Customer Reviews

Christine: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Score

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Having purchased what I presumed to be a CD of the 1950's music I was dissapointed to find it was not what I had anticipated. I had aquired a copy audio tape of the 50's music to Christine years before I actually saw the movie and aquired the video. I have spent the last ten years desperately trying to find a supplier to replace my audio tape (which became 'Pepsi' contaminated)or aquire a CD of the origional music, c'mon guys - somebody out there must know where I can get my hands on some of the best music included on an excellant film track?

An amazing number of people have shunned this album simply because it is not the soundtrack containing the classic oldies songs from the film. That is no reason to give this excellent album a one star rating. The original soundtrack album was released in 1983 on Motown Records and just never made the cut when things were being changed over to CD in 1985. Copies of that LP can be found frequently on online auctions. But for those who appreciate a good film score or John Carpenter's minimalist synth music in general, this score album released by Varese Sarabande is worth every cent. Unlike many score albums, the whole thing hangs together. When the music isn't outright scary, it's unforgetably haunting and surprisingly touching. There is a tone of tragedy here that I would never have expected the score to touch on. As always, Carpenter throws very little into the pot and pours out plenty. 100% atmosphere.

This is not a disc of the classic rock of the film, but of Carpenter's typically minimal score. It's not one of his best, but it's good for the sad Carpenter addict (like your humble reviewer).

He makes good use of a few cues, more like his earlier scores but he adds some simple textures elsewhere. Not as memorable as Halloween or Escape from New York and not as good as The Thing disc (with a lot of Morricone's leftover music) but decent enough.

With the recent Special Edition DVD they should put together a combo of the score and the rock tracks, though I wouldn't bet on it soon.

Some good tracks include the simple, driving cue heard when Christine runs down the despicable Moochie Wells, and also when Christine chases the rest of the 20-something high school delinquents in the film. Not the best Carpenter flick, far from his worst, that's about where the score is. Definitely Carpenter, but could have used fatter, fuzzier synths.

This is the music from the background of the movie, not the 50's music as on the original LP. Still interesting for the collector though!

-Dave

Being a HUGE soundtrack fan, a huge Stephen King fan, and quite the little John Carpenter fan, I have to admit that this is wonderful score- all prejudice aside. It's evocative in that way that creeps up your spine and makes you look over your shoulder with a slightly cold sweat at any dual headlights behind you on the road.
But yes, this is the score. For the person wondering, here's the song list to the film. Enjoy! When These classic rock 'n roll songs are mixed with this wonderful score, WATCH OUT BECAUSE NO ONE CAN STOP YOU!


* "Bad To The Bone"
Performed by George Thorogood & The Destroyers (as George Thorogood and The Destroyers)
Courtesy of EMI America Records
Delsound Music

* "Beast Of Burden"
Performed by The Rolling Stones
Courtesy of Promotone B.V.
Cannel Ltd.

* "Bony Moronie"
Performed by Larry Williams
Courtesy of Specialty Records, Inc.
Venice Music c/o ATV Music Corp.

* "Come On, Let's Go"
Performed by Ritchie Valens
Courtesy of Rhino Records/Del Fi Records
Keeno Music Co. & Chockas Music, Inc.

* "Harlem Nocturne"
Performed by The Viscounts
Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.
Shapiro Bernstein & Co.

* "I Wonder Why"
Performed by Dion & The Belmonts
Courtesy of Laurie Records, Inc.
Schwartz Music Co., Inc.

* "Keep A-Knockin'"
Performed by Little Richard
Courtesy of Specialty Records, Inc.
Music Corporation of America

* "Little Bitty Pretty One"
Performed by Thurston Harris
Courtesy of Liberty Records
Records Music Publishers

* "Not Fade Away"
Performed by Buddy Holly
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
MPI Communications, Inc. & Wren Music Co.

* "Pledging My Love"
Performed by Johnny Ace
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
Duchess Music Corp.

* "Not Fade Away"
Performed by Tanya Tucker
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
MPI Communications, Inc. & Wren Music Co.

* "Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay"
Performed by Danny & The Juniors
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
Singular Publishing Co., Inc. & Golden Egg Music, Inc.

* "Runaway"
Performed by Bonnie Raitt
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records, Inc.
by arrangement with Warner Special Products
Mole Hole Music / Bug Music & Rightsong Music, Inc.

* "The Name Of The Game"
Performed by Abba
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
by arrangement with Warner Special Products
Countless Songs Ltd. - U.S. & Canada
Sole Selling Agend Ivan Mogull Music Corp.

* "We Belong Together"
Performed by Robert & Johnny
Courtesy of Old Town Records
Big Seven Music Corp. & Maureen Music, Inc.

Hi, when I bought this CD I thought it would have the real songs and I was pretty dissapointed about it, but later I dicided to like it and it was good. Don't bye this CD if you want the real songs.

The score for Christine, unreleased for years, is finally available and well worth the wait. Largely felt more than heard in the film, the score shows Carpenter's gift for building the right mood with as little music as possible. It's also the first of his themeless mood scores. Highly recommended to Carpenter buffs.

For anyone who LOVES this movie, listening to the soundtrack will totally take you back....and make you love your car more than anything!! Poor Christine only loved Arnie the only way she knew how...she killed for him, too! Hey, jealous girls, you know what I'm talking about. The first time EVER I've been able to relate to a CAR. LOVED IT!

The film was an eery masterpiece and so is the album. It seems that many people have purchased it expecting the classic songs featured in the film. Unfortunatley, Motown Records stopped printing that one years ago. But, we still have this. The music is excellent. I can almost see the red Plymouth chasing that punk down the alley as I listen to it. They took away the excellent soundtrack album but replaced it with this. I'm not disapointed.

Excellent movie, good soundtrack, but where's "Bad To the Bone" and "Not Fade Away". I was deeply disappointed, but the keyboard music is very good.