The World of Japanese Film and Television Scores: Toho Monster Film Selection 2

© Futureland

© Youmex

© Toshiba EMI Ltd.

© Toho Co., Ltd.

Description:

Reissue (premiere as a stand-alone release) of the score to Ishiro Honda's "Earth Defense Force" (12/28/1957). The second volume of Futureland's twelve volume Toho Monster Film Selection series. Bonus tracks include outtakes, sound effects, sound effect material, trailer music and audio from the film's trailer. Music composed by Akira Ifukube. All music is in mono.

Album Information:

Label: Futureland
Album Title & Catalogue Number: Toho Monster Film Selection 2 - Earth Defense Force (TYCY-5499)
Music Composed and Arranged by: Akira Ifukube
Number of Discs: 1
Number of Tracks: 50
Run Time: 62:48
Release Date: August 7, 1996
Retail Price: ¥2,136 (Approximately $20.51 [as of November 19, 2020])

Track List (Japanese):

01. メインタイトル (M1T2+T3)
02. 異変 (M2T2)
03. 大陥没 (M3T2)
04. モゲラ出現 (M4)
05. モゲラの進撃 (M5T2)
06. 月の科学現象 (M6T3)
07. 調査隊富士へ (M7T4)
08. ミステリアンドーム (M8)
09. 第一次攻防戦 (M10)
10. 国際会議要請 (M11)
11. 地球防衛会議 (M12)
12. アルファー号とベーター号 (M13)
13. 攻撃準備 (M14T2)
14. 誘拐 (M15T4)
15. 避難120km (M16)
16. マーカライト・ファープ (M17)
17. ミステリアンの報復 (M19T2)
18. 電子砲猛攻撃 (M20T2)
19. ミステリアン去る (末) (M20AT2)
20. エンディング (M21T3)

別テイク集
21. M1T1
22. M1T2
23. M1T3
24. M5T1 (前半部のみ)
25. M6T1
26. M7T3
27. M15T3
28. M19T1
29. M20T1
30. M20AT1
31. M21T1

効果音集
32. 円盤飛行音
33. ドーム外音
34. ドーム内音
35. ドーム機械音
36. α号飛行音
37. α号機内音
38. マーカライト・ファープ光線音
39. 電子砲発射音

効果音素材
40. モゲラのアンテナの1
41. R-ヴァイオリンの3・光線用
42. R-チューバの1・ドームの外
43. R-パイプの1・マーカライトのお椀の動き
44. R-S型パイプの1・マーカライトとα号
45. R-ドラムカンの2・α号機内音
46. R-ティンパニの1・α号の離陸
47. R-ティンパニの2・α号ストップモーション
48. R-ピアノの8・ドームの内側用

49.「地球防衛軍」予告編
50. 予告編エンディング用音楽

Track List (English Translated):

01. Main Title (M1T2 + T3)
02. Disaster (M2T2)
03. Great Cave-in (M3T2)
04. Moguera Emerges (M4)
05. Moguera's Advance (M5T2)
06. Scientific Phenomenon at the Moon (M6T3)
07. Survey Team to Fuji (M7T4)
08. Mysterian Dome (M8)
09. First Battle (M10)
10. International Conference Demand (M11)
11. Earth Defense Conference (M12)
12. Alpha and Beta (M13)
13. Attack Preparations (M14T2)
14. Kidnapping (M15T4)
15. Evacuation 120 km (M16)
16. Markalite FAHP (M17)
17. The Mysterians' Retaliation (M19T2)
18. Electron Gun Onslaught (M20T2)
19. The Mysterians Depart (Unused) (M20AT2)
20. Ending (M21T3)

Alternate Take Collection
21. M1T1
22. M1T2
23. M1T3
24. M5T1 (First Half Only)
25. M6T1
26. M7T3
27. M15T3
28. M19T1
29. M20T1
30. M20AT1
31. M21T2

Sound Effect Collection
32. Saucer Flight Sound
33. Dome Outside Sound
34. Dome Inside Sound
35. Dome Mechanical Sound
36. α Flight Sound
37. α Inside Sound
38. Markalite FAHP Ray Sounds
39. Electron Gun Firing Sounds

Sound Effect Material
40. Moguera's Antennae 1
41. R- Violin 3 · For Rays
42. R- Tuba 1 · Outside the Dome
43. R- Pipe 1 · Movement of the Markalite Dish
44. R- S Shaped Pipe 1 · Markalite and α
45. R- Drum Can 2 · α Internal Sound
46. R- Timpani 1 · α's Take-Off
47. R- Timpani 2 · α Stop Motion
48. R- Piano 8 · For Inside the Dome

49. "Earth Defense Force" Trailer
50. Trailer Ending Music

Additional Notes:

The film is known as "The Mysterians".

As stated above, this album is the second volume of twelve in Futureland's Toho Monster Film Selection series, released in 1996 and 1997. The series includes:

Toho Monster Film Selection 1 - Giant Monster of the Sky: Rodan (TYCY-5498)

Toho Monster Film Selection 2 - Earth Defense Force (TYCY-5499)

Toho Monster Film Selection 3 - Giant Monster Varan (TYCY-5500)

Toho Monster Film Selection 4 - Great Space War (TYCY-5501)

Toho Monster Film Selection 5 - Undersea Battleship (TYCY-5502)

Toho Monster Film Selection 6 - Giant Space Monster Dogora (TYCY-5503)

Toho Monster Film Selection 7 - Frankenstein vs. Subterranean Monster Baragon (TYCY-5504)

Toho Monster Film Selection 8 - Frankenstein's Monsters: Sanda vs. Gaira (TYCY-5505)

Toho Monster Film Selection 9 - Latitude 0 Great Military Battle (TYCY-5506)

Toho Monster Film Selection 10 - King Kong's Counterattack (TYCY-5507)

Toho Monster Film Selection 11 - Gezora, Ganimes, Kamoebas: Decisive Battle! Giant Monsters of the South Seas (TYCY-5508)

Toho Monster Film Selection 12 - Monster Snowman (TYCY-5509)

With the exception of volume 10, the series is in chronological order by film release date. All scores in the series are composed by Akira Ifukube, except for volume 12, which is composed by Masaru Sato.

The retail price listed is the original price when the album was in-print, though adjusted for the recently implemented 10% consumption tax.

The track list on the back tray insert and booklet list the cue number for the first track as M1T2 & 3, while the track-by-track commentary lists it as M1T2 + T3. I went with the latter for both of the above track lists as I feel it looks better. For those who may be unfamiliar with the score, M1T2 (DB-1-2 m-1 on the cue sheets) is heard during the Toho logo with M1T3 (DB-1-3 m-1) being heard during the title and credits.

I want to point out something for track 24 (M5T1). It's listed as "First Half Only" in the track list not because that's all that was included on the album, but that's all that was performed during the recording of the take. This information is stated on page 11 of the album's booklet.

The liner notes state (on page 12) that the Bon Odori music heard at the beginning of the film as well as source cues M9A (composed by Hector Berlioz) and M9B (composed by Edvard Grieg) couldn't be included with this release. It doesn't state why they weren't included, but it's most likely that they couldn't be located at the time the album was being produced. In fact, they're not even documented on the cue sheets. Toho Music Corporation later rectified the situation in 2009 when they reissued this score (paired with "Battle in Outer Space"). Since I don't own that release, I don't know the sources used for their inclusion on that album.

Looking at the cue sheet transcription, the take numbers were given to the DB (Dubbing numbers) rather than the M (Music) numbers. I already listed a couple of examples when explaining the edit for M1, but other examples include M7T4 (DB-8-4 m-7), M14T2 (DB-17-2 m-14), M19T2 (DB-23-2 m-19) and M21T3 (DB-27-3 m-21).

Another thing I want to mention is that M8 (DB-8 m-8 on the cue sheets) was recorded alongside M7T1 (DB-8 m-7).

The score was recorded on December 3, 1957.

Photo Gallery:

Here is a photo gallery of my copy of Toho Monster Film Selection 2 - Earth Defense Force (TYCY-5499). The photos and scans were taken on November 14, 2020.

This album was part of an eBay/Discogs order (all from the same seller), all of which will be added to the blog. The other albums that were part of the order are:

Complete Recordings: Akira Ifukube Special Effects Film Music Toho Edition 10 (TYCY-5342·43)

Toho Monster Film Selection 4 - Great Space War (TYCY-5501)

Toho Monster Film Selection 5 - Undersea Battleship (TYCY-5502)

Toho Monster Film Selection 9 - Latitude 0 Great Military Battle (TYCY-5506)

Toho Monster Film Selection 11 - Gezora, Ganimes, Kamoebas: Decisive Battle! Giant Monsters of the South Seas (TYCY-5508)

Daiei Film BGM Collection: Gamera vs. Giant Devil Beast Jiger & Gamera vs. Deep Sea Monster Zigra Music File (VPCD-81160)

Please note that the album copyright credits listed are of defunct companies/labels except for Toho, VAP and Kadokawa. Lastly, the album's shrink wrap was opened along the spine, otherwise it's in brand new condition.