Varèse Sarabande release a vinyl version of Angelo Badalamenti's score for David Lynch's 1986 movie Blue Velvet. The film follows Jeffrey Beaumont, a college student who returns home after his father has a stroke. When he discovers a severed ear in an abandoned field, Beaumont teams up with detective's daughter Sandy Williams to solve the mystery. They believe beautiful lounge singer Dorothy Vallens may be connected with the case, and Beaumont finds himself becoming drawn into her dark, twisted world, where he encounters sexually depraved psychopath Frank Booth...

Blue Velvet marked the first musical collaboration between auteur director David Lynch and composer Angelo Badalamenti. This release allows listeners to experience Blue Velvet's evocative score that when juxtaposed with Lynch's use of early pop tunes, created a singular disquieting effect. Together with Lynch’s purposeful eye, this score helped form a thematic language that inspired a generation of films and nightmares.

Those of us of a certain age (47 if you must know) remember only too well the impact that Blue Velvet had on them at the cinema. Released in 1986, the film soon became a cult classic, revered by students everywhere. The movie's score played a huge part in bringing the characters and situations to life and Badalamenti would go on to work with Lynch on Twin Peaks.

I haven't heard this score in decades. I originally had a copy many moons ago and pretty much played it to death. It was great to hear that if anything Badalamenti's music sounds even better now than it did on its original release.

The album contains 14 tracks (41 min, 08 sec). Of these 7 (21 min, 28 sec) are from Badalamenti's score, with the remaining 7 (19 min, 40 sec) being made up of various artist songs.

While not an essential purchase (although it would have been if it was 40+ mins of Badalamenti's music) it's still a great soundtrack. The chance to buy this in vinyl will come as an offer too good to pass up for those that originally owned it on its original release.

Track listing:

Side 1

01. Main Title
02. Night Streets / Sandy And Jeffrey
03. Frank
04. Jeffrey’s Dark Side
05. Mysteries Of Love (French Horn Solo)
06. Frank Returns
07. Mysteries Of Love (Instrumental)

Side 2

01. Blue Velvet (written by Bernie Wayne & Lee Morris) / Blue Star (written by Badalamenti & Lynch) (Montage)
02. Lumberton U.S.A. (written by Badalamenti & Lynch) / Going Down To Lincoln (sound effects suite)
03. Akron Meets The Blues
04. Honky Tonk (Part 1) (written by Bill Doggett, Clifford Scott, Shep Sheppard, Billy Butler & Henry Glover / performed by Bill Doggett)
05. In Dreams (composed & performed by Roy Orbison)
06. Love Letters (composed by Victor Young & Edward Heyman / performed by Ketty Lester)
07. Mysteries Of Love (written by Badalamenti & Lynch / performed by Julee Cruise)

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Darren Rea