Review by: Brett Homenick

Unless the sight of Minya dressed as Santa Claus or an artist’s rendering of a kaiju band complete with Godzilla strumming an electric guitar, Gigan pounding away at the cymbals, and Angilas playing the sax doesn’t immediately turn your stomach, do yourself a favor. Don’t read this review. The product in question presents goofy Godzilla-related songs, ranging from the laughably absurd to the jaw-droppingly absurd, along with even goofier liner notes depicting the horrifying images just mentioned. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the Godzilla Song Book is strictly intended for the young and the young at heart.

The CD, in a move wholly out of step with what’s to come, begins with Akira Ifukube’s stirring Godzilla theme as heard in the 1962 film, King Kong vs Godzilla. Following that, all hell breaks loose. Among the CD’s 25 tracks are a strangely-endearing adolescent interpretation of the Christmas carol "Jingle Bells" with Godzilla and Mothra as the song’s focus, a stereo version of the oft-derided Godzilla vs Megalon "punching" ditty, the closing number of Godzilla vs Gigan, and a slightly altered take on the King Seesar melody from Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla. Most striking of all, track 17 is a tune so funky and unabashedly psychedelic that it would no doubt make Isaac Hayes himself blush in embarrassment. Some of the other songs are, to put it mildly, beyond description. They must be heard to be believed. A notable omission from this anthology that will most likely deter some potential buyers is the much-sought-after "Save the Earth" song from Godzilla vs The Smog Monster, which is absent in both languages.

Oddly enough, the CD does have its positives that will probably appeal to the more "serious" fans of the genre. As was already mentioned, the opening track consists of an original recording of one of Godzilla’s most popular marches. Track 5, additionally, is a lovely rendition of Yuji Koseki’s highly-praised Mothra theme. Depending upon the individual’s taste, track 13 is a palatable and exotic vocal version of Masaru Sato’s music for the battle scene between Angilas and Mechagodzilla from the latter’s first screen appearance. If you simply can’t endure the sound of an overenthusiastic youngster screaming unintelligible song lyrics into your ear, then you can seek refuge in the last five tracks.  These are the "karaoke" versions of the songs, meaning they supply the music, but it’s up to you to supply the lyrics.

Make no mistake about it, this CD is a time capsule of early-‘70s Japan. If only as a 30-year-old Japanese Zeitgeist, this compilation of mostly child-oriented songs would be a worthwhile purchase for some fans. For other fans, like myself, who look back on the cycle of Godzilla films from the ‘70s with a sense of nostalgia and genuine admiration, this CD is most assuredly for you. Admittedly, I enjoyed a great deal of the songs on the Godzilla Song Book. The music on this disc harks back to a simpler time, a time when Godzilla’s history wasn’t mucked up by time travel and when irises were still fashionable on our kaiju. This CD is certainly not for everyone, but for its intended audience primarily of hardcore Godzilla vs Megalon devotees, the Godzilla Song Book is an enjoyable, if off-beat, music collection that will annoy your neighbors as much as it will delight you.