SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 41 Min.
Released from its vaults by DC Comics through Watertower Music in 2010, the thirty-one tracks (grouped by super-hero) are the following:
- Superman March/Intro (Fleischer cartoon series)
Credit: Sammy Timberg (1941) Running Time: 1:28
2. Superman March (movie soundtrack album version)
Credit: John Williams (1978) Running Time: 4:23
3. New Adventures of Superman (Filmation TV cartoons)
Credit: John Gart (1966) Running Time: 0:55
4. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV series opening credits)
Credit: Jay Gruska (1993) Running Time: 1:01
5. The Adventures of Superboy (Filmation TV cartoons)
Credit: John Gart (1966) Running Time: 0:30
6. Superboy (TV series opening credits)
Credit: Kevin Kiner (1988) Running Time: 0:47
7. Smallville (TV series – Season 8 end credits)
Credit: Louis Zebre (2008) Running Time: 0:24
8. Batman: The Electrical Brain (live-action serial chapter intro)
Credit: Lee Zahler (1943) Running Time: 2:10
9. Batman Theme (movie soundtrack album version)
Credit: Danny Elfman (1989) Running Time: 2:38
10. The Adventures of Batman (Filmation TV cartoons)
Credit: John Gart (1967) Running Time: 1:00
11. Batman Theme (live-action TV series – extended instrumental)
Credit: Neal Hefti (1966) Running Time: 2:19
Note: For the actual TV theme opening credits theme (including vocals and the biff-pow sound effects), it’s Track # 7 on Music of DC Comics, Volume 2. Its running time is 46 seconds.
12. Batman: The Brave and The Bold (TV cartoon series theme)
Credit: Andy Sturmer (2008) Running Time: 0:31
13. Batman Beyond (TV cartoon series theme)
Credit: Kristopher Carter (1999) Running Time: 1:00
14. Batman Begins: Molossus (movie theme)
Credits: Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard (2005) Running Time: 4:50
15. Justice League of America (Filmation TV cartoons)
Credit: John Gart (1967) Running Time: 0:31
16. Super-Friends (TV cartoon series – 1st Season opening credits)
Credit: Hoyt Curtin (1973) Running Time: 1:02
Note: The actual voice-over is probably actor Ted Knight.
17. All-New Super-Friends Hour (TV cartoon series theme)
Credit: Hoyt Curtin (1977) Running Time: 1:00
18. Justice League Unlimited (TV cartoon series theme)
Credit: Michael McCuistion (2004) Running Time: 1:02
19. Legends of the Super-Heroes (live-action TV special)
Credit: Fred Werner (1979) Running Time: 1:35
Note: Gary “Space Ghost” Owens (the program’s MC) does the actual voice-over.
20. The Teen Titans (Filmation TV cartoons)
Credit: John Gart (1967) Running Time: 0:30
21. Aquaman (Filmation TV cartoons)
Credit: John Gart (1967) Running Time: 0:23
22. Swamp Thing (live-action TV series opening credits)
Credit: Christopher Stone (1991) Running Time: 1:02
Note: Dick “Swamp Thing” Durock does the actual voice-over.
23. Shazam! (live-action TV series opening credits)
Credit: Jeff Michael & Yvette H. Blais (1974) Running Time: 1:00
24. Flash (Filmation TV cartoons)
Credit: John Gart (1967) Running Time: 0:30
25. Green Lantern (Filmation TV cartoons)
Credit: John Gart (1967) Running Time: 0:32
26. Green Lantern: First Flight (animated film main theme)
Credit: Robert J. Kral (2009) Running Time: 2:04
27. Atom (Filmation TV cartoons)
Credit: John Gart (1967) Running Time: 0:32
28. Hawkman (Filmation TV cartoons)
Credit: John Gart (1967) Running Time: 0:31
29. Plastic Man Comedy-Adventure Show (TV cartoon series theme)
Credit: Dean Elliott (1979) Running Time: 0:59
Notes: Michael “Plastic Man” Bell does the actual voice-over. There’s no mistaking that Bell also voices Wonder-Twin ‘Zan’ on The Super-Friends.
30. Wonder Woman (animated film end credits)
Credit: Christopher Drake (2009) Running Time: 3:04
31. Wonder Woman (TV series – Season 1 opening credits)
Credits: Charles Fox & Norman Gimbel (1976) Running Time: 1:41
REVIEW:
Well-played by DC Comics, it’s a musical time machine that should inspire all-ages interest in the various cartoons, movies, and TV series represented. The nostalgia alone packaged on this CD is worth the price of admission. As one might expect, some tracks don’t age well (i.e. Tracks 5 and 8), but it’s still a treat to experience these rare tunes. Still, this album over-relies on tedious filler (i.e. John Gart’s stilted Filmation intros) vs. supplying more contemporary (and longer) tracks.
In fairness, the album’s evident priority was representing as many DC icons as feasible; the Filmation logic then makes sense as a homage to DC’s Silver Age generation. It’s just a shame that Volume 1 isn’t at least an hour, as a mere forty minutes short-changes this album’s awesome potential. Volume 2, however, does provide more bang for the buck, including more of an emphasis on recent material.
Still, between the terrific bonus artwork and thirty-one mostly rare tracks, The Music of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary Collection is a must-have goodie for super-hero fans.
PACKAGING:
Excellent! The back of the CD case lists the tracks and performers. Behind the CD itself is an exclusive group portrait of DC’s heroes and villains. The fold-out booklet insert includes the track info, technical credits, and a how-to re: purchasing DC-themed ringtones, The insert’s flip side is an exclusive DC Super-Heroes mini-poster montage produced by a collective of DC Comics artists (including Ryan Sook).
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
Note: Seen below is the album to the left of its even better 2016 sequel.
