Kamen Rider Black Complete Song Collection Review
By Kage

Introduction

Kamen Rider makes a comeback!!! After Kamen Rider Super-1 came to an end in 1981, the television airwaves were stripped of Kamen Rider! There was a brief movie for the 10th installment to the Rider family, but no television series to go with it. Alas! Kamen Rider Black was born! Hype circled around the new man of insect powers as word got around. An introduction special episode was shown to draw even more interest for the series even! In this special episode we meet our new hero, get the lowdown on the story, meet the villians, chat with legendary creator Shotaro Ishinomori, view auditions, and even watch Tetsuo Kurata in the recording studio! Definitely an exciting way to start off one of the best and most popular Kamen Rider series ever! Here is the review for every song from the series that I could get my mits on.

Kamen Rider Black

I must say, this CD really does have a special place in my collection. Though not in the top ten, or even really the top twenty, it was one of the first CDs I got for a Tokusatsu. I must say, this CD really does compliment the Television series nicely, which itself complimented the Kamen Rider story nicely. If you really like action songs, this CD is for you! Remember: Guitars, Horns, Vocals and the occasional explosions. I rate this CD 4.5 Kingstones out of 5.

01. Kamen Rider BLACK

>>Series opening song! Sung by Kotaro himself, Tetsuo Kurata! This song is amazing! It has action written all over it! At the same time it holds onto the severe darkness of the series. This song goes perfectly with the series it represents. If there is a better matching song, I don't want to hear it! This song gets played during most of the battles during the series, so you might get tired of it. Not me though! This song is great.

02. Long Long Ago, 20th Century

>>Series ending song. Again, very complimenting to the show. Very sad. This song pretty much stands for the search to return and save Nobuhiko (Shadowmoon). It's especially sad to hear this song at the end of the series. I'm not here to give away any spoilers though. If you haven't heard this song yet, find it! Get it! It's really great.

03. Gekisou ni Dai Machine

>>The song for the two super cycles! I can't think of one time i've heard this song play during the series. It doesn't really matter though. This is a great action song with the horns, guitars, vocals and explosions! I really like the singer's quickness with words. Not a song for the tongue-tied. Note how much the singer says "Super! Duper!".

04. Goal e Mukatte Hashire

>>Another rarely heard song. I think this was more of a movie song. Again, lots of action through guitars, horns and vocals. I must say, this song is requested alot by people who trade music with me. What does that tell you?

05. Kamen Rider Black - Hoshi no Lulluby

>> The first song to play during the series. Episode 12, first episode with Roadsect. I watch too much Kamen Rider Black. This song is aimed to put you asleep. Otherwise, I see no purpose for it. It is a good song and really does compliment some of the scenes it is used in. As the title says, this song is a Lulluby.

06. Black Action

>> This song really represents Golgom creating hell on...Tokyo. This song really should be Golgom Action for it's ultimate usage in the series. It's very fast and upbeat. Guitars, horns and vocals. The main theme of the Kamen Rider Black soundtrack. Great song!

07. Black Hole Message

>>Another great song! Second song to be played in the series, also in episode 12. This song was usually used when Roadsect made an appearance. So I really call it his song. This song is upbeat. Again with the Guitars, horns, and vocals. This song really has more horns than anything though. This song is a sure winner in your collection!

08. Henshin! Rider Black

>>From the start, this song does really go along with the Kamen Rider Black Henshin sequence quite perfectly. For some reason, the version that played during the series was different. There was an echo after "Rider Black!!" in the series, but no echo for the album release. This song again follows the action "Guitars, horns, and vocals" theme. Doesn't stand out as well as the other action songs on this CD, but it doesn't really matter. This song is still worth a listen.

09. Ore no Seishun

>>Slow song. Somewhat Latin sounding from the horn parts. The best part about this song is...it's sung by Tetsuo Kurata! Sure, there isn't as much skill put into this song as the series opener, but this song really does show some character depth into this action packed album. I guarantee you'll find this to be a pretty catchy song.

10. Let's Fight Rider

>> Not the ideal way to end all of the IN songs. Again following the same action theme with all songs before it. This song falls a bit short of the title. Well, let's just say this isn't anywhere near the greatest song on the album. You can listen to it if you wish, I usually
just skip this one though.

11. Kamen Rider Black (Album Version)

>> Different from the original version. It's is mastered slightly different from the original, and there is an added fifty five seconds of dialogue at the beginning. I personally like this version better. Not for the dialogue, which I usually fast forward through, but for the
remastering. The bass is wonderful.

12. Kamen Rider Black (Karaoke)

13. Long Long Ago 20th Century (Karaoke)

14. Gekisou! Ni Dai Machine (Karaoke)

15. Goal e Mukatte Hashire (Karaoke)

16. Kamen Rider Black~Hoshi no Lulluby (Karaoke)

17. Black Action (Karaoke)

18. Blackhole Message (Karaoke)

19. Henshin! Rider Black (Karaoke)

20. Ore no Seishun (Karaoke)

21. Let's Fight Rider (Karaoke)

Kamen Rider Theme Collection

An incomplete collection of Kamen Rider theme songs! Nice little twenty song, two CD set. Nothing really special except for a new version of the Kamen Rider Black theme! *No rating*

D2, Track 05. Kamen Rider Black (Type B)

>> Mastered much differently from the original. The voice almost sounds completely different! Definitely what Tetsuo Kurata sounds like without studio doctoring. Maybe this takes appriciation away from the original version, or maybe this makes one appriciate the final cut more. Not sure, but if someone likes this version better, they're crazy. Note,
there is no roar when "Black!" is said. It's Tetsuo Kurata saying it along with an echo. Another aspect of coolness killed off.

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1987, 1988, 1996, 2000 Nippon Columbia
01, 09, 11/D2 05. Tetsuo Kurata
02. Norio Sakai
03~08, 10. Toshiya Igarashi