World premiere release of spooky 'n' kooky Les Baxter 1963 score for American International fright picture, directed by esteemed Jacques Tourneur, starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone. Quartet of iconic stars should be enough to attract attention but add Richard Matheson script, story about undertaker needing fresh "supplies" to keep business afloat and ingredients for fun are built in. Les Baxter keeps that in mind, writes music with equal parts fun, fear. Rare for Baxter/AIP projects, MGM vaults happily contained complete score as recorded in mono, with all rolls in beautiful condition. Baxter writes for orchestra with economy in mind. Everything plays briskly to keep pace with picture, remains transparent in keeping with light touch. For enthusiasts, wacky (intentionally) out-of-tune song "He Is Not Dead" is included where positioned in film as it is integral to musical continuity of score. Feel free to program piece at end of album or...? Fun cover art. Interior of booklet offers complete cue assembly details. Les Baxter conducts. Intrada Special Collection release available while quantities and interest remains! -
Track listing
01. The Mourners 3:36
02. Meet Cleopatra 1:19
03. Hearse Of A Different Color 7:44
04. Atmospheres 1:44
05. Two Birds 1:23
06. Up We Go 2:25
07. Abra-Cadaver 3:55
08. A Tisket A Casket 1:17
09. He Is Not Dead 2:19
10. Play It Straight 5:38
11. The Axe 4:39
12. Par For The Corpse 1:30
13. Waltzing 1:01
14. Never Say Die 0:49
15. That's All 2:17
Total Disc Time: 41:53
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