Transformers History of Music 1984-1990

Kickass album covers are the right of all sentient beings.

Transformers: History of Music 1984-1990 is a soundtrack collection released in Japan by Columbia Music Entertainment in March 2004. It contains virtually every piece of original music composed for the Japanese Transformers series between the 1984 and 1990, spanning the entirely of the Generation 1 animated series: theme songs, background music, karaoke, image music and more. Although the producers wanted to include the background music composed for the American series by Johnny Douglas and Robert J. Walsh (which was retained in the Japanese dubs of those episodes), as well as the soundtrack from The Transformers: The Movie, they were not able to clear the rights.

The set comprises five discs, each contained in a slim-line CD case with a card insert depicting one of various pieces of mural artwork from the toy packaging. Each disc, in turn, is illustrated with a line-art image of an important Autobot character from the era depicted in the mural artwork (regardless of any relevance or not to the actual content of the disc). The set also includes a booklet with an introduction, track listing and lyrics, and everything is contained in a stiff cardboard sleeve covered with images of every Autobot leader from 1984 to 1990 (Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Rodimus Prime, Fortress Maximus, Metalhawk, God Ginrai, Star Saber and Dai Atlas).

Disc 1

This disc contains music from Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers and Transformers 2010, the Japanese dubs of Seasons 1-3 of the American G1 cartoon. No new music was actually written for these episodes, but composer Michiaki Watanabe did create fourteen new instrumental pieces "inspired" by the series, which were released in 1985, and form the lion's share of this disc. Also included are TV-size and full-length versions of the Fight! Super Robot Lifeform opening and closings (Transformer and Peace Again); notable by their absence are full-length lyrical versions of the 2010 themes (Transformers 2010 and What's You), although TV-size versions and full-length karaoke versions are included. The two Ultra Magnus's Song of Leadership tracks are not songs, but short speeches from Magnus.

The disc is illustrated with an image of Optimus Prime, and its case bears the 1984 packaging mural.

Track listing

<ol>*4th Dimension

• Gruesome Wars
• Transformer
• Car Walkin'
• Autobot I
• Peace of Mind
• Spinnin'
• Autobot II
• You Can Fight
• Mechanical Voice
• Battle
• Who's God
• Chase
• Decepticon
• Peace Again
• Futurist's Dream
• Transformer (TV size)
• Peace Again (TV size)
• Transformers (karaoke version)
• Peace Again (karaoke version)
• Transformers 2010 (TV size)
• Ultra Magnus's Song of Leadership I
• Transformers 2010 (karaoke version)
• What's You (TV size)
• Ultra Magnus's Song of Leadership II
• What's You (karaoke version)

</ol>

Disc 2

This disc contains the theme and insert songs from The Headmasters, as well as several songs that do not appear in the animated series. It is illustrated with an image of Ultra Magnus, and its case bears the 1986 Hasbro packaging mural (as opposed to the different illustration used by Takara).

Track listing

<ol>*The Headmasters

• Our Headmasters
• Transform!
• Alliance of Cowards
• A Warrior's Rest
• Arise! Headmaster of Anger
• There is No Border in the Universe
• Decepticon Song in Praise
• The Rainbow in Space
• You are a Transformer
• The Headmasters (karaoke version)
• Transform! (karaoke version)
• Alliance of Cowards (karaoke version)
• A Warrior's Rest (karaoke version)
• Arise! Headmaster of Anger (karaoke version)
• There is No Border in the Universe (karaoke version)
• Decepticon Song in Praise (karaoke version)
• The Rainbow in Space (karaoke version)
• You are a Transformer (karaoke version)

</ol>

Disc 3

This disc contains the theme and insert songs from Super-God Masterforce, as well as several song that do not appear in the animated series. It is illustrated with an image of Fortress Maximus, and its case bears the 1987 packaging mural (both of which would have been a heck of a lot more fitting for the previous disc).

Track listing

<ol>*Theme of Super-God Masterforce

• Push On! Super-God Masterforce
• Miracle Transformer
• Transformation! Godmaster
• Small Brave Warrior – Headmaster Juniors Theme
• Super Ginrai's Theme
• See See Seacons
• Ruler of the Universe – Devil Z
• We Believe Tomorrow
• Burn! Transformer
• Theme of Super-God Masterforce (karaoke version)
• Push On! Super-God Masterforce (karaoke version)
• Miracle Transformer (karaoke version)
• Transformation! Godmaster (karaoke version)
• Small Brave Warrior – Headmaster Juniors Theme (karaoke version)
• Super Ginrai's Theme (karaoke version)
• See See Seacons (karaoke version)
• Ruler of the Universe – Devil Z (karaoke version)
• We Believe Tomorrow (karaoke version)
• Burn! Transformer (karaoke version)

</ol>

Disc 4

This disc primarily contains the background score for The Headmasters and Super-God Masterforce, with several pieces of music being grouped together on single tracks, occasionally named after episodes of the cartoon. Additionally, the disc includes TV-size versions of their opening and closings, and any instrumental versions of theme or insert songs. It is decorated with an image of God Ginrai, and its case bears the 1988 packaging mural (which, again, would have been infinitely more fitting on the previous disc).

Track listing

<ol>*The Headmasters (TV size)

• AD 2011
• Find the Matrix!
• A Dream is Born, Double Prime
• Head On!! Fortress Maximus
• The Headmasters (instrumental version)
• Fight! Fortress Maximus
• You are a Transformer (instrumental version)
• Final Decepticon Plan Underway
• The Last Decisive Battle
• Music from previews
• You are a Transformer (TV size)
• Theme of Super-God Masterforce (TV size)
• Decepticon Revival
• Burn! Transformer (instrumental version)
• Rise Up!! Pretenders
• Theme of Super-God Masterforce (instrumental version)
• His Name is Ginrai
• Ginrai: God On of Rage!!
• Showdown on the Surface of the Moon
• Miracle Transformer (instrumental version)
• The Return of God Ginrai
• A Battle... and Then...
• Push On! Super-God Masterforce (instrumental version)
• Final Fire Guts!
• Music from previews
• Burn! Transformer (TV size)

</ol>

Disc 5

The fifth and final disc in the collection essentially contains "everything else," but primarily consists of the openings, closings and background score from Victory and Zone (neither series included any insert songs). As on disc one, full lyrical versions of the opening and closing for each series are absent, although full-length karaoke and instrumental versions, as well as lyrical TV size versions, are present.

The disc also includes a "bonus" section, featuring four performances of the classic American Transformers theme tune – the version from season 1, the version from season 2, and two versions used in TV advertisements. Finally, and rather arbitrarily, there is "Survival," by Psychic Lover a song from the Micron Legend soundtrack, presumably included to advertise it.

The disc is decorated with an image of Victory Saber and Dai Atlas, and its case features the Takara-exclusive packaging mural artwork from 1989.

Track listing

<ol>*Transformers Victory (TV size)

• The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber
• Victory War Start!
• Planet Micro - The Mysterious Warrior
• Unite! Liokaiser
• Awaken! Victory Leo
• The Tide is Turned! The Ultimate Weapon, the Victory Unification
• Giant Decepticon Fortress
• Star Saber vs Deathsaurus
• Transformers Victory (instrumental version)
• Hooray for the Autobots (instrumental version)
• Victorious Star Saber
• Hooray for the Autobots (TV size)
• Transformers Victory (karaoke version)
• Hooray for the Autobots (karaoke version)
• Theme of Transformers Zone (TV size)
• For You in the Future (TV size)
• Theme of Transformers Zone (instrumental version)
• For You in the Future (instrumental version)
• Theme of Transformers Zone (karaoke version)
• For You in the Future (karaoke version)
• The Transformers (version 1)
• The Transformers (version 2)
• TV commercial (version 1)
• TV commercial (version 2)
• Survival

</ol>

Notes

• If you were wondering where the missing mural and Supreme Commander are – the booklet features line art of Rodimus as its cover, and the Takara version of the 1985 packaging mural on the back.