Play for Japan: The Album

[Don]

Details added based on this article:

http://playforjapan.org/2011/05/23/n...pan-the-album/

[Xenofan 29A]

You can listen to a few of the tracks here.

http://www.gamespot.com/features/631...pan-the-album/

EDIT: Added release date based on attached interview.

[BahamutZ]

Laura Shigihara discussing the album here as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUFSJ...el_video_title

Also release date pushed back for those wondering. Week of June 20th.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE8Bf...el_video_title

[mushgloom]

I'm really looking forward to hearing this album. There's a great smattering of talented composers, a beautiful cover by Amano and it's all for a good cause. Kudos to Yamaoka for spearheading this!

[Teioh]

The tracklist order could possibly be at the end of this interview http://www.famitsu.com/news/201106/11045127.html
As opposed to the official website, the tracks are numbered.

[Xenofan 29A]

In that interview, Yamaoka says that they're planning a second one already.

"いま名前がある人以外にも数多くの方が参加を表明してくれて……全部で38組くらいだったかな。とても1 枚には収まりきらないので、すでに第2弾の計画もしています。"

And it seems the name has been changed to "Play for Japan Vol. 1" to reflect this.

[CHz]

The official release date is July 15, but the album's available on iTunes now for folks in the U.S. at least.

[Don]

"Dimension Break" is the Chrono Cross Arrange Album sample that was on Procyon Studio's website during Christmas time a few years ago.

[KriztofferSwank]

This is a really good album. Track five has a very Kraftwerk type of sound. :) Reminds me of their albums Computerwelt and Techno Pop A LOT (which is good, since those are my two favorites).

[topaz]

I live in Australia and this album is still not available on itunes. Are there people outside the US that's able to buy this?

EDIT: Ahh just found this

Update on Play For Japan: The Album
Posted on July 16, 2011 by sterlingmcgarvey

Some of you may have recently attempted to purchase “Play For Japan: The Album” from iTunes, only to find nothing from your searches.

Although the PFJ Album was scheduled to officially launch worldwide yesterday via iTunes, we have encountered some problems, and we regret to inform you that the album is not available at this time. We will update you as soon as we have more information.

The album will be available later this month in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand on iTunes. If you’re located in the US, it is available for purchase through Amazon’s MP3 Store.

We deeply apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you. Trust us, we’re just as disappointed.

[the_miker]

Originally Posted by topaz

Some of you may have recently attempted to purchase “Play For Japan: The Album” from iTunes, only to find nothing from your searches.

On their Twitter account, Grasshopper officially blames Flemming, Lord of Demons, for the iTunes problem.

https://twitter.com/#!/Grasshopper_E...31089926287360

Also note that the iTunes version has.. will have.. one exclusive track (Super Mario Medley On Two Pianos) that isn't available on Amazon. No idea why they decided to do that, very annoying for those of us who hate iTunes.

[Xenofan 29A]

The Amazon version is up, minus the one track, of course.

http://www.amazon.com/Play-Japan-Alb...0999736&sr=8-1

[Prime Blue]

__________

[Don]

I'm not sure about a physical release. They mentioned it being a possibility in the future, but nothing was certain.

As for the exclusive track, it's probably Nintendo's doing more than anything. So stingy with their music, they probably didn't want too many ways to get it, like most of the soundtrack releases these days. (That's my theory, at least)

[Xenofan 29A]

Originally Posted by Don

As for the exclusive track, it's probably Nintendo's doing more than anything. So stingy with their music, they probably didn't want too many ways to get it, like most of the soundtrack releases these days. (That's my theory, at least)

That's probably right. I don't know about Tallerico's Advent Rising track, but all of the music with the exception of the Super Mario medley is owned by the composers themselves (including Chrono Cross). Why does Nintendo have to be so stingy, anyway? It's a charity album, for god's sake.

[the_miker]

Originally Posted by Don

As for the exclusive track, it's probably Nintendo's doing more than anything. So stingy with their music, they probably didn't want too many ways to get it, like most of the soundtrack releases these days. (That's my theory, at least)

Looks like your theory was dead on. I just asked Grasshopper via Twitter..

the_miker: Why is the Mario track not available on Amazon?
Grasshopper_EN: Only had permission for iTunes ><
the_miker: Gotcha, thanks for the insanely fast reply. I would think permission wouldn't matter when it comes to helping charity?
Grasshopper_EN: yea, I agree. but we couldn't make it happen.

https://twitter.com/#!/Grasshopper_E...84201301569536
https://twitter.com/#!/Grasshopper_E...86097726754816

Thanks a lot, Nintendo.

-Mike

[topaz]

Out now on iTunes!

[The Ultimate Mario Fan]

Were these also arranged and/or performed by the composers themselves? That doesn't seem to be clear and I can't find any more info on it.

[dissident93]

I don't see why not.

[_if]

Well, Uematsu's contribution is "Every New Morning" from 10 Short Stories, which was arranged by ACE. I think most composers on the album arrange their own stuff, but I'm curious about the Mario medley though.

[dissident93]

Originally Posted by _if

Well, Uematsu's contribution is "Every New Morning" from 10 Short Stories, which was arranged by ACE.

Uematsu hasn't arranged his own stuff in a long time, so that's expected. :P

[_if]

He arranged Reiki Japan!

... which had very basic synth work (not that it needed to be advanced for that music).

[The Ultimate Mario Fan]

I highly doubt that's actually Koji Kondo on piano and he's the reason why I asked. I know Mitsuda arranged Dimension Break (it was posted on his website prior to its inclusion) but I doubt all the other composers did theirs. I thought we had more info on this topic outside of fan speculation, but ah well.

[dissident93]

wasn't Kondo specifically credited for one of the Mario Medleys in Smash Bros. Brawl? I don't see why it would be out of character for him to have arranged and played this piece here. (although I've never heard this version. it's two people playing two pianos apparently?)

[The Ultimate Mario Fan]

I've seen and heard Kondo play piano live, and his style doesn't sound like that. Regardless, speculation is useless around here without some facts.

On that note, I hope we start seeing more output from Kondo-sama. Composition-wise, he's really slowed down recently.

[dissident93]

didn't Kondo say he wouldn't be opposed to doing a full soundtrack again? I don't know what is with Nintendo not letting him (unless of course he simply likes doing a few songs for each new Zelda and Mario games)

[Jormungand]

Perhaps Nintendo has him supervising many projects, making him unavailable for solo work? He is indeed their most senior sound staff, by far.

But then again, we'll probably never know. Nintendo is predictably secretive and has been for the last 30 years. Perhaps that's part of why they're the only truly financially stable of the Big Three, and have been around for so long.

[ckain]

In my version, bought from iTunes, the final track length is 2:12.

Selected Exif output:

ExifTool Version Number : 9.96
File Name : 18 Dimension Break.m4a
File Size : 5.0 MB
File Type Extension : m4a
MIME Type : audio/mp4
Major Brand : Apple iTunes AAC-LC (.M4A) Audio
Minor Version : 0.0.0
Compatible Brands : M4A , mp42, isom
Create Date : 2012:03:07 08:33:17
Time Scale : 44100
Duration : 0:02:11
Preferred Rate : 1
Preferred Volume : 100.00%
Preview Time : 0 s
Preview Duration : 0 s
Poster Time : 0 s
Selection Time : 0 s
Selection Duration : 0 s
Current Time : 0 s
Next Track ID : 2
Track Duration : 0:02:11
Media Create Date : 2012:03:07 08:33:17
Media Time Scale : 44100
Media Duration : 0:02:11
Balance : 0
Audio Format : mp4a
Audio Channels : 2
Audio Bits Per Sample : 16
Audio Sample Rate : 44100
Original Format : mp4a
Scheme Type : itun
Title : Dimension Break
Artist : Yasunori Mitsuda
Album Artist : Various Artists
Composer : Yasunori Mitsuda
Album : Play For Japan: The Album
Genre : Soundtrack
Track Number : 18 of 18
Disk Number : 1 of 1
Compilation : Yes
Play Gap : Insert Gap
Content Create Date : 2011:07:15 07:00:00Z
Avg Bitrate : 284 kbps

[SGoW]

where is Super Mario World represented on this album? I can only hear the Ground BGM from Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 2 on the Mario Medley.