Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula [Soundtrack]

Various Artists (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 2002)
• Original Release Date: October 1, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Art Greenhaw
• ASIN: B00006RZ2L
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #278,258 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Organ Prelude From Mystery House Radio Show and Robert Clarke Spoken Introduction

2. Suite From Ocskay Brigaderos

3. Swan Lake

4. Black And Tan Fantasy

5. Variation On Gershwin's Prelude

6. Lon Chaney's Gonna Get You

7. Swan Lake Overture

8. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?

9. Listen To The Lambs

10. White Zombie

11. Texaco Star Theatre

12. Variation on Hungarian Rhapsody Number 1

13. Mail Call

14. Child Of The Night

15. We're Horrible, Horrible Men

16. Adaptation Of Chopin's Nocturne In E Flat

17. A Hunchback Named Ygor

18. The Devil Bat

19. The Rudy Vallee Show

20. Swan Lake Rock

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Monster Maker

"...the best-ever horror star audio tribute...combines art, music and history..."

"...I've never heard a better mix of 19th century European classical music and contemporary Americana..."

" The ultimate Bela Lugosi CD...unique, captivating, an amazing collector's find...

Product Description

This official soundtrack offers original period music from Lugosi's films, a rare 1932 novelty song recorded in tribute to the film White Zombie, and modern versions of Lugosi-related music by Art Greenhaw. The disc also includes a variety of radio shows with Lugosi, including a duet with Boris Karloff. The soundtrack is approxminately 75 minutes of material, all completely unique from any of the DVD extras.

From the start, dedicated Lugosi scholar, Gary Don Rhodes and musical collaborator Art Greenhaw (a Texas-based composer, arranger, and musician) were apparently undeterred by their limited budget. Instead, they turned that potential liability into an asset by making judicious use of existing soundtrack material, and augmenting it with Greenhaw's original music and his new arrangements of existing melodies. Further, Rhodes located rare, seldom-heard Lugosi radio broadcasts, mining them for moments that sum up Bela's special appeal. The result is unique - the last a much-over-used word, yes, but one that best describes this CD.

For instance, take Greenhaw's treatment of the overture to Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake", the Dracula signature melody, interpreted here three times - first by piano, baritone saxophone, and (hold on) banjos, playing the melody as a lively fox trot. I know this seems peculiar, but Greenhaw and the Dallas Banjo Band make it work. I don't believe I've ever heard as effective a mix of 19th-century European classicism and 20th-century Americana.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST for Lugosi Enthusiasts, February 14, 2009

By 

Steffy_chef "SSS" (Kentucky, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula (Audio CD)

If you are at all a fan of Lugosi, you need to buy this audio soundtrack. There's not question about it. It not only includes several radio programs on which Lugosi appeared, but also has some great rarities, such as Lugosi and Karloff singing "Horrible, Horrible Men".

You will appreciate the dedicated effort of Art Greenshaw and his team. The CD is comprehensive in its range of subject matter, from actual Lugosi archive material, to some of Bela's favorite music, it is an enjoyable expreience from beginning to end.

By the way, if you buy the CD, don't forget to buy it's partnered DVD bio.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous concept album and ultimate lugosi tribute, September 7, 2008

By 

Lon McElroy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula (Audio CD)

every so often an album comes out that is essential for all music collectors. this is one of those albums. so much more than a tribute to the horror king, Bela Lugosi, this classic has 50 banjos playing away, it has gypsy music, it has radio broadcasts, Lugosi and Karloff singing, '30s depression-era signature music, Lon Chaney tributes, Ed Wood-era instro rock. and add-in superb album notes by author Gary Rhodes. search out this album at all costs. beware: make sure you get this album with this cover and the booklet, for there is a pirated bootleg out on the market with a different cover and no album notes and inferior sound and inferior packaging. beware of the rip-off of this great album by the UK bootlegger and pirate. but this is the original, authorized, fully legitimate release. it is also first-edition, from all the first edition printing plates and glass mastering plates.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So Much More Than Horror!, October 18, 2002

By 

Ann Smith (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula (Audio CD)

This fabulous keepsake album and a valentine to the great man of mystery, Bela Lugosi, is so much more than a horror soundtrack: it's a visit to wondrous lands of history, the golden age of Hollywood, European classical and semi-classical art forms, a bit of rock (pre-Gothic), and the persona of the great Lugosi himself. This album is the perfect gift for movie fan or monster lover. The album notes by ultimate Lugosi biographer, Gary Don Rhodes, are worth the price of the CD alone. When we think of what can be accomplished in the world of indie music publishing with creativity, talent and a splendid idea, this is it! I read that this movie documentary and music were awarded the Hollywood Film Festival's Nomination for Best Documentary. Essential for every well-rounded music library and the perfect album to discuss at cocktail parties! Do yourself a favor, and treat yourself this Halloween or any other time, not to "slasher" and "gore" films, but to this classic, haunting, beautiful CD of the sounds of the world of Bela Lugosi, the original dark, mystery man--Hollywood's Dracula.