Music reissues have been scarce over the last month or so, but our friends at various boutique soundtrack labels have worked hard to put out quality products before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us as we shine the spotlight on some of our recent favorites!

Varese Sarabande has been working overtime, releasing three limited CD Club titles as well as a rarer, high-profile deluxe edition. In the latter case, it's a new deluxe edition of the soundtrack to 2014's Whiplash. The sophomore film by writer/director Damien Chazelle (La La Land, First Man) follows a first-year jazz drummer at a music conservatory (Miles Teller) and his demanding instructor (J.K. Simmons). Whiplash won the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival (a short film version, also co-starring Simmons and based on part of the same full-length script, won a Jury Prize for short film fiction the previous year); it also took home three Oscars for editing, sound mixing and Simmons' supporting performance.

The film's score, largely composed by Justin Hurwitz, combines original cues with new and vintage recordings of jazz standards (including the Hank Levy-penned title track and a rendition of Duke Ellington's "Caravan"). This double-disc edition, available on CD and LP, includes everything from the original soundtrack plus 12 unreleased cuts and bonus tracks, including new remixes that feature artists like New Zealand-based producer Opiuo, rapper Junoflo and Murry A. Lightburn, lead singer of The Dears. The new cover art and package design is by Shawn Conn, and T.S. Monk - son of jazz legend Thelonious - pens new liner notes.

Varese's newest CD Club batch is a platonic ideal: a highly-requested expanded edition, a premiere of a score by a classic composer and a repress of a fan favorite. In the first position: Jerry Goldsmith's bold, militaristic score to the 1998 action film U.S. Marshals. An unexpected sequel to the acclaimed 1993 adaptation of the television show The Fugitive, Marshals follows Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) and his team, once again tasked with apprehending an escaped criminal (Wesley Snipes) and assisted by a mysterious special agent (Robert Downey, Jr.). One of the highlights of Goldsmith's late-'90s action era, it's no wonder fans have been clamoring for an expanded U.S. Marshals - and this disc delivers, more than quadrupling the amount of tracks on Varese's original release, all newly remastered from the original scoring sources by Jerry's longtime engineer Bruce Botnick. This set is limited to 3000 copies, so begin your pursuit now.

The label's premiere title is The Big Fix, a score composed by Rocky legend Bill Conti for a quirky political thriller/comedy based on a novel of the same name. Richard Dreyfuss plays Moses Wine, a radical activist turned private detective tasked with investigating a political smear campaign. Bonnie Bedelia, John Lithgow and F. Murray Abraham co-starred. Conti's multifaceted score, encompassing suspenseful cues along with moments of jazz and even disco, is presented here for the first time anywhere, newly mixed and mastered from original elements in the Universal Studios vaults, and even features 13 alternate takes. This one tops out at 1500 copies.

Finally, Varese offers a new 1500-copy repressing of Joseph LoDuca's soundtrack to the horror-comedy Army Of Darkness (1992). The third and biggest-budgeted of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise finds the wisecracking Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) where he ended up at the close of Evil Dead II: trapped in the Middle Ages and forced to help defend against the titular army, accidentally summoned through a misreading of the Necronomicon (Book of the Dead). LoDuca returned to score the film, with a theme for the army of the dead composed by Danny Elfman, who'd worked on Raimi's last film, the superhero blockbuster Darkman. (A 2LP vinyl release of the score is also planned for Record Store Day, presently delayed to June 20 from its original date of last Saturday, April 18.)

Intrada's latest batch of soundtrack reissues also includes a much-coveted expanded soundtrack from a latter-day legend and a premiere of a score from one of the genre's most notable names! The former category is an expansion of Legends Of The Fall, a 1994 drama scored by the late James Horner. Based on a trio of novellas by Jim Harrison, the film follows a family living on a Montana ranch in the early 20th century and how events that transformed American history, from World War I to Prohibition, affect them. With a cast anchored by Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt, the film was nominated for four Golden Globes and picked up an Oscar for John Toll's striking cinematography. Horner's sweeping score is considered by fans to be one of his most affecting, and it's given the deluxe treatment here: a greatly expanded presentation of the original soundtrack, including 35 minutes of alternate material! Produced by Mike Matessino and Neil S. Bulk, the package features liner notes by Frank De Wald in a booklet designed by Kay Marshall.

Finally, Intrada treats fans to another Jerry Goldsmith score - one that's never been released until now! Recorded in 1963, Goldsmith's score to Take Her, She's Mine was his second score in a lengthy tenure for 20th Century-Fox - and was, in fact, feared lost for many years. The lighthearted work accompanies this adaptation of a Tony-winning Broadway play - written by Henry and Phoebe Ephron and starring James Stewart and Sandra Dee - about an overprotective father and his free-spirited college-bound daughter (based on the couple's own child, Nora, on her way to becoming an acclaimed writer/director herself). Produced and restored by Matessino and Chris Malone with liner notes by John Takis and package design by Marshall once more, Take Her, She's Mine is not only found, but offered in both a mono and stereo mix - a quality find for Goldsmith fans!

And we've one last note for all soundtrack connoisseurs out there: La-La Land Records has been holding a 30% off sale all month, and will keep it going through May 15! If you want to check out their impressive catalog and help a small business stay afloat during this difficult time for the industry, now's as good as any a time to check out what they're offering!

The track lists for all the above releases, plus order links, are below!

Whiplash: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Deluxe Edition (Varese Sarabande, 2020 - original film released 2014)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

CD/LP 1: Big Band & Avant Garde

1. Snare Liftoff (I Want To Be One Of The Greats) - J.K. Simmons
2. Overture - Justin Hurwitz
3. Too Hip To Retire - Tim Simonec
4. Whiplash - Hank Levy
5. Upswingin' - Tim Simonec
6. Rehearsal Medley (First Nassau Band Rehearsal/Rival Overbrook Chart/Second Nassau Band Rehearsal/Studio Band Eavesdrop/Studio Band Rehearsal After Breakup) - Tim Simonec
7. Caravan - John Wasson
8. What's Your Name (If You Want The Part, Earn It) - J.K. Simmons
9. Practicing - Justin Hurwitz
10. Invited - Justin Hurwitz
11. Call From Dad - Justin Hurwitz
12. Accident - Justin Hurwitz
13. Hug From Dad - Justin Hurwitz
14. Drum & Drone - Justin Hurwitz
15. Carnegie - Justin Hurwitz
16. Ryan/Breakup - Justin Hurwitz
17. Drum Battle - Justin Hurwitz
18. Dismissed - Justin Hurwitz
19. Good Job (He Was a Beautiful Player) - J.K. Simmons

CD/LP 2: Vintage Cuts & Bonus Material

1. Intoit - Stan Getz
2. No Two Words - Nicholas Britell & Justin Hurwitz
3. When I Wake - Justin Hurwitz
4. Casey's Song - Justin Hurwitz
5. Fletcher's Song In Club - Justin Hurwitz
6. Keep Me Waiting - Dana Williams
7. Fletcher's Song
8. When I Wake (Reprise) - Justin Hurwitz feat. Jullanar Gamboa
9. Upswingin' (Bad Drumming) - Tim Simonec
10. Caravan (Bad Drumming) - John Wasson
11. Fletcher's Song In Club (Halder Flip) - Justin Hurwitz
12. Overture (Opiuo Remix) - Justin Hurwitz
13. Caravan (Timo Garcia Remix) - John Wasson
14. New York City and You - Justin Hurwitz feat. Murray A. Lightburn
15. Came To Win - Justin Hurwitz feat. Konrad OldMoney & Junoflo
16. Fletcher's Song (DOWORK Remix) - Justin Hurwitz
17. Casey's Song (The Tao Of Groove Remix) - Justin Hurwitz

All tracks from Disc 1 and Disc 2, Tracks 1-5 previously released on Varese Sarabande 302 067 286-8, 2014

Jerry Goldsmith, U.S. Marshals: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The Deluxe Edition (Varese Sarabande, 2020 - portions previously released as Varese Sarabande VSD-5914, 1998)

1. The Set Down
2. Nuggets and Bullets
3. Prison Plane
4. Broken Glasses
5. Zip Gun
6. Almost Down
7. Sinking Plane
8. Consider Him Dangerous
9. At Knife Point
10. The Pen
11. Heading For The Swamp
12. Swamp Search
13. Listen To Me
14. The Humidor
15. Take It All
16. Gym Of The Living Dead
17. Dead In The Shower
18. Eyes On The City
19. Got You
20. Airport Locker
21. The Consulate
22. Following Chen
23. Cemetery Watch
24. Across The Cemetery
25. Funeral Ambush
26. The Front Gate
27. Up The Stairs
28. Into The Building
29. Mark and Royce Fight
30. Turn Around
31. We Lost Him
32. The Wrapper
33. The Great Sam
34. Ship Fight
35. Mark's Wounded
36. The Glock
37. Trying To Escape
38. Free To Go
39. End Credits

Bill Conti, The Big Fix: Original Music Picture Soundtrack (Varese Sarabande, 2020 - original film released 1978; all tracks previously unreleased)

1. Main Title
2. C'mon/Walking At College
3. Lila
4. Moses and The Boys/Hold It
5. Moses To Lila's
6. News Men
7. Moses Fighting Tears
8. Moses Sees The Car
9. The Cops and Moses
10. Moses Walks Out
11. Exchange Of Envelopes
12. Hiding The Boys
13. Moses Driving Through Town
14. Son and Father
15. End Credits
16. Main Title (Alternate Take)
17. C'mon (Alternate Take)
18. Lila (Alternate Take)
19. Moses To Lila's (Alternate Take, No. 1)
20. News Men (Alternate Take)
21. Moses Fighting Tears (Alternate Take, No. 1)
22. Moses Fighting Tears (Alternate Take, No. 2)
23. Moses Sees The Car (Alternate Take)
24. Moses Walks Out (Alternate Take)
25. Hiding The Boys (Alternate Take)
26. TV Music (Source)
27. Moses To Lila's (Alternate Take, No. 2)
28. Main Theme

Joseph LoDuca, Army Of Darkness: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (originally released as Varese Sarabande VSD-5411, 1993 - reissued Varese Sarabande, 2020)

1. Prologue
2. Building The Deathcoaster
3. Give Me Some Sugar/Bone'Anza
4. Time Traveller
5. Ash Splits
6. Little Ashes
7. Ash In Chains
8. Night Court
9. The Forest Of The Dead/Graveyard
10. The Pit
11. God Save Us
12. Foul Thing
13. March Of The Dead (composed by Danny Elfman)
14. Whites Of Their Skulls
15. The Deathcoaster
16. On Parapet
17. Ash Bucklers
18. Skeletor
19. Soul Swallower
20. Manly Men
21. End Titles

James Horner, Legends Of The Fall: Expanded Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Intrada ISC 443, 2020 - original film released 1994)

* previously unreleased ** contains previously unreleased material

Disc 1: Score presentation

1. Legends Of The Fall
2. Susannah's Arrival, The Train Station *
3. Susannah *
4. The Ludlows
5. Off To War
6. To The Boys
7. The Letter *
8. Samuel's Death
9. Susannah Stays On *
10. Coming Home, Tristan and Susannah *
11. Alfred Moves To Helena
12. Calf On The Barbie, Bear In The Sights *
13. Farewell, Descent Into Madness
14. The Changing Seasons, Wild Horses, Tristan's Return
15. Goodbyes
16. Love and Bootlegging *
17. The Wedding

Disc 2: Score presentation continued (1-6) and extras (7-14)

1. Recollections Of Samuel
2. Isabel's Murder
3. Tristan Goes To Jail, Last Visit *
4. Revenge
5. A Moment Alone *
6. Alfred, Tristan, The Colonel, The Legend
7. Twilight and Mist *
8. Legends Of The Fall (Extended Version) **
9. Isabel's Murder, Recollections Of Samuel
10. Legends Of The Fall (Without Violin) **
11. The Train Station (Alternate) *
12. The Changing Seasons (Without Synthesizer) **
13. Tristan's Return (Film Version) *
14. Alfred, Tristan, The Colonel, The Legend (Film Edit)

Portions previously released on Epic Soundtrax EK 66462, 1995

Jerry Goldsmith, Take Her, She's Mine: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Intrada ISC 447, 2020 - original film released 1963; all tracks previously unreleased)

Program repeats in stereo (1-20) and mono (21-40)

1. Take Her, She's Mine (Main Title)
2. Art Lesson
3. Campus March
4. The Telegram
5. Late Reading
6. Battle Hymn Of The Republic
7. My Little Girl In Paris
8. Young Lovers
9. Paris Drivers
10. Night Visit
11. False Arrest
12. Plaisir D'Amour
13. Take Her, She's Mine (Waltz Arrangement)
14. Problem Parents
15. The Flea Picker
16. The Emperor's Lost Pants
17. Mollie's Farewell
18. Chattanooga Choo Choo (written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren)
19. Jerry's Baby
20. Twistin' Baby