Akira Ifukube Akira Ifukube Real Name 伊福部 昭 Profile Born: May 31, 1914, Kushiro. Died: February 8, 2006, Tokyo. Akira Ifukube – Rodan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Composed by Akira Ifukube

Artwork by Henry Abrams

140 Gram Eco-Vinyl

Manufactured in Czech Republic

 

Behold the might of Rodan, the giant monster from the sky! In 1956, Toho unleashed their first colour kaiju picture: RODAN, directed by Ishiro Honda and produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka, is a terrifying tale from the creators of the original Godzilla that sees a giant Pteranodon rise from a deep underground cave after being disturbed by miners.

 

Like the Big G, Rodan has mutated to excessive size after being exposed to nuclear radiation, subsequently soaring free above Kyushu to cause as much mayhem as possible as the JSDF do their best to protect the island from his bloodthirsty rampaging. It was inevitable that the man behind the music of Godzilla would also take on scoring RODAN, and the great Akira Ifukube created a score with a solemn edge as with Godzilla, which makes the music of RODAN fit in the larger universe while allowing it to feel unique to the character.

 

For the main theme, Ifukube introduces a malevolent low piano and brass phrase before cointerpointing it with horns to create a howling menace worthy of Rodan. In contrast, beautiful but melancholy material represents the carnage the monster has brought upon the Earth; in a more upbeat mode, the composer includes another of his jaunty and jazzy marches for the JDSF in the guise of “Get Rodan”.

 

It’s another Toho triumph from the great maestro Ifukube! (Charlie Brigden).

 

A1 – Main Title

A2 – The First Victim

A3 – Tragedy In The Tunnel

A4 – Meganulon Appears

A5 – The Terror Of Meganulon

A6 – The Meganulon Pursuit

A7 – Cave-In

A8 – Earthquake

A9 – Amnesia

A10 – Tracking Supersonic Speed

A11 – The Shadow Across The Sky

A12 – The Birth of Rodan

A13 – The Huge Underground Cavern

B14 – Rodan Emerges

B15 – Get Rodan

B16 – Rodan Flies To Sasebo

B17 – Rodan And The Saikai Bridge

B18 – Rodan Attacks Fukuoka I

B19 – Shockwave Fury

B20 – Rodan Attacks Fukuoka II

B21 – The Self-Defense Force Heads To Ask

B22 – The Great Nature Of Ash

B23 – Ending