© 2006 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title The Best Of Lone Wolf and Cub
CD Label La-La Land Records
CD Number LLLCD-1017
Music by: Hideakira Sakurai and Kuuihiko Murai
Number of tracks 25
Running time 49:06
Number of discs 1
Year of release/manufacture 2004

REVIEW

October 09, 2006

This CD is a "Best of.." from the legendary 6 part BABY CART series from the 1970's, which deals with ronin assassin Ogami Itto and his son Daigoro. The series starred Tomisaburo Wakayama (September 1, 1929 - October 1, 1992) as Ogami Itto. He played in many ninja type movies as well as in one of the Zatoichi films. He was the brother of Shintaro Katsu who played the lead in the many Zatoichi films. The "Baby Cart" films also starred Akihiro Tomikawa (aka Masahiro Tomikawa) as the son Daigoro.

The CD itself is a bit of a mixed bag. I enjoyed it and certain tracks reminded me a bit of music from Kurosawa's "Ran". The tracks from "Baby Cart in the Land of Demons" had a lot of interesting drumming in them. Track 24 from "White Heaven in Hell" was very funky sounding like something out a of a US TV show of that era. The rest featured action pieces and themes that would be right at home in any samurai type film.

The Best Of Lone Wolf and Cub

    Sword of Vengeance (music: Hideakira Sakurai)

  1. Main Title
  2. The Vow
  3. The Ball and The Dotanuki
  4. The Suioryu Swordsmanship
  5. The Bird and the Beast
  6. Shiver: Itto Ogami the Assassin
  7. Ending

    8. Baby Cart at the River Styx (music: Hideakira Sakurai)

  8. The Wolf Crosses the Ocean
  9. Bentenrai the Public Guard
  10. The Ogamis and Sayaka Yagyu
  11. Duel at the Dune

    12. Baby Cart to Hades (music: Hideakira Sakurai)

  12. Prologue: Shining Waters
  13. Daigoro at a Rainy Night (from "Kozure Okami" composed by Tadashi Yoshida)
  14. The Wolf howls in the Wilds

    15. Baby Cart in Peril (music: Hideakira Sakurai)

  15. Main Title
  16. Besieging Army of Ura Yagyu
  17. Ending

    18. Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (music: Hideakira Sakurai)

  18. Main Title
  19. The Wolf's Cub
  20. The Setting Sun
  21. The Kuroda Menbo Army
  22. The Running Wolf
  23. Ending

    24. White Heaven in Hell (music: Kunihiko Murai)

  24. Main Title
  25. Ending theme song from "Baby Cart to Hades"
    Sung by Tomisaburo Wakayama
    Lyrics Kazuo Koike
    Music Hiroshi Kamayatsu