© 2004 Lawrence Tuczynski

Info on this page courtesy of Robert Storch

Title: Godzilla/Godzilla 2000
CD Label: Blue Room Music
CD Number: ORCD-2001-1991
Music by: David Arnold (Godzilla)
J. Peter Robinson (Godzilla 2000)
Number of tracks: 33
Godzilla - 19
Godzilla 2000 - 14
Running time: 81:47
Godzilla - 57:35
Godzilla 2000 - 24:12
Number of discs: 1
Year of release/manufacture: 2003 (For Promotional Use Only. Not For Sale)

REVIEW

Review courtesy of Robert Storch (updated September 22, 2004)

This European promotional CD (I believe it is a German release) offers not only the complete David Arnold score for "Godzilla" (also found on the earlier Concorde release from 1998) but also gives us unused music from that film as well as the US music score for "Godzilla 2000"....this CD is literally packed to the max! I believe the Concorde release is a pressed CDR made from either an original copy, or a CDR copy of TriStar's promotional Oscar "For Your Nomination Consideration" CD which was sent to academy members in hopes of getting Arnold's score nominated. I have heard that the Concorde release sounds good, but not as good as the Oscar promo itself. Even though I don't know the source material used for this release, I can say that "Godzilla" sounds excellent and the "Godzilla 2000" score also sounds extremely clear and sharp with plenty of punch.

Even though the front cover says "Godzilla" by David Arnold, this CD also has the US music score for "Godzilla 2000" by J. Peter Robinson. The back insert shows info and track titles for both scores. I must say that I'm liking David Arnold's score more and more everytime I hear it. I've always thought that his main title is one of the best non Ifukube Godzilla main titles and on this release we are treated to a rare alternate version as well. Tracks 4,7,and 13 offer some great action oriented music and marches with track #7 offering a march that uses music from the main title. This promo also offers rare music to three trailers from the film and are ok to listen to but nothing that special.

The music for Godzilla 2000 by J.Peter Robinson is extremely good and features very heavy military marches along with some other great themes. Apparently Sony/Tri-Star wanted to replace a good portion of Takayuki Hattori's score with Robinson's music to give the film more punch, perhaps also thinking that Hattori's music wasn't strong or even good enough for an Amercian audience. Hattori's main title still opens the film and a lot of his music remains, but it is J. Peter Robinson who injects much needed power into the score at the right moments. His music on this CD opens with a few notes from Rodan's theme and ends with Rodan's theme again on track #33. Too bad there isn't more Ifukube on this release. Overall, the score for "Godzilla 2000" features great music and is a real bonus of sorts. Clocking in at 81:47, this CD may be the longest one that I am aware of, so you certainly get a lot of rare and good music to listen to. This soundtrack was never easy to find to begin with (even though it was released in 2003) and will probably cost around $40 on up if you do find it.

Additional info courtesy of John DeSentis (added November 28, 2004)

Along with the J P Robinson tracks, there are still five Hattori tracks from the Japanese Godzilla 2000: Millenium Soundtrack. The tracks are as follows: "Regenerator G1" ("The Wonder of G Revealed" on the original soundtrack), "Extraterrestrial Takeover" ("Earth Invasion"), "Change of Mind" ("Thinking of My Dad"), "Shinoda Makes It" ("Miraculous Survival"), and "Hymn To Godzilla" ("End Title: Godzilla Dreaded God"). The tracks also lack the Ifukube Godzilla theme composed for the beginning of the Godzilla and Orgah fight, but the Rodan orchestration is still there. Overall, the music is all enjoyable and anyone who finds this rare CD should pick it up.

Godzilla/Godzilla2000

    GODZILLA:

  1. Main Title (2:46)
  2. Looking For Clues (1:47)
  3. Fishing With Big G (2:10)
  4. Leaving Manhattan (2:40)
  5. The Plan (2:50)
  6. Warnings/Fish Bait (5:13)
  7. Rampage And Pursuit (3:21)
  8. Audrey Steals The Tape (2:45)
  9. Nick Off The Project (2:51)
  10. The Foreign Legion (1:47)
  11. Madison Square Garden/The Brood (3:50)
  12. Reporting Live (4:07)
  13. Cab Chase (3:41)
  14. Brooklyn Bridge (4:28)
  15. Finale (4:05)
  16. Main Title (alternate) (3:09)
  17. Trailer #1 (1:34)
  18. Trailer #2 (1:56)
  19. Trailer #3 (1:42)

    20. Godzilla 2000:

  20. Godzilla Theme/The Tanks (2:22)
  21. Shinoda At The Beach/First Battle (4:22)
  22. The CCI Rockets Are Lifted (0:57)
  23. Scanning The UFO (0:58)
  24. Regenerator G1 (1:57)
  25. Evacuation Begins (1:06)
  26. Extraterrestrial Takeover (2:03)
  27. Planting The Bombs (1:36)
  28. Detonation Preparation/Clearing The Area (2:04)
  29. Change Of Mind (0:46)
  30. Shinoda Makes It (0:45)
  31. Big G vs Orga (3:03)
  32. Hymn To Godzilla (1:11)
  33. The End (0:25)