© 1999, 2014 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title The Film Music By Masaru Satoh Vol. 12
CD Label SLC Inc.
CD Number SLCS-7113
Music by: Masaru Satoh
Number of tracks 12
Running time 77:31
Number of discs 1
Year of release/manufacture 1993

REVIEW

Feb. 14, 2000

This volume starts off fast and furious with action packed music that reminds me of Bernard Herrmann's "North By Northwest" for Hitchcock. About 2 minutes into the track it suddenly switches to something different. Even though they are not listed as such, the long tracks on this CD are more like suites of music with a variety of styles. The mood and pace of the track changes many times during the track. Track #2 starts off with a female vocal that has the feel of main titles from older James Bond films like "Diamonds Are Forever" or "You Only Live Twice". At about three minutes into the track the vocals stop and we hear soundtrack type background music that would definitely fit a war or spy type movie. Track #4 comes off sounding somewhat like lounge music while Tracks #5 & #6, especially Track #6, sound like suspense/spy movie music.

All in all this was a diverse and pleasant CD to listen to. Unlike many other Satoh tunes these did not display much of a jazz orientation.

REVIEW

Title: The Film Music By Masaru Satoh Vol. 12 (Assorted Dramas)
Directed by Kihachi Okamoto
Translations & notes courtesy of Jolyon Yates

  1. The Last Game (Eireitachi no Oenka: Saigo no Sokeisen / Rousing Song of the Spirits of the War Dead : Final [Baseball ] Game)
  2. Desperado Outpost Dokuritsu Gurentai, 1959, aka Desperate Outpost, dir Kihachi Okamoto, str Toshiro Mifune) Westward Desperado (Dokuritsu Gurentai Nishi-e, 1960, dir Kihachi Okamoto, str Akihiko Hirata, Akira Kubo, Kumi Mizuno, Frankie Sakai)
  3. Human Bullet (Nikudan, 1968, dir Kihachi Okamoto, str Chishu Ryu)
  4. Battle Cry (Tokkan, 1975, aka Go For Broke. Not to be confused with ‘Battle Cry’ [1955, dir Raoul Walsh] or ‘Go For Broke!’ [1951, dir Robert Pirosh, about the 442nd Japanese American Regimental Combat Team])
  5. Someday, I Will (Aru Hi Watashi Wa)
  6. Bad Boys in University (could be Furyo Shonen, 1961, aka Bad Boys, dir Susumu Hani)
  7. Oh Bomb (Aa Bakudan)
  8. Gangland Bullets (Ankokugai no Dankon / Underworld Bulletmarks. ‘Dankon’ may be a pun, as it can also mean ‘penis’)
  9. The Last Gunfight (Ankokugai no Taiketsu, 1960, str Toshiro Mifune, Yoko Tsukasa)
  10. Time Of Killers (Satsujin Kurujidai / Mad Age of Killers
  11. The Elegant Life Of Mr. Everyman (Kobun Toshimitsushi no Yugana Seikatsu / Elegant Livelihood of Mr Kobun Toshimitsu. Nb: ‘Kobun Toshimitsu’ is my guess at the hero’s name, and the same kanji can be read many ways
  12. Rainbow Kids (Stereo) (Daiyukai, 1991, dir Kihachi Okamoto)