Retro Score Review - Teen Wolf (1985) - Miles Goodman

For the first retro review, it is Teen Wolf from 1985. This movie was originally filmed before Back To The Future, and was released shortly after that to capitalise on the success of Michael J Fox as the lead actor.

The plot is ridiculous, a high school basketball player turns into a wolf and nobody bats an eyelid, but that is the charm of the 80s. Its funny, ridiculous, hillarious and has great moments throughout.

Miles Goodman composed the music for the movie and all of the songs. They have a distinctive sound throughout, with guitars, synths and gated drums.

The soundtrack however only consists of 9 tracks, with lots of score being absent. It was released on CD and Vinyl in 1985 on the Metronome label in Japan, and in Germany. Since then, there has been no re release or expanded version, which is surprising given the movie has a cult following.

Some of the key tracks missing are as follows:

Miles Goodman's instrumental rendition of "Staying Alive" composed in the synth fashion of the rest of the soundtrack.

Interlude score pieces, such as Beer Keg scenes.



The Wolf Dance opening score at the high school dance. This funky jam is a percussive heavy track making use of the Linndrum and some groovy bass.

The alternate "Big Bad Wolf" song. On the CD and Vinyl releases, this song sounds different due to the drums and vocals being used. In the movie version, different vocals and drums are used and it sounds sufficiently different.

Given that the songs only take up around half an hour, it would be easy to include everything on an expanded release. It may be likely that Intrada, La La Land or Perseverance Records may do a release.

1. Flesh On Fire James House



This is a fantastic song, great galloping guitar, synths and a vintage 80s melody. Linndrum percussion throughout this track. One of the best of the decade.

2. Big Bad Wolf The Wolf Sisters



This is a funky track, with vocoder and again percussion heavy with the Linndrum.
The movie version is slightly different with an unreleased intro and alternate drums and vocals.

3. Win In The End Mark Safan



The iconic theme from the end basketball game. Not much is known about Mark Safan, but the track is a perfect end to a satisfying 80s movie.

4. Shootin' For The Moon Amy Holland

A great theme, making use of the DX7 and Miles Goodman's talents for orchestral themes.

5. Silhouette David Palmer

This is the track played during the house party, and is visuallised perfectly on screen through Scott Howard slashing his way into his female friend Boof!

6. Way To Go Mark Vieha

Another classic played during the halfway point of the movie showcasing how Scott Howard as the Wolf is helping win all their games. The music matches the hilarity of the onscreen action.

7. Good News David Morgan

A great song, buried in the background before the wolf dance.

8. Transformation Miles Goodman (instrumental)



Probably the most recognised song in the movie, this is the key instrumental music for Scott Howard's first transformation at home. Absolute perfection.

9. Boof Miles Goodman (instrumental)

A great interlude, and uses the melody from Shooting from the moon to great effect.

Superman IV - The Quest For Peace - Paul Fishman's Rare Music

If you've ever watched Superman IV, you might recall the funky gym workout music that plays with the immortal "no pain, no gain" uttered by Christopher Reeve.  This music forms part of several music tracks composed by Paul Fishman specifically for the movie, some of which ended up completely removed when the final film was released.

None of this music was available for more than 20 odd years until Film Score Monthly released the 8 Disc complete score set for the Christopher Reeve Superman series.

There are several great tracks, about eight in total, and include some great instrumental music, including the song "Life's Too Dangerous" which was supposed to appear during a deleted scene.  The only way to get this music is to buy the complete eight disc set, but it is worth every penny, as you not only get this music, you get the complete scores and songs for all four Superman movies.


This is great rare synthesizer music which any vintage fan will enjoy.  It is too bad some of these were cut from the final film, but at least the music is finally available.

  
The Paul Fishman songs are on Disc 6 of the set.

Superfly Guy 4:11
Headphone Heaven 3:23
Revolution Now 4:26
Saxy Sadie 4:47
Krypton Nights 4:44
Life's Too Dangerous 3:14
Workout 2:27 
Lois Love 4:56

http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/cds/detail.cfm/cdID/390/

Star Trek IV The Voyage Home Expanded Edition Release

If you love your Star Trek scores, then the expanded release of Star Trek IV The Voyage Home by Leonard Rosenman on Intrada Records is one to get to complete the collection.  Several of the other movie scores by James Horner have already been re released in expanded form, and this one is another great edition.

This was the only Trek score by Rosenman, but it suited the movie rather well, what with it taking place in 1986 in San Fransisco and was rather more comedic than other adventures before or after. It also includes the infamous song " I Hate You" by Kirk Thatcher, played on the boombox by the hilarious punk on the bus!

Overall, this is a great score, in the days of when an orchestral score was actually fit for purpose to describe the action on the big screen.

http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7334/.f

Intrada Release Brad Fiedel's Fright Night Score

If you were left unfulfilled by Djawadi's Fright Night score this year, then you can at least ease your pain a little by getting the music for the superior original movie.


After almost 26 years comes the first official release of Brad Fiedel's Fright Night score.  After being bootlegged to death, its quite surprising that its taken this long, but better late than never.

Also check out a new interview with Brad Fiedel here:

http://rejectedfilmscores.125mb.com/bradfiedelinterview.html 

FRIGHT NIGHT
Music by BRAD FIEDEL
INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 183

The score from Columbia Pictures' darkly humorous horror film Fright Night (1985) proved challenging to release: the master elements were initially missing. Now, 26 years after its initial release, Intrada presents Brad Fiedel's long-awaited score. After much additional searching, Sony was able to locate a single ¼” 15 ips two-track scoring session master containing approximately 16 minutes of music. Further search led to a DAT transfer of the ¼” 7 ½ ips two-track stereo safeties of the remaining cues. With these two finds, Intrada was able to proceed on a release of Brad Fiedel's score.

Fright Night tells the tale of a Charlie, a teenage boy who enlists the help of TV host Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowlel) in a real-life battle with the undead, featuring a horror homage that would become its own trendsetter -- pitting the duo against a ladykilling, Yuppie bloodsucker who just moved in next-door. Fiedel responded with a score that was both state-of-the-art and old school -- imbuing the hip villain with the stuff of supernatural legend. But while Fiedel tracked the story from a humorous beginning to an unexpectedly shocking climax, Fright Night’s experimental jolts were also firmly bound by the same melodic laws of a classic Hammer film, filled with themes and motifs that paint The Vampire as an eternal creature of seduction.The main theme introduces Jerry Dandridge with a swaying, hypnotic rhythm, enticing Charlie to peep on his neighbor, and the beautiful call girl he’s undressing. It’s a sensual build worthy of a rock god and his conquest.

Because of differences between the above-mentioned master reel and 1/4" safeties, Intrada presents all 16 minutes of the score from the high quality session master as a single track to start the CD. All of the individual tracks that make up that track also appear in the subsequent score presentation, allowing listeners to finally enjoy Brad Fidel's long overdue score.


INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 183
Retail Price: $19.99
SHIPS OCT 18th
For track listing and sound samples, please visit
http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7292/.f

Zack Hemsey - A brief insight into the way he works

One of the reasons why Inception was such a big hit was partly because of the music used during one of the trailers.  Many thought the music had been created by Hans Zimmer, but in actual fact, it was done completely by one man, Zack Hemsey.  Titled "Mind Heist", its an epic track, used to great effect. Even today, people think Hans Zimmer created it, but its all done by Zack Hemsey.

His music is so good, it has even been plagiarised by Steve Jablonsky during a key scene in Transformers Dark of The Moon, something which Hemsey addressed on his blog here.


SoundWorks Collection: Composer Zack Hemsey from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.


Zack Hemsey is actually a Hip Hop MC and composer extraordinaire.  He started off composing for hip hop group called Nine Leaves where he is also an MC.  His unique blend of electronic and orchestral gave Nine Leaves a very distinct sound.

http://nineleaves.org/album/peace-in-death

 
Hemsey's first album contains Mind Heist and many other tracks which have been used in several more movie trailers.  He doesn't actually compose for film, its actually Hollywood that has actively persued his music to be used.

Young Guns II - Silvestri Classic in Expanded Format Released

If you are an Alan Silvestri fan, then you can grab his Young Guns II score in its complete format from Intrada and Screen Archives.

A classic western featuring an all star cast, the soundtrack is quite appropriately composed, with plenty of boombastic themes.  This score makes use of orchestra, guitar and rivetting percussion throughout.  This one is up there alongside his other classics. The sound quality has been remastered, and should satisfy any true Young Guns fan.


You can grab a copy from Screen Archives here:
http://www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/16373/YOUNG-GUNS-II/

Or from Intrada themselves:
http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7272/.f

The Golden Child Limited Edition Soundtrack Score - Michael Colombier

Recently released, this is a 3 CD limited edition set of the complete and rejected scores for The Golden Child. Eddie Murphy's classic supernatural action comedy features a great synth/orchestral mix with some great themes in there.

The sound quality is superb, mastered brilliantly and crystal clear. Its a definite upgrade from the existing soundtrack releases.

You even get the entire rejected score by John Barry, which itself is quite brilliant.

http://lalalandrecords.com/GoldenChild.html

On the 3rd CD you also get the various songs that were used in the film. All in all, a complete score and soundtrack edition nicely put together. Now if they would only do the same for numerous other films out there.

Commando Score - Tropical Wild Jungle Fever Returns Again

If you were waiting for a reissue of James Horner's wild tropical beast of a score for Commando, then you just missed out. The reissue for Commando sold out in less than 24 hours, showing there still are human beings with good taste in music!

The legendary 1985 score by Horner carries on from his wild "48 Hours" score, introducing heavy percussion, tropical drums and just wild action cues which haven't been heard since. Actually, they did reappear when Horner scored Red Heat a few years later, but this score is his definitive masterpiece alongside his Star Trek 2 The Wrath of Kahn soundtrack score.

This new release is on La La Land Records who have done a public service by releasing this beast of a score once more. Now if only James Horner pulled his finger out of his backside and did another score like this, we could have some more enjoyable one liners and wild action scenes.

To top it off, they have included the long trenchcoat Power Station anthem with this score to satisfy the cravings of everyone, somewhere, somehow, indeed..

Enjoy the score and remember these great one liners.

"I eat green beret's for breakfast and right now i'm very hungry".

"You're a funny guy Sully, I like you. That's why I'm going to kill you last."

"Don't disturb my friend, he's dead tired."


Even Sully went "oooh la laaaaa" when Matrix dropped him like a piece of meat.

Paul Hertzog - Freeing The Waters Release

If you don't already have Paul Hertzog's Freeing The Waters CD, you can purchase it via Perseverance Records here.

http://store.fortytwotradingco.com/freeingwaters.html

Originally released in 2009, its a collection of unreleased movie score instrumentals he originally created in the late 1980's.

You can also still find his Bloodsport and Kickboxer score's on Perseverance Records too, 2 legendary scores by the great man.