Magnetic System - Godzilla (Record Store Day, 2020)

 

Here is some rare Godzilla-related audio with an interesting connection.  You may or may not know about one of the rarest versions of the first Godzilla movie that exists--well, specifically, it's a version of the U.S. version--that was made in Italy in 1977.

Italian director Luigi Cozzi has had a long career, and so-bad-it's-good film fans will know certain parts of his work, which includes infamous items like STARCRASH and THE HUMANOID (both recommended).  In 1977 he added WWII footage and synthesizers to his own edit of KING OF THE MONSTERS.  If that were the extent of it, we would still have a unique and compelling version of the film, but instead he went the extra mile and attempted to colorize it.  Now, by "colorize" I don't mean the dreadful experiments that Ted Turner was a proponent of, but, instead, more like a psychedelic backdrop to a rock concert.  In fact, it was done exactly the same way, with gels.  The result is very trippy; each scene of the film involving humans is cast in yellows or orange, while outdoor scenes are often red.  The underwater scenes have deep blues and greens.  Sometimes they phase into each other somewhat, like a cathode ray tube that's going out.

Godzilla fans are divided over the finished product, and refer to it as "Cozzilla."  Some hate the very sight of it, and some are entranced.  I fall mostly into the latter camp; I don't think that lots of the extra (sometimes gruesome) war footage was really needed, though; I can understand being a purist about it, but the reality is, the original GOJIRA is so good, it's usually unaffected by edits and still shines through.  I mean, show a Godzilla detractor (or somebody who poo-poos monster movies in general) KING OF THE MONSTERS.  Anyone whose brain stem hasn't become completely detached will have to admit to you that it's good.

I should also state at this point that the film was a big success in Italy.  AND, you can even see the whole thing--subtitled even--on YouTube (which is kind of amazing, because Toho apparently loathes this version).  Unfortunately it's from a VHS copy of a TV airing, but since we are beggars, we cannot be choosers here:

And now, back to the synthesizers.  Three musicians (including one who did lots of scores for Cozzi), under the name Magnetic System, recorded the soundtrack for the film, and two tracks were issued on a single in Italy.  This record is quite rare and expensive today, so a replica was issued a few years ago for Record Store Day, which is kind of shocking if you think too hard about it.  Both tracks are super cool, and there may or may not be a lossless rip (and also mp3) of them at the link below:

Magnetic System - Godzilla