© 2001 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title Super Express 109
Japanese Title Shinkansen daibakuha
Movie also known as: Bullet Train
CD Label VAP Inc. Records
CD Number VPCD-81174
Music by: Aoyama Hachiro
Number of tracks 41
Running time 66:34
Number of discs 1
Year of release/manufacture 1996
Year Movie Released in Japan 1975
Year Movie Released in U.S. N/A

REVIEW

Listening to this CD I found the music to be a mixed bag. The movie itself from what little information was available seems to be your typical 70's disaster movie. In fact the plot sounds very similar to a popular US movie from not long ago.

Here's the plot for the movie:

One of the Japanese Shinkansen "Bullet Trains" is threatened with a bomb that will explode automatically if the train slows below 80 km/h, unless a ransom is paid. Police race to find the bombers and to learn how to defuse the bomb.
SOUND FAMILIAR? Yup, sounds like "Speed" was inspired by this tale.

How does the CD sound? Well, as I said it's a mixed bag. Most of it sounds like 70's TV music. One of the tracks sounds a little like it was based on Kraftwerk's "Pocket Calculator" with a 70's funk track behind it. I found no really outstanding tracks on this CD. In fact some of the tunes were down right annoying. Unless you're a fan of 70's TV funk music, passing on this CD wouldn't be a bad idea. Maybe I couldn't find composer credits for this thing because nobody wanted their name associated with it. 


English Title:  	Super Express 109 (aka BULLET TRAIN)
Japanese Title:  	Shinkansen daibakuha 

Translations courtesy of Jolyon Yates

1975, dir Sato Junya, str Takakura Ken, Sonny Chiba, Tamba Tetsuro, 
          Yamamoto Rei, Shimura Takeshi, Utsui Ken

Music by Aoyama Hachiro

 1.	Prologue: Dawn (B-Mix)
 2.	Beginning of the Long First Day (M-2)
 3.	Okita’s Memory (Enter Memory T-1)
 4.	Action Begins (EX-2)
 5.	Main Title (A-Mix)
 6.	Inspiration (M-6)
 7.	The Phone Bomb is Real! (M-7)
 8.	Order of a Series of Train Suspensions (M-8T-2)
 9.	Car Malfunction Occurs (M-9)
10.	Suspense (M-19)
11.	Okita’s Request (M-11)
12.	Ease the Jam (M-12)
13.	Freight Blast Suspect ~ Koga Masaru (M-13A)
14.	Haneda Airport Domestic Flights Arrival Lobby (M-14)
15.	The 109, Passing Nagoya Station (M-16)
16.	Event: Announcement in Car (M-15)
17.	Okita’s Downward Instruction (M-17)
18.	Gold Bullion Heist Begins (M-EX Extra)
19.	Oki’s Situation (M-20)
20.	Nameless People’s Wailing (M-33)
21.	Bomber’s Death Report (M-24)
22.	Koga Discovery, Daylight Chase (M-25)
23.	See It All in a Dream ( Scat Style?)
24.	The End of a Small Life (M-29-2)
25.	Discovery of Criminal Hideout (M-30)
26.	Purpose ~ Okita & Koga (M-30A)
27.	Discouragement & Hope (M-29)
28.	Plan Burned (M-31A)
29.	Memory ~ Okita & Koga Meet (EX-2T-1: M-15’s Violin)
30.	Suicide Bomb ~ Koga’s Last Moments (M-28)
31.	Passport Wrapped in Fire (Scat)
32.	Cut Off ~ Bent (?) Desire (M-38)
33.	2nd Day Photography of Cars (M-39)
34.	Search for Takeda Shunsuke! (M-40)
35.	Lies & Truth (M-44)
36.	Okita, Appearance in Haneda (M-45)
37.	Okita’s Misjudgment (M-46)
38.	Ending Titles (B-Mix)
BONUS TRACKS
39.	Passport to Escape
40.	Super Express 109
41.	B-Mix: Original Version