GAMERA TAI DAIAKUJU GIRON (Gamera Vs. Guiron) - Shunsuke Kikuchi - "Opening Credits" (1969)

Whew! What a day, but even after a crazy day like this, there is always time and space for some more Gamera! This time in the guise of "Attack All Monsters" or "Gamera Vs. Guillon" or even "Gamera vs. Guiron" or whatever you want to call it. This composer, Shunsuke Kikuchi, who we also know about from his work on "Goke","Dragon Ball Z", "Kamen Rider" and a string of other Gamera films, is an inspired composer whose works are far ranging and complex. There's so many titles, we have to track some down ourselves just to see what musical wonder they might contain, and you should probably do the same thing too! Here's a taste of his talent with some interesting narration!

 Gamera Vs. Guiron

 

SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS - Milton Delugg & Roy Alfred - "Hooray For Santa Claus" (1964)

Composer Milton Delugg went on to have a very distinguished career working on some of our favorite TV game shows, "The Jan Murray Show, aka Charge Account", "What's My Line?", & the all-time classic Chuck Barris production, "The Gong Show" among a slew of other things, and was still composing music for films in 2007 !! Thanks Milt!! There's really nothing else new or unique to say about "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians," except, here it is!! We would like to take a moment & say Merry M-Mas & Happy Holidays to all of you out there that have been visiting this blog & a special hearty thanx to all the kind folks, like our blog mentor Reverend Tom Frost (where are you Tom?), Buzz, Flinty, Elisabeth, Audrey, Ralph, Kate, Greg, Annie, Paul, Dennis, Max, Intoxicating, Ann O-Dyne, and anonymous, who have been kind enough to take the time to leave a comment or two. Cheers! 

 

Uh, Oh, Looks like time is running out!!! 

 

Who cares? Ha, Ha, Ha, Ho, Ho, Ho! Just sing along! 

 

Hooray For Santy Claus!!!

THE WEREWOLF - Mischa Bakaleinikoff - "In The Cafe" (1956)

Arguably, the best werewolf or wolfman movie ever made, "The Werewolf" is a favorite around here & just claws, snarls & bites with holiday spirit all year long! 

 

So drop another nickel in The Jukebox, and listen to the swingin' sound of everyone's fave, Mischa Bakaleinikoff. Misch had been working on movie music since 1929. The list includes an uncanny array of films like "The Giant Claw", "It Came From Beneath The Sea", "Creature With The Atom Brain", "Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers", "Jungle Moon Men", "Killer Ape", and "Cry Of The Werewolf." The man's musical talents are beyond extraordinary! The narration is by the director Fred F. Sears! SOUNDCLIP NO LONGER AVAILABLE

 Charles Horvath plays a most excellent unsavory character,as a mugger turned corpse.

 "The Werewolf" is not real big, but he's fast, he's mean, he's brutal and not to be trifled with!!

 

Here's a short piece back at the cafe,Trap Trash Talkin' with some good bar insight & dialogue and more of Mischa's terrific swing in the background!

 

Seems they forgot about one little thing! He's a Werewolf!!!

VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS - Jack Nitzsche - "Giant Jam" (1965)

Snippets and bits all thrown together in one tight cohesive package for your aural convenience, that's what it's all about. Just like we wish we could hear what Jimi Hendrix would be doing if he were around today, so it is with Bert I. Gordon & Jack Nitzsche. It would have been too cool to see and hear what they would have done together if they'd been given a little more time here. Alas, it's just a pipe dream but good fodder for thought on a cold winter's night! Enjoy what you can, while you can, here's a "Giant Jam" what am!! 

 

Tommy has his game face on & is ready to rumble!! 

 

Joy Harmon To The World!! 

 

B.I.G. & Monkey Boy paying homage to Famous Monsters & Forrest J. Ackerman! 

 

Fun's over, back down to normal size!!

SHE GODS OF SHARK REEF - Sylvia Syms - "Nearer My Love To You" (1958)

It really takes a very broad stretch of the imagination to actually consider this movie, "She Gods Of Shark Reef" a 'horror' story or a monster movie, but what it does have going for it, is that it's a 1958 Roger Corman film, it's happening on a tropical island, in this case, the beautiful Hawaiian island of Kauai, and it has a pretty cool title song composed by Jack Lawrence & Frances Hall, that is sung by none other than the woman that Frank Sinatra said was "the world's greatest saloon singer," Sylvia Syms! The consummate performer, Sylvia died on stage at the age of 74! Other than all that, this film is pretty much dullsville, including the luau, and luau's should never be dull! Take it for what it's worth, just don't take it too far!! Nearer My Love To You

  The world famous "Bali Hai" is quite a sight to behold even in a cheap movie! 

Hey lady, you seen any turtle doves or French hens around here???

It's a bummer being buried in the sand with all these mad She Gods staring at you! 

 

This house is the scariest part of the movie!!! 

 

Aloha!!!

ZOMBIES (I Eat Your Skin) - Don Strawn's Calypso Band - "Opening" (1964)

No matter what, you've got to hand it to the guys who try and do it all, & Del Tenney definately qualifies in that category!!!! 

 

Don Strawn's Calypso Band sets the poolside opening scenes in "Zombies!" Don Strawn's Calypso Band 

 Tall Cool Drinks!! 

 

Listening to the master spin his tales of romance! 

 

And then the jealous husband shows up!!! Jealous Husband

BLOOD OF DRACULA'S CASTLE - Gil Bernal - "The Next Train Out" (1969)

Well, here's a real dichotomy for you, a very interesting film that is both hated and revered, directed by Al Adamson, another contender for worst film maker ever, and yet the music and especially this song were made by people of a completely different ilk! The lyrics for "The Next Train Out" were written by Bob Russell, a renowned songwriter for the movies who was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall Of Fame in 1970, the year of his demise. He had worked with some small time talent along the way, virtually unknown names like Duke Ellington, & Quincy Jones. "Next train to the moon," now that's some good writing!!! And, check this out , Bob's brother-in-law was legendary songwriter Bud Green who wrote the more than classic "Sentimental Journey." Can you imagine what those holiday family get togethers were like?? 

 

After extended research, we can still only guess that the singer on this song, Gil Bernal is the same Gil Bernal who was a vocalist, but was noted mostly as a saxophonist, who, among many other things, was the featured sax man with The Spike Jones Orchestra for like 6 years. If it's not the same guy, it should be! (Hey Gil, if you're out there, please write & clear this up for us!) Bottom line is, this is a Great song, and a very interesting movie that we will talk about again later. In the meantime, go get your own copy! Next Train Out