COCA-6898: Vasteel

[XISMZERO]

Kind of a convoluted disc here and also an enigmatic release at that (as we all know how cryptic and non-existant game music marketing was in the late 80s/ early 1990s). This was likely released as a companionate disc to the game since the actual game's CD-quality music was included entirely on the game disc as redbook audio. To clarify, Vasteel has a CD-quality band soundtrack as well as a PSG/chiptune option and neither were included on this very release.

Most of the "original version" tracks here actually aren't included in the game at all. More so, they are outtakes from Hosono's band, based on tracks used in the game. One of the tracks sounds like an alternate performance of one used in the game.

The "arranged" tracks by Kisho Yamanaka seem unnecessary considering the game already has an "arranged" soundtrack but is here anyway, likely commissioned by Columbia who brought Yamanaka on board for many of their releases. They sound like most of his stuff with Columbia: synth heavy rock and actually kind of a downgrade from the band music in game.

The original music mirrors the game's very high-quality BGM which are mostly jazz-fusion, bossa nova and acoustic jazz with a live horns section known was Vital Horns (who I can't find any info on) consisting of two saxophones (soprano/tenor and baritone) and a trumpet. They often solo along with the rest of the musicians here.

This one never got a "complete" release. The music is redbook on the game CD but leaves out the PSG tracks.

Also worth noting, the jazzier title screen music from the Japanese version was replaced in the US release for more rock-styled one which can be found on both versions. I suspect the music was not very well received despite how damn good and melodic it is, probably didn't fit the game's image too well.

It's a COCA/Columbia release, and with that, very hard to come by.

[XISMZERO]

Out of curiosity, I emailed Yoshihiko Hosono through his music school contact, asking if he knew the members of the "Vital Horns" who played in both the original BGM and the in-game BGM. I got a response!

Tenor Sax: Kousei Kikuchi
Baritone Sax: Makio Shimizu
Trumpet: Hitoshi Okano