Maison Ikkoku is often praised for it's music, but much of it consists of shorter background pieces that are heard for only a few seconds. Listening to those songs without the interference of dialog and sound effects, you can appreciate the music for what it is. Music Shake is a collection of background music (BGM) from the TV series, along with two songs.

The cover features an original illustration of Godai and Kyoko, the two of them walking a bicycle. Inside the color booklet are numerous illustrations, all of them from very late in the series and featuring the Takada Akemi character designs at their most refined. The back cover features a group shot of the main characters of MI, along with a character introduced only in the last episode, if you know who that is. ^_^

There are two vocals in this album, one opening the album and one closing it. The leading vocal, "Begin the Night," is the last ending theme for the series. It's very beautiful, and is one of my favorites. The ending song is "Alone Again" by Gilbert O'Sullivan. This popular song from the 70's has a melancholy simplicity that is very appealing.

Many of the background pieces can be heard on other albums from MI, including the "Blend" set; however, there are many smaller pieces that are new, and are all quite interesting to listen to. Some are very Japanese, such as "Enkai Baka Odori" ("Foolish Dancing at the Party"). Others have a modern jazz sound. Interestingly, the background pieces 1-37 were composed by Sugiyama Takuo, and pieces 38-55 were written by Kawai Kenji (not including the vocals, of course).

The tracks:

Sugiyama Takuo

1. Bridge-K3
2. Begin the Night
3. Bridge so no 6 "Bridge No. 6"
4. Kanashimi yo Konnichiwa (Instrumental 2)
5. Isoge Kyoko e "To Kyoko--hurry!"
6. Mabushii Nami Shibuki "A Bright Spindrift"
7. Yotsuya no Waru Fuzake "Yotsuya's Bad Jokes"
8. Kake Ashi so no 3 "Running No. 3"
9. Enkai Baka Odori "Foolish Dancing at the Party"
10. Muna Sawagi "Racing Heart"
11. Kyoko no Kimochi wo Tashikametakute "I Wanted to Make Sure of Kyoko's Feelings"
12. Bridge so no 7 "Bridge No. 7"
13. Souichiro wo Wasuretakute "I Wanted to Forget About Souichiro"
14. Taiyo ni Kokero "Tripped up by the Sun"
15. Uchi Yoseru Fuan "Bat away the Fear"
16. Tokimeku Futari no Yoru "A Passionate Night for Two"
17. Pool ni Saku Hana "Flower that Blooms in the Pool"
18. Ashita Hareru Ka Instrumental "Will Tomorrow Be Bright Instrumental"
19. Ame Yadori so no 2 "Take Cover from the Rain No. 2"
20. Mitaka no Smash "Mitaka's Smash"
21. Bridge so no 8 "Bridge No. 8"
22. Otome no Rajio Taisou "Ladies' Radio Exercises"
23. Bridge--Buriki no Rappa--
24. Fukimi na Kihai "Ominous Signs"
25. Hirusagari no Yume "An Afternoon Dream"
26. Heartbeat
27. Godai no Shinobiashi "Godai's Stealthy Steps"
28. Bridge so no 9 "Bridge No. 9"
29. Kanashimi yo Konnichiwa (Instrumental 3)
30. Bridge so no 10 "Bridge No. 10"
31. Ikkoku-kan ni Obake ga Deruzo! "A Ghost is Haunting Ikkoku-kan!"
32. Arashi no Maebure "Warning of the Storm"
33. Hono Bono shita Gokou "A Romantic Afternoon"
34. Shiawase na Hito Toki "When I'm a Happy Person"
35. Happy Step
36. Natsu no Kumo so no 2 "Clouds of Summer No. 2"
37. Bridge so no 11 "Bridge No. 11"

    Kawai Kenji

38. Yokan (Instrumental) "A Presentiment (Instrumental)"
39. Godai ga Kyoko wo Omou Toki "When Godai Thinks of Kyoko"
40. Kyoko no Kanashimi "Kyoko's Sorrow"
41. Kozue no Date "Kozue's Date"
42. Ikkoku-kan no Soudou "A Riot at Ikkoku-kan"
    1. Yotsuya no Warudakumi "Yotsuya's Trick"
    2. Bridge
    3. Taihen da "This is Bad!"
    4. Yokan (Instrumental 2) "Unease (Instrumental 2)"
43. Kyou wa Sports Hiyori "Today's a Great Day for Sports"
44. Sakura no Hana Saku Kisetsu "The Season In Which the Cherry Blossoms Bloom"
45. Kareha Mai Chiru Kisetsu "Season of the Fluttering Leaves"
46. Shunpuu no Yuuwaku "Seduction of the Spring Breeze"
47. Yuu Hodou "Playful Footpath"
48. Hikaru Kaze "The Shining Wind"
49. Konayuki Furu Kisetsu "A Season of Powdery Snow"
50. Souichiro to Kakekko "Playing Tag with Souichiro"
51. Kaze no Symphony so no 2 "Symphony of the Wind No. 2"
52. Hashire Ichinose Ojisan "Run! Mr. Ichinose!"
53. Fuan "Unease"
54. Muchuu no Fantasy so no 2 "Obsessed Fantasy No. 2"
55. Yokan (Instrumental 3) "A Presentiment (Instrumental 3)"
56. Alone Again OP

This disc collects some of the best BGM & two songs Begin the Night & Alone Again . Excellent for the car, during exams and relaxation.

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