Greetings! ScoreKeeper here to post one more soundtrack label roundup just in the St. Nick of time for Christmas. All the major labels have been extremely busy elves this year and like a lot of film studios, November and December is a time reserved for their most highly regarded and critically acclaimed work. I'll gather up the reindeer and sled and see whose been naughty or nice...
Film scores ring, are you listen'?
DIE HARD (1988) - Michael Kamen [2CD-Set Limited Edition of 3,500 copies] - Yippie-Kay-Yay motherfucker! Ya, that's what you're going to tell me when I tell you this sold out already. If you follow my twitter feed you hopefully noticed my announcement there becuase I knew this one would go fast. I thought with 3500 copies printed it would at least last a few weeks. Nope. I was wrong. This bad boy sold like lightning and now it's gone. I just hope those that have been coveting this title for their collection as long as I have were able to snag it. It's badass.
SCROOGED (1988) - Danny Elfman [Limited Edition of 3,000 copies] - Anytime a label puts out a never-before-released Elfman score, I know it'll be a Merry Christmas! This isn't some throw-away bottom-of-the-Elfman-barrell title (is there such a thing?) either. SCROOGED is massively underrated both as a film and its score. I was tickled senseless when LLL made the announcement. So very awesome!
TORA! TORA! TORA! (1970) - Jerry Goldsmith [Limited Edition of 2,000 copies] - I already have the FSM version of this score released about a decade ago so I'm not quite as enthusiastic about it as I am the others; however, if you don't own any other version of this score I can't recommend it enough. It's one of Goldsmith's finest war picture scores (maybe only eclipsed by PATTON?) and a testiment to his unmeasurable genius. I love his bizarre use of the serpent (an archaic instrument which predates most modern brass instruments). Nobody thought outside-the-box quite like Goldsmith did.
FAT MAN AND LITTLE BOY (1989) - Ennio Morricone [Limited Edition of 3,000 copies] - I know nothing about this title other than it's a never-before-released Ennio Morricone score and that's all I need to know to know I now covet it. I haven't seen the film or have heard a note of music but those who have wax poetically upon it as if it's one of the Maestro's greatest works. I can't wait to dive into this score and hear what all the excitement is about.
SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND (1995-1996) - Shirley Walker [Limited Edition of 3,000 copies] - Here's another item I don't know much about. I never saw a single episode of the show nor heard a note of its music; however, it's composed by Shirley Walker, and like I mentioned before, that's all I need to know. Walker might go down as the most underrated and under-heralded composer of our generation. Her work for such television properties as BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES and THE FLASH remain some of the best TV scoring of the 90s. Fans of this show will certainly shine as this is the world premiere release of her music for this ground-breaking show. I love seeing LLL so committed to Walker's work and I hope they continue to release more.
VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (1961) - Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter [Limited Edition of 2,000 copies] - Here's another title previously released and subsequently sold out by Film Score Monthly. While the content is the same as the FSM version of this album, the music was remastered and the lone damaged track fixed. I have the FSM version as well and yet I'm still looking forward to getting this. It's such a fun 60's adventure score. It certainly doens't hurt to have a remastered version of it in my collection.
TRADING PLACES (1983) - Elmer Bernstein [Limited Edition of 2,000 copies] - When it comes to comedies from the 80's there was no more in-demand composer than Elmer Bernstein. Chances are if you can think of an 80's comedy (the more screwball the better), Elmer Bernstein scored it. The real shame is that so many of them remain unreleased. Thanks to LLL one of those classic Bernstein comedy titles is unreleased no longer.
55 DAYS AT PEKING (1963) - Dimitri Tiomkin [Limited Edition of 2,500 copies] - LLL is not well known for releasing classic scores from the Golden Age but they are starting to make strides to counter that perception and I'm extremely thankful for their efforts. This is a score I had no prior knowledge of and when I received it and listened to it I was utterly blown away. I'm familiar with Dimitri Tiomkin's work and hold him in the highest regard but even with lofty expectations, Tiomkin's score still managed to blow me away. It really makes me pine for acrobatic brass writing in modern scores. Holy hell, this is an amazing score!
While we're still talking about La-La Land Records, you should be aware that they're currently having a huge clearance sale where dozens of titles are being sold off at $4.98. In my book every one of these is worth owning. Pick out any that appeal to you and you'll strike gold. My personal picks if you don't already have them would be TRICK 'R TREAT, EUREKA, CONFESSION, BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHT, JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER, TAKING WOODSTOCK, or WRONG TURN 2. All of these would make great stocking stuffers!
There is a batch going for $9.98 which include BAD BOYS, NIGHT OF THE CREEPS, SPEECHLESS, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, CHILD'S PLAY, and MARS ATTACKS!
There is also a batch on sale for $15.98 which include ERASER, THEATER OF BLOOD, GREYSTOKE, and JADE.
Finally...the 2-disc set of THE FLASH by Shirley Walker is only $19.98!
FRIGHT NIGHT (1985) - Brad Fiedel [Limited Edition While Quantities Remain] - I wrote about this last month but it's worth mentioning again here. Love that cover!
IT (1990) - Richard Bellis [Limited Edition While Quantities Remain] - Wow! What an unexpected gem. You go through your film-music loving life wishing for holy grails left and right and then a label as awesome as Intrada throws this at you. This made-for-television mini-series had such a great score but it's just not one of those I ever thought would see a proper release. I've been listening to this all week and the pscyho-circus music from Bellis has kept me grinning the entire time. Bravo!
THE CORE (2003) - Christopher Young [Limited Edition While Quantities Remain] - Nice! This could be one of the loudest, largest, and most epic orchestral adventure scores ever written. It's obscene and obnoxious and I love every second of it! While I still kind of dig the film for what it is, this is a case where the talents of the composer really delivers the experience cinematic experience nearly single-handedly. Without Young's epic score this wouldn't have been nearly as entertaining to watch. This is the first time this score has been officially released to the public on CD.
WOLFEN (1981) - James Horner [Limited Edition While Quantities Remain] - There's nothing quite like early James Horner scores. This one is a particular treat because Horner really hasn't scored that many horror films in his career. It's a departure for the seasoned dramatist and sci-fi champion. I don't have a copy of this one yet but I hope to remedy that very soon.
FUNERAL HOME (1980) - Jerry Fielding [Limited Edition While Quantities Remain] - Over the years, Intrada has been wholly committed to bringing the works of Jerry Fielding to compact disc and I applaud each and every effort. Fielding is one of the greatest film composers of modern cinema and certainly one of my personal favorites. He was so far ahead of his time and at the peak of his creative journey when he ultimately passed away at too young an age. This particular album is especiallly poignant because it's Fielding's last film score.
GREMLINS (1984) - Jerry Goldsmith [Limited Edition of 10,000 units] - I wrote about this last month as well but it's definitely worth mentioning again. My most holy of grails come to fruition! Thanks FSM.
CONAN THE DESTROYER (1984) - Basil Poledouris [2CD-Set Unlimited Edition] - Last year James Fitzpatrick of Tadlow Music brought us an epic re-recording of the complete score for CONAN THE BARBARIAN. This year he follows it up with CONAN THE DESTROYER. Nic Raine conducts the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. While I'm still not the biggest fan of re-recorded scores, I have to admit what Tadlow is doing is beyond reproach. Not only are the perforamnces off the charts but the recording quality itself is spectacular. These may be among the rare occasion where the re-recorded version supercededs the original recording. Any fan of Poledouris' epic score owes it to themselves to have this in their collection.
As with the CONAN THE BARBARIAN release, Tadlow has uploaded a video on YouTube chronicling the production of CONAN THE DESTROYER. Enjoy!
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MANIAC (1980) - Jay Chattaway [Limited Edition LP of 500] - Here is another title that is long out-of-print. It sold out in a matter of days. So why bring it up? Well, if you are already familiar with Mondo and their amazing collection of limited edition poster art you may understand the significance of their very first soundtrack release. They announced this title during Fantastic Fest and the day it went on sale I went and picked up my copy. I couldn't wait! If Mondo was now going to start tackling soundtrack releases (on LP no less) then I was going to patronize them as much as I could.
This particular score is right up their alley too. It's a vintage 80s synth horror score from Jay Chattaway and it's oodles of fun. Mondo pressed only 500 copies of the album. 375 of them were printed on regluar black vinyl. 125 copies were printed on transclucent vinyl with red "blood-like" splashes on it. I was lucky enough to get one of the white/red variants.
Mondo has no trouble selling their art or in this case their first soundtrack release. Pretty much all of them sell out in matter of minutes. So my motive with posting this here is awareness. If Mondo is going to get into the limited edition soundtrack game you best be on your toes because when its announced and they go on sale you won't have too much time to grab it for yourself.
That's it for this edition. I'll continue to keep tabs on who is releasing what but keep in mind that there are quite a few titles released that sell-out rather quickly. If you want the jump be sure to follow me on Twitter. That's the quickest way for me to get the word out about some of these titles that sell out so quickly. Thanks and enjoy your film muisc!
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