© 2003 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title ULTRAMAN GREAT
US Title ULTRAMAN: TOWARDS THE FUTURE
CD Label Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd.
CD Number COCC-9745
Music by:
Conducted by:
Performed by:
Sinsuke Kazato
Patrick Thomas
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Number of tracks 9
Running time 58:45
Number of discs 1
Recorded: 12/4/89 - 12/11/89
Year of release/manufacture 04-01-1992
U.S. Video Release: 1993

REVIEW

April 20, 2003 courtesy of David Hirsch

For me, this album has been the Holy Grail of Ultraman soundtracks. None of the music ever appeared on any compilation album, only the song ("The Earth It's Hurtin'" CODC-8617) used as the main title in the Japanese version. I was even unable to acquire the laser disc, an abridged version of this album set to images, except for a VHS copy. The DVD of this disc was scheduled and then canceled two years ago. However, thanks to Robert Storch's fine detective work on the internet, he managed tracking down this rare CD for me.

Though presented as a re-recording, this is in fact the original cues for the 13 episode series excellently sequenced into nine orchestral suites without much cross fading. While none of the episodes were specifically scored, Kazato wrote music that could be worked into any sequence in the series.

Filmed in Australia, and the first series shot in English, all the episodes were directed by Andrew Prowse, who would later go on to helm "Farscape". Each half hour episode managed to squeeze in action, adventure, comedy and character development at a break neck pace. Kazato's score fleshed out what Prowse put on screen and, despite some lame video effects, gave the series tremendous scope.

Highly memorable and perhaps the best scored Ultraman series ever!

ULTRAMAN GREAT

  1. Prelude (5:47)
  2. Main Title: ULTRAMAN toward the future (6:41)
  3. Great Friendship (5:10)
  4. Jean Echo (5:16)
  5. The War Of Deities (6:16)
  6. Cityscape: Sun & Moon (6:43)
  7. The Sword Of Wisdom (7:43)
  8. The Wriggling For Cataclysm (7:40)
  9. Final: ULTRAMAN Legend (7:29)