28 December 2023

LMH Mixtape #197: Friends

Although Rob was was unable to make it to this Free Play episode, Brent and the rest of the crew were joined by Brent's friends Andrew Michaan and Mike Fischer.  This mixtape has a nice variety of tracks including the pumped up "Volcano (Stage 2)" from the arcade version of Dragon Saber.  While listening, you can practically feel the heat as you soar over lava and volcanos.  You've also got the quirky playfulness of "Satellite" from Wagyan Paradise (a Japan exclusive Super Famicom Game).  Those, and much more in this mixtape.  So, sit back and enjoy some great VGM with your fellow LMH friends.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite: Dragon Saber - Volcano (Stage 2)
Another favorite: Touge Densetsu: Saisoku Battle - Name Entry/Options
Most fun: Wagyan Paradise - Satellite


Track listing and original episode:

20 December 2023

LMH Mixtape #196: Beyond 16-Bit 3

On rare occasions, the boizz venture beyond the realm of the 3rd and 4th generation of video game music.  This is one of those occasions.  Regardless of what generation they came from, this mixtape is loaded with killer tracks like “Foulwater Falls" from Wario Land: Shake It! which is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Blatant favoritism award: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - Lost Painting
Another personal favorite: Blaster Master Zero - Fire the Blaster Rifle
You can never go wrong with Jake Kaufman: Shovel Knight - No Weapons Here (Village)
Instant new favorite - Hole in One Golf - Congratulation


Track listing and original episode:

13 December 2023

LMH Mixtape #195: Brent's Recent Games

In this episode, all of Brent's tracks were from games that he had recently played/discovered.  Those include Brain Lord with some cool, funky bass guitar and the psychedelic, funky, wild ride that is Kirby's Dream land 3.  Rob also brought some of the smoothest Dean Evans jams with an unreleased Green Lantern track (though it technically wasn’t LMH “legal”) and an unused track from The Flintstones, which led to the iconic LMH moment: "Yabba Dabba Dabba Dabba Dabba Dabba Dooooooooooo.”


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Yabba Dabba Dude, this track is so good!: The Flintstones - Unused Song 2
Unreleased but not unappreciated: Green Lantern - Game Complete
All about that bass: Brain Lord - Demon Invasion


Track listing and original episode:

06 December 2023

Episode 267: Wishing There Was More

In this episode, the Legacy Music Hour shares tracks they like but wish there was more of either in length or girth.  This is a subjective stance and some of their selections might sound very complete to you while others, you might agree, "Yeah, I wish there was more to this piece!"  Full track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

The Jetsons: Invasion of the Planet Pirates - Hideki Takahagi - Stage 6 - Sting/Taito - SNES - 1994

Yogi Bear's Cartoon Capers - George Villiers - Snow Business, Fast Food Fiasco - Blue Turtle/Empire Interactive - Mega Drive (Europe) - 1994

Gomola Speed - Yoshio Nagashima - Act 1, 2, 9, 10, 14, 18, 19 - UPL - PC Engine - 1990

Operation Europe: Path to Victory 1939-45 - Yuji Ohno - Battle of the Bulge - Koei - Genesis - 1994

Neugier: Umi to Kaze no Koudou - Yukihiro Takahashi - Port - Wolf Team/Nippon Telenet - Super Famicom - 1993

Double Dragon - Kazunaka Yamane - Mission 4 (Part 2) - Technos/Tradewest - NES - 1988

Kirby's Block Ball - Sukezo Ouyama, Ryoue Takagi - Stage 7 - HAL/Nintendo - Game Boy - 1996

Insector X - unknown - Damp Hall (Round 4: In the Cave) - Hot-B (dev.)/Sage Creations (pub.)/Taito (licensed by) - Genesis - 1990

Gigandes - Takaro Nozaki - Populism Answer (Episode 3 - Mesopotamian's Nightmare) - East Technology - arcade - 1989

Psy-O-Blade - Shigeru Tomita, Kazuhiro Hasegawa, Hiroto Kanno (Raika no Papa) (arr.) - BGM 2 - T&E Soft/Graphic Research/Sigma Ent. Inc. - Mega Drive - 1990

1943 Kai: Midway Kaisen - Junko Tamiya (GON!) - Air Battle A (Round 1, 5, 10) - Capcom - arcade (Japan) - 1988

Ys III: Wanderers from Ys - Mieko Ishikawa - Tower of Fate - Riot - Genesis - 1991

Dragon Fighter - Kouichi Yamanishi (Ukkari Yamanishi) - Stage 1 - Natsume/Sofel - NES - 1992

29 November 2023

LMH Mixtape #194: Rob Loses

In the full episode, Rob told a story about taking a rare loss in Street Fighter II.  Don't worry though, because this mixtape is full of winners.  Starting right off the bat with the incredibly smooth Dean Evans track "Diving" from Waterworld.  You'll also get a dose of that iconic Konami sound from Wai Wai World 2: SOS!! Paseri Jou.  All that and more, on this week’s episode of the LMH Mixtapes!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite: Waterworld - Diving
Wai Wai can't I stop listening to this?: Wai Wai World 2: SOS!! Paseri Jou - Parsley City
Love a good staff roll: Vixen 357 - Staff Roll


Track listing and original episode:

22 November 2023

LMH Mixtape #193: Best Of Year In Review 6

Another year in the books, so you know what that means.  Time for another Best Of Year In Review episode.  This time the boizz went back to a full-length top ten list.  Do you have any guesses for which tracks they picked?  Will they have any overlapping picks?  You'll have to listen to find out, but one thing is certain, you're in for a mixtape full of the bonkest of tracks.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Top ten worthy: All tracks


Partial track listing and original episode:

15 November 2023

LMH Mixtape #192: Pinball Music

If you went to the arcade in the 80's or 90's, you heard some pretty great video game music from the arcade machines.  But if you looked next to those arcade cabinets, you probably saw a different type of machine with flashing lights and flippers.  Of course, we're talking about pinball games!

So for this special, one-time only episode, Brent and Rob focused on pinball machine music!  Don't get tilted, because no tokens are needed to enjoy this unique mixtape.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite: Night Moves - Main Play
Another favorite: Lights...Camera...Action! - Stunt Scene
Locked in as a favorite: Swords of Fury - Two Balls Locked


Track listing and original episode:

08 November 2023

LMH Mixtape #191: Sensing Things

Do you sense that?  It's a hot new mixtape incoming!  Some of the best VGM tracks can come from some surprising places.  For example, Autumn from Classic Road II (a little known, Japanese-exclusive horse racing game) is an incredible orchestral piece of music that would fit well on any of the most beloved Zelda soundtracks.  We all know you can find great music on the NES, SNES, Genesis etc., but Stage 4: Infinity Academy from Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S shows how the Sega Game Gear can surprise you with hidden gems just as well as any other system.  I'm sensing some totally Bonk jams in your future!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite: Classic Road II: Real Kouma Simulation - Autumn
Best shredding solos: Vixen 357 - Opening Demo
Game Gear Greatness: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S - Stage 4: Infinity Academy


Track listing and original episode:

01 November 2023

Episode 266: The Three Tenners

Some technical difficulties on this episode.  Brent's microphone was crackling and stuff, but the music tracks were all replaced in post, so at least those sound clean.  Speaking of the tracks, there's some good ones -even possible top ten material to listen to here.  In fact, Brent, Rob, and Gabe had at least one top ten pick prediction for the end of the year even though the year just started.    Full track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Beast Wrestler - Shinobu Ogawa, Takaharu Umezu - Introduction - Telenet Japan - Genesis - 1991

Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman - Hiroshi Taguchil (GOBLIN) - Commission (BGM 1) - NCS - PC Engine - 1989

Nazo no Masquerade - Yoshihiko Miyazaki - Title - Riverhillsoft/NCS - PC Engine - 1990

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon - Aki Hata - Stage 3, Area A: Highway - Angel Studios/Ma-Ba - Mega Drive - 1994

Panorama Cotton - Kenichi Hirata - Ending - Success/Sunsoft - Mega Drive - 1994

Chaos World - Iku Mizutani, Hiroyuki Iwatsuki (Nanten Iwatsuki) - Mise - Natsume - Famicom - 1991

Splatterhouse 2 - Eiko Kaneda (Milky Eiko) - Unholy Crystal Boss - Now Production/Namco - Genesis - 1992

Zig Zag Cat: Ostrich Club mo Oosawagi da - Masako Inata - Extra Areas to Explore - Opera House/Den'Z - Super Famicom - 1994

The Sporting News: Baseball - Rose & Dick Boy (RDB) - Home Run Derby - Now Production/Hudson Soft - SNES - 1995

Shijou Saikyou League Serie A: Ace Striker - Masahito Nakano (Pas de Chat), Atsuhiro Motoyama, Shinji Tachikawa - Let’s Play Italian Soccer! - TNN - Super Famicom - 1995

The Firemen - Hideto Maeda, Konomi Itou, Hironori Tanaka, Hiroyuki Naka - Ending - Human Entertainment - Super Famicom - 1994

Battle Mania: Daiginjou - Fumito Tamayama, Yasuyuki Hamada, Yoko Suzuki, Shigenori Masuko - Sun Rise Purple - Vic Tokai - Mega Drive - 1993

Sweet Home - Junko Tamiya - Fresco - Capcom - Famicom - 1989

25 October 2023

LMH Mixtape #190: Jokes

I'm not joking when I say this mixtape has the goods.  Treasure Castle from Socket features some really cool bells that ping pong back and forth in stereo.  Tatsuyuki Maeda shows off the strengths of the Genesis' FM synth with an awesome track from J.League Pro Striker 2 that features snappy drums and funky bass, especially in the intro.  Also, check out the full episode for a VGM Karaoke track from LMH user Julián (a.k.a. YSY-Y)!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite:  Socket - Treasure Castle
What Genesis does:  J.League Pro Striker 2 - Unknown (Sound Test 8A)
Adventurous with a bit of mystery:  The 7th Saga - The Farthest Reaches


Track listing and original episode:

18 October 2023

LMH Mixtape #189: Keeping Things Up

Music has the ability to motivate and move you, and this mix is guaranteed to put some spring in your step.  Main BGM 1 from Power League 5 has a phenomenal driving melody that can make even the sleepiest Chiki Chiki Boi get up and dance.  These tracks will make you feel like you could take on an entire planet full of aliens, ninjas and street thugs.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite: Power League 5 - Main BGM 1
Smoothest bass: Rolling Thunder 2 - Across The Tube (Round 3)
Mysterious yet motivating: The Lawnmower Man - The Cyber Tube


Track listing and original episode:

11 October 2023

LMH Mixtape #188: Nexting Etiquette

You put your quarter on it, and now you've got next on this new mixtape!  Definitely listen for the chilling audio samples at the end of Nastar Warrior for a cool LMH legal arcade track.  If that's not chilling enough, you can also channel your inner Rob Van Winkle with Icebaby Planet from Uchuu Race: Astro Go! Go!  Even with all these cool moments, this still shapes up to be one hot mixtape!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Best use of sampled audio: Nastar Warrior - IV: The Big Swords (Ending)
Beautiful and mysterious: Traverse: Starlight & Prairie - Starlight
Ice Ice Baby, Ice Ice Ice Baby: Uchuu Race: Astro Go! Go! - Icebaby Planet


Track listing and original episode:

04 October 2023

Episode 265: Best Of Year In Review 12

Brent and Rob share their top ten tracks they became aware of in roughly the last year.  Gabe shares his top five.  Only eight episodes to draw from this year, because last year's Best Of show was a month late which made this year have one less month than usual, and two of the episodes this year were Beyond episodes which are not eligible for Best Of consideration.  Will there by any oversights this year?  Listen and find out!  Partial track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Final Fantasy - Nobuo Uematsu - Victory - Square - NES - 1990

27 September 2023

LMH Mixtape #187: Rob's World

Rob was back in action, leg mended and ready to jam out.  In fact, you can jam out right now to this fresh mixtape!  Lose Theme from Kiss Shot is an incredibly smooth, bluesy jam that may not be able to mend a broken leg, but it could likely help mend a broken heart.  Happy Daymare from Orius (Xexex in Japan) is a fully pumped track that will definitely get you fired up.  Speaking of fired up, the full episode also features one of Rob's beloved rants about the humiliation of Sonic the Hedgehog wearing Link’s "mini-dress.”  There was also a head-to-head VGM Karaoke face-off, so after you listen to this mixtape, perhaps go back and give the full episode a re-listen.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

If this is losing, I don't want to win: Kiss Shot - Lose Theme
Don't wake me from this Happy Daymare: Orius - Happy Daymare (Stage 6a)
Most singable: Pachi-Slot World Cup '94 - gameplay


Track listing and original episode:

20 September 2023

LMH Mixtape #186: Spencer Crittenden

Rob was still out while his leg mended, but special guest and LMH user Spencer Crittenden was there to share in the VGM appreciation.  There was a lot to appreciate too, because this mix is filled with some totally Bonk tunes!  Check out the track from Mother that features that iconic Hirokazu Tanaka style and speaking of iconic styles, there's also a Tim Follin jam from Time Trax that features some really cool pitch bending on the Genesis.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite:  Super Uno - Title Screen
Most relaxing:  The Blue Marlin - Cape Canaveral 
About to blast-off:  Super Real Darwin - Gashalva


Track listing and original episode:

13 September 2023

LMH Mixtape #185: DJ Douggpound

Rob was unfortunately out due to a broken leg, but special guest Doug Lussenhop aka DJ Douggpound helped fill in.  Rob was there in spirit though, with a request for a classic Skitchin' track.  Additionally, Doug was given a crash course on 3rd and 4th generation video game music including the Beatles-inspired pop music of Mother, the tropical flavor of Soreyuke Ebisumaru Karakuri, and a killer track from the one and only Time Lord.  As Doug would say, put your drums on this mix!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite: Multi Play Volleyball - Training
Top of the Pops: Mother - Field 1 ~ Pollyanna (I Believe in You) 
All Hail the Time Lord: Time Lord - Title Screen


Track listing and original episode:

06 September 2023

Episode 264: Hackers

Not really sure why this episode is called "Hackers."  Maybe the boizz talk about hacking at one point, but they definitely talk about other stuff.  Full track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Ranger X - Yoshinobu Hiraiwa - Stage 1-1 (Desert) - Sega - Genesis - 1993

Don Doko Don 2 - Iku Mizutani - Ending 2 (The End) - Natsume/Taito - Famicom - 1992

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves - Paul Webb - Title Screen/Game Ending - Sculptured Software/Virgin Interactive - NES - 1991

Socket - Fumito Tamayama, Yoko Suzuki, Shigenori Masuko, Yasuyuki Hamada - Emerald Forest - Vic Tokai - Genesis - 1994

Metal Fangs - Hiroshi Kawaguchi (H. M) - Unknown (Sound Code 89) - Victor Entertainment Software - Mega Drive - 1993

Natsume Championship Wrestling - Hiroyuki Iwatsuki, Iku Mizutani, Kinuyo Yamashita - Players Select - Natsume - SNES - 1994

Widget - Shinji Tachikawa - Stage 2: Bizzarre Brain - Graphic Research/Atlus - NES - 1992

Neugier: Umi to Kaze no Koudou - Yukihiro Takahashi - Cave - Wolf Team/Nippon Telenet - Super Famicom - 1993

Redline: F-1 Racer - Katsuhiro Hayashi - Staff Roll - Genki/Absolute Entertainment - SNES - 1993

Monster World IV - Jin Watanabe - Heart of Icegrave (Ice Pyramid) - West One/Sega - Mega Drive - 1994

Madou Monogatari I - Tsuyoshi Matsushima, Polygon Junkie - Ending (Part 1 Escape, Part 4 Staff Roll) - Compile - Mega Drive - 1996

Gokinjo Boukentai - Akihiko Mori - Aquarium - ITL/Pioneer LDC - Super Famicom - 1996

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - Minako Hamano - First Search (Sword Search) - Nintendo - Game Boy - 1993

30 August 2023

LMH Mixtape #184: Hypnosis

Counting backwards from ten...nine...your eyelids are getting heavy.  Eight...seven...focus on the sounds of the arpeggios from Alberto José González.  Six...five...the FM synth of Undead Line washes over you.  Four...three...the orchestral strings of Tsuri Tarou put you in a deep relaxed state.  Two...one...you are now having a great time listening to some fantastic VGM.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite:  The Smurfs - Act 4: The Sarsaparilla, Act 9: The Bridge
Another favorite:  Flying Warriors - Journey (Mountains/Hong Kong City)
Too good to be unused:  HeroQuest - Unknown/Unused (Track 5)


Track listing and original episode:

23 August 2023

LMH Mixtape #183: Chreepy Christmas

This mix has a lot to offer. You got some "Chreepy" music from the likes of Splatterhouse, a Cocoon track that could have easily fit on a Mega Man game, and a cool breakdown section that happens in the Bubble Bobble Part 2 track that does not repeat and leaves you wanting more.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite:  Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon - Stage 5, Area B: Beryl’s Fortress
Another favorite:  Langrisser II - Isao Mizoguchi - Fight It Out
If you like Mega Man 2...:  Cocoron - Rescuing Friends


Track listing and original episode:

16 August 2023

LMH Mixtape #182: Best Of Year In Review 5

It's that time again!  Time for another Best Of Year In Review.  Having a smaller pool of episodes to pick from, Brent and Rob each pick their top five tracks of the year.  Will they have any overlapping picks?  You'll have to listen to find out.

09 August 2023

LMH Mixtape #181: Game Grumps

Second times the charm.  Both members of the Game Grumps, Arin and Dan, were able to make it as guests this time.  The full Grump was in effect, but it's impossible to be grumpy when listening to this fun-filled mixtape what with the cool grace notes in the OutRunners track and the total jam from Getsu Fuuma Den.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite:  Getsu Fuuma Den - Overworld Theme
Another favorite:  Knuckles' Chaotix - Evening Star 
Classic Nobuo Uematsu:  Rad Racer II - Gum Ball Crash


Track listing and original episode:

02 August 2023

Episode 263: Ballads

Brent and Rob explore some slower, more sentimental pieces of video game music on this episode.  They also explore what it’s like to be a “furry” and what’s like to be a “hunk.”  Speaking of hunks, action stars used to get their own video games, right?  But what about modern action stars?  Just something to reflect upon.  Full track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Don Doko Don 2 - Iku Mizutani - Ending 1 (Storyline Cutscene 2) - Natsume/Taito - Famicom - 1992

Fushigi no Umi no Nadia - Hiromi Shibano - Requiem - Namco - Mega Drive - 1991

Bounty Sword - Kohei Tanaka - Theme of Furis - ITL/Pioneer LDC - Super Famicom - 1995

Spindizzy Worlds - Akiko Hashimoto, Yoshinori Hirahara - Ending - ASCII Entertainment - SNES - 1993

Kat's Run: Zen Nihon K Car Senshuken - Yusuke Takahama, Satoshi Nagano, Michihiko Shichi - Unused 5 - Atlus - Super Famicom - 1995

G.O.D: Mezameyo to Yobu Koe ga Kikoe - Yuuichi Matsuzaki, Manami Matsumae, Kimitaka Matsumae, Demon Kakka (Demon Kogure) - Awaking - Infinity/Imagineer - Super Famicom - 1996

Flying Warriors - Akinori Sawa - Angel’s Smile - Culture Brain - NES - 1991

Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 3 - Harumi Ueko - Pennant Mode Bad End - Konami - Super Famicom - 1996

Bahamut Lagoon - Noriko Matsueda - Friendship - Square - Super Famicom - 1996

Leading Company - Yoshihisa Tomabechi, Mark Soskin (piano) - Pink Statue - Koei - Super Famicom - 1993

Phantasy Star IV - Masaki Nakagaki - The Age of Fables - Sega - Genesis - 1995

Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - Masakatsu Maekawa (Sinkon Kiyoshi) - Ending - Now Production/Hudson Soft - NES - 1990

Ganbare Goemon Gaiden: Kieta Ougon Kiseru - Tsutomu Ogura (Kingorō), Bareika, Michiru Yamane (Tozan Yamane), Harumi Uekō (Gakki Uekō), Satoko Minami (Minami Sushi), Jinsei Iroma) - A Somber Song - Konami - Famicom - 1990

26 July 2023

LMH Mixtape #180: Rise

The robots are rising up!  The only way to fight back is with a killer mixtape, and The Legacy Music Hour has your back.  Check out the awesome stereo effects of Quarth, the cool sliding bass on Gradius II and the beautiful strings on Daibakushou: Jinsei Gekijou, just to name a few moments.  Afterwards, the robots will have no choice but to peacefully pack up and go home.  Goodbye robots!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite:  Gradius II - Tabidachi (Air Battle/Dogfight)
Another favorite:  Daibakushou: Jinsei Gekijou - Ending and Staff Roll
A shop I want to visit:  Drift King Shutokou Battle '94 - Shop


Track listing and original episode:

19 July 2023

LMH Mixtape #179: Technical Difficulties

All the way back at Mixtape #48 (Keith Apicary and Nathan Barnatt), KeyGlyph asked if you remember your first LMH episode, as that episode was KeyGlyph’s first.  For me (TheManaTree), Episode 179 was it.  LMH and the Game Grumps did some crossover appearances, and Dan Avidan from the Game Grumps was a guest on this particular episode.  Even though they had some technical difficulties, the music was still top notch, as you'll see with this mixtape.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Most singable track:  Pachiokun Puzzle Castle - Game Over
Beautifully orchestrated:  Classic Road II: Real Kouma Simulation - Office Work
Brings in the funk:  Putter Golf - BGM 1


Track listing and original episode:

12 July 2023

LMH Mixtape #178: Free Play 30

For this episode, Rob based his picks on all the "soccer (football) action" going on at the time.  Brent went with the traditional free play style.  Either way you get a lot of fantastic tunes, maybe even some possible top ten material.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite: Racing Hero - BGM 1
Great melody: Akagawa Jirou no Yuurei Ressha - Yuuko, the Schoolgirl
This one is just straight up fun: The Blue Marlin - Ending


Track listing and original episode:

05 July 2023

Episode 262: Briefs

Back when the original Queer Eye For The Straight Guy was touring all over the country, Rob got selected to be made-over by Carson Kressley.  Rob talks all about it on Episode 262.  The subject of underwear also comes up.  Full track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Tintin in Tibet - Fabrice Bouillon-LaForest, Emmanuel Régis - Lama Monastery - Infogrames - Mega Drive (Europe) - 1995

Falsion - Shinya Sakamoto, Shigehiro Takenouchi, Atsushi Fujio - The Final Space Fight (Stage 6) - Konami - Famicom Disk System - 1987

Kid Chameleon - Mark Miller - Options Theme ~ City Area - Sega - Genesis - 1992

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair - Shinichi Sakamoto - Round 4 (Deserted Village) and Round 7 (A Town in the Valley) (“Somewhere there anywhere”) - Aicom/Sega - Mega Drive - 1990

MegaMind - Tadahiko Inoue (XOR) - BGM 3 - Sega - Mega Drive Meganet - 1991

Meikyuu Jiin Dababa - Shinya Sakamoto (Rusher), Satoe Terashima (Satoe), Kiyohiro Sada (Charley) - Area 2 - Konami - Famicom Disk System - 1987

Zombie Nation - Norio Nakagata, Takane Ohkubo - Exodus - Kaze/Meldac - NES - 1991

Super Mahjong 2: Honkaku 4 Nin Uchi! - Masakatsu Maekawa - Great!! First Rank! - I'Max/Now Production - Super Famicom - 1993

Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar - Toshiharu Yamanishi - Omake 1 - Technosoft - Genesis - 1992

Dark Law: Meaning of Death - Satoshi Nagano, Michihico Shichi - Scenario Clear - SAS Sakata/ASCII - Super Famicom - 1997

Darxide - Adam Salkeld, Richard Jacques - Credits - Frontier Developments/Sega - Sega 32X - 1995

Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden - Yoko Kanno - Tokugawa’s Theme - Koei - Super Famicom - 1993

Cosmic Carnage - Hikoshi Hashimoto - Tyr's Stage - Givro - Sega 32X - 1994

28 June 2023

LMH Mixtape #177: Free Play 29

Free Play 29 has a nice variety of VGM tracks ranging from pumped up shooters to melodic RPGs. There are classic tracks from popular titles such as Jackal, as well as some deeper cuts from Japan only releases that you may or may not be familiar with.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

High energy jam: Emerald Dragon - Field Battle
Classic Konami: Jackal - Stage 3
Slightly quirky and fully fun: O-chan no Oekaki Logic - Logic Theme 3


Track listing and original episode:

21 June 2023

LMH Mixtape #176: Free Play 28

Free Play 28 is here with a fresh shipment of VGM hits!  Rob was in town during this recording, so the crew got to do an in-person episode!  In the full episode, you can see how that in-person energy led to some fun impromptu VGM karaoke for the Shin Megami Tensei track.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

This track whips!: Energy Breaker - Wind that Whips the Wilderness
This track is so smooth: Mouryou Senki Madara 2 - Vagrant’s Song

This track (sort of) has lyrics: Shin Megami Tensei - Ending*

*Freestyle begins at 01:04:05 in the original episode


Track listing and original episode:

14 June 2023

LMH Mixtape #175: Free Play 27

Free Play 27 sports a nice variety of VGM tracks for your listening pleasure.  Additionally, the full episode has a special performance of a Journey to Silius track, performed live by a high school band directed by band director and LMH user Doug!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite:  Batman: Return of the Joker - Stages 3 (Dangerous Ways)
This one is a total bop!:  Cocoron - Stage Theme II
A total classic:  Life Force - Power of Anger (Stage 1)


Track listing and original episode:

07 June 2023

Episode 261: The Old West 2

What in tarnation!  It's been over ten years since Boss Brent and Switch the Kid did an episode on Old West themed games and stages.  That's over two hundred tootin' episodes ago!  This time, joined by Grand Gunnin' Gabe, the posse delves right back into some tunes fit for a sonic jamboree.  Full track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Gunple: Gunman’s Proof - unknown - Scenario 4 - Lenar/ASCII Entertainment - Super Famicom - 1997

Lethal Enforcers II: GunFighters - Tsuyoshi Sekito, Yuichi Sakakura - Opening - Konami - Genesis - 1994

Whomp ‘Em - Tsukasa Tawada (Adios Amigo) - Water Test - Jaleco - NES - 1991

Big Challenge! Gun Fighter - unknown - Stage 6 (Mountain Area) - Jaleco - Famicom Disk System - 1989

Demon's World - Toshiaki Tomizawa - Western America - Toaplan/Catalina Games - arcade - 1990

Sunset Riders - Motoaki Furukawa, Masahiro Ikariko (arr.), Hideto Inoue (arr.) - Face With Courage (Town Stage 2, Forest Stage 1) - Konami - Genesis - 1993

The Lone Ranger - Yoshinori Sasaki (Moai Sasaki), Kenichi Matsubara, Kozo Nakamura (La Nakamur), Tomoya Tomita (Gorgeous Tomita), Kenji Fukui, Satoko Minami - Outlaw Encounter - Konami - NES - 1991

Law of the West - Ed Bogas - Talk in the Old West - TOSE/Pony Canyon - Famicom - 1987

Lethal Enforcers II: GunFighters - Tsuyoshi Sekito, Yuichi Sakakura - Hideout (Stage 5-2) - Konami - Genesis - 1994

Wanted - Ootorii - Tombstone & Nugget Town - Sanritsu/Sega - 1989

Live A Live - Yoko Shimomura - Wanderer - Square - Super Famicom - 1994

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West - Takeshi Sato Takashi Tsumaki Munetaka Sakamoto - Ending ~ Staff Roll - Shimada Kikaku/Hudson - SNES - 1994

Cowboy Kid - Masaharu Iwata - Stages 4 and 7: Coyote Jim/Scorpion Master - Pixel/Romstar - NES - 1992

31 May 2023

LMH Mixtape #174: Free Play 26

Free Play 26 brings all the jams you know and love, but can you figure out how the track titles relate to haircuts?  I guess you'll just have to listen to the full episode to find out!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

It's Konami, so you know it's good: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project - Scene 2
Once again, Konami brings it: Super C - Stage 1: Lightning and Grenades
Are you feeling lucky?: Lucky Luke - Unused (?)


Track listing and original episode:

24 May 2023

LMH Mixtape #173: Free Play 25

Morning, afternoon, evening, or night: it's always a good time for a free play mix tape.  User Slick Vic posed the question, who would you put on a Mount Rushmore style monument to VGM composers?  Check out the full episode to see who the boizz would pick.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

An instant favorite: Aerobiz - Europe
A fun favorite: Itadaki Street: Watashi no Oten ni Yottette - Laughing Point (Doing Business)
A classic favorite: Dragon Warrior II - Travelling with Friends


Track listing and original episode:

17 May 2023

LMH Mixtape #172: Free Play 24

You know the drill at this point.  Free play = a fun variety of VGM tracks.  In the full episode, Brent was sick, but toughed it out, because the show must go on.  Additionally, Brent's brothers, Max and Nicky, joined as guests while visiting for the holidays.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

NEO favorite: Breakers - Sho
A Champion track: GP-1 - Champion
A Grand track: F-1 Grand Prix Part III - Story Mode


Track listing and original episode:

10 May 2023

LMH Mixtape #171: Free Play 23

A quality mix of VGM tracks.  The full episode is also a ”must listen" if you haven't heard it.  You get 8-bit drum rolls, surgeries, and phone calls from Santa Claus.  Has Santa left Palmdale yet, or is he still chasing kids with a camera?  Last but not least, for the holiday season, you also get the gift of the VGM Karaoke Showcase!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Norio Hanzawa is a Treasure: Gunstar Heroes - The End of the Battle (To Out World)
Hard to believe this is NES: Silver Surfer - Hi Score
Best use of a sound effect in music: Alien Storm - Ulcer


Track listing and original episode:

03 May 2023

Episode 260: Skins

Seems like this episode is about skins in various respects.  Full track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Ace Attacker - Yasuhiro Kawakami (?) - Balanced BGM - Sega - arcade (Japan) - 1988

Youkai Buster: Ruka no Daibouken - Mitsuhito Tanaka - Stage 2 - Sting/Kadokawa - Super Famicom - 1995

Ninja Burai Densetsu - Hiroshi Kawaguchi (Hiro) - Uiko-chan of the Best Village - Sanritsu/Sega - Mega Drive - 1991

New Ghostbusters 2 - Jun Ishikawa - Stage 3: Apartment - HAL Laboratory - Famicom - 1990

Langrisser II - Noriyuki Iwadare - One's Side - NCS - Mega Drive - 1994

Snake's Revenge - Tsutomu Ogura - Jungle Infiltration - Konami/Ultra - NES - 1990

Multi Play Volleyball - Toshiyuki Takine (?) - Worldcup Volleyball Game - Mebio Software/Pack-In-Video - Super Famicom - 1994

Gunple: Gunman’s Proof - unknown - Scenario 2 - Lenar/ASCII Entertainment - Super Famicom - 1997

Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun - Paul S. Mudra, Frank Klepacki, Dwight Kenichi Okahara - Azcan Wander - Westwood Associates/Sega - Genesis - 1992

Brain Lord - Masanao Akahori - Five Adventurers - Produce/Enix - SNES - 1994

Ninja Spirit - Masahiko Ishida - Forest (Stage 2) - Irem - arcade - 1988

Heracles no Eikou II: Titan no Metsubou - Yusuke Takahama, Shogo Sakai - All Are in a Myth - Data East - Famicom - 1989

Thunderbirds - Junichi Saito, Masaki Iwamoto, Hitoshi Saito - Stage Theme 1 - Pack-In-Video/Activision - NES - 1990

26 April 2023

LMH Mixtape #170: Free Play 22

This is a free play, so you can expect a nice variety of classic VGM tunes.  Also, be sure to check out the full episode for discussion about the Portland Retro Gaming Expo, what it means to be "Tetris ready,” and classic "nexting" etiquette.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

A few favorites in no particular order:

Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar - Silvery Light of the Moon (Normal Ending)
Little Samson - Dragon’s Theme
Panorama Cotton - Scenario 1


Track listing and original episode:

19 April 2023

LMH Mixtape #169: Best Of Year In Review 4

This was the first "Year In Review" since the show came back from the hiatus.  Even though there were only eleven episodes to choose from (since the show switched to a monthly format), there were still more than plenty of fantastic tracks to fill out these top ten lists.  Brent starts things off this year with his number ten, and then alternating back and forth with Rob, the boizz count down to their number one.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

No favorites this episode, because as Rob said, they're all "Top Ten.”


Partial track listing and original episode: