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 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 5:59 AM   
 By:   SBD   (Member)



Quartet Records and MGM present the 35th-anniversary remastered, 2-CD expanded edition of the score by Arthur B. Rubinstein (Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Blue Thunder, Nick of Time) for the classic ’80s thriller WarGames.

Directed by John Badham in 1983 and starring Matthew Broderick, Ally Shedy, Dabney Colleman and John Wood, this mega-hit film is about a young man who finds a back door into a military central computer in which reality is confused with game-playing, possibly starting World War III.

Arthur B. Rubinstein, Badham’s usual composer, provides a dynamic action score with incredible sweep and colorful excitement. With no single main theme, his score for WarGames is a veritable feast of themes and motifs, many of them cleverly interrelated.

Unfairly, Arthur B. Rubinstein was not a popular composer in 1983, but the film’s incredible success inspired Polydor to release an LP of WarGames that, typically for soundtracks of the era, featured a selection of score highlights and songs intercut with dialogue excerpts and sound effects from the film—far from being the full score. In 2008, Intrada Records released a magnificent CD produced under the supervision of Maestro Rubinstein himself, newly remixed from the 2 24-track session masters. This high-quality CD was quickly sold out and fetched high prices on the second-hand market, but the sound was a bit different from what was heard in the film, possibly due to the composer’s personal choices when revisiting the score 25 years later. With the 35th anniversary of the film, we decided not to offer a straight reissue of the Intrada CD, but to return to the original mixes of the film, made at the legendary MGM Scoring Stage in Culver City.

The first CD is sequenced in film order and sounds as it is heard in the film. On the second disc we have included, for the first time, the reissue of the original Polydor LP, whose mixes were also a bit different from what was prepared for the film. We have also included in the bonus section some alternates and cues not used in the film, offering the most complete edition that will be a delight for fans of this film and score. Produced, restored, remixed and mastered by Chris Malone in painstaking detail from ½? three-tracks, ½? stereo-tracks and album masters (we even pulled the stereo music stem for a 15-second cue missing from the session tapes), all vaulted in pristine condition at MGM. John Takis provides detailed liner notes in a 20-page full-color booklet.

This album is dedicated to the memory of Arthur B. Rubinstein, who passed away in April 2018.

DISC ONE. The Film Score

01. WarGames (3:38)
02. Video Fever (vocal) (2:34)
03. Principal’s Office (2:01)
04. A New Grade, Part 1 (1:25)
05. A New Grade, Part 2 (0:50)
06. The Games Begin (2:16)
07. It Could Be War, Part 1 (0:36)
08. History Lesson (1:46)
09. Home Movie (1:28)
10. A Game of Chess? (2:13)
11. It Could Be War, Part 2 (0:58)
12. Nuclear Alert, Part 1 (0:40)
13. Nuclear Alert, Part 2 (2:25)
14. Walk Through NORAD (2:17)
15. David Captured (3:55)
16. David Searches (1:34)
17. The Sneak (2:22)
18. NORAD (0:59)
19. It Could Be War, Part 3 (0:44)
20. Confidence Is High (1:10)
21. Off to See Falken (1:08)
22. WOPR (0:32)
23. Maneuvers (1:39)
24. Falken’s House (1:52)
25. Time’s Up (0:18)
26. I Can’t Swim (1:31)
27. David’s Concern (2:25)
28. Helicopter Pursuit (1:09)
29. Off to NORAD (0:25)
30. Launch Detected (1:22)
31. Closing the Mountain (1:53)
32. Who’s First? (2:36)
33. Joshua! (2:38)
34. It Might Be Real (1:00)
35. Tic-Tac-Toe (1:36)
36. Winner None (1:47)
37. End Credits (3:37)
38. Edge of the World (Vocal) (1:52)

DISC TWO. The 1983 Soundtrack Album

01. WarGames (2:56)
02. Dialogue (0:25)
03. Video Fever (2:29)
04. Dialogue (0:43)
05. Dialogue (0:18)
06. The Game Begins I (3:00)
07. Dialogue (0:08)
08. The Game Begins II (1:44)
09. Dialogue (0:30)
10. It Could Be War (1:34)
11. Dialogue (0:32)
12. David’s Concern (1:51)
13. Dialogue (0:25)
14. NORAD I (0:55)
15. Dialogue (0:06)
16. NORAD II (1:59)
17. Dialogue (0:44)
18. Edge of the World (1:37)
19. Dialogue (0:22)
20. Confidence Is High I (2:11)
21. Dialogue (0:42)
22. Confidence Is High II (1:35)
23. Dialogue (0:22)
24. History Lesson (1:43)
25. Dialogue (0:36)
26. Launch Detected (1:20)
27. Dialogue (0:53)
28. Winner None (1:44)
29. Dialogue (0:48)
30. Dialogue (0:23)
31. Edge of the World (End Title) (3:32)

Bonus Tracks
32. Edge of the World (Alternate Vocal) (2:05)
33. WarGames (Alternate) (3:39)
34. Video Fever (Vocal, Alternate) (2:20)
35. Principal’s Office (Alternate) (0:59)
36. History Lesson (Vocal) (1:44)
37. Nuclear Alert, Part 2 (Film Version) (2:24)
38. Confidence Is High (With Chorus, Alternate 1) (1:08)
39. Off to See Falken (Film Mix) (1:08)
40. Maneuvers (Original Version) (1:45)
41. Joshua! (With Chorus) (2:38)
42. Confidence Is High (With Chorus, Alternate 2) (1:08)
43. Winner None (Alternate) (1:46)
44. End Credits (Alternate) (3:37)
45. Edge of the World (Choral Version) (2:03)

Total Disc Two: 67:45

Total 2CD Time: 134:40

Limited Collector’s Edition of 1000 units.

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 7:35 AM   
 By:   Gold Digger   (Member)

Didn’t really want to buy this again after the Intrada but this one has the History Lesson without the annoying vocal, sounds impressive and has a good selection of extras too. So - ordered!

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 7:57 AM   
 By:   xG-MONEYx   (Member)

A 1000 copies. Yep..this will be gone in a week, maybe 2. Got mine!!!

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 8:02 AM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)

Didn’t really want to buy this again after the Intrada but this one has the History Lesson without the annoying vocal, sounds impressive and has a good selection of extras too. So - ordered!

History Lesson isn't on the Intrada release?

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 8:13 AM   
 By:   Mike Esssss   (Member)

Didn’t really want to buy this again after the Intrada but this one has the History Lesson without the annoying vocal, sounds impressive and has a good selection of extras too. So - ordered!

History Lesson isn't on the Intrada release?


It is but not the film version. Rubinstein apparently always envisioned the cue with the vocal and it was originally done that way, which is the version on the Intrada album.

From Doug Fake:

"'History Lesson' was never intended to be heard without the synth vocal. The film mixed it down to almost negligable levels because Badham wanted to nix any vocal material throughout his movie. The LP omitted the vocal entirely because of the added special mixing costs required to synch those particular tracks. Omitting them was essentially a mistake since the melodic line was reduced, relegating the piece to mostly rhythm and accompaniment. These tracks weren't recorded at MGM but at a different location (Synner Productions) by several synth artists working together. They're all credited in our packaging as we did spend the money to mix everything as intended. There was no desire on our part to 'recreate' the LP's omission."

It's a brilliant score and I'd be tempted to buy it anyway even though I own the Intrada release, but having this cue as heard in the film is the topper of the whole set.

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 8:16 AM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)

Didn’t really want to buy this again after the Intrada but this one has the History Lesson without the annoying vocal, sounds impressive and has a good selection of extras too. So - ordered!

History Lesson isn't on the Intrada release?


It is but not the film version. Rubinstein apparently always envisioned the cue with the vocal and it was originally done that way, which is the version on the Intrada album.

From Doug Fake:

"'History Lesson' was never intended to be heard without the synth vocal. The film mixed it down to almost negligable levels because Badham wanted to nix any vocal material throughout his movie. The LP omitted the vocal entirely because of the added special mixing costs required to synch those particular tracks. Omitting them was essentially a mistake since the melodic line was reduced, relegating the piece to mostly rhythm and accompaniment. These tracks weren't recorded at MGM but at a different location (Synner Productions) by several synth artists working together. They're all credited in our packaging as we did spend the money to mix everything as intended. There was no desire on our part to 'recreate' the LP's omission."

It's a brilliant score and I'd be tempted to buy it anyway even though I own the Intrada release, but having this cue as heard in the film is the topper of the whole set.


Ah cool thanks!

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 8:24 AM   
 By:   Bill in Portland Maine   (Member)

Missed the Intrada release like a fool. Gotta have this. 1983 was such a kickass year for filmusic, and Rubinstein's War Games and Blue Thunder (the soundtrack with subliminal messages of a sensitive nature when played backwards) were two major reasons why.

But this isn't a British CD that doesn't play in American machines, is it? Is that still a thing? I've heard they're sneaky that way, along with their penchant for subliminal messages when their CDs are played backwards.

-

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 8:30 AM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)

How ironic that the computers acronym was the WOPR yet we saw a McDonalds restaurant in the film!

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 8:38 AM   
 By:   Willgoldnewtonbarrygrusin   (Member)

Wonderful surprise. And I'm also so happy to get the LP program with the dialogue - nostalgia pure, just in time for Christmas!

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 9:08 AM   
 By:   A. A. Ron   (Member)

How ironic that the computers acronym was the WOPR yet we saw a McDonalds restaurant in the film!

That's coincidental, not ironic.

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 9:11 AM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)

How ironic that the computers acronym was the WOPR yet we saw a McDonalds restaurant in the film!

That's coincidental, not ironic.


The irony escapes you.

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 12:08 PM   
 By:   jkheiser   (Member)

A fictional contraption that’s a homonym for McDonald’s rival product is mere synchronicity.

If Burger King paid for product placement showing Matthew Broderick enjoying a Whopper but the movie ended with WOPR poisoning the world’s food supply, that would be ironic.

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 12:23 PM   
 By:   Hurdy Gurdy   (Member)

I didn't really wanna buy this again either, but the inclusion of the old LP I grew up with, together with the original film version mixes of cues and the bonus tracks makes it difficult to resist.

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 3:29 PM   
 By:   other tallguy   (Member)

If it can hang on 'till next month I'll pick it up.

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 4:12 PM   
 By:   'Lenny Bruce' Marshall   (Member)

Jesus, every damn cue- SEPARATE? !
I want a soundtrack ALBUM , not the entire recording session!

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 4:39 PM   
 By:   SpaceMind   (Member)

That hurt!!! $44.17 with shipping... but ordered.

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 5:39 PM   
 By:   Jeyl   (Member)

- I want a soundtrack ALBUM , not the entire recording session!

Isn't that Disc 2?

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 5:46 PM   
 By:   spielboy   (Member)

so they separate the dialogue but it's still in between music tracks...?

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 7:25 PM   
 By:   TerraEpon   (Member)

so they separate the dialogue but it's still in between music tracks...?

In 2018 they have things called "ripping to the computer" and even "programming your CD player". Separating them by track makes leaving them out much easier.

 
 Posted:   Dec 10, 2018 - 7:29 PM   
 By:   'Lenny Bruce' Marshall   (Member)

That hurt!!! $44.17 with shipping... but ordered.

Hey, i aint the one clamoring for these multi-disc, bloated reissues!

 
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