SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 64 Min.
Released from DC Comics’ vaults through Watertower Music in 2010, its twenty-nine tracks are the following:
- The Baby from Krypton intro/voicover (Superman radio show)
Credit: Bud Collyer (1940) Running Time: 1:14
2. What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World? (Man of Steel film)
Credit: Hans Zimmer (2013) Running Time: 5:24
3. Ruby-Spears’ Superman (TV cartoon series opening credits, with voice-over)
Credit: John Williams (1988) Running Time: 1:02
4. Superman: The Animated Series (TV series opening credits)
Credit: Shirley Walker (1996) Running Time: 1:03
5. The Flying Sequence / Can You Read My Mind? (Superman: The Movie)
Credits: John Williams & Margot Kidder Running Time: 8:06
6. Fight Night (Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice)
Credits: Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL (2016) Running Time: 4:20
7. The Batman Theme (1966-68 TV series opening credits theme, including vocals & sound effects)
Credit: Neal Hefti (1966) Running Time: 0:46
8. Batman: The Animated Series (TV series opening credits)
Credit: Danny Elfman (1992) Running Time: 1:03
9. The Ballad of Batman (Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode pre-credits scene)
Credits: Dynamic Music Partners and voice actor John DiMaggio (as Golden Age Vigilante) (2002) Running Time: 2:17
10. Batman Takes Over {intro} (Batman and Robin live-action serial}
Credit: Mischa Bakaleinikoff (1949) Running Time: 2:11
11. Why Do We Fall? (The Dark Knight Rises film)
Credit: Hans Zimmer (2012) Running Time: 2:04
12. Christmas With the Joker: Jingle Bells & Batman Smells (Batman: The Animated Series episode)
Credits: Shirley Walker & Mark Hamill (1992) Running Time: 0:35
13. Joker is Wild (inspired by Batman live-action TV series)
Credits: The Sensational Guitars of Dan and Dale: featuring Sun Ra and The Blue Projects (1966) Running Time: 1:57
14. Mischief – Harley Quinn’s Theme (Infinite Crisis video game)
Credit: Matthew Harwood (2015) Running Time: 0:51
15. Lex Luthor’s Lair (Superman: The Movie)
Credit: John Williams (1978) Running Time: 2:33
16. Penguin Makes Moves (Gotham TV series)
Credits: Graeme Revell & David E. Russo (2015) Running Time: 0:47
17. Penguin’s Umbrella (inspired by Batman live-action TV series)
Credits: The Sensational Guitars of Dan and Dale: featuring Sun Ra and The Blue Projects (1966) Running Time: 3:02
18. Challenge of the Super-Friends (TV cartoon series opening credits, with voice-over and sound effects)
Credits: Hoyt Curtin (1978) Running Time: 1:02
19. Justice League of America – Roll Call (novelty song)
Credit: Arthur Korb (1966) Running Time: 3:11
20. Supergirl (TV series opening credits)
Credit: Blake Neely (2015) Running Time: 1:11
21. Robin’s Theme (inspired by Batman live-action TV series)
Credits: The Sensational Guitars of Dan and Dale: featuring Sun Ra and The Blue Projects (1966) Running Time: 3:03
22. The Adventures of Superpup (unaired TV pilot theme)
Credit: None (1958) Running Time: 0:37
23. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (TV series opening credits theme)
Credit: Blake Neely (2016) Running Time: 0:50
24. Metamorpho (novelty song)
Credit: Arthur Korb (1966) Running Time: 2:13
25. Get Your Cape On (DC Super-Hero Girls theme)
Credit: Jordyn Kane (2015) Running Time: 3:34
26. Flash (1990 TV series opening credits)
Credit: Danny Elfman (1990) Running Time: 1:33
27. The Flash vs. Arrow (TV series crossover theme)
Credit: Blake Neely (2014) Running Time: 5:07
28. Wonder Woman (novelty song)
Credit: Arthur Korb (1966) Running Time: 1:25
30. Wonder Woman (TV Series – Season 3 opening credits)
Credits: Charles Fox (1978) Running Time: 1:05
REVIEW:
Surpassing its 2010 predecessor, this kid-friendly compilation meets every expectation. Like Volume 1, enjoying this album is a musical time machine. The historical value of Track # 1 is a treat, as are some groovy 60’s-style dance tunes by The Sensational Guitars of Dan and Dale. The same applies to the rare opportunity to hear rare TV cartoon themes, especially “Challenge of the Super-Friends.”
What’s also appreciated is the inclusion of more recent film and TV tracks. Curiously, DC doesn’t include the 1984 Supergirl movie theme, but its 2015 TV counterpart frankly sounds better, anyway. All that’s really missing is representation from the 90’s Batman live-action films: i.e. Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose.” Only can surmise adding such high-profile pop-rock tracks were omitted due to royalty issues.
As fair warning, though, Arthur Korb’s three novelty tracks (sung in barbershop style) are all overlong dreck. At best, Korb amusingly semi-spoofs the Justice League (including Plastic Man in the mix, no less). In that sense, then maybe his homage to Metamorpho doesn’t sound half-bad by comparison. Yet, Korb’s excruciating serenade of Wonder Woman belongs in the talentless Nick the Lounge Singer’s songbook (as once portrayed by Bill Murray on Saturday Night Live). A much-needed counter-balance (not to mention, a delightful close-out to this album) is the disco-flavored 3rd Season theme from Lynda Carter’s live-action series.
Between an exclusive mini-poster and 25+ vintage tracks (subtracting Korb’s horrid contributions), The Music of DC Comics: Volume 2 is a must-have keepsake for super-hero aficionados.
PACKAGING:
It’s stellar! The back of the CD case lists the tracks and performers. Behind the CD itself is an exclusive New 52 JLA group portrait. The fold-out booklet insert includes more specific track info and technical credits. The insert’s flip side is an exclusive DC Super-Heroes (with Sinestro & the Joker, too) mini-poster, with each character produced by different DC Comics artists (including Brian Bolland, Jim Lee, Ed Benes, & Amanda Conner).
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8½ Stars
Note: Seen below is Volume 1 to the left of its sequel album.
