Greetings! ScoreKeeper here on the Pork Chop Express and I’m talking to who whoever’s listening out there. I’m in big trouble with the Wing Kong for swiping their only copy of La-La Land Records’ latest soundtrack release which just hit the streets of Chinatown last week.

A couple weeks ago I penned an article [http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39746] praising 2008 as the greatest year ever for new releases of older scores. We’re just a few Chinese hells into 2009 and already the race is on to make this year even better!

I love the 80’s! I say that at least once a day. The decade of my youth is riddled with an abundance of decadence displayed across a variety of creative fields. One such field is film music featuring, among its many characteristics, a cavalcade of epic vintage synthesizer scores the likes of which we may never experience in cinema again.

A hallmark amongst these legendary synthesizer scores, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) [http://www.lalalandrecords.com/BTLC.html] is a cult classic featuring bad-ass music composed by its director, John Carpenter, in association with long-time collaborator Alan Howarth. Released in its entirety for the first time, this two-disc limited edition (3000 units) soundtrack remains a gold standard for 1980’s synth scores.

La-La Land Records continues its tradition of an across-the-board commitment to excellence evident by the immaculate digital re-mastering by Mike Matessino, a mini-novel worth of detailed liner notes written by Daniel Schweiger, and the iconic portrait of Jack Burton by movie poster maven, Drew Struzan, which graces its cover. Under the supervision of producers Nick Redman, MV Gerhard, Mike Matessino, and Alan Howarth, this amazing soundtrack is undoubtedly one of the first must-grabs of 2009.

Would Jack Burton’s red-blooded cockiness be emblazoned on screen without the ripping synth guitars of the “Main Title”? Would the rain be as transparently exotic when Jack and Gracie approach The White Tiger without the pitter-patter of a rhythmically complex pairing of synthesized kalimbas and bassoon? Would the madmen of the Wing Kong Exchange be as comically truculent minus it’s festering synth bass ostinato?

Hmmm. Well, just remember what ol’ Jack Burton says…

ScoreKeeper!!!