LMH Mixtape #204: David Wise

In a RARE moment, The Legacy Music Hour had back to back composer focus episodes, which also happened to feature exclusive interviews with said composers.  This episode focuses on famed video game composer David Wise!  David is famous for many game soundtracks, including the Donkey Kong Country series, Battletoads, and much more.  His own distinct style stands out amongst his fellow western composers, focusing on elements like percussion, rather than the arpeggios typically found in western compositions.  David combines influences such as 80's synth rock and movie scores to create some truly iconic video game soundtracks.  The 80's rock influence can be heard in his earlier compositions on the NES, where he uses the noise channel (think of the classic "video game explosion" sound) to replicate rock style drum hits.  You can get a lot more insight into David's work from the interview in the full episode, but for now, it's time to enjoy a Wise selection of tracks in this composer focus mixtape!

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MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

A fantastic New Age track: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest - In a Snow-Bound Land

Distinctly David Wise: IronSword: Wizards & Warriors II - Store/Game Over

Blatant favoritism award: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest - Flight of the Zinger

Track listing and original episode:

https://www.legacymusichour.com/2018/09/episode-204-david-wise.html

LMH Mixtape #203: Tim Follin

Iconic video game composer Tim Follin has a distinct style that fans can recognize instantly.  As a western composer, Tim brought his prog rock influences to create some incredibly beloved soundtracks, including Solstice and Pictionary, just to name a couple.  One distinct trait you'll notice is the use of arpeggios, which can be heard on many of his tracks, including High Score from Magic Johnson's Fast Break and Stage 2 from Sky Shark.  Also, if you haven't listened to the full episode, the boizz got to conduct an interview with the man himself, getting clarification and answers to some of their long-standing questions.  But for now, hit play on this mixtape and prepare for a hypnotizing journey through the music of Tim Follin.

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MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite: Magic Johnson's Fast Break - High Score

Another favorite: Pictionary - Mini-Game 2

Super funky jam: Time Trax - Stages 4, 6

Track listing and original episode:

https://www.legacymusichour.com/2018/08/episode-203-tim-follin.html

LMH Mixtape #202: TurboGrafx-16 3

If you thought the boizz were out of TurboGrafx-16 tracks, think again.  With so many great tracks to choose from, including many user submitted ones, the only logical thing to do was to make a third TurboGrafx-16 focused episode.  “In-Game 7” from Aoi Blink (also known as Blue Blink) is a fantastic 70's electronic style track (listen for those cascading notes).  Wai Wai Mahjong: Yukai na Jantomi-tachi gives us a cool elevator style piece with creative melodies, while “Semimaru” from Jinmu Denshou is a really catchy tune that makes great use of pitch bending.  That's just a sample of the variety you'll find in this mixtape.

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MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite: Aoi Blink - In-Game 7

Another favorite: Makai Hakkenden Shada - Battle with Garyo

Get caught in the...: Cross Wiber: Cyber Combat Police - Story Out

Track listing and original episode:

https://www.legacymusichour.com/2018/07/episode-202-turbografx-16-3.html

Episode 269: Tracks That End

This episode features only video game music compositions that do not continuously loop.  That is, there's a definite end to all of the pieces here, which is not the usual case for game music of the third and fourth generation.  Full track listing below.

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

Super Tetris 3 - Shigemitsu Goto (SIR-1008) - Moonlight Castle (Sparkliss Credits) - Tose/BPS - Super Famicom - 1994

21 Emon: Mezase! Hotel Ou - Hiroko Takagi, Sokichi Mizusawa, Shun Yahiro, Jin Iida, Kira, Norihiko Nakajima, Toshihiko Mizuta, Ito Yamashita - Title - NEC - PC Engine - 1994

Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman - Hiroshi Taguchi (GOBLIN) - Marginal Power (Title) - NCS - PC Engine - 1989

Neutopia - Tomotsune Maeno - Title - Hudson Soft - TurboGrafx-16 - 1990

Soldam - Yasuyuki Suzuki, Atsuyoshi Isemura - Title - Jaleco - arcade (Japan) - 1992

Shadow of the Ninja - Iku Mizutani, Kouichi Yamanishi - Opening - Natsume - NES - 1990

Track & Field - Akihiro Juichiya - Opening - Konami - Game Boy - 1992

Head Buster - Hiroshi Fujioka - Ending Credits - Winds/NCS - Game Gear (Japan) - 1991

Asameshimae Nyanko - Eiji Hirasawa, Toyakazu Nagaishi - Title - J-Force/Zamuse - Super Famicom - 1994

Aztec Adventure - Chikako Kamatani - Title Screen - Sega - Sega Master System - 1988

Leading Company - Yoshihisa Tomabechi, Bruce Williamson (improvised solo) - Toma’s bossa - Koei - Super Famicom - 1993

Crystal Warriors - Yukifumi Makino (Macky) - Credits - Sega - Game Gear - 1991

Soldier Blade - Keita Hoshi, Makiko Tanifuji - Ending - Hudson Soft - TurboGrafx-16 - 1992