THE SERIES PAGE
© 2000 Lawrence Tuczynski
Many of the CD's appearing on this site are part of a series by different manufacturers. This page tries to give you some information about what CD's are in those series as well as some information about the series themselves.
Research and information courtesy of Sam Scali
Updated March 05, 2008
GODZILLA GREAT COLLECTION
(Futureland / 20 volumes - released
1993)
This budget-line CD series, featuring the soundtracks of the first 20 Godzilla films in chronological order, was released to commemorate the screen monster's 40th anniversary. Interestingly, Volume 20, "GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA", was released two weeks ahead of the other 19 volumes, undoubtedly to coincide with the premiere of the movie that same week. The CD was priced at 3000 yen, with the remaining volumes retailing for a discounted 1500 yen each (the prices can be seen on each CD's obi). Despite the budget price, all the discs are high-quality and attractively packaged, containing the full soundtracks of each movie as well as many alternate takes.
| VOLUME # | TITLE and CD NUMBER |
| VOLUME 1 | "GODZILLA" (TYCY-5345) |
| VOLUME 2 | "GODZILLA'S COUNTERATTACK" (TYCY-5346) |
| VOLUME 3 | "KING KONG VS. GODZILLA" (TYCY-5347) |
| VOLUME 4 | "GODZILLA VS. THE THING" (TYCY-5348) |
| VOLUME 5 | "GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER" (TYCY-5349) |
| VOLUME 6 | "MONSTER ZERO" (TYCY-5350) |
| VOLUME 7 | "GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER" (TYCY-5351) |
| VOLUME 8 | "SON OF GODZILLA" (TYCY-5352) |
| VOLUME 9 | "DESTROY ALL MONSTERS" (TYCY-5353) |
| VOLUME 10 | "GODZILLA'S REVENGE" (TYCY-5354) |
| VOLUME 11 | "GODZILLA VS THE SMOG MONSTER" (TYCY-5355) |
| VOLUME 12 | "GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND" (TYCY-5356) |
| VOLUME 13 | "GODZILLA VS. MEGALON" (TYCY-5357) |
| VOLUME 14 | "GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA" (TYCY-5358) |
| VOLUME 15 | "TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA" (TYCY-5359) |
| VOLUME 16 | "GODZILLA 1984" (TYCY-5360) |
| VOLUME 17 | "GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE" (TYCY-5361) |
| VOLUME 18 | "GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH" (TYCY-5362) |
| VOLUME 19 | "GODZILLA VS MOTHRA" (TYCY-5363) |
| VOLUME 20 | "GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA" (TYCY-5364) |
TOHO SCIENCE FICTION CULT MOVIES
(SLC / 7 volumes - released 1995)
This series is a curious selection of soundtracks from some of Toho's more unusual sci-fi films. With the exception of "MOTHRA" and "GORATH", most of the movies feature humans who have been mutated or transformed in some way. It is also notable that each of the soundtracks is by a different composer, with none by Akira Ifukube, who is associated with so many of Toho's classic fantasy scores.
The striking black, white and silver-grey packaging gives the collection a nostalgic, "film noir" look, and, in an unusual twist for Japanese soundtracks, the ENGLISH titles of each movie are used on the CD covers. This is interesting because in most cases they are radically different from the translations of the Japanese originals.
| VOLUME # | TITLE and CD NUMBER |
| VOLUME 1 | "THE H-MAN" (SLCS-5063) |
| VOLUME 2 | "MOTHRA" (SLCS-5064) |
| VOLUME 3 | "MATANGO" (SLCS-5065) |
| VOLUME 4 | "SECRET OF THE TELEGIAN" (SLCS-5066) |
| VOLUME 5 | "THE HUMAN VAPOR" (SLCS-5067) |
| VOLUME 6 | "MADAME WHITE SNAKE" (SLCS-5068) |
| VOLUME 7 | "GORATH" (SLCS-5069) |
TOHO MONSTER MOVIE SELECTIONS
(Futureland / 12 volumes -
released 1996 & 1997)
This series rounds up all of Akira Ifukube's non-Godzilla sci-fi soundtracks, oddly throwing in Masaru Satoh's (sometimes spelled Sato)"HALF HUMAN" score for good measure (completists may also note that the film "BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE" contains no discernable monsters). Each CD is packed with music, featuring each movie's complete soundtrack as well as alternate takes, sound effects and even audio from the films' trailers. The discs are attractively packaged, with colorful obi's and generous booklets containing a good selection of photos and (Japanese) text. Thematically speaking, this series would have been more complete with the inclusion of the "MOTHRA" and "GORATH" soundtracks, but they were issued two years earlier as part of the SLC label's "TOHO SCIENCE FICTION CULT MOVIE" series (see above).
| VOLUME # | TITLE and CD NUMBER |
| VOLUME 1 | "RODAN" (TYCY-5498) |
| VOLUME 2 | "THE MYSTERIANS (TYCY-5499) |
| VOLUME 3 | "VARAN THE UNBELIEVABLE" (TYCY-5500) |
| VOLUME 4 | "BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE" (TYCY-5501) |
| VOLUME 5 | "ATRAGON" (TYCY-5502) |
| VOLUME 6 | "DAGORA, THE SPACE MONSTER" (TYCY-5503) |
| VOLUME 7 | "FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD" (TYCY-5504) |
| VOLUME 8 | "WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS" (TYCY-5505) |
| VOLUME 9 | "LATITUDE ZERO" (TYCY-5506) |
| VOLUME 10 | "KING KONG ESCAPES (TYCY-5507) |
| VOLUME 11 | "YOG, MONSTER FROM SPACE" (TYCY-5508) |
| VOLUME 12 | "HALF HUMAN" (TYCY-5509) |
THE FILM WORKS BY AKIRA IFUKUBE
(SLC / 10 volumes - released
1994 & 1995)
This series, on the now-defunct SLC label, gives a spectacular overview of Akira Ifukube's illustrious career as a prolific composer of film music (he has scored well over 200 movies). The ten volumes are arranged in rough chronological order, covering the period of 1947 to 1978 and featuring highlights from the maestro's most famous work. A wide variety of genres are covered, including selections from all of his sci-fi and fantasy films (with the exception of his 1990's "Godzilla" films). Ifukube himself seems to have been closely involved in the musical selection, as he is listed as "Album Supervisor" on the back of each CD.
| VOLUME # | CD NUMBER |
| VOLUME 1 | (SLCS-5050) |
| VOLUME 2 | (SLCS-5051) |
| VOLUME 3 | (SLCS-5052) |
| VOLUME 4 | (SLCS-5053) |
| VOLUME 5 | (SLCS-5054) |
| VOLUME 6 | (SLCS-5055) |
| VOLUME 7 | (SLCS-5056) |
| VOLUME 8 | (SLCS-5057) |
| VOLUME 9 | (SLCS-5058) |
| VOLUME 10 | (SLCS-5059) |
FILM COMPOSER SELECTION - AKIRA IFUKUBE
(VAP / 6 volumes, released 1997)
This is another collection of Akira Ifukube's film music, with each volume representing his work for a different film studio. These CD's, along with the double CD, "TOHO MUSIC FILE" (VAP-81223~4) and "MELODIOUS COMPILE" (VAP-81225) were released in 1997 to commemorate the maestro's 50th anniversary as a film composer.
| VOLUME # | TITLE and CD NUMBER |
| VOLUME 1 | DAIEI (VAP-81186) |
| VOLUME 2 | SHOCHIKU (VAP-81187) |
| VOLUME 3 | TOEI (VAP-81188) |
| VOLUME 4 | NIKKATSU (VAP-81189) |
| VOLUME 5 | IWANAMI (VAP-81190) |
| VOLUME 6 | SEIJI SHADOW PICTURES (VAP-81191) |
Added by Larry Tuczynski (Feb. 6, 2000)
THE ARTISTRY OF AKIRA IFUKUBE
(King Record Co., Ltd. / 5
volumes, released 1995 & 1997 [vol.5])
This is a collection of Akira Ifukube's non monster or Sci-Fi music. Each volume represents a different piece of work including a ballet. To the best of my knowledge there are only these five volumes in this series. If anyone knows of more, please let me know. These CD's were done by The Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Jyunichi Hirokami.
| VOLUME # | TITLE and CD NUMBER |
| VOLUME 1 | TAN - AKIRA IFUKUBE ORCHESTRAL WORKS (KICC 175) |
| VOLUME 2 | KYO - AKIRA IFUKUBE ORCHESTRAL WORKS (KICC 176) |
| VOLUME 3 | MAI - AKIRA IFUKUBE ORCHESTRAL WORKS (KICC 177) |
| VOLUME 4 | CYU - AKIRA IFUKUBE ORCHESTRAL WORKS (KICC 178) |
| VOLUME 5 | RAKU - AKIRA IFUKUBE ORCHESTRAL WORKS (KICC 179) |
Added by Larry Tuczynski (Feb. 19, 2000)
THE FILM MUSIC BY MASARU SATOH
(SLC Inc. / 17 volumes, released
1992 & 1993)
Masaru Satoh (also sometimes spelled Sato) scored many films throughout his long career. He did a few "Godzilla" scores as well as the scores to several of Akira Kurosawa's films. He was very prolific and tended to add jazz music to many of his scores. This series of CD's takes music from many of the films he scored during his lifetime and tries to group them within a theme of sorts. The last disc in the series, Vol. 17 was a promo only CD that was given to many of his fans and is very hard to find.
| VOLUME # | TITLE and CD NUMBER |
| VOLUME 1 | (SLCS-7101) JIDAI-GE |
| VOLUME 2 | (SLCS-7102) WAR FILMS |
| VOLUME 3 | (SLCS-7103) LITERATU |
| VOLUME 4 | (SLCS-7104) SCI-FI/FANTASY |
| VOLUME 5 | (SLCS-7105) COMEDY FILMS |
| VOLUME 6 | (SLCS-7106) SOCIAL / HUMAN |
| VOLUME 7 | (SLCS-7107) ADVENTURE |
| VOLUME 8 | (SLCS-7108) STAR MOVIES |
| VOLUME 9 | (SLCS-7109) CRIME/SUSPENSE |
| VOLUME 10 | (SLCS-7110) NAKAMURA/MORIZ |
| VOLUME 11 | (SLCS-7111~2) HIDEO GOSHA (2-CD) |
| VOLUME 12 | (SLCS-7113) OKAMOTO |
| VOLUME 13 | (SLCS-7114~5) KUROSAWA (2-CD) |
| VOLUME 14 | (SLCS-7190) YAMAMOTO |
| VOLUME 15 | (SLCS-7191) TV DOCUMENTARY |
| VOLUME 16 | (SLCS-7202) EXTRAS |
| VOLUME 17 | (SLPR-12) |
Added by Larry Tuczynski.
Info Courtesy Of Sam Scali
(Updated August 29, 2001)
Japanese Cinema Music Series
(POLYSTAR)
The two new Akira Ifukube and Masaru Satoh CD's I put up recently are part of another series of CD's spotlighting various Toho composers' film music. I'm not sure how many CD's make up the entire series but the info below lists the ones Sam was able to find.
| COMPOSER | TITLE & CD NUMBER |
| Toru Takemitsu | Works of Toru Takemitsu (PSCR-5816) |
| Hikaru Hayashi | Works of Hikaru Hayashi (PSCR-5817) |
| Masaru Satoh | Works of Masaru Satoh (PSCR-5818) |
| Yasushi Akutagawa | Works of Yasushi Akutagawa (PSCR-5819) |
| Masao Yagi | Works of Masao Yagi (PSCR-5820) |
| Akira Ifukube | Works of Akira Ifukube (PSCR-5832) |
| Toshiro Mayuzumi | Works of Toshiro Mayuzumi (PSCR-5875) |
| Teizo Matsumara | Works of Teizo Matsumara (PSCR-5876) |
| Riichiro Manabe | Works of Riichiro Manabe (PSCR-5887) |
| Michio Mamiya | Works of Michio Mamiya (PSCR-5888) |
| Tadasi Kinosita | Works of Tadasi Kinosita (PSCR-5897) |
| Various Artists | [Eiga Ongaku No Sekai] - Various Artists (PSCR-5898) |
Added by Larry Tuczynski.
Info Courtesy Of Sam Scali
(Updated April 5, 2001)
COMPLETE RECORDINGS - AKIRA IFUKUBE TOHO SFX FILM MUSIC
In 1988 the Futureland label released an eight-volume series of 2-CD sets titled "COMPLETE RECORDINGS - AKIRA IFUKUBE TOHO SFX FILM MUSIC", featuring Ifukube's most famous Toho sci-fi and fantasy soundtracks. The series was reissued in 1992.
The list is as follows:
| Vol. # | Contents | Label # | Reissue Label # |
| Vol. 1 | Godzilla, Rodan & Mysterians | LD25-5033~4 | TYCY-5195~6 |
| Vol. 2 | King Kong vs.Godzilla & Varan | LD25-5035~6 | TYCY-5197~8 |
| Vol. 3 | Godzilla vs. Mothra & Terror of Mecha-Godzilla | LD25-5037~8 | TYCY-5199~5200 |
| Vol. 4 | King Kong Escapes & Atragon | LD25-5039~40 | TYCY-5201~2 |
| Vol. 5 | Ghidrah & Monster Zero | LD25-5041~2 | TYCY-5203~4 |
| Vol. 6 | Frankenstein & Gargantuas | LD25-5043~4 | TYCY-5205~6 |
| Vol. 7 | Battle In Outer Space & Yog | LD25-5045~6 | TYCY-5207~8 |
| Vol. 8 | The Birth Of Japan (aka THE THREE TREASURES) | LD25-5047~8 | TYCY-5209~10 |
NOTES:
The Toho volumes were followed by two additional sets covering Ifukube soundtracks for Daiei and Toei-Doga. When the series was reissued in 1992, another set was added that featured lesser known Toho and Daiei scores, as well as a stereo mix of KING KONG VS. GODZILLA:
| Contents | Label # |
| AKIRA IFUKUBE - DAIEI SFX FILM MUSIC Features the complete soundtracks from all three MAJIN films (original label # LD25-5058~9) |
TYCY-5211~2 |
| AKIRA IFUKUBE - TOEI DOGA FILM MUSIC Features the soundtracks from "The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon" and "Nature in Japan and the Japanese Dream", from the Mitsubishi Exhibit at Osaka's EXPO '70 (original label # LD25-5065~6) |
TYCY-5213~4 |
| AKIRA IFUKUBE - TOHO-DAIEI FILM MUSIC Features "King Kong vs. Godzilla" in true stereo plus music from "Adventure in Kigan Castle", "Daredevil in the Castle" and "The Whale God". |
TYCY-5215~6 |
The series concluded with three more Toho volumes released between 1992 and 1995, featuring Ifukube's final GODZILLA soundtracks:
| Vol. # | Contents | Label # | Year |
| Vol. 9 | Godzilla vs. Mothra - 2-CD | TYCY-5267~8 | 1992 |
| Vol. 10 | Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla - 2-CD | TYCY-5342~3 | 1993 |
| Vol. 11 | Godzilla vs. Destroyah - 2-CD | TYCY-5469~70 | 1995 |
SOUNDTRACK RENAISSANCE SERIES
(King Record Co., Ltd.)
Some tracks on KICA-3023, 3024, 3025 and 3028/9 are by Akira Ifukube but others are not.
| Contents | Label # |
| Zatoichi Anthology Vol. 1 | KICA 3023 |
| Zatoichi Anthology Vol. 2 | KICA 3024 |
| Zatoichi Anthology Vol. 3 | KICA 3025 |
| Nemuri Kyoshiro Anthology Vol. 1 | KICA 3026 |
| Nemuri Kyoshiro Anthology Vol. 2 | KICA 3027 |
| Shintaro Katsu Collection "Akumyo" "Heitai Yakuza" | KICA 3028/29 |
| Raizo Ichikawa Collection | KICA 3030/31 |
| Goyokiba/Kozure Ookami | KICA 3032 |
| Shinobi No Mono/Rikugun Nakano Gakko | KICA 3033 |
Added by Larry Tuczynski.
Info Courtesy Of Sam Scali
(November 29, 2000)
Ifukube's CD's on the FONTEC label and their contents:
| Label # | Contents |
| FOCD-2512 (formerly 3222) | Japanese Rhapsody/Triptique Aborigene/Lauda Concertata |
| FOCD-2545 (formerly 3245) | Works for Orchestra - Baletta Sinfonica/Sinfonia Tapkaara/Concerto No. 2 |
| FOCD-3292 | Profile of a Composer - Sinfonia Tapkaara/Japanese Suite for Orchestra |
| FOCD-9057 | Kushiro Marshland - Symphonic Tableaux |
| FOCD-9086 (formerly 3140) | Works for Orchestra - Gotama the Buddha |
| FOCD-9087 (formerly 3143) | (Three Concertos) - Ritmica Ostinata/Rapsodia Concertante (Violin Concerto No.1)/Eglogue Symphonique |
| FOCD-9088 (formerly 3144) | Works for Guitar and Baroque Lute |
Toho SFX Movie Music
(King Record Co., Ltd.)
Added by Larry Tuczynski.
Info Courtesy Of Sam Scali
(December 20, 2000)
| Label # | Contents |
| KICA-2031 | Vol. 1 - Godzilla / Godzilla Raids Again |
| KICA-2032 | Vol. 2 - King Kong vs. Godzilla / Mothra |
| KICA-2033 | Vol. 3 - Godzilla vs. the Thing / Dagora the Space Monster |
| KICA-2034 | Vol. 4 - Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster / Matango |
| KICA-2035 | Vol. 5 - Monster Zero / Varan the Unbelievable |
| KICA-2036 | Vol. 6 - Son of Godzilla / King Kong Escapes |
| KICA-2037 | Vol. 7 - Destroy all Monsters |
| KICA-2038 | Vol. 8 - Frankenstein Conquers the World / Godzilla vs. Megalon / War of the Gargantuas |
| KICA-2039 | Vol. 9 - Godzilla vs.MechaGodzilla / Terror of MechaGodzilla |
| KICA-2040 | Vol. 10 - The Mysterians |
The Golden Era
(King Record Co., Ltd.)
Added by Larry Tuczynski.
Info Courtesy Of Sam Scali
(January 30, 2001)
| Label # | Contents |
| KICS-2176 | TV theme songs (Golden Era) Home Dramas |
| KICS-2177 | TV theme songs (Golden Era) Action Heroes |
| KICS-2178 | TV theme songs (Golden Era) Evergreen Hit Parade |
| KICS-2179 | TV commercial songs Golden Era) TV CM 1954-1961 |
| KICS-2180 | TV commercial songs (Golden Era) 1962-1973 |
| KICS-2181 | Japanese movies soundtrack music (Golden Era) 1960-1965 |
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK MASTERPIECE COLLECTION
(Victor / 8 volumes
- released 7/21/91)
Added by Larry Tuczynski.
Info Courtesy Of Sam Scali
(October 16, 2001)
This attractively-packaged set covers a lot of ground, from highlights of the "Ultraman" series to Toho's kaiju films and a few of their more famous doomsday/disaster offerings.
| Label # | Contents |
| VICL-5076 | ULTRA COMPILATION I |
| VICL-5077 | ULTRA COMPILATION II |
| VICL-5078 | GODZILLA AND OTHER MONSTER MUSIC COLLECTION I |
| VICL-5079 | GODZILLA AND OTHER MONSTER MUSIC COLLECTION II |
| VICL-5080 | CATASTROPHE 1999 / THE WAR IN SPACE |
| VICL-5081 | TIDAL WAVE / GORATH |
| VICL-5082 | THE LAST WAR |
| VICL-5083 | GODZILLA VOCAL COLLECTION |
 |
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