LMH Mixtape #8: Mari Yamaguchi

Episode 8 brought us LMH's second composer focus, this time on Mari Yamaguchi.  Yamaguchi was equally talented at crafting tight, catchy tunes for the NES as she was at composing sweeping symphonic pieces for the SNES.  If you don't already find yourself wishing that more orchestras in the world would perform video game music, this mixtape will change that.

NOTE TO THE DETAIL-ORIENTED:  Mari Yamaguchi only arranged the track "The Minks" from U.N. Squadron (Manami Matsumae composed) for the SNES, and it's also possible that Yamaguchi did not compose "Introduction" from U.N. Squadron and that the composer of that track is unknown.  Also, with Final Fight 2's "Flower Shower", Yamaguchi might not have composed that track, but it's just a guess (a bunch of composers worked on that soundtrack).  Also also, Yasuaki Fujita confirmed somewhat recently that he composed "Distant View" and "Expedition" from Breath of Fire, but authorities at the Legacy Music Hour believe that Yasuaki is actually remembering things incorrectly.  It was 20 years ago, after all.  "Distant View" sounds so much like Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts that it seems impossible to not be Yamaguchi.  Also, "Expedition" really sounds like her too, and is very similar to Magical Quest in certain parts.  So all these tracks have been left included in this mix, even though it's up for debate whether or not they should be there.

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KEYGLYPH'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS, JUST BECAUSE

Instant new favorite:  Mega Man 5 - Napalm Man
New brewed favorite:  Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts - Ice Forest

This song needs lyrics:  Final Fight 2 - Flower Shower
Needs to be performed by an orchestra:  Breath of Fire - End of Journey

Picardy Third Alert:  Mickey to Donald Magical Adventure 3 - The Sea with Shells


Track listing and original episode:

http://legacymusichour.blogspot.com/2010/12/legacy-music-hour-episode-8-mari.html

Episode 8: Mari Yamaguchi

Brent and Rob explore the work of composer Mari Yamaguchi in the 8th episode of The Legacy Music Hour.  They present music from Breath of Fire, U.N. Squadron, Super Ghouls n' Ghosts, and more.  They also welcome a call-in guest, Joe Schwebke, who provides further insight into Mari's unique style.  Full track listing below.

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Key: Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year*

*The year specified is the year the version that we played was released.  For example, as some music from the same game may vary between Japanese and North American versions, generally, we play the North American version, which may or may not have been released the same year it was released in Japan.

Mega Man 5 - Mari Yamaguchi - Wily's Castle - Capcom - NES - 1992

The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse - Mari Yamaguchi - Dark Forest (Level 2) - Capcom - SNES - 1992

U.N. Squadron - Mari Yamaguchi - Canyon (Mission 8) - Capcom - SNES - 1991

Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts - Mari Yamaguchi - Ice Forest (Stage 5) - Capcom - SNES - 1991

Mickey to Donald Magical Adventure 3 - Mari Yamaguchi - The Sea With Shells - Capcom - Super Famicom - 1995

Breath of Fire - Mari Yamaguchi - Breath of Fire - Capcom - SNES - 1994

Mega Man 5 - Mari Yamaguchi - Password - Capcom - NES - 1992

Mega Man 5 - Mari Yamaguchi - Gravity Man - Capcom - NES - 1992

Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts - Mari Yamaguchi - Sea of Despair (Stage 2) - Capcom - SNES - 1991

U.N. Squadron - Mari Yamaguchi - Introduction - Capcom - SNES - 1991

U.N. Squadron - Manami Matsumae, Mari Yamaguchi (arr.) - The Minks - Capcom - SNES - 1991

The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse - Mari Yamaguchi - Fire Grotto (Level 3) - Capcom - SNES - 1992

Final Fight 2 - Mari Yamaguchi, Yuki Iwai, Setsuo Yamamoto, Yuko Takehara - Flower Shower - Capcom - SNES - 1993

Breath of Fire - Mari Yamaguchi - Distant View - Capcom - SNES - 1994

Mega Man 5 - Mari Yamaguchi - Napalm Man - Capcom - NES - 1992

Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts - Mari Yamaguchi - Crucible of Flame (Stage 3) - Capcom - SNES - 1991

The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse - Mari Yamaguchi - Treetops (Level 1) - Capcom - SNES - 1992

The Great Circus Mystery Starring Mickey and Minnie - Makoto Tomozawa - The Jungle - Capcom - SNES - 1994

Breath of Fire - Mari Yamaguchi - Expedition - Capcom - SNES - 1994