Short Takes: Soundtracks on Tap from Barry, Horner and Mancini

It's already been a busy week here at Second Disc HQ, and the news just keeps on comin'. Three more soundtracks are due from some of the finest composers in film score history: John Barry, James Horner and Henry Mancini.

Before becoming an eminence grise in the world of film scoring, John Barry was best-known as the leader of the John Barry Seven, an association which led him to one of his earliest film projects, the score to the 1960 British film Beat Girl. The long-unavailable soundtrack to Beat Girl, with performances by Barry's group and singer Adam Faith (for whom Barry had produced and arranged a number of hit records), will be reissued on February 21 by El Records, part of the U.K.'s Cherry Red group. El's edition, likely available due to British copyright law and therefore an "unauthorized" release, will be expanded from the original LP. It will include a whopping 36 tracks, its bonus tracks encompassing three French singles (A-sides and B-sides) performed by the film's star, Gillian Hills, seven tracks by Barry and five by Faith. Beat Girl holds the distinction of being the first British film soundtrack to be pressed in the LP format, and its reissue is a welcome one. Beat Girl is available for pre-order at Amazon U.K. here.

By anyone's estimation, James Horner is one of the most phenomenally successful film composers of all time, with Avatar and Titanic just two of the blockbuster scores under his belt. Kritzerland has just reissued Horner's score to Gorky Park in a remastered deluxe edition limited to 1,000 copies. Horner's score to Michael Apted's 1983 thriller was originally released on LP and CD by Varese Sarabande; Kritzerland's edition showcases the original soundtrack in two versions. The first is in soundtrack order as originally selected by the composer; the second is a new presentation in film order. Both make a substantial case for Horner's taut, gripping suspense score. Gorky Park is due the first week of March from Kritzerland, but pre-orders are likely to arrive an average of four weeks early. Gorky Park can be pre-ordered here.

Last year, Quartet Records did a splendid job releasing Henry Mancini's score to Curse of the Pink Panther for the first time in any format. The label follows up this project with the debut of another Mancini "hidden gem," the score to Harry and Son. This 1984 film told the story of the relationship between a blue-collar worker (Paul Newman) and his aspiring writer son (Robby Benson). Newman also directed, and starred alongside his real-life wife, Joanne Woodward, and Ellen Barkin. In addition to 23 score tracks making their first appearance in any audio format, Quartet's limited edition release of Harry and Son includes an alternate cue, an instrumental of the song "Aerobic" and a radio promo version of "Harry's Theme." It can be pre-ordered here.

Hit the jump for track listings and discographical information for all three releases!

John Barry, Beat Girl: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Columbia (UK), 33SX1225, 1960 – reissued El CD ACMEM204CD, 2011)

Main Title (Beat Girl)
The Off Beat
I Did What You Told Me – performed by Adam Faith
London Home Rock
Time Out
The Sharks
The Beat Girl Song – performed by Adam Faith
The City, 2000 A.D.
The Stripper
The Cave/Beat Girl/Kids Stuff
Made You – performed by Adam Faith
Car Chase/Night Chase
Chicken
Blues for Beatniks
It’s Legal – performed by Shirley Anne Field
The Immediate Pleasure
Blondie’s Strip
End Shot/Slaughter in Soho
Ma Premiere Cigarette
Cou-Couche Panier
Le Paradise Pour Toi (A Kooky Little Paradise)
Si Tu Veux Que Je Te Dise
Cha Cha Stop
Pres De La Cascade (By a Waterfall)
Hit and Miss
Blues for Beatniks
Big Fella
Walk, Don’t Run
Black Stockings
Christella
Bee’s Knees
What Do You Want
Poor Me
Someone Else’s Baby
How About That
Lonely Pup (in a Christmas Shop)

Tracks 1-18 from Beat Girl: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Columbia (U.K.) LP 33SX1225, 1960
Tracks 19-20 performed by Gillian Hills from Barclay single 60239, 1960
Tracks 21-22 performed by Gillian Hills from Barclay single 60241, 1960
Tracks 23-24 performed by Gillian Hills from Barclay single 62112, 1960
Track 25 performed by The John Barry Seven from Columbia (U.K.) single DB4414, 1960
Tracks 26-27 performed by The John Barry Seven from Columbia (U.K.) single DB4446, 1960
Track 28 performed by The John Barry Seven from Columbia (U.K.) single DB4505, 1960
Track 29 performed by The John Barry Seven from Columbia (U.K.) single DB4554, 1960
Track 30 performed by The John Barry Seven from Columbia (U.K.) single DB4582, 1959
Track 31 performed by The John Barry Seven from Parlophone single R4488, 1958
Track 32 performed by Adam Faith from Parlophone single R4591, 1959
Track 33 performed by Adam Faith from Parlophone single R4623, 1960
Track 34 performed by Adam Faith from Parlophone single R4643, 1960
Track 35 performed by Adam Faith from Parlophone single R4689, 1960
Track 36 performed by Adam Faith from Parlophone single R4708, 1960

James Horner, Gorky Park: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack (Varese Sarabande STV-81206, 1983 - reissued Kritzerland KR-20018-0, 2011)