© 2000 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title:	Mothra The Best 1961 - 1998
CD Label:	Futureland / Toshiba-EMI Japan
CD Number:	TYCY-5636
Music by:	Various
Number of tracks:	25
Running time:	59:09
Number of discs:	1
Year of release/manufacture:	1998

REVIEW

This is another Best Of Mothra CD but this time put out by Futureland / Toshiba-EMI in December 1998. Unlike the other "Best Of" on this page (COCA-14105, Nippon Columbia, 1997), this new CD also includes music from the last three new Mothra films. These films ("Mothra", "Mothra 2" & "Mothra 3")were geared toward children. Mothra 3 has not yet been officially released in the U.S. on DVD. Tracks 1 - 9 are from the 1960's films. We've heard this music before on other CD's but it still sounds nice here. The beginnings of a few tracks have Mothra sound effects before the main music kicks in. Tracks 11 -13 are from the 1992 "Godzilla vs. Mothra" film, tracks 14 - 20 are from the 1996 "Mothra" film. Surprisingly only track # 21 is from the 1997 "Mothra 2" while tracks 22 - 25 are from 1998's "Mothra 3". There are no really short tracks on this disc and the selection of material is a nice blend of old and new with only 9 of the 25 tracks being widely heard before in this country. If you are a fan of Mothra and enjoy the twins singing various Mothra songs, then this CD is for you. I really enjoyed this CD and will give it many more plays. My only complaint is that the booklet is skimpy and only one sheet folded into thirds. Of course, since I can't read Japanese, a longer booklet probably wouldn't do me much good unless it had a lot of pictures to look at. Even though aimed at children, I enjoy the music from the '96 - '98 Mothra films and have seen subtitled editions of "Mothra" and "Mothra 2" on DVD. The special effects are well done and the films were fun.

Title: Mothra The Best 1961 - 1998 1. Sound Effects: Flight Sounds Main Title (From "Mothra" (1961)) 2. Mothra's Song (From "Mothra" (1961)) 3. The Birth of Mothra (From "Mothra" (1961)) 4. Ending (From "Mothra" (1961)) 5. Sound Effects: Flight Sounds The Sacred Fountain (From "Godzilla vs. The Thing" (1964)) 6. Mothra Sets Off (From "Godzilla vs. The Thing" (1964)) 7. Mahala *1 Mothra (From "Godzilla vs. The Thing" (1964)) 8. Ending (From "Godzilla vs. The Thing" (1964)) 9. Mothra's Song (From "Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster" (1966)) 10. Mothra's Song (From "Godzilla vs. Mothra" (1992)) 11. Sound Effects: The Baby's Cries, Thread-Spitting Sound, The Birth of Adult Mothra (The Sacred Fountain) (From "Godzilla vs. Mothra" (1992)) 12. Sound Effects: The Adult's Cries, Mahala Mothra (From "Godzilla vs. Mothra" (1992)) 13. Rolling Titles - Ending (From "Godzilla vs. Mothra" (1992)) 14. Mothra's Song (From "Mothra" (1996)) 15. Return to the Sea (From "Mothra" (1996)) 16. A Song of Prayer (From "Mothra" (1996)) 17. A Song of Prayer - Instrumental (From "Mothra" (1996)) 18. Mothra Leo *1 (From "Mothra" (1996)) 19. Holy Emergence (From "Mothra" (1996)) 20. Forever Friends (From "Mothra" (1996)) 21. Sound Effects: Mothra's Cries, The Beam Miraculous Transformation (From "Mothra 2" (1997)) 22. Encounter with Mothra (From "Mothra 3" (1998)) 23. Howler *1 Mothra (Moru *1 Version) (From "Mothra 3" (1998)) 24. Resolve: Journey Into Space-Time (From "Mothra 3" (1998)) 25. Sound Effects: Flight Sounds Ending - The Heart Can Reach (From "Mothra 3" (1998))