The Best of Godzilla 1954-1975 [CD]

Description

Never resting on his previous work, Ifukube created daring new themes for each film, oftimes improving on the alter ones. A recession in the Japanese economy in the 1970s forced Toho to tighten their budgets, which began to show in some of the Godzilla films, particularly in the effects work of Teruyshi Nakano, who bore the unfortunate responsibility of taking over for maestro Tsuburaya and forced to produce effects with a fraction of the usual budget. Ifukube, as though feeling that it was his responsibility to make up for the films’ shortcomings, created haunting scores for films like “Godzilla Vs. Gigam” (tracks 30-32). The series began to draw to a close in the mid-70s and Nakano was determined to end on a high note, so the two final entries, “Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla” and “Terror of Mechagodzilla” (tracks 33-41), featured imaginative stories, improved effects, and some of Ifukube’s best music. In fact, the final track from “Terror of Mechagodzilla” (track 41) sounds not only like the close of just one film, but a conscious farewell to a long saga. -from the extensive liner notes.