Those Voltes V, Mazinger Z records of my youth

Those Voltes V, Mazinger Z records of my youth

by rick olivares

Vinyl records aren’t the only bit of nostalgia enjoying a revival. 

Also, popular once more are those old Japanese anime soundtracks from the 1970s that feature theme songs from Voltes V, Mazinger Z, Daimos, Mekanda Robot, and other mech shows that captured the imagination of Filipino youth during the late 1970s to the early 80s.

These records are desirable among local fans, but in a bit of a twist, the Philippine pressings are just if not more desirable than their Japanese counterparts. The reason so is the local pressings contain English versions of these theme songs. 

During the late 70s and early 80s, OctoArts, Vicor, and WEA Records all released different products from the Japanese versions to the English versions. Many came out as seven-inch records and there were a few that were released as 12-inch full length records.

According to music aficionado Wilson Lim, the Questor-released Super Robots that featured Voltes V, Grendaizer, Daimos, Mekanda Robot, and Mazinger Z, this title – if and when available – sells for as much as PhP 10,000! The others sell anywhere from P1,000-3,000. 

These English versions have also been sought after by Japanese collectors because they were never available in their home country. 

Like Wilson, I was a fan of those cartoons with Mazinger Z my personal favorite. Through the years, I have been able to purchase original DVDs of the title as well as figurines. 

Wilson related that as a kid, he asked his father if he could purchase the Questor record. But his dad declined. Getting the record became a Holy Grail for Wilson; one that he was able to attain during his adult years when he could afford to buy one. Since then, he has amassed around 30 records of those robot-mech cartoons.

As a youngster, I was fortunate to purchase that Questor release that featured English versions of those cartoons. Unfortunately, that record has been lost to time.

Unlike Wilson, I had forgotten the records and soundtracks. That is until a few years ago that I chanced upon a Japanese record that featured Voltes V and Astroboy.

Seeing it brought back so many memories. So, I snapped it up quickly. And I knew that I had to look for any further records that I could find.

Since then, I was able to get a compilation titled, Space Heroes on Parade featuring the theme songs of Captain Harlock, Daimos, Raideen, and Danguard Ace. That was followed by records of Daimos, Ultra Seven, Space Battleship Yamato, and Voltes V.

The Philippine presses have been hard to find. There weren’t many of them pressed and what few there are owners will not easily part with.

When they are placed on the racks such as the quarterly Kagatan vinyl sale and swap meet in Cubao, they don’t stay for long on display regardless of the price. Fans know they are prized collectibles.

Voltes V and the other robot heroes have remained wildly popular in the Philippines decades after they were first televised locally. A new generation of Filipino fans have discovered them as well. Fan pages on Facebook have proliferated with the toys, comics, and records very much collectible and in demand.