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As film score fans edge ever closer to the inevitably killer archival score reissues typically made available around the holiday shopping season, a host of great soundtrack re-releases are already newly available from some of our favorite specialty labels, including some must-hear, classic re-recordings.

La-La Land Records takes a brief break from Bond to make available two seasonally appropriate scores. First up is Maurice Jarre’s score to the haunting cult classic Jacob’s Ladder, a psychological thriller about a Vietnam veteran caught between a harrowing past experience that seems to be affecting reality in the present. Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello and Macaulay Culkin (whose career was about to go supernova within weeks of this film’s release thanks to Home Alone) starred, and Jarre’s fusion of electronics and orchestral ideas was a standout aspect of this most intriguing film. This 2CD presentation, produced by Neil S. Bulk and mastered by Doug Schwartz, features two already-released presentations of the score: the original, abbreviated Varese Sarabande soundtrack album, and a 2020 expansion from Quartet Records. It’s augmented by new notes by Jeff Bond and all-new art by Dan Goldwasser, in a package limited to 1000 copies.

Then it’s from horror to hilarious whodunit with John Morris’ reissued score to the 1985 favorite Clue – previously released by the label back in 2011 but newly available for the film’s 40th anniversary. Based on the popular board game of the same name, this satirical potboiler features an ensemble cast of players (including Christopher Lloyd, Madeline Kahn, Michael McKean, Lesley Ann Warren, Martin Mull and Tim Curry) who are all suspects in the death of a mysterious benefactor named Mr. Boddy. As in the game, who committed the crime is just as important as how and where – and the original film took considerable lengths to keep viewers guessing by shooting and releasing three different endings into theaters. Morris, no stranger to high comedy (with a dozen Mel Brooks films under his belt), is more than fit for the job here, and the original remastered audio (produced by Goldwasser and mastered by Mike Matessino) makes for a splendid addition to your comedy score collection. Limited to 1000 copies, the package retains Daniel Schweiger’s original notes in a newly-redesigned booklet by Goldwasser, with a new note from the film’s writer/director Jonathan Lynn.

Over at Intrada, another action favorite from blockbuster composer Hans Zimmer has been expanded. 1995’s Crimson Tide reunited the director and producers of Top Gun – Tony Scott, Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson – for a gripping feature that pitted Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington against each other as a veteran commander and novice executive officer of a submarine armed with nuclear missiles and an unclear directive if they should be used in a conflict with Russian nationalists. (Future stars Viggo Mortensen and James Gandolfini have notable supporting turns, too.) The blend of synth, orchestra and choir make this one of Zimmer’s most archetypal works – one he’s praised as one of his best, and one that earned the German composer his third Grammy Award just a year after picking up his first two for his Oscar-winning work on Disney’s The Lion King. This 2CD set features the complete score (including film versions, material that didn’t make the final cut and a synth demo that Zimmer assembled for a later concert suite), continuing the recent stretch of new archival editions of Zimmer’s best-loved scores.

The label has also prepped one of the most notable as-yet unreleased scores by composer James Newton Howard: his 1990 work for the sci-fi drama Flatliners. The Joel Schumacher cult classic starred Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon and Julia Roberts as medical students whose experimentation with near-death experiences and subsequent visions of the afterlife had disastrous psychological consequences. The album, produced by Stéphane Humez and mastered by Maxime Marion, not only debuts the score on disc but includes nearly 20 minutes of demos and alternate takes. Kaya Savas pens liner notes. One last thrill from Intrada is a newly restored edition of composer Brad Fiedel (The Terminator)’s acclaimed music to the horror cult classic Fright Night. For its 40th anniversary, fans can sink their teeth into a disc that, for the first time, presents the music from newly-discovered first generation scoring masters, offering not only greatly improved audio quality but a host of cues missing from previous releases. Edwin Wendler is the album’s producer, Doug Schwartz remasters, and Daniel Schweiger updates his liner notes from a previous release, with newly-designed artwork by Stephane Coedel.

A sensational offering of album re-recordings of beloved film scores are out from several labels this month, as well. The Dragon’s Domain label has two particular favorites recorded in the mid-’70s and newly presented on limited edition CD: Max Steiner’s work for the 1933 masterpiece King Kong, and Bernard Herrmann’s immortal score for Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Kong, re-recorded in 1976 by the National Philharmonic Orchestra with film and TV composer Fred Steiner (no relation) at the podium, was the first major album presentation of the defining film score; its release was cannily timed to a lavish remake released that same year. Similarly, the recording of Psycho – also by the National Philharmonic, with Herrmann himself conducting – was the first time music from this legendary soundtrack (featuring the unforgettable “shower scene” strings) was available on LP. (Bizarrely, Herrmann’s original film recordings have not been released in full after more than 60 years.) Both are long out-of-print on CD and a must-hear for any discerning score collector. They’ve been newly remastered (with some bonus tracks) by James Nelson at Digital Outland and retain the original liner notes for each (Kong‘s were written by Fred Steiner and the film’s star Fay Wray, while Pyscho‘s were penned by Christopher Palmer.)

A triplicate of re-recordings of classic scores from the ’40s are on the books from Quartet Records – incidentally also licensed, like Kong, from the Fifth Continent Music Classics repertoire. Re-recordings of Hugo Friedhofer’s Oscar-winning score to the post-World War II drama The Best Years of Our Lives (recorded by conductor Frank Collura and the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1979 after the original tapes went missing) and Bernard Herrmann’s first two film scores of his career, for legendary then-new director Orson Welles (1941’s Citizen Kane and 1942’s The Magnificent Ambersons) are presented on three new albums, remixed and remastered in stereo by Chris Malone and presented on high-resolution SACD. (The Herrmann scores were performed by the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Tony Bremner in the ’90s; Kane is presented as highlights from the score, while Ambersons – infamously re-edited by RKO against the wishes of Welles and Herrmann, who had his name removed from the picture – is presented as the composer wrote it.) John Takis has penned new notes for Best Years, while the others have notes from Herrmann biographer Steven C. Smith, focusing on the relationship between these two upstarts of Hollywood. All three albums are limited to 1000 copies apiece.

Finally, another high-res SACD comes from the Dutton Vocalion label: a suite of music from 1983’s Return of The Jedi, the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy. Charles Gerhardt, the founder of the National Philharmonic Orchestra, had spearheaded RCA Red Seal’s The Classic Film Scores series in the mid-’70s, re-recording great works by Steiner, Herrmann, Alfred Newman, Erich Korngold, Dimitri Tiomkin and others – and was behind one of the first (and best) re-recordings of John Williams’ blockbuster Star Wars score for the same label in 1978 (presented on a double bill with a suite from Williams’ Close Encounters of the Third Kind). After recording a well-received suite for sequel The Empire Strikes Back (1980) on the Chalfont label, it was back to RCA Red Seal for music from Jedi, which took the galactic action from the sinister walls of Jabba the Hutt’s Tatooine crime den to land and air battles between the forest moon of Endor and a second, bigger Death Star built by the Galactic Empire – where Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader duel one last time to balance The Force once and for all. After a terrific CD reissue of the Star Wars/Close Encounters album (including a rare quadrophonic mix on the SACD layer), producer Michael J. Dutton restores the stereo tapes  and original sleeve art of the Jedi album for this special SACD version.

Maurice Jarre, Jacob’s Ladder (Music from the Motion Picture – 35th Anniversary Edition) (La-La Land Records LLLCD 1678, 2025 – original film released 1990)

Disc 1: Original soundtrack album (released as Varese Sarabande VSD-5291, 1990)

1. Jacob’s Ladder
2. High Fever
3. Descent to Inferno
4. Sarah
5. The Ladder
6. Sonny Boy – Al Jolson

Disc 2: Score presentation (released as Quartet Records QR431, 2020)

1. Copter’s In
2. Convulsions/Stomach Ache
3. Train Trauma
4. Baby Pictures
5. Burning Pictures
6. Who Are You?/No File/Doctor’s Dead
7. Not Human
8. Ice Cold
9. Fever’s Gone
10. Am I Dead?
11. I See ‘Em Too/Car Attack
12. Funeral
13. Spilled Beer/Surveillance
14. We’ve Been Watching You
15. What X-Ray?
16. You Okay?
17. Walk Again
18. Memorabilia
19. The Mirror
20. Aggressive Tendencies
21. Antidote
22. Pleasant Dreams
23. Demons
24. Demons Are Gone
25. Floor Play
26. Transformation
27. Happy Memories
28. Gabe Leads the Way
29. Sonny Boy (End Credits)

John Morris, Clue (Music from the Motion Picture – 40th Anniversary Edition) (originally released as La-La Land Records LLLCD 1154, 2011 – reissued La-La Land Records LLLCD 1680, 2025 – original film released 1985)

* not used in film
** contains material not used in film

1. Main Title/Trees to Dogs
2. Mrs. White
3. Miss Scarlet */Car in Progress
4. May I Present Mr. Boddy
5. I Suggest We All Leave/Fight, You Bastard/Hallway Screaming Next Door
6. Bag in Hall
7. The Cook Chase/Boddy’s Fall/We’ll Throw It Away **
8. Stranger At Front Door/Match Cutting */People in Hall **
9. Mrs. Peacock and Plum/Death Bridge/Bridge, White & Wadsworth/Billiard Cue Grab/Go Together
10. I’ll Search the Kitchen/Desk, Fire, Weapons/Let’s Try the Conservatory/I’ve Had a Good Life
11. Door Pounding to Chandelier Fall
12. Gun, Cupboard, Doorbell/Cop Panics
13. Yvette Upstairs to Bell
14. Step by Step
15. Remember What Happened Next/Don’t You See? Look!
16. I’ll Get to That/Beatnik
17. Ending A: Your Fatal Mistake/I Shot Her/Cavalry **
18. Ending B: Yvette to We All Ran to Her/To Check That Mr. Boddy Was Dead/Who, Who, Who/Cavalry
19. Ending C: Top to You Were/Peacock At Door
20. End Title *
21. Main Title (Alternate 1)
22. Miss Scarlet/Car in Progress (Alternate)
23. Main Title (Alternate 2)
24. Peacock At Door (Alternate)
25. Main Title (Alternate 3)
26. End Title (Shorter Version)
27. Main Title (Alternate 4)

Hans Zimmer, Crimson Tide (Music from the Original Motion Picture – 30th Anniversary Edition) (Intrada ISC 528, 2025 – original film released 1995)

* contains material not featured in film
** not featured in film
§ contains hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” (John Dykes/William Whiting – P.D.)

Disc 1

1. Main Title */News Report
2. Briefing and Goodbyes/Roll Tide
3. Little Ducks §
4. Fire in the Galley */Hunter Rebuffed *
5. Boxing
6. Real EAM
7. This is Not a Drill
8. Classification
9. First Engagement
10. Mutiny/2nd Attack */Bilge Bay §

Disc 2

1. Counter Mutiny
2. 1SQ */Crisis Averted
3. Court of Inquiry **/Resolution/End Titles §
4. Crimson Tide 2014 Concert Suite (Demo) **
5. Fire in the Galley/Hunter Rebuffed (Film Version)
6. Court of Inquiry/Resolution/End Titles (Film Version) §

Portions previously released on Hollywood Records HR-62025-2, 1995

James Newton Howard, Flatliners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Intrada ISC 526, 2025 – original film released 1990)

1. Flatliners Main Title
2. Pre Lab
3. Nelson & Labraccio
4. The Lab
5. Nelson Preps
6. Nelson Flatlines
7. Drive to Deli
8. Nelson’s Flashback
9. Joe’s Death
10. The Alley
11. Trick or Treat
12. Labraccio Goes Under
13. Billy Attacks in Apartment
14. Rachel Reflects
15. Rachel’s Death
16. Rachel’s Revival
17. Billy & Screwdriver
18. Schoolyard
19. Rachel & Dad in Class
20. Nelson in Truck
21. Billy Attacks in Truck
22. Davey Comforts Rachel
23. Graveyard
24. Rachel Goes Home
25. Nelson Calls Rachel
26. Nelson Running to Lab
27. Nelson Goes Under
28. Boys Arrive At Lab
29. Revival Attempts
30. Nelson & Billy
31. Flatliners End Titles
32. Flatliners Main Title (Demo Version)
33. Nelson Flatlines (Demo Version)
34. Drive to Deli (Demo Version)
35. Rachel’s Death (Demo Version)
36. Nelson Calls Rachel (Demo Version)
37. Boys Arrive At Lab (Alternate)
38. Flatliners End Titles (Demo Version)
39. Flatliners End Titles (Alternate)

Brad Fiedel, Fright Night (Original Motion Picture Score) (Intrada ISC 527, 2025 – original film released 1985)

1. Fright Night T.V. Theme
2. The House Next Door
3. Zombie Show
4. Window Watching
5. Jerry Takes Off
6. Drive to Evil
7. Guess Who’s Here
8. Jerry Drops In
9. Closet Capers
10. Bat Attack
11. Watch Me Do It
12. Charley’s Cathedral
13. Charmed
14. Holy Water
15. Alley Bat
16. Evil Visitor
17. Charley Begs for Help
18. Come to Me
19. Vampire Killers
20. His Dinner’s in the Oven
21. Jerry’s Time is Up
22. The Basement
23. You’re So Cool Brewster
24. Come to Me (Film Mix)
25. Love Theme

Tracks 4-6, 10, 12-13, 15-17 and 19-23 released on Intrada ISC 183, 2011
Track 18 originally released on Fright Night (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Private I SZ 40087, 1985

Max Steiner (composer)/Fred Steiner & The National Philharmonic Orchestra, King Kong (Original Motion Picture Score) (originally released as Entr’acte ERS-6504, 1976 – reissued Dragon’s Domain Records DDR865, 2025 – original film released 1933)

1. Main Title/Boat in the Fog
2. Forgotten Island/Jungle Dance
3. Sea At Night
4. Aboriginal Sacrifice Dance
5. Entrance of Kong
6. The Bronte/Log Sequence
7. Cryptic Shadows
8. Kong/The Cave
9. Sailor’s Waiting
10. Return of Kong
11. King Kong Theatre March
12. King Kong Escapes/Aeroplanes/Finale
13. RKO Radio Beacon/Original Main Title (bonus track from Label X LAXCD10, 1993)

Bernard Herrmann & The National Philharmonic Orchestra, Psycho (Bernard Herrmann’s Complete Music for Alfred Hitchcock’s Suspense Thriller) (originally released as Unicorn RHS-336 (U.K.), 1975 – reissued Dragon’s Domain Records DDR892, 2025 – original film released 1960)

1. Prelude
2. The City/Marion/Marion and Sam
3. Temptation
4. Flight/The Patrol Car/The Car Lot/The Package/The Rainstorm
5. Hotel Room/The Window/The Parlor
6. The Madhouse
7. The Peephole
8. The Bathroom/The Murder/The Body
9. The Office/The Curtain/The Water/The Car/The Swamp
10. The Search (A)/The Shadow/Phone Booth
11. The Porch/The Stairs/The Knife
12. The Search (B)/First Floor/Cabin 10/Cabin 1
13. The Hill/The Bedroom/The Toys/The Cellar/Discovery
14. Finale
15. The Hill/The Bedroom/The Toys/The Cellar/The Knife (Reprise)/Discovery (Film Edit) (bonus track)
16. Psycho: A Narrative for String Orchestra Part 1: Prelude
17. Psycho: A Narrative for String Orchestra Part 2: The Madhouse/The Murder/The Water/The Swamp
18. Psycho: A Narrative for String Orchestra Part 3: The Stairs/The Knife/The Cellar/Finale

Tracks 16-18 released on Bernard Herrmann Conducts Psycho and Other Film Scores – London SPC 21151, 1976

Hugo Friedhofer (composer)/Frank Collura & The London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Best Years of Our Lives (Music from the Motion Picture Score) (originally released as Entr’acte EDP-8101, 1979 – reissued as Quartet Records QRSACD01, 2025 – original film released 1946)

1. Main Title
2. Homecoming
3. The Elevator; Boone City; Peggy
4. Fred & Peggy
5. The Nightmare
6. Fred Asleep
7. Neighbors; Wilma; Homer’s Anger
8. Homer Goes Upstairs
9. The Citation; Graveyard & Bomber
10. End Title & End Cast (Wilma)
11. Exit Music

Bernard Herrmann (composer)/Tony Bremner & The Australian Philharmonic Orchestra, Citizen Kane (Music from the Motion Picture Score) (originally released as Preamble PRCD 1788 (AUS), 1991 – reissued as Quartet Records QRSACD02, 2025 – original film released 1941)

1. Prelude
2. Susan in Night Club (Rain Sequence)
3. Thatcher Library (Litany): Ms. Reading & Snow Picture; Mother’s Sacrifice; Charlie Meets Thatcher
4. Galop
5. Dissolve to Thatcher; Second Ms.; Bernstein’s Narration
6. Kane’s News Office; Carter’s Exit; Chronicle Scherzo
7. Bernstein’s Presto
8. Kane’s Return; Valse Presentation
9. Sunset Narrative
10. Theme and Variations (Breakfast Montage)
11. Kane Meets Susan; Susan’s Room; Mother Memory
12. The Trip to Susan’s; Getty’s Departure; Kane Marries
13. Salaambo’s Aria
14. Leland’s Dismissal
15. Susan in Night Club (New Dawn Sequence)
16. Opera Montage
17. Xanadu; Jigsaw Puzzles (Perpetual Motion); Second Xanadu
18. Kane’s Picnic; Susan Leaves
19. El Rancho (Second Dawn Sequence)
20. The Glass Ball
21. Finale

Bernard Herrmann (composer)/Tony Bremner & The Australian Philharmonic Orchestra, The Magnificent Ambersons (Music from the Motion Picture Score) (originally released as Preamble PRCD 1783 (AUS), 1990 – reissued as Quartet Records QRSACD03, 2025 – original film released 1942)

1. Theme & Variations; George’s Homecoming
2. Snow Ride
3. The Door; Death & Youth
4. Toccata
5. Pleasure Trip
6. Prelude
7. First Nocturne
8. Garden Scene
9. Fantasia
10. Scene Pathetique
11. Waiting 1 and 2
12. Ostinato
13. First Letter Scene
14. Second Letter Scene; Romanza
15. Second Nocturne
16. Departure; Isabel’s Death
17. First Reverie; Second Reverie
18. The Walk Home
19. Garden Music
20. Elegy
21. End Title

John Williams (composer)/Charles Gerhardt & The National Philharmonic Orchestra, Return of The Jedi (Music from the John Williams Score) (originally released as RCA Red Seal CRC1-4748, 1983 – reissued Dutton Vocalion CDLK4649, 2025 – original film released 1983)

1. Main Title/Approaching the Death Star
2. Parade of the Ewoks
3. Luke and Leia
4. Jabba the Hutt
5. Return of The Jedi
6. The Ewok Battle
7. Han Solo Returns
8. Into the Trap/Fight in the Dungeon
9. Heroic Ewok
10. Battle in the Forest
11. Finale