In the frenzy of last week, we got confirmation of the release of Transformers Generation 1 cartoon score music for the first time on any format, a release date, and an actual drop of the product. 40 tracks, 45 minutes. Collector level vinyl records only, 2000 copies total. 500 Optimus Prime themed, 500 Megatron themed, and 1000 Bumblebee themed. Op and Megs sold out in under 5 minutes, Bumblebee later that day. All three containing the same awesome tracks. EnjoyTheRide Records and Hasbro Studios, along with one of the original composers Robert J. Walsh have graced us with pure gold. We were provided with a preview copy of the record and I have been listening to it non stop all weekend. Read on to check our thoughts and some quick pics!
Hasbro Studios Presents: 80s TV Classics – Music from The Transformers Original Television Series Score by Robert J. Walsh and Johnny Douglas
Overall Thoughts:
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
Soooo good. I’ve been waiting for this for 20 years. Not 30+ years, because as a kid I never dreamed of owning the background music to the cartoon. But as I became an adult collector, the music from the original show triggered nostalgia feels like nothing else. I think it’s a step above all other toons, the music featured in Transformers, G.I. Joe, and other Sunbow produced shows was top notch in retrospect.
These tracks are pristine quality. Nice and crisp, free of sound effects, voices, and other distractions. What a difference getting them from the source can make. You can hear the subtle drums and hi-hats of the beat, faded melodies that are difficult to catch in the shows or fan edits. We have 40 total, hitting 45 minutes worth of music. So lots of short bursts. All of side A is from seasons 1 and 2. Tracks 1-7 on side B are also from seasons 1 and 2. So 29 total. Track 8 – Mad Planet and forward on side B is season 3 music, which was inspired by the music Vince DiCola did for the 86 movie.
Be aware, this is not a complete presentation of everything heard in the show over the course of it’s run. It is a curated selection. Why this was done, I don’t know. Was it on purpose, to wet our appetite for more? Is it all they had, and masters have been lost for the others? Did they want to get it out now, so they are still working on re-mastering the others? Are they saving the rest for a CD / digital release? Who knows, I’ll try and ask the powers that be but for now it’s a mystery. I’m a little bummed that versions of Cold Slither and the Dancitron disco music was not on this. Both are significant pieces worthy of a spin.
Another key point – the theme song is not the final version we heard at the start of each show. It does not have the robotic effects layered on top of the vocals. While cool to hear, as I assume this is the raw version that was actually recorded, it would have been nice to have them both at this level of pristine quality. Speaking of which, the intros and outros for season 2 and 3 are also not present.
Bottom line, this is well done, crisp, clean awesome presentation of some of the music from the show. The only things that could make it better – MORE / ALL of it, and a CD release of it.
These sold out immediately and ticked a lot of fans off. The folks at Enjoy The Ride Records did mention on social they plan to do another run in different themes to address demand. So hold tight, word on that should be coming soon. Right now, no non-vinyl version is planned.
Check some pics below, and to those that caught a copy, get ready for a fun ride!
Canbot
Odd that if there was any issue over the intro music, why was it still intact for the DVD episodes from Shout?
Still an interesting take on why we got that slightly different version of the theme on this vinyl.
kary
And this is from 2014… BRYANT v. KINDER | No. 14 Cv. 6637 (JGK). | 20141014e59 | Leagle.com
Further reading into this, it sounds like this lawsuit may be outside of the Sunbow / BMI one mentioned on Seibertron.
Man… lawyers just love to make money…
kary
Depends on the contract. I'm guessing there's a breach somewhere based on the work she and her company did for Sunbow. Here's an interview from Seibertron back on May 24th, 2007. One thing that sticks out in that article is that she wrote the theme song to Transformers… so it's no wonder the version we heard on the vinyl wasn't her original 80's version.
Anne Bryant Talks About Her Love of Music
Q: Recently you filed a lawsuit against Sunbow and BMI for money you are owed for your hard work. Can you tell us how the suit is going at this time?
Anne Bryant: We're in good shape with that, although it has been a long struggle. The rulings have been favorable to us, but it's not over yet. However, it's won't be too much longer until the accountings are done so that we can settle it. You know, these companies are bought and sold and I guess people and contracts get lost in the shuffle; it's a lot to unravel, but it's definitely worth the effort
Canbot
Odd, you would have thought her music would have been a simple 'work for hire'…write it, paid and done.
kary
Not sure. I do hope it's resolved at some point. Anne deserves her royalties. Hopefully if and when this is resolved, they can move forward with a contract to distribute all the music in a digital format (and hopefully with 24-bit / 96kHz lossless recordings too!)
Greenspan
About M.A.S.K., or any of the other shows mentioned, I don't know.
Hence, Hasbro should devote a few dollars in securing all the assets for posterity.
Then, surely a company like Intrada, Varese Sarabande or La La Land Records could release them, properly, on CD or digital.
Jhaynes
It has sold well so I don't get why a CD wasn't put out. I'd love to get M.A.S.K too, does anyone know if the master tapes have been found?
Canbot
Wow, I had no idea. Whatever became of that lawsuit?
Greenspan
I hear ya. I know licensing rights are HELL but it always, ALWAYS comes down to money.
Blade Runner (1982) rights were amongst the worst entangled legal mess in Hollywood but it got done. Buckaroo Banzai was the same but a TV show came very close a few months ago.
Look at Mattel and Masters of the Universe. Again, Mattel could simply buy the rights holders and be done with all the Filmation characters rights and limitations. Just buy Filmation rights holder out. MOTU is an ETERNAL property.
My guess is, at-this-point-, Hasbro's top brass decided to not put more money in curating these old scores and shows.
I think it is a mistake and shortsighted to let these properties rot away. The longer you wait to gather all the assets the higher the risk of never finding them at all.
At the end of the day, comics, t-shirts and other licensed consumer products are fine money-making items but what drives them are the shows.
WATCHING G.I. Joe, Transformers, Visionaries, C.O.P.S., M.A.S.K., Inhumanoids, Jem, etc is the core that drives the rest.
Without the shows, and their incredible full orchestrated music, what do you have ?
kary
While I do echo your post, there is a lot more to deal with when it comes to music or even movie licensing. One of my friends is a lawyer for IMAX and you wouldn't believe the number of legal hoops you need to jump through just to get something released in a particular country. I'm sure this music is no exception either. There were probably tracks written by Anne Bryant which are still tied up in court. See the link below:
Transformers G1 Theme Composer Suing For Royalties
I'm sure once this is all sorted out, we'll have a better chance of seeing a legit CD version release – that is, if Hasbro sees this as profitable.
Canbot
Vinyp collectors are quite different from CD collectors. Both formats can become quite 'rare' if released in small numbers, as the first run records. But to give an OST a proper release you should include as much of it as possible and that's hard with the limitations of vinyl.
It should be done, however.
litefoot
Vinyl Oct 2018
CD March 2019
OptimusTimelord
Yeah it's been a year since the vinyl release, and although I didn't get that (no way to play it) I remember it being popular and selling out fast, so you'd think that would justify a CD or download release.
Out of interest, how long was it between vinyl and CD releases for TMNT?
litefoot
Absolutely agreed. The absence of this and many other cartoon scores on CD is totally baffling.
La La Land seem the ideal candidate for it with all the stuff they release… hell, they're even releasing a MacGyver set later this year. But they keep saying they're not doing Transformers.
Greenspan
They're missing the boat BIG TIME by not releasing this to CD or Digital format.
Releasing only a partial TFs score on vinyl is dumbfounding. Where's the rest ? Why is it taking so long ? Is there anybody home ?
The 80s retro nostalgia is popular now, so it makes business sense now to to release them. In 5 years ? Maybe not.
How about other SUPER COOL Hasbro properties that have GREAT scores ? G.I. Joe, M.A.S.K., Inhumanoids, Jem, Visionaries and C.O.P.S. just to name a few ?
Here's my message to Hasbro licensing and assets department : Get the music of all the old shows NOW. Do it now while the original creators are available to navigate their music libraries, find and polish the old tape masters. Catalog and store everything safely so they'll be available for future licencees interested in releasing 80s Cartoons music.
Heck, Hasbro should have a proper "Classic Properties Curator" making sure all the old stuff (the shows, its music, packaging art, TV commercials, prototypes, development material, etc) be properly handled museum style for posterity.
I hope someone at Hasbro is reading this because time is of the essence.
P.S. I long for the day where Hasbro.com lets me BUY digital versions of the shows mentioned above. How is this not a reality is maddening.
Canbot
What I find odd is their relectance to release a limited edition of this on CD…the mp3 is already out there. Plenty of other.CD OST products out there making somebody money…are they really worried they'll lose out on some potential revenue?
Murasame
There's a lot missing.
Jhaynes
I get what your saying, but I reckon there aren't enough G1 Transformers tracks missing to put out a 2nd Transformers vinyl, so if we can get a few more season 3 tracks it's a good thing.
Murasame
That would suck. I have no interest in GIJoe in any way.
Digger
That’s a bit ass. Unless you already love the GIJoe soundtrack.