, Monster Zero, longer so I've seen that one many more times and have a more nostalgic affinity for it.  But Ghidorah is quite incredible and judging them as an adult is probably the better of the two, even if I like Monster Zero more.  If any of that makes any sense.  I can telly you that the blu ray version of this movie in the Criterion box set has an annoying white line that flashes during each camera cut for the length of the film which can be infuriating at times.

The soundtrack is another Akira Ifukube special and one where he really starts to tie together past themes from other films.  You have 3 monsters that already have a history of their own movies in Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan.  So there are elements of past scores here and there.  The music feels especially menacing and does give some extra weight to the danger of Ghidorah in the movie.

I love the shiny gold Ghidorah colored vinyl and it pops even more in person than it does in the picture above.  The artwork is stellar as it is for everything in this box set and I'll just keep saying how impressed I am with how great these records sound.  Waxwork has done a stellar job with this box set and the Ghidorah soundtrack is another home run.

Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster: "Main Title Theme":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bjv4hFCseY&ab_

Mothra vs. Godzilla 2xLP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

The fourth Godzilla movie of the Showa era was Mothra vs. Godzilla.  This was another one that I loved as a kid and man it sure holds up well.  It also has my absolute favorite Godzilla suit of the series.  My wife actually bought me a statue of it back when we first started dating.  The fact that she not only didn't mind that I liked Godzilla but also managed to zero in on the specific suit I liked the best still astounds me all of these years later.

I had the VHS of this one as a kid and played it pretty often.  I love the general pace of the movie and the battle Godzilla has with Mothra both in her full adult form, but also against the two larvae.  Great stuff.  The soundtrack is also top notch with Akira Ifukube once again at the helm.  There are passages of this soundtrack that are so iconic and would reappear in other movies over the years.

The LP in this box set is another home run.  It sounds outstanding, just like the rest of the albums in the set and I love the artwork.  As I go through the other albums over the next few weeks, things might get a little repetitive as the quality of this box set is so wonderful and I am forever grateful that Waxwork took a chance and not only released this, but obviously put so much effort into it.

Mothra vs. Godzilla - "Main Title Theme":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn9PiU6UW_k&ab_

King Kong vs. Godzilla 2xLP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021) 

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set. Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle. Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

The first Godzilla film was a classic, the second felt like something of a rushed to market sequel.  After hibernating in ice for a few years, Toho came back with their third Godzilla movie, King Kong vs. Godzilla.  This movie is a triumph and is one of my very favorite Godzilla films.  While I adore the fight scenes where the two big boys go at it pro wrestling style, the plot and it's 'anything for a buck' TV/advertising subtext makes it way more than just a goofy kids movie.

Soundtrack-wise, we have the return of Akira Ifukube who rolls out an excellent score.  In particular, I've really been a fan of the Faro island music since I was a kid.  Some of those scenes maybe don't hold up in the best way sixty years later, but the music never fails to strike a chord.

I did have another version of this soundtrack on vinyl, but it cannot hold a candle to the beauty or the sound quality of what Waxwork  has released as part of this box set.  Another home run.

King Kong vs. Godzilla - "Main Title":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzZtOuOW3Og&ab_

Godzilla Raids Again LP - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021)

For the next several Fridays I'll be writing about an LP from the fantastic Godzilla Show Era soundtrack box set.  Godzilla was such an important part of my childhood and the music was such a vital piece of that puzzle.  Thrilled to finally have these on vinyl.

Godzilla Raids Again is the second Godzilla movie and to be honest isn't one that I've watched with the same kind of fervor as some of the other entries in the series.  It always struck me as being a little rushed and kind of out of place in a weird way.  I'm sure part of that was the fact that Ishiro Honda didn't direct it, but it just always felt a little lacking.  It did give us the introduction of the monster Anguirus though, so there is some value here.

The film lacks the usual Godzilla director Ishiro Honda, but also missing is the standard bearer for Godzilla film composition, Akira Ifukube.  Taking up the task for Raids Again is Masaru Sato.  While I don't think his score has the same sort of ominous foreboding that Ifukube is so adept at, the jaunty military pieces of this soundtrack are quite good.  The main title theme is also pretty triumphant and is probably the highlight of the album.

After getting through Godzilla Raids AGain is when the real classic Showa movies really start up for me.  Of course I love the first one as a serious, statement film, but once we hit the 60s things start getting wacky and very fun.

Godzilla Raids Again - "Main Title Theme":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IetONh8OJ_g&ab_

Godzilla - From Godzilla: The Showa Era Soundtracks, 1954-1975 Box Set

Waxwork (2021)

When I reviewed the Weird Al box set I wrote an individual post about each record, rather than try to summarize the whole set at once.  That seemed to work out for me OK, so I'm going to try that same method when writing about this fabulous Godzilla box set.  I'm going to tackle each soundtrack on Fridays for the next many weeks.  If you come to this site to read about rock and roll, you're probably going to be cranky for a bit.  Apologies for that.

This box set contains the soundtrack score for each of the fifteen Showa era Godzilla movies.  This is the original run of films that spanned 1954 to 1975.  For me, these are great films and total staples of my childhood.  I was thrilled when this box set was announced and couldn't be happier with what Waxwork pulled off.

In addition to each of the LPs with killer art, there's a Godzilla slipmat, a twelve by twelve art print and this killer box.  The fist album in this set is, of course, the soundtrack for the original Godzilla from 1954.  

I actually did have a vinyl version of this specific soundtrack already as it was released by Death Waltz a few years ago.  While the track listing is worded slightly different, it's pretty much the same.  This Waxwork version sounds incredible and is presented in mono, as it should be.  This score is excellent with the highlight for me always being the main title theme.  Even as a kid, I found this particular melody so weirdly empowering and it always got me pumped up.

That first movie is also an all time classic.  I didn't get to see the original Japanese version until I was in my twenties.  When I was a kid, the US version was something I had on VHS and enjoyed, but didn't watch as much as some of the others.  As an older fellow, I learned to really appreciate the beauty and powerful message of the original Japanese movie.  I highly recommend seeking that out if you've never had a chance to see it. 

Godzilla - "Main Title Theme":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JqE9At56mU&ab_