water margin theme tune

[bombgonejohn]

Does anyone remember the cult japanese tv show 'the water margin'? I would love to know the name of the artist who sung it, and just to be totally Ridiculous, does anyone have a translation of the song into english. Can you help???

[lindapinda]

The Water Margin's on again at the minute,not sure where though.There might be a name in the titles? I remember loving it at the time,but,I saw some of it on a dvd last year,and it just wasn't as good as I remembered!!

[kempie]

The Water Margin is currently being shown on ITV4 at 6pm on Saturdays.

[lindapinda]

Right,according to google,there was a record out in the seventies called Theme From The Water Margin,and the artist is named as Pete MacJunior. A site called Screenthemes appears to be selling this!

[bombgonejohn]

many thanks to you lindapinda, and kempie, I didnt really expect to get much of a rseponse to this question. Linda I will check out the site you named to see what I can find out. Once again thanks folks

[lindapinda]

You're welcome John! Its nice to get thanked,sometimes people don't bother at all!

[kempie]

On a few boards there is mention of the 70s release of a 7" vinyl recording of the theme tune; one side in Japanese, the other in English.

This led here, as indicated by lindapinda, which credits the English version to Pete Mac Junior and the Japanese version to a band called Godiego (actually it is misprinted as Godiegp).

Apparently Godiego also did all of the music for Monkey, another (similar) Japanese mini-series you may well recall. Here is a page from their discography (in Japanese!) listing the single. A rough translation seems to indicate the lyrics having been written by bandmember Thomas Chater Snyder, the drummer and vocalist, who originally hails from the US. The music is credited to Masaru Sato, a prolific composer of film music, as indicated here, and it is he who is mentioned in the show's titles.

Finding a direct link to an MP3 of the tune has proved nigh on impossible, however at least one site seems to accept requests for it - link.

Anyhoo, here is some more info on TWM

http://www.martinday.co.uk/water.htm

[littleoldme]

Just one teensy weensy pedantic point following kempie's excellent and comprehensive answer. I believe (as improbable as it may seem) that American singer Pete Mac Junior performed the Japanese version, while predominantly Japanese (American vocalist notwithstanding) band Godiego performed the English version.

It was released as a double A sided single on the BBC's own label in 1977.

[kempie]

The language swap actually makes more sense, as I couldn't understand why the Japanese version would have Tommy Snyder as lead vocalist instead of Godiego's usual vocalist Mickie Yoshino.

You can listen to the Pete Mac Jr. (Japanese) version here as part of a RealMedia webcast (the section 40:27 to 44:29).

[Eastender]

Sad as it may seem. I have this record on 45pm in my record collection, is it worth a fortune??????

[lankeela]

Doubt it, but at least its better than having a Police record.

[Draytona]

HI Eastender,
If you are still watching this thread, I'd be interested in buying it. (If it is for sale).

I've just joined the site after seeing this thread, so don't know if people can contact each other direct. If not, I'll swing by here occasionally and see if you reply.

I still have reles in the UK, so it wouldn't involve shipping to New Zealand, and I'd be more than happy to cover postage.

Is it a single or on LP?
Thank you,
Draytona

[shilston1972]

i have the water margin and monkey theme on 7" record and its worth around �150 my ex partner bought them for me about 8 years ago and paid just over �100 rare as hens teeth!

[zombiesaurus]

http://www.television...Margin_%28The%29.html

Enjoy it.