Mighty Morphin Power Rangers The Album: A Rock Adventure
Encyclopedia
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers The Album: A Rock Adventure (released as Power Rangers The Album : A Rock Adventure in the UK) is a soundtrack compilation of several songs performed by Ron Wasserman
, who recorded as "The Mighty RAW", from the first two seasons of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
. It was released on CD and cassette on December 1, 1994 in the US and December 13, 1994 the UK.
style. All but four of the songs were loosely based around a linking story narrative, using audio samplings from Power Rangers episodes such as "Birds of a Feather" and "The Mutiny". This latter "adaptation" is at best almost spoiler-free - whilst they acknowledge the arrival of Lord Zedd
and the brief departure of previous villain Rita Repulsa
, there is no mention of the Thunderzords, and much of Pirantishead's threat and powers are cut out because they involve freezing and controlling the Dinozords, events that prohibit their participation in the climax to the album's story.
To add to the narrative's garbled continuity, actor Jason David Frank
's lines as Tommy Oliver
, which dovetail into the track "Go Green Ranger Go", are all taken from "The Green Candle, Part II". The next track, "5-4-1", uses more dialogue from this episode, with Zordon sending the Rangers to help Tommy before his powers completely fail him.
Rita's argument with her minions from the conclusion of "Doomsday, Part II" is also used prior to the third track "Lord Zedd", in which Goldar's original line after "Never mind that!" was "Rita, get us out of here before Ultrazord blasts us!" However, on the album, the line is "Never mind that! Lord Zedd, the true Emperor, has returned."
The audio story concludes with Pirantishead meeting his fate at the hands of the original Ultrazord, a vast contrast to his demise in "The Mutiny, Part III", at the hands of the Thunder Megazord.
Because the album had been produced prior to the introduction of The White Ranger, new audio material was recorded by actors David Fielding and Richard Steven Horvitz
(in their roles as Zordon
and Alpha 5
respectively), to introduce the theme song for Tommy's second Ranger identity, "White Ranger Tiger Power", with Zordon proclaiming to the startled Alpha that the White Ranger was "the future you are seeing."
The UK release of the album featured a dance remix of "Go Go Power Rangers", which also incorporated Fielding's exchange about the White Ranger. The track was released commercially as the album's main single, with a music video produced consisting of footage of the first season. It was distributed heavily in the UK, and once aired on Region Two BBC
music show "Top of the Pops
".
The album remains a vastly traded favorite amongst "Power Rangers" fans, and was eventually "followed-up" by further albums, but these forsook the concept album route and served as basic television and movie soundtracks.
Ron Wasserman
Ron Wasserman, also known as Aaron Waters and The Mighty RAW, is an American music artist best known for composing the original theme song for Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, and for the large volume of original songs he also recorded for the series...
, who recorded as "The Mighty RAW", from the first two seasons of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is an American live-action children's television series based on the 16th installment of the Japanese Super Sentai franchise, Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. Both the show and its related merchandise saw unbridled overnight success, catapulting into pop culture in mere months...
. It was released on CD and cassette on December 1, 1994 in the US and December 13, 1994 the UK.
Album information
The album stood out amongst many other soundtracks at the time for its daring concept albumConcept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
style. All but four of the songs were loosely based around a linking story narrative, using audio samplings from Power Rangers episodes such as "Birds of a Feather" and "The Mutiny". This latter "adaptation" is at best almost spoiler-free - whilst they acknowledge the arrival of Lord Zedd
Lord Zedd
Lord Zedd is a fictional villain from the TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers who was introduced at the beginning of the show's second season. Unlike Rita Repulsa, the show's original villain, Zedd was a character made specifically for Power Rangers without any prior counterpart in the Japanese...
and the brief departure of previous villain Rita Repulsa
Rita Repulsa
Rita Repulsa is a fictional character from the television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. She is based on the Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger villain Witch Bandora...
, there is no mention of the Thunderzords, and much of Pirantishead's threat and powers are cut out because they involve freezing and controlling the Dinozords, events that prohibit their participation in the climax to the album's story.
To add to the narrative's garbled continuity, actor Jason David Frank
Jason David Frank
Jason David Frank is an American actor, martial artist and professional mixed martial arts fighter, best known for playing Tommy Oliver in Power Rangers.- Early life :...
's lines as Tommy Oliver
Tommy Oliver
Dr. Thomas "Tommy" Oliver is a fictional character from the universe of the American children's television franchise Power Rangers. He is a main character in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series, as well as four of its successive incarnations Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers, Power Rangers Zeo,...
, which dovetail into the track "Go Green Ranger Go", are all taken from "The Green Candle, Part II". The next track, "5-4-1", uses more dialogue from this episode, with Zordon sending the Rangers to help Tommy before his powers completely fail him.
Rita's argument with her minions from the conclusion of "Doomsday, Part II" is also used prior to the third track "Lord Zedd", in which Goldar's original line after "Never mind that!" was "Rita, get us out of here before Ultrazord blasts us!" However, on the album, the line is "Never mind that! Lord Zedd, the true Emperor, has returned."
The audio story concludes with Pirantishead meeting his fate at the hands of the original Ultrazord, a vast contrast to his demise in "The Mutiny, Part III", at the hands of the Thunder Megazord.
Because the album had been produced prior to the introduction of The White Ranger, new audio material was recorded by actors David Fielding and Richard Steven Horvitz
Richard Steven Horvitz
Richard Steven Horvitz, sometimes credited as Richard S. Horvitz, Richard Horvitz, or Richard Wood, is an American actor and voice actor best known for his work as the voice of the original Alpha 5 in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Power Rangers Zeo, and Power Rangers Turbo, as Raz in Psychonauts,...
(in their roles as Zordon
Zordon
Zordon is a powerful wizard and mentor to the Power Rangers franchise, appearing in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series and many of its subsequent incarnations....
and Alpha 5
Alpha 5
Alpha 5 is a fictional robot on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series. On Alpha's chest is a yellow stylized lightning bolt similar to the Power Rangers' lightning bolt symbol, but inverted. His head is in the shape of a golden flying saucer with a visor that flashes when he is speaking...
respectively), to introduce the theme song for Tommy's second Ranger identity, "White Ranger Tiger Power", with Zordon proclaiming to the startled Alpha that the White Ranger was "the future you are seeing."
The UK release of the album featured a dance remix of "Go Go Power Rangers", which also incorporated Fielding's exchange about the White Ranger. The track was released commercially as the album's main single, with a music video produced consisting of footage of the first season. It was distributed heavily in the UK, and once aired on Region Two BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
music show "Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
".
The album remains a vastly traded favorite amongst "Power Rangers" fans, and was eventually "followed-up" by further albums, but these forsook the concept album route and served as basic television and movie soundtracks.
Track listings
- Go Go Power RangersGo Go Power Rangers"Go Go Power Rangers" is a single by Ron Wasserman who recorded as "The Mighty RAW". It was released by Saban Records on CD and cassette formats in the US on December 2, 1994, and in the UK December 14, 1994...
(long version) - Fight
- Lord Zedd
- Hey, Rita
- We Need A Hero
- Combat
- Go Green Ranger Go
- 5-4-1
- Zords
- I Will Win
- Go Go Power RangersGo Go Power Rangers"Go Go Power Rangers" is a single by Ron Wasserman who recorded as "The Mighty RAW". It was released by Saban Records on CD and cassette formats in the US on December 2, 1994, and in the UK December 14, 1994...
(TV theme) - White Ranger Tiger Power
UK Track listings
- Go Go Power RangersGo Go Power Rangers"Go Go Power Rangers" is a single by Ron Wasserman who recorded as "The Mighty RAW". It was released by Saban Records on CD and cassette formats in the US on December 2, 1994, and in the UK December 14, 1994...
(long version) - Fight
- Lord Zedd
- Hey, Rita
- We Need A Hero
- Combat
- Go Green Ranger Go
- 5-4-1
- Zords
- I Will Win
- Go Go Power RangersGo Go Power Rangers"Go Go Power Rangers" is a single by Ron Wasserman who recorded as "The Mighty RAW". It was released by Saban Records on CD and cassette formats in the US on December 2, 1994, and in the UK December 14, 1994...
(TV theme) - White Ranger Tiger Power
- Go Go Power RangersGo Go Power Rangers"Go Go Power Rangers" is a single by Ron Wasserman who recorded as "The Mighty RAW". It was released by Saban Records on CD and cassette formats in the US on December 2, 1994, and in the UK December 14, 1994...
(Remix)