September was an unusually bountiful month for archival soundtracks, and we're here to break it all down.

Varese Goes West, Revisits Buddy Holly

The latest title in Varese Sarabande's CD Club was an expansion of Elmer Bernstein's heroic score to the 1999 blockbuster Wild Wild West. Though the film somewhat infamously broke co-star Will Smith's ironclad grip on the July 4 weekend box office after star turns in Independence Day (1996) and Men In Black (1997), the weird cult charm of this adaptation of the CBS spy-cum-Western show is hard to ignore. Smith starred as Captain Jim West alongside Kevin Kline as U.S. Marshal Artemus Gordon, recruited by Ulysses S. Grant to thwart the villainous Dr. Loveless (Kenneth Branagh) - played here not as a little person, but a legless man with a steam-powered wheelchair and a giant mechanical spider (a strange longtime desire of producer Jon Peters). Director Barry Sonnenfeld devoted lavish attention to the film's set pieces and effects, while Bernstein channels the Western energy he delivered to classics like The Magnificent Seven for a fun musical romp, here greatly expanded and limited to 2000 units. Chas Ferry has mastered from original tapes possessed by Bernstein's estate, while Tim Grieving has written liner notes.

Recently, the label has also introduced a wide-release expansion and reconstruction of the music to the 1978 biopic The Buddy Holly Story. Joe Renzetti's adaptation of rock and R&B classics by Holly, The Big Bopper, Sam Cooke and Eddie Cochran earned an Academy Award, and Gary Busey's striking transformation into the late rock legend earned him an Oscar nomination and set him on the path to an idiosyncratic career. This release, available on both CD or LP, marks the premiere release of the music as heard in the film, featuring twice as many songs as on the original soundtrack as issued by Epic Records at the time of release. Both editions also feature rare photos of the real Holly, provided jointly by his estate and the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation.

Both titles are available now at Varese's official store, with The Buddy Holly Story also available on Amazon and digital partners.

La-La Land Scares Up Casper, Munsters, Quinn Martin and More

Over at La-La Land, it's ghoulish fun on disc from Universal, plus some fan favorites for film and TV score lovers.

The late James Horner's score to Casper has been expanded and reissued for the film's 25th anniversary. This live-action update of the Harvey Comics cartoon found Bill Pullman and Christina Ricci moving into a New England mansion that's occupied by the titular friendly ghost and his trio of uncles from the afterlife. The score is classic Horner whimsy, featuring occasional references to the original cartoon theme (penned by the legendary Mack David and Jerry Livingston and sung over the end credits by the late Little Richard) as well as a pop theme, "Remember Me This Way," co-written and produced by David Foster. This 2CD expansion, limited to 3000 copies, features the original score plus a new remaster of the original MCA soundtrack album - all tweaked to perfection by producers Neil S. Bulk and Mike Matessino (who mastered with input from original engineer Shawn Murphy). Jeff Bond's written liner notes, with Jim Titus delivering frightfully good package design.

In smaller quantities, La-La Land has also debuted John Powell's score to the whirlwind Ben Affleck-Sandra Bullock romantic comedy Forces of Nature (1999), limited to 1000 units. They've also debuted Jack Marshall's score to 1966's Munster, Go Home. Marshall, the father of producer Frank, was perhaps best known in the soundtrack world for his iconic theme to Universal's horror-comedy series The Munsters - and reprised his role for the color feature continuation of the freaky family as they traveled to England to appraise an inherited piece of land. Munster, Go Home, produced for release by Matessino with Bond and Titus writing notes and designing the set, is limited to 3000 units and is the most recent entry in the recently rebranded Universal Pictures Film Music Classics Collection.

Finally, La-La Land continues another celebrated run of scores with the third volume devoted to music from Quinn Martin Productions. This double-disc set concerns music by Patrick Williams for The Streets of San Francisco, an hourlong weekly drama that ran through the '70s on ABC. Karl Malden and Michael Douglas played a pair of hardboiled homicide detectives in the Bay Area; just about everything was shot on location and with real SFPD input. (Malden and the then-unknown Douglas developed an incredible mentorly rapport on the series that lasted through Malden's passing in 2009.) Ten episodes of the series, including its feature-length pilot, are represented here, as well as another bonus from composer Williams: a 1979 episode of another Quinn Martin series, the short-lived A Man Called Sloane, which he also scored. Veteran score historian Jon Burlingame produces and writes liner notes, with Doug Schwartz mastering and Dan Goldwasser providing package design. Streets runs 2000 units strong.

Intrada Adds Robin Hood Back to Its Quiver

This week brings news of one last impressive soundtrack reissue from the Intrada label: a greatly-expanded version of Michael Kamen's score to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), now expanded to four discs and packed with impressive unreleased material. The big-budget adaptation of the classic English folktale, featuring Kevin Costner in the title role, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Maid Marian and Alan Rickman as the evil Sheriff of Nottingham (plus supporting turns by Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater), was a blockbuster on the pop side of things thanks to Bryan Adams' chart-topping, Oscar-nominated "Everything I Do (I Do It for You)." But Kamen (who collaborated on the tune) brought his A-game to the score, anchored by a stirring theme that became the fanfare for the film's production company, Morgan Creek.

Previously expanded by Intrada in 2018, this new edition enlists the help of Kamen's estate to provide key missing passages of the original score as well as never-before-heard alternate takes. A final disc provides a new master of Kamen's original soundtrack album (less the pop tracks by Adams' and Jeff Lynne, who performed "Wild Times" for the film). Kay Marshall designs the package (complete with double sided booklet with two cover choices) with notes by Frank K. DeWald.

All of the above mentioned titles can be ordered at the links below!

Elmer Bernstein, Wild Wild West: Original Motion Picture Score - The Deluxe Edition (Varese Sarabande, 2020)

1. Blade
2. Main Title
3. Punch
4. West Fights *
5. Cliffhanger
6. Whirly Girly
7. Punch Up
8. Washington
9. Dismissed
10. Man's Head
11. Waltz First Mansion
12. Polka
13. East Meets West *
14. Reeling
15. Boobies
16. Rescue
17. Tank
18. Tank To Catch
19. Exit McGrath
20. Ritaless
21. Missing Something †§
22. Train Attack ‡§
23. The Cornfield *
24. Fear
25. Memories
26. Spider Canyon
27. Big Ride (original Wild Wild West television theme)
28. Coincidence †
29. Captured
30. The Plan/America
31. She Dances
32. Eight Ball †
33. Avante/Air Gordon †
34. Flying Attack †
35. Knife Guy †
36. Tin Man/Four Of a Kind
37. Last Fight ‡
38. Bye Loveless/Whoopin' †§°
39. The End (Ride The Spider) *§
40. Main Title (alternate version)
41. 1M3 Take 119 (unused)
42. Whirly Girly Stop (unused)
43. 4M3 R Take 165 (unused)
44. Flying Attack (alternate version) †
45. The End (Ride The Spider) (alternate version) §
46. Blood On The Saddle/Arise (instrumental)
47. Camptown Races/Oh Susanna

† theme by Elmer Bernstein, composed by Peter Bernstein
‡ composed by Peter Bernstein
§ orchestrations by Patrick Russ
° orchestrations by Jon Kull

Portions released as Varese Sarabande VSD-6042, 1999

Gary Busey, The Buddy Holly Story: Deluxe Edition (Varese Sarabande, 2020)

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

1. That'll Be The Day (unedited film version)
2. Mockin' Bird Hill (film version)
3. Rock Around With Ollie Vee (unedited film version)
4. Tennessee Waltz ***
5. That'll Be The Day
6. Everyday **
7. You Send Me (film version) - Paul Mooney
8. Oh, Boy! (film version)
9. It's So Easy (film version)
10. Rave On
11. Listen To Me
12. Well...All Right (acoustic film version)
13. Well...All Right
14. Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On (unedited film version) - Jerry Zaremba
15. Maybe Baby (film version)
16. Chantilly Lace (film version) - Gailard Sartrain
17. True Love Ways
18. Clear Lake Medley: That'll Be The Day/Oh, Boy!/Peggy Sue/Maybe Baby/Not Fade Away
19. Maybe Baby (alternate take)
20. Everyday (garage recording, film version)
21. I'm Gonna Love You Too (isolated vocal track)
22. Roller Rink Medley: Rock Around With Ollie Vee/That'll Be The Day

Versions of Tracks 6, 9, 10-11, 13-15, 17-18 and 21-22 released as Epic SE 35412, 1978
** not featured in film *** not featured on soundtrack or in film

James Horner, Casper: Original Soundtrack - 25th Anniversary Remastered Edition (La-La Land LLLCD 1514, 2020)

Disc 1: Expanded soundtrack

* previously unreleased
** contains previously unreleased material
+ Contains "Casper The Friendly Ghost" written by Mack David and Jerry Livingston

1. Kids With a Camera **
2. Carrigan & Dibs
3. March Of The Exorcists
4. On To Whipstaff **
5. "No Sign Of Ghosts"
6. First Haunting/The Swordfight (Film Version) **
7. Casper Makes Breakfast
8. Ride Of The Valkyries/Ghost Melt *
9. Kat Walks To School **
10. Fatso As Amelia *
11. The Doctor Is In *
12. The Lighthouse - Casper & Kat
13. Costume For Kat
14. Kat In The Attic/Fond Memories **
15. Descent To Lazarus
16. 'Dying' To Be a Ghost (Film Version) **
17. Carrigan Crosses Over
18. Dad Returns
19. Casper Gets His Wish **
20. One Last Wish
21. The Uncles Swing/End Credits
22. Kids With a Camera (Film Version) ** +
23. Casper The Friendly Ghost (Score Segments) * +
24. Teaser

Disc 2: Remastered original soundtrack (released as MCA Records MCAD-11240, 1995)

1. "No Sign Of Ghosts"
2. Carrigan & Dibs
3. Strangers In The House
4. First Haunting/The Swordfight
5. March Of The Exorcists
6. The Lighthouse - Casper & Kat
7. Casper Makes Breakfast
8. Fond Memories
9. 'Dying' To Be a Ghost
10. Casper's Lullaby
11. Descent To Lazarus
12. One Last Wish
13. Remember Me This Way - Jordan Hill
14. Casper The Friendly Ghost - Little Richard +
15. The Uncles Swing/End Credits

John Powell (* with Oliver J. Lieber), Forces of Nature: Music From The Motion Picture (La-La Land Records LLLCD 1538, 2020 - original film released 1999)

1. Hospital Stroll
2. Airport Ride
3. Sarah's Story
4. Train to the Wedding
5. Sarah's Friend
6. Can Anything Else Go Wrong?
7. Hailstorm
8. Shopping Sauce 1 *
9. Shopping Sauce 2 *
10. Shopping Sauce 3 *
11. Sexy Laundromat
12. Bummed Out
13. In the Bath
14. Post Panic Attack
15. Fire Kiss
16. Ben's Happy
17. Sarah's Secret
18. Truly Ben
19. Balcony Scene
20. The Road Ahead (Original Demo)
21. Behave (Original Demo)

All tracks previously unreleased

Jack Marshall, Munster, Go Home! Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (La-La Land Records LLLCD 1539, 2020 - original film released 1966)

1. Main Title - Munster, Go Home!
2. England Or Bust
3. Happy Herbert/Heave Ho
4. Racy Romance
5. Grandpa's Goof
6. Helpful Herman
7. Bliss Goes Amiss/Munster Arrival
8. Smokus Pocus/At Munster Hall
9. Meet The Munsters
10. Love In The Gloom
11. Gate Crashers
12. Easy Does It
13. Keep Ye Out/Water You Doing
14. Tally Ho/Rump Roast
15. Off To The Races
16. Cash, Dash, Hash
17. Ridin' and Racin'
18. Mad Mish Mosh
19. Heroic Herman
20. End Title
21. Cheer, Boys, Cheer (Source Band)
22. Off To The Races (Alternate)
23. Griffon Stingers

All tracks previously unreleased

Patrick Williams, The Quinn Martin Collection - Volume 3: The Streets of San Francisco (La-La Land Records LLLCD 1534, 2020 - original series broadcast 1972-1977)

Disc 1

1. First Season Main Title
2. Marina Stuff
3. Pilot Main Title
4. Mr. Mod/Deep Memory
5. To Holly's/Holly's Room
6. Motel Time
7. Holly's Theme
8. Meter Feeding/Farr Karate
9. Farr to Club/Farr Out
10. Boat Trouble/Mr. Mean Is on the Scene/Charge
11. Here Come De Fuzz/Home at Last
12. A Problem for Mr. Mean/Mr. Mean in the Spleen
13. The Trunk/There It Is
14. Gus-Fuzz/Gus Got It
15. Bad News
16. Late Visit/No Keys
17. Dope Cat/Here Comes Steve
18. Cutting Out/Funkie Junkie/Goodbye Gus
19. Cop Time/Bang-Bang
20. The Biggie/North Beach
21. Amory/Window Shopping
22. To Holloway/Gets to You
23. A Penny/Second Time/My Card/Ambush
24. Tennis Time/Crystal Cove
25. It's Over/Pursuit/Lock Him Up
26. Epilogue
27. First Season End Title (unused)
28. Happy News/Goodbye Rhinelander
29. The Station/Come On Wally/No Tickets
30. Mr. Shoes/Good Try/Let's Go
31. That's One/That's Two/That's Three
32. Be My Guest/Bye Wally
33. Act One
34. Hello Papa/Wouldn't You
35. Welcome Home
36. To Potrero/Fire Bug
37. Cut Off/Attack
38. Remorse/Goodbye
39. Attack
40. A Loss/Short Trip
41. The Visitor/Night Intruder
42. Interruption/From the Tub
43. The Rescue/No Chance
44. Pilot/First Season End Title

Disc 2

1. First Season Main Title (Alternate)
2. Jackpot/Keach Fires/Take It Back
3. Eddie Runs/Get Lost
4. Bryant Street/Eddie's Island/Going Home
5. The Rock/Cell Block Blues
6. Freeze Eddie/Empty Suitcase/Eddie's Home
7. Expensive Stuffing
8. Third Season Main Title
9. One Makes It/First Lie
10. Slow Drive/Another Belt
11. Drunk Drive
12. Big Drink/Number Seven
13. Stone/Regrets
14. Fourth Season Main Title
15. First Drive/The Assassination
16. Another Hit
17. I Got It/Even More
18. The Drop/Not This Time
19. Drive Time/Goodbye Truax/Daytime Police
20. Fifth Season Main Title
21. Wheeling In/Abduction
22. Rolling/Bus Fuss
23. Wounded
24. In the Heart/I Am
25. Futile Escape
26. Dan Moves In/The Capture
27. Nice Day/Yes Sir
28. Fourth Season End Title
29. Main Title
30. Meet Torque
31. Sloane & Torque in Action
32. Theme for Strings
33. Rest and Recreation/To Washington
34. Pursuing Danton/Bumper
35. Sneaking Around
36. Sloane on the Move
37. Smooth Finish
38. Sloane & Michelle
39. End Title

Disc 1, Tracks 2-13 from The Streets of San Francisco - September 16, 1972
Disc 1, Tracks 14-20 from "The Thirty Year Pin" - September 23, 1972
Disc 1, Tracks 21-26 from "Tower Beyond Tragedy" - October 28, 1972
Disc 1, Tracks 28-32 from "In the Midst of Strangers" - November 25, 1972
Disc 1, Tracks 33-38 from "Bitter Wine" - December 23, 1972
Disc 1, Tracks 39-43 from "Act of Duty" - January 18, 1973
Disc 2, Tracks 2-7 from "Going Home" - October 11, 1973
Disc 2, Tracks 9-13 from "One Last Shot" - September 12, 1974
Disc 2, Tracks 15-19 from "The Glass Dart Board" - September 18, 1975
Disc 2, Tracks 21-27 from "The Thrill Killers" - September 30, 1976
Disc 2, Tracks 29-39 from A Man Called Sloane episode "The Seduction Squad" - September 29, 1979

Michael Kamen, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Expanded and Remastered) (Intrada ISC 458, 2020 - original film released 1991)

* previously unreleased

Disc 1

1. Main Title - Prince Of Thieves
2. The Letter/Robin's Hand/And His Merry Men */Home
3. Robin Foils Gisborne/Arrow *
4. The Boy In The Tree
5. Gisborne Brings Bad News/Father
6. I Will Not Rest
7. Meet Marian
8. Robin Gives Marian Ring/Escape To Sherwood
9. Eyes Of The Forest/Little John (The River)
10. The Band In The Forest
11. Little John Fight Pt. 1 & Pt. 2
12. Camp Oak
13. Robin Sees The Bishop/Robin Talks To Bishop/Robin Escapes
14. Stitch
15. Village Destructo (Alternate #2)/Village Destroyed Pt. 2
16. Courage/Training Sequence Pt. 1 & Pt. 2/Troops
17. The Merry Men Continue Raids
18. Sheriff Calls Off Christmas
19. Merry Men Plot The Ambush/The Merry Men Ambush Gisborne
20. Humility/Buffoons Ambush Marian
21. Marian At The Waterfall/Camp

Disc 2

1. Medieval Dance - Source #2
2. Marian At The Waterfall/Camp - Reprise/Baby
3. Medieval Dance - Source #3 (Slow Version) *
4. The Plot Thickens (Maid Marian)
5. Warning Arrow
6. Celt Battle Pt. 1, Pt. 2 & Pt. 2A *
7. Celt Battle Pt. 3 *
8. Robin Hood's Fall (Village Destructo Alternate #1)
9. Duncan's Death
10. Generic Witch Ambience Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 *
11. Circle Of Stones */Plans For Rescue/Will Captured *
12. Mayhem In Town
13. Rescue Marian/Robin Fights The Sheriff/Finale Pt. 1 & Pt. 2
14. Finale Pt. 3 & Pt. 4
15. End Credits *

Disc 3: Alternate Takes and Additional Music

1. Home
2. Gisborne Brings Bad News *
3. I Will Not Rest (Alternate Mix)
4. Robin Gives Marian Ring (Alternate Mix)
5. Escape To Sherwood (Film Mix) *
6. The Band In The Forest (Alternate)
7. Village Destructo (Alternate #3)
8. Training Sequence (Take 3)
9. Training Sequence (Take 4)
10. Marian At The Waterfall/Camp (Take 8)
11. Marian At The Waterfall/Camp - Reprise (Alternate)
12. Medieval Dance - Source #3 (Fast Version) *
13. Medieval Dance - Source #3 (Fast Version Alternate) *
14. Medieval Dance - Source #3 (Slow Version Alternate) *
15. Hangman's Drums *
16. Mayhem In Town (Take 5)
17. Join Robin (Alternate)
18. Finale Pt. 4A (Bridge To Song) *
19. Morgan Creek Fanfare *

Portions of above previously released as Intrada ISC 395, 2018

Disc 4: Original Album Presentation (released on Morgan Creek 2959 20004-2, 1991)

1. Overture and A Prisoner Of The Crusades (From Chains To Freedom)
2. Sir Guy Of Gisborne and The Escape To Sherwood
3. Little John and The Band In The Forest
4. The Sheriff and His Witch
5. Maid Marian
6. Training - Robin Hood, Prince Of Thieves
7. Marian At The Waterfall
8. The Abduction and The Final Battle At The Gallows