Blade Runner is one of my all-time Top 5 films* and along with the highbrow debate about what constitutes life and consciousness, the moral validity of taking said ‘life’ anyway even in a good cause, the modern spin on Frankenstein (the Mary Shelley book, not the bolt-sporting film dude), a brilliant future-noir take on life, my favourite opening sequence of any film, several boobs and the bit where that dude like totally gets his eyes gouged out by Rutger Hauer, an integral part of what makes it great is the soundtrack by Vangelis. I had never thought of getting the soundtrack though until, my big pop crush, Alison Goldfrapp talked about how it was one of her favourite albums ever in a couple of interviews and so I decided to investigate further, on the off-chance that it would impress her if she ever decided to pop round for coffee one day. Without more ado I immediately bought a lovely vinyl copy of the soundtrack on eBay, which came with a free promotional poster chucked in. Cool.
Dear friends, I blush to tell you I got so ripped off.
My own stupid fault of course, I hadn’t done my research first I simply assumed that the only soundtrack LP would be the proper Vangelis one, instead what I got was the New American Orchestra Music From Blade Runner; the seller hadn’t done anything wrong I just hadn’t read it right. I didn’t know my history.
The film came out in 1982, the end credits advertised the soundtrack LP but it was not actually released until 1994. There are conflicting views over why this was, but essentially they seem to boil down to contractual disputes of one sort or another. To plug the demand for the acclaimed soundtrack the record company rush-released the LP I had bought, which I understand uses Vangelis’ original underscore** and then an orchestral re-recording of the music. Obviously bootleg copies of the original score and the piece of incidental music in the film proliferated like wildfire at comics and sci-fi conventions. I stumbled across a great, lovingly prepared and researched overview of the whole story when I was preparing this, on the Blade Zone website, which I would heartily recommend.
I concur totally with that gentleman’s view of Music From Blade Runner, it was meticulously done but lacked the subtlety and textures of the original soundtrack and the sudden Wah-wah guitar on ‘End Title’ is a real WTF? moment, in fact as the ‘Zone guy above mentions, it does veer somewhat nearer Shaft than it should. Class. I think this should happen with more LPs, I mean I really liked this year’s Clutch and Nick Cave LPs – but just imagine how much better a session musician version of both would be.
The original soundtrack, which I own on CD is a thing of beauty and joy forever of course, even all the two disks of extra bits are brilliant. The fact that the synths sound a little dated now, just adds to the whole future-retro-noir-retro-futureness of the project. I listen to this a lot and when I was studying I used to play it over and over and over because it was background music (something a soundtrack is by definition) but it wasn’t mush. I particularly love the eastern touches on ‘Memories of Green’ and ‘Damask Rose’ and I was interested to learn that in the rushes one of the tracks they used to soundtrack the film was ‘Qu’ran’ from the completely God-like, My Life In The Bush of Ghosts by Brian Eno and David Byrne.
There isn’t a wasted second here as far as I am concerned, the sequencing is perfect and I’m always a sucker for bits of dialogue in soundtrack albums too (Queen Flash Gordon being another firm fave) and ‘Blade Runner (End Titles)’ really just rocks. However I do have a quibble, why has this album never, ever been released on vinyl? why? I’m not anal enough that it ever spoils my enjoyment of it, but I genuinely do wonder about this once a week, or so. So whoever is in charge of RSD 2014, please take note and make an old fella happy the way that only a deluxe gatefold, neon yellow vinyl limited edition re-release can.
As for Music From Blade Runner I think I only played it once when I bought it in 2004 and I only got half way through this time; it’s not your fault guys, it really isn’t you, it’s me. The poster magazine the ebay seller threw in for me is pretty cool though.
A closing thought, Blade Runner is set in 2019, Replicants are closer than we thought.
171 Down.
Here you go – make you own minds up, or play both simultaneously to really freak out.
*I’m not as geeky with films at all , trust me, I could probably only give you my top 37 at any given point.
**me neither.
Very prescient of you. Except for the vinyl being red.
Terrific piece Joe.
Thanks again Bruce. The real BR soundtrack LP is worth a fair amount already.
Easily my most listened to album. It is perfect driving at night music.
Blind purchases: they’re the best and worst of any music collection. Keep on wasting money, you’ll get another gem soon!
http://www.discogs.com/Vangelis-Blade-Runner/release/4369372
Wow I’m totally in awe of the power you wield in the American music industry… One email, then bang!
I see one is available in your neck of the universe.
I originally commented and left this long and nostalgic piece about buying this soundtrack in 1992 and how it really affected me, along with Scott’s film, Douglas Trumball’s art direction and effects, the acting(and Cassidy’s breasts), of course Philip K. Dick’s writing, but most of all it was Vangelis’ soundtrack that made the biggest impression on me. The idea of how we decide what or who truly deserves life, the concept of developing emotions and feelings where they shouldn’t exist, it was a lot for some freckle-faced Midwestern kid to take in. And it stayed with me, even to today.
But that response vanished for some reason. Hence the callous, cold, and emotionless link.
Can you see I’m blushing?
I just assumed that your empathy unit was on the blink.
(I approved your comments the wrong way around – don’t worry your breast comments have been saved for posterity)
Save the breasts!
Wrong colour vinyl!
I’m thinking of pulling the trigger on this. I’d love to own this album. Damn. What color did you prefer?
Neon yellow, but hey, I just ebayed a copy; blowing my 4 hours-old resolution not to buy any music this month!!
That’s a resolution that can’t last. Not for people like us.
I know but for reasons of dignity I try and last at least 7 hours normally before giving in.
I commend you in a valiant effort.
Found one in red translucent for $36. Hmm..
Go on, you don’t want to miss it and find yourself one night on the roof of your house crying tears in the rain.
Words from a replicant that knows. Okay, I’m doing it!
I bought the Blade Runner soundtrack too, way back in 1992-93. I was working at a video store and was consuming large doses of Ridley Scott on a more than regular basis. Blade Runner is still one of my favorite films, and Philip K. Dick one of my favorite sci fi writers. The concept of the story alone is worth the price of admission. Throw in Douglas Trumball’s art direction, special effects, and design, and of course Scott’s meticulous direction and well Ford, Young, Hauer, and Hannah(and Joanna Cassidy’s breasts) were icing on the cake.
I was surprised at the age of 18-19 just how much I connected with Vangelis’ score. I was just really hitting the Kinks and the Beatles pretty hard for the first time, along with the grunge wave still very much in view. Some band called the Smashing Pumpkins had just put an album called Siamese Dream out and it was ruling my head for most of the time. But Vangelis and Blade Runner, something about those Juno Synths and all that analog warmth, I totally connected with it. And every time I heard those pieces it took me back to being a little kid and seeing Blade Runner for the first time. The empathy I felt for those ‘replicants’ that were nothing more than artificial intelligence….yet had developed feelings and emotions. It was all pretty heady stuff for some corn-fed, freckled, Midwestern kid. I think because of this film and this soundtrack in-particular is why I still have a fascination for this music. 1980s synth music. That music gets the old nostalgia machine going for me and I can almost see those Star Wars toys sitting in front of me in my parent’s front yard, playing in the pine needles and battling the great galactic threat.
Thanks for posting this.
Btw, Mondo would be perfect for reissuing the original soundtrack. I may have to email them the idea.
Thank you too, when I first saw this I was really moved by the emotion in the film; Star Wars (my complete obsession for years) didn’t concern itself with such trifles.
My folks were sci-fi nuts though and I was raised on a steady diet of Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein and all those great (anti-red) films of the 50s which just always seemed to be on TV. The Day The Earth Stood Still & Forbidden Planet are still up there in my affections.
I love the way that the film’s vision of the future hasn’t really dated too much in 31 years too. It’s just remarkable.
You do realise that I am in fact a Nexus-8 don’t you?