Over the past couple of days, La-La Land Records has released a pair of 2-CD soundtrack limited edition sets for two entries in sci-fi/superhero franchises which began in the 1970s: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and Alien 3.

Released in 1987, Superman IV marked the final time Christopher Reeve would step into the Man of Steel's iconic red and blue costume.  Directed by Sidney J. Furie (Lady Sings the Blues, Iron Eagle), the film centered around Superman's efforts to curtail the nuclear arms races.  At the same time, Lex Luthor (portrayed by the returning Gene Hackman) uses of sample of Superman's DNA to create "The Nuclear Man" to destroy The Last Son of Krypton.  The movie was hampered by a small budget which lead to subpar visual effects and it was severely edited before it was released, leading to several subplots being excised and the movie being a bit choppy.  It is generally regarded as the weakest of the Reeve Superman films.

John Williams' music from previous Superman works was adapted by Alexander Courage for Superman IV.  Courage is most famous for writing the theme to the original Star Trek television series.  Released to coincide with Superman's 80th anniversary this year, La-La Land's 2-CD set is extracted directly from the presentation in the 2008 box set Superman: The Music (1978-1988)  from Film Score Monthly.  Produced by Mike Matessino and Lukas Kendall, mixed and edited by Matessino, and mastered by Doug Schwartz, this release features the score (which was recorded for the longer version of the film) spread across two CDs, with alternate cues following. Disc 2 concludes with all of the songs and source material that were recorded for the project by Paul Fishman.  The liner notes by Mike Matessino, Lukas Kendall and Jeff Eldridge have been sourced from the box set and Jim Titus has done the art design.  This is the first time that the score has been available on its own.  It is limited to 3,000 copies.

La-La Land's other recent release is a 2-CD version of Elliot Goldenthal's score to Alien 3.  The third Alien movie was released in 1992, following on from Ridley Scott's Alien from 1979 and James Cameron's Aliens from 1986.  For this entry in the franchise, David Fincher was at the helm.  Sigourney Weaver returned to play the heroic Ellen Ripley who once again must battle the xenomorphs, this time on a prison planet.   Charles S. Dutton and Charles Dance also starred.  Alien 3 marked Fincher's directorial debut, but the experience did not go well.  The movie went through several scripts and sometimes scenes were filmed without a firm script being in place.  Fincher has since made his dislike of the final product known.  Weaver would return for one more outing (1997's Alien: Resurrection) and then a pair of Aliens vs. Predator movies would see release.  Ridley Scott returned to the franchise for the prequels Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017).  Goldenthal's work on the film would lead to more genre work, like 1993's Demolition Man, 1994's Interview With the Vampire and Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, from 1995 and 1997, respectively.

This new 2-CD edition sees the score expanded over 40 minutes from the original album release.  This expanded score is spread over the first two discs.  The second disc is rounded out by 3 alternate cues and a remastered version of the original 1992 MCA score album.  Produced by Nick Redman and Mike Matessino, associate produced by Neil S. Bulk, and remastered and mixed by Matessino from original digital masters, the set also includes liner notes by Jeff Bond and art direction by Mark Banning.  It is limited to 3,500 copies.

If you would like to give either of these scores a try, we've got the full tracklistings below and the links to order from La-La Land's website.

Elliot Goldenthal, Alien 3: Expanded Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (La-La Land Records LLLCD1454, 2018)

Disc 1: Film Score (previously unreleased)

1. 20th Century-Fox Trademark (Alien Version)/Main Title
2. Status Reports
3. The Survivor is a Woman
4. The Wreckage
5. Lullaby Elegy (Extended Version)
6. The Cremation
7. Chow Down With the Boys
8. How Do You Like Your New Haircut?
9. The First Attack (Film Version)
10. Appreciative of Your Affections
11. That's His Boot
12. A Mark, A Burn
13. Wreckage and Rape
14. Candles in the Wind
15. Bishop Turned On
16. You're Going to Die Too
17. It's a Long Sad Story/Clemens Dies
18. Andrews' Sting/What Are We Going to Do?
19. Explosion and Aftermath (Extended Version)
20. I Have to Get to the Ship
21. In the Basement
22. Alien's Lair
23. The Beast Within
24. Visit to the Wreckage
25. Bait and Chase (Extended Version)

Disc 2: Film Score (1-5), Alternates (6-8) and Original Soundtrack Album (9-22 - released as MCA Records MCAD-10629, 1992)

1. It's Started
2. More Bait and Chase
3. Trap the Alien/Dillon's Deliverance
4. Gotcha/Hello, I Must Be Going
5. Adagio
6. The Cremation (Alternate)
7. You Can Still Have a Life (Alternate)
8. 20th Century-Fox Trademarks (Alien Version - Alternate)
9. Agnus Dei
10. Bait and Chase
11. The Beast Within
12. Lento
13. Candles in the Wind
14. Wreckage and Rape
15. The First Attack
16. Lullaby Elegy
17. Death Dance
18. Visit to the Wreckage
19. Explosion and Aftermath
20. The Dragon
21. The Entrapment
22. Adagio

John Williams/Alexander Courage, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (originally released in Film Score Monthly FSM BOX 02, 2008; reissued La-La Land Records LLLCD14xx, 2018 - original film released 1987)

Disc 1: Film Score

1. Fanfare/Space Saver
2. Main Title/Back in Time
3. Pow!/Good Morning
4. Smoke the Yokes/Nefarious
5. To Work/Train Stopper
6. Someone Like You (Lacy's Theme)
7. Jeremy's Theme
8. For Real/The Class
9. Hair Raisers
10. Lacy/The Visit
11. First Nuclear Man
12. Nuke 1 Fight/Ashes
13. Headline
14. Fresh Air
15. United Nations/Net Man
16. Sunstroke/Enter Nuclear Man 2
17. Flight to Earth/Introducing Nuclear Man 2
18. Lacy (Disco Version)
19. Lacy's Place
20. Ear Ache/Confrontation/Tornado
21. Volcano
22. Statue of Liberty Fight

Disc 2: Film Score (1-8), Alternates and Source Music (9-11) and Songs by Paul Fishman (12-19)

1. Nuclear Man Theme
2. Down With Flu
3. Two-Faced Lex/Missile Buildup
4. Persuader/Awakened
5. Abducted/Mutual Distrust
6. Metropolis Fight/Lift to the Moon
7. Moon Fight/Goodbye Nuke
8. Come Uppance/Lifted/Quarried/Flying with Jeremy/End Credits
9. Fresh Air (Album Version)
10. Someone Like You (Lacy's Theme) (Slow Version)
11. Red Square Band
12. Superfly Guy
13. Headphone Heaven
14. Revolution Now
15. Saxy Sadie
16. Krypton Nights
17. Life's Too Dangerous
18. Workout
19. Lois Love