© 2002 Lawrence Tuczynski

This is volume 2 of greatest marches taken from the Godzilla and other ToHo monster movies
Title Toho Monster Marches Volume 2
CD Label Futureland / Toshiba-EMI Japan
CD Number TYCY-5344
Music by: Various Artists
Number of tracks 38
Running time 77:23
Number of discs 1
Year of release/manufacture 1993

REVIEW

January 12, 2003

Review courtesy of Sam Scali

This hard-to-find CD is an excellent compilation of some of Toho Studio's best-known Godzilla themes. It was released in December 1993, serving as a teaser for the simultaneously issued 20-volume "Godzilla Great Collection" (see page 10 - "The Series Page"). This event also tied in with the release of the 20th Godzilla film, "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II", kicking off a year-long promotional campaign commemorating Godzilla's 40th Anniversary.

The disc is apparently intended as a sequel to 1992's "Toho Monster Marches" (TYCY-5264), but it seems to be only loosely based on its predecessor. While the previous release concentrated on Toho's classic monster themes from 1954 to 1975, Volume 2 focuses entirely on Godzilla films, including those released between 1984 and 1993. Also, while the first installment only featured music composed by Akira Ifukube, the second volume includes quite a few tracks by other Godzilla composers. The word "Marches" is a bit misleading as well, since less than a third of the tracks on Volume 2 could be classified as marches.

The disc is divided into two sections, the first featuring all of the main title themes from the Big G's first 20 films in chronological order. In many cases these films featured musical intros or preludes before the main titles, and while these cues usually appear as separate tracks on their original soundtrack albums, here they are conveniently combined with their corresponding title themes. There are also a couple of added treats - the main title to the original "Godzilla" is the rarely-compiled film version (where the monster's footsteps and roars are heard during the title music), and the theme to "King Kong vs. Godzilla" is the rare stereo version.

The second half of the CD is devoted to the trademark themes of individual monsters from the Godzilla series, as well as a selection of military marches and action themes. Aside from a couple of 60's cues, most of the music in this section is taken from later Godzilla films.

Overall, this CD is one of the best single-disc Godzilla samplers available, and like the first volume, it features a striking illustration of the King of the Monsters on the cover. Unfortunately, it was released too early to include selections from "Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla" (1994) and "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah" (1995), but it is still an essential purchase if you can find it.

Toho Monster Marches Volume 2
Japanese Title: Toho Kaiju Koshinkyoku
    I. The Godzilla Series: Collection of Main Title Songs
  1. Godzilla
  2. Gigantis, The Fire Monster
  3. King Kong vs. Godzilla
  4. Godzilla vs. The Thing
  5. Ghidrah: The Three-Headed Monster
  6. Monster Zero
  7. Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster
  8. Son of Godzilla
  9. Destroy All Monsters
  10. "The Monster March" from Godzilla's Revenge
  11. "Give Back the Sun" from Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster
  12. Godzilla on Monster Island
  13. Godzilla vs. Megalon
  14. Godzilla vs. The Cosmic Monster
  15. The Terror of Godzilla
  16. Godzilla (1984)
  17. Godzilla vs. Biollante
  18. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
  19. Godzilla vs. Mothra
  20. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

    21. II. The Godzilla Series: Collection of Major Theme Songs

  21. Godzilla [Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla & Son of Godzilla]
  22. Mechagodzilla [Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla]
  23. Ebirah [Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster]
  24. Gimantis [Son of Godzilla]
  25. The Monster March [Godzilla's Revenge]
  26. Godzilla in Flight [Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster]
  27. Jet Jaguar [Godzilla vs. Megalon]
  28. Assembly at the Gulf [Godzilla (1984)]
  29. The Self Defense Force March [Godzilla (1984)]
  30. Super-X Theme [Godzilla (1984)]
  31. Super-X 2 [Godzilla vs. Biollante]
  32. King Ghidorah [Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]
  33. Battra [Godzilla vs. Mothra]
  34. The Sacred Fountain [Godzilla vs. Mothra]
  35. Maser March [Godzilla vs. Mothra]
  36. The G-Force March [Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla]
  37. Godzilla's Theme (I) [Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla]
  38. Godzilla's Theme (II) [Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]