Soundtrack Review: Dracula (1979) Deluxe Edition

Dracula (1979)
Released by Varese Sarabande, 2018
2-discs, 37 tracks total, with a total running time of 1:48:49
Music Composed and Conducted by John Williams

When I started to really get into soundtracks, one of the first horror ones that caught my eyes . . . or ears, technically, was John Williams score for the ’79 version of Dracula, starring Frank Langella. Now because of Jaws (1975) and more importantly Star Wars (1977), I knew the name John Williams pretty well. The soundtrack for Star Wars was the first soundtrack I ever bought and listened to that endlessly. After seeing this version of Dracula, I also fell in love with the score. That opening track alone is enough to capture your imagination. It immediately draws you in with that amazing opening cue and never let’s go. It has been one of my favorite scores, even after all these years. And . . . while this may upset some Williams’ fans, even after I started to notice and realize some of the similarities between this score and the one he did for Star Wars, that was done two years before, it has not changed my love of this soundtrack.

Williams’ Dracula Special Edition Release

One of the very first film scores that hooked me was that of John Williams’ score for the 1979 version of Dracula, starring Frank Langella. It was also one of the first soundtrack LPs I bought back in the day, being every bummed that it just wasn’t that long of a score. But now all of that is going to change, thanks to Varèse Sarabande.

The Omen Score on White Vinyl

Varèse Sarabande has released a limited edition “demonic white vinyl” version of Jerry Goldsmith’s Oscar winning score for Richard Donner’s The Omen (1976). Talk about an iconic score! This release is only available on Varèse Sarabande website and each of the copies of this remastered LP will be hand numbered, as well as only having 666 units being released.

This is one of those scores that just listening to it can bring back the chills the film creates and has always been one of my favorites. This is a prime example when a score enhances what is happening on the screen so much, it truly is a masterpiece.

Soundtrack Review: Killer Klowns Re-Imagined

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: Re-Imagined
Released by Varèse Sarabande, 2018
21 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 61 min.
Music from the film by John Massari

When you have a great score for a movie that you just happen to love and have seen many, many times, I tend to get a bit nervous when I hear the score has been “re-imagined”. Some of the sounds and themes are something you remember when from watching the film, so to change those in anyway can make a noticeable difference. Fortunately, any differences here weren’t enough to take away from the enjoyment of what this is…a re-imagining.

Soundtrack Review: Bad Samaritan

 

Bad Samaritan
Released by Varèse Sarabande, 2018
29 Tracks with a total running time of 69 min.
Music by Joseph LoDuca

Soundtrack Review: Ghost Stories

Ghost Stories
Released by Varèse Sarabande, 2018
40 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 60 min.
Music by Frank Ilfman

With a title like Ghost Stories, you can pretty much tell, or at least hope, that the score will be filled with creepiness to chill your spine. Unfortunately this score is not like that, at least in the traditional sense. There is nothing where it seems like the composer said, “okay, here comes the creepy part!”. But instead, he fills out this long release with some very somber and quiet pieces, a lot with piano, that still is able to build a nice sense of atmosphere. It might not be overtly creepy, but it still has its fingers in there.

Soundtrack Review: I Kill Giants

I Kill Giants
Released by Varèse Sarabande, 2018
17 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 53 min.
Music by Laurent Perez del Mar

While this might be a little off the usual horror path that we’re on, I am a sucker for soundtracks, and this is a movie about giants, so it kind of fits, right? I had never even heard of the title before getting this to review, but I did make the mistake of watching the trailer before listening to the score, because then I knew I couldn’t get a fresh take on it. But I have to say from what I seen in the trailer, the music that Laurent Perez del Mar created is just beautiful. Right from the first track, Barbara, we get that magical feel of this unique little girl. This firs track is quiet and somber, but almost gives off a sense of wonder.

Soundtrack Review: The Strangers: Prey At Night

The Strangers: Prey at Night
Released by Varèse Sarabande, 2018
23 Tracks with a Total Running time of 73 min.
Original Music By Adrian Johnston

In case you’re weren’t aware of it, but I tend to listen to a lot of soundtracks. Anytime I’m working on this site,  or doing any writing, I have a movie score playing. One of my favorites of all time is John Carpenter’s The Fog. Why am I bringing this up? Because as I was listening to this score for The Strangers: Prey at Night, the opening sure sounds a LOT like The Fog. Now I’ve been told by those that have seen it that it purposely has an ’80s feel to it, so maybe that’s why the ‘homage’. But geez…that is one hell of a homage. This piece is reprised later in the score on the track On the Run.

Soundtrack Review: The Shining (1997)

The Shining (1997)
Released by Varèse Sarabande Records, 2017
3 Discs – 64 Tracks with a Total Running time of 2 hr. 29 min.
Music by Nicholas Pike

Being released for the first time, Varèse Sarabande has unleashed Nicholas Pike’s epic score for the 1997 mini-series version of Stephen King’s The Shining. It’s common knowledge that King wasn’t particularly fond of the movie version of his novel, so with him writing the screenplay and directed by long time King collaborator, director Mick Garris, they made a version that he would be happy with. Pike was in charge of bringing the sense of dread in musical form for the mini-series. And he does a fine job with it too.

Soundtrack Review: The Stand

The Stand
Released by Varèse Sarabande Records, 2017
Disc 1 – 16 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 46 min.
Disc 2 – 17 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 42 min.
Music by W. G. Snuffy Walden

It has been years since I’ve seen Stephen King’s The Stand, but can remember there sitting in front of my TV when it first debuted, anxiously awaiting it to start, like millions of other King fans. But since it has been so long, I don’t recall much of the score, other than hearing Blue Öyster Cult’s Don’t Fear the Reaper in the opening minutes, so this was almost like listening to it for the first time. And I have to say, I am amazed that I don’t remember more of this highly entertaining set of music.