Lupin III - Nusumareta Lupin Copycat wa Manatsu no Cho

This is by far the best of Yuji Ohno's Lupin soundtracks since the earliest TV specials! From the very beginning, a short saxophone piece that introduces the special's main theme, "A Rose Tattoo", the listener can't help but be enthralled. Favorite tracks include: Track 2, "Zenigata's March (2004 version)" is a fast, jazzy version of the second-most recurring theme in Lupin history, and probably the best version of that tune ever recorded. Track 5, "Run Beckie Run" is a dynamic chase piece in the classic Lupin fashion (ie, there's a 70s disco guitar mixed in there). Track 7, "A Rose Tattoo (samba version)" is a fast, upbeat, and fun varation of track 1. Track 8, "Tornado (2004 version)" revisits Jigen's theme in an airy, enjoyable fashion that may be superior to the original from 1979. Track 12, "Super Hero (2004 version)" is an extremely enjoyable instrumental cover of the original vocal song from 1978. Track 15, "Wild Chase" is, as you might guess, fast-paced chase music. It starts and stops, but has a fantastic finale. Track 16, "Samba Temperado (2004 version)" is a flute-heavy and fun version of the original 1980 classic. In short, if you own only one recent Lupin CD, this must be it!!