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La-La Land Records continues its hot streak with an expanded score and soundtrack release of one of the biggest blockbusters of the '80s: Harold Faltermeyer's score to the 1986 action classic Top Gun.

The 2CD set, limited to 5000 copies, features Faltermeyer's complete, electronic-infused score to Tony Scott's film about a squadron of Navy pilots training in an elite program colloquially known as - you guessed it - Top Gun. Tom Cruise stars as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a talented but reckless pilot who must learn honor and responsibility alongside his instructor-turned-love interestCharlie Blackwood (Kelly McGillis), his best friend and wingman Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) and his rival, Tom "Iceman" Kazinsky (Val Kilmer). Shot on a modest $15 million budget, Top Gun grossed more than $350 million worldwide - the highest flyer of 1986 - and spawned an belated sequel in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick, a critically-acclaimed follow-up that grossed more than $1 billion at a time when movie theaters were still reeling from the after-effects of COVID-19.

Fresh off acclaimed, popular scores for Beverly Hills Cop and Fletch, Faltermeyer - known for pop work with Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder - took his bank of synthesizers and keyboards to the next level with the rich musical textures of Top Gun. Anchored by the soaring theme "Top Gun Anthem," featuring Billy Idol sideman Steve Stevens on guitar, fans of the score came up short when the film first hit theaters, although Top Gun was hardly lacking in musical thrills. The picture boasted a soundtrack full of fast-paced pop songs including Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" (a U.S. No. 2 hit), Loverboy's "Heaven in Your Eyes" (a U.S. No. 12) and Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" (a chart-topper in America and the Academy Award winner for Best Original Song) alongside tracks by Cheap Trick, Miami Sound Machine and Teena Marie. The album sold more than nine million copies in America and remains one of the most celebrated pop soundtracks.

La-La Land's presentation will honor both halves of the film's musical legacy, presenting the complete film score for the first time, the original soundtrack album, a selection of bonus cuts and classic pop songs from a 2000 reissue of that CD, several uncompiled B-sides from those singles featuring original recordings by Faltermeyer, and several unheard iterations of "Top Gun Anthem" in demo form. It's all produced and designed by Dan Goldwasser and mastered by Doug Schwartz under the personal approval of Faltermeyer, who offers new insights into the score in Tim Grieving's liner notes.

This presentation of Top Gun is already flying high, with autographed copies by the composer already sold out. It's shipping March 11; get your copy at the link below.

Harold Faltermeyer, Top Gun (Music from the Motion Picture - Limited Edition) (La-La Land Records LLLCD 1606, 2024 - original film released 1986)

Disc 1: Film score

1. Main Title *
2. Carrier Takeoffs and Landings **
3. Two Migs, Not One †/Cougar Chased by Mig/Mav Flips the Bird */Cougar's Troubled Landing
4. Mav Goes to Fightertown **
5. Jester Flying ***
6. Tower Flyby *
7. Viper Comes Down on Mav
8. Mav and Goose in Room
9. Dinner at Charlie's §
10. Mav Says Goodbye to Charlie §
11. Love Scene §
12. Mav vs. Viper
13. End Locker Room and Photo
14. Aerial Sequence **
15. Goose's Death/Memories
16. Mav Reflects in Goose's Room/Board of Inquiry/Charlie and Mav in Airport Bar
17. Viper's House Pt. 1 #
18. Viper's House Pt. 2
19. Carrier Ready Room and Takeoffs #
20. Mav is Launched/Mav Bugs Out/Mav Returns to Battle #/Return to Carrier *
21. Top Gun Theme (original demo - May 4, 1985)
22. Top Gun Theme (revised demo - August 1, 1985)
23. Top Gun Theme (revised demo reprise - August 1, 1985)

Disc 2: Original soundtrack album and bonus material

1. Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins
2. Mighty Wings - Cheap Trick
3. Playing with the Boys - Kenny Loggins
4. Lead Me On - Teena Marie
5. Take My Breath Away (Love Theme from Top Gun) - Berlin
6. Hot Summer Nights - Miami Sound Machine
7. Heaven in Your Eyes - Loverboy
8. Through the Fire - Larry Greene
9. Destination Unknown - Marietta
10. Top Gun Anthem - Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens
11. (Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
12. Memories - Harold Faltermeyer
13. Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
14. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - The Righteous Brothers
15. Playing with the Boys (Dance Mix) - Kenny Loggins
16. Dog Fight #3 - Harold Faltermeyer
17. Radar Radio - Giorgio Moroder feat. Joe Pizzulo
18. First Shot of Mav and Goose (Unused) *
19. Don't Worry About the Mig (Unused) §
20. Top Gun Theme (Extended Album Mix)

Disc 2, Tracks 1-10 released as Columbia SC 40323, 1986
Disc 2, Tracks 11-15 used as bonus tracks on Columbia/Legacy CK 65554, 1999

• Track 11 from Volt single 45-157 and The Dock of the Bay - Volt S-419, 1968
• Track 12 from "Top Gun Anthem" single - Columbia 38-06282, 1986
• Track 13 from Sun single 281, 1957
• Track 14 from Philles single 154, 1964 and You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - Philles PHLP-4007, 1965
• Track 15 from Columbia 12" 44-05940, 1986

Disc 2, Track 16 from "Mighty WIngs" single - Columbia 38-06137, 1986
Disc 2, Track 17 from "Take My Breath Away" single - Columbia 38-05903, 1986