Classic Sounds Retrospective: Mario & Zelda Big Band Live

[CSR is a fond look back at timeless game music soundtracks, be they original sounds, covers, concerts, or whatever strikes a fancy]

It’s Saturday night! And besides being alright for fighting, it’s as good a time as any for sitting shirtless in your pyjama pants watching game music concerts. Come on, what else are you gonna do, go out and meet people? Riiiiiiiiight. Now embrace your eternal nerddom, sit back, relax and hit play on Mario & Zelda Big Band Live.

(More after the jump)

This sensational showcase of beloved tunes was recorded live at Nihon Seinenkan Hall in Tokyo, on September 14th, 2003, and features 2 groups, primarily – The Big Band Of Rogues, capping Yoshihiro Arita With His Band on both ends. Host Ashura Benimaru Itoh’s solo guitar arrangement opens the show, and interspersed between numbers we’re also fortuned with lighthearted exchange between Itoh, Koji Kondo, Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka, Kazumi Totaka (Composer on Yoshi’s Story), and Kenta Nagata (Composer on Wind Waker). Sadly, there’s no subs or translation (I always wonder what they’re saying)… in any case, for your categorizing pleasure – the set list:

1. Opening (Super Mario Bros)
2. Super Mario 64 Opening ~ Overworld Theme
3. Super Mario Bros Medley
4. Go Go Mario (Super Mario Bros)
5. Super Mario Bros 3 Ending Theme
6. Yoshi’s Island Athletic Theme
7. Yoshi on the Beach (Yoshi’s Story– ft. Kazumi Totaka)
8. ??? (Shigeru Miyamoto solo on guitar)
9. Wind Waker Title Theme
10. Dragon Roost Island Theme (The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker)
11. Epona’s Song (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
12. Delfino Plaza Theme (Super Mario Sunshine)
13. Zora Band (The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask)
14. Goron City Theme (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
15. Shop Theme (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
16. The Legend of Zelda Medley
17. Super Mario Sunshine Ending Theme
18. Encore: Slider (Super Mario 64)

If you’re interested to get your hands on a hard copy of the audio, an import recording’s available on CD, and you can probably find it for a decent price on eBay. At the moment of this writing, a few copies were available for less than $13, shipping included. Quite a deal indeed.

As always, please do share your thoughts, points, special requests, nostalgic reminiscences (aka fond memories), poems of dedication, karaoke sing-a-long videos, whatever arises…