Latest news on the next Godzilla CD collection Author: James Ballard Official Website: Toho Music Following the release of the GODZILLA SOUNDTRACK PERFECT COLLECTION BOX 4 in October 2006, Toho Music have at long last decided that the release date for GODZILLA SOUNDTRACK PERFECT COLLECTION BOX 5 will be January 31st 2008. Altogether there will be 9 CDs in the set, with a list price of 10,500 Yen (approx US$90.) Pre-orders will begin early in the new year. The CD set will cover the music from the films GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA II (Gojira tai Mekagojira, 1993), GODZILLA VS. SPACEGODZILLA (Gojira tai Supeesugojira, 1994), GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH (Gojira tai Desutoroia, 1995) and GODZILLA 2000 (Gojira Ni-Sen Mireniamu, 1999). Also included is the first performance of the "SF Symphonic Fantasia" (1983) and "Ostinato", both re-issues of discs previously released by King Record. GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA II - DISC

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Eclectic Rock Arrangements of Classic Godzilla and Monster Themes Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Source: The Monster Project Special Thanks to Bob Johnson Well now this is something that you certainly don’t hear very much. THE MONSTER PROJECT is a collection of rock arrangements of classic monster music, most of which is dedicated to the music of Godzilla. According to the group’s website, The Monster Project is a progressive rock outfit of seven people from New York City and presents faithful arrangements of classic monster movie scores. The group apparently had a short life, only performing between 2005 and 2006 before dissolving. Somewhere in that timeline, they managed to record this 65 minute album of material they had performed. So just what does THE MONSTER PROJECT offer? Well that certainly depends on your taste and if you can accept eclectic rock arrangements of the music you know and

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La-La Land Records Brings the Long Unreleased Score to Disc Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Official Site: La-La Land Records, David Arnold.com Special Thanks to Robert Saint John In the history of Godzilla fandom, there are few events that had as much of an impact on the image and perception of Godzilla globally than the release of TriStar’s “remake” in 1998. Before the movie was released, it seemed everyone wanted a piece of Godzilla. His name was in high demand…books, newly released DVDs, VHS, toys…the licensing rights to the name GODZILLA were being sought after by everyone. Memorial Day that year came and went and all that changed. Instead of giving the fans something to be proud of and the general public something worth their $6.50 (my how the times have changed in nine years), what we got was a virtual master class in how not to make

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The First Ever Performance in North America of Akira Ifukube’s Music for the 1962 Film Source: The Austin Wind Symphony Special Thanks to Patrick Phillips Godzilla fans in Texas are in for a real treat. For the first time ever in North America, musical selections from Akira Ifukube’s score to KING KONG VS. GODZILLA will be played in concert by the Austin Wind Symphony. The suite of music will be arranged by SciFi Japan’s own John “Dutch” DeSentis. Fresh off of a recent concert dedicated to the music of HARRY POTTER, The Austin Wind Symphony is a small, but dedicated orchestra which specializes in only film music and performs in South Austin at the Bethany Lutheran Church often to sell out crowds. While the ensemble is only about 50 members, the church setting allows the music to boom and is fitting considering that many film scores

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VERY early news of the live concert performance in Kalamazoo, Michigan Author: Ed Godziszewski Official Site: Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Special Thanks to Kazuo Sumiya Mark your calendars now. It may be a year away, but Akira Ifukube fans will have the rare chance of listening to one of the maestro`s premier classical pieces, "Ritmica Ostinata", performed live by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra on March 28, 2008 and featuring the keyboard skills of Reiko Yamada. Presented as part of a musical tribute to Japan, Ifukube`s piece will highlight a program which will also feature pieces by Toru Takemitsu and Paul Hindemith. Reiko Yamada is currently the principal keyboard artist for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, having visited Japan most recently in 2006 for performing the "Ritmica Ostinata", a very demanding piece for any keyboard

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The Long Delayed CD Box Set to be Released at Last Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis with Robert Saint John Source: Ark Soundtrack Square, Masao Iwase Blog Special Thanks to Keith Aiken, Ed Godziszewski, and Larry Tuczynski’s Godzilla Monster Music Website Back in 2004, amidst the hysteria that was Godzilla’s 50th Anniversary, it was announced that Toho Music would re-release the Godzilla soundtrack series in six special edition boxes loaded with extras such as alternate cues, dialog from the movies, and several bonus discs. The first of these GODZILLA SOUNDTRACK PERFECT COLLECTIONs hit the streets in October that year and the second set followed in December. Strangely, there was quite a delay on the third set as it did not see release until April of 2005. Little did collectors know that the delay of the third box would be nothing compared to the wait

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La-La Land Records Hits Another One Out of the Park Author: John "Dutch" DeSentis Following up their incredible release of the musical score to GODZILLA in 2004, La-La Land Records has made available for the first time ever in North America the soundtrack to 1962`s KING KONG VS GODZILLA. As most of Akira Ifukube’s score was replaced with stock library music for the film’s 1963 American release, this CD is truly a first. Just like the former release, this disc is a grand slam, perhaps even more so than the first one. To me, KING KONG VS GODZILLA represents the pinnacle era of not only Toho, but also Akira Ifukube`s magnificent scores. Between 1954 and 1964, the maestro produced what could arguably be his best scores to both Godzilla and non-Godzilla films alike. KING KONG VS GODZILLA is a non-stop tour de force of great thematic material,

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