Customer Reviews

PHANTASM

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Though I consider myself a soundtrack fan, there are very few I would want to have with me if marooned on a desert island. Phantasm is one of them. I could listen to this album over and over again--and frequently do. Some soundtracks are repetitive in their use of the score's various motifs, but Myrow and Seagrave used enough variations of their evocative main title theme that it never gets old. From the pensive reading in Just a Dream?, to the quirky disco version heard at Dune's Cantina, there are enough different flavors and colors to keep it fresh throughout. And the main theme is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other motifs used that will surely keep the listener interested from beginning to end.

Nothing in the world would cause me to give this disc anything but a five star rating, but there are a few bits I wish had been included. I, too, would have liked to have had Jody and Reg's porch performance of Sittin' Here at Midnight. Also, inclusion of the audio extras from the LD/DVD--Bill Thornbury's full-length performance of Sittin' Here and the Captain Zorro disco version of the theme--would have been greatly appreciated. I imagine there were rights issued involved preventing their inclusion, though.

More importantly, there are a couple of cues heard in the movie that were unfortunately left off the disc. The first of these is the version of the funeral organ theme heard at Tommy's funeral. The version included on the disc was played over the graveside service in the movie, but it omits the intro vamp heard at the actual funeral. The cue I really wish was on the disc, though, is the gorgeous piece of music played when Mike discovers the overturned ice cream truck. It's one of my favorite pieces of music from the film. Unfortunately, it is not included in the Overturned Ice Cream Truck cue.

But, no matter. If you are a fan of the movie, you will be a fan of this disc. Pick it up immediately. And, if you've never seen the movie, give the sound clips a try. If you like them, I believe the rest of the album will please you as well.

I'm not sure how extensive a print run of this CD there is planned, but it's not easy to find offline.

It also happens to be a great disc, better than the old soundtrack CD.

For such a small, low-budget horror film, Phantasm managed to get a great soundtrack from Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave. They came up with a great horror movie motif and they manage to use it over and over and invest an original spin on it each time over the course of the film and this disc.

There's plenty of atmosphere here. Chills abound with the creepy title jingle and with the funeral organ as well.

It's short, but it's a sweet CD. Any Phantasm fan will love it. Again, this doesn't appear to be a very wide release, but they've done a beautiful job with it. Highly recommended, booooooy!

I remember seeing "Phantasm" when I was a child. I was about 10 or 11 years old. One of my father's friends had the video. I'm thinking I first saw it during the early 1980's. I loved it when I first saw it and has been a horror movie staple of mine since. One of the best parts of the movie is the sountrack. Alot of different types of instruments were used during the recording of the music. A menagerie of weird percussion. Gongs, chimes, bells, almost a whole orchestra's worth of equipment. Also, pianos and synthesizers were utalized to create the very moody alien textures that one does not hear very often. I think when a composer takes a different approach to film music they create a classic that is all thier own. It stands out from the rest. All the classic elements of the movie are here. The creepiness really stands out. Time and space disorientation, nightmares turned into reality. "Phantasm's" soundtrack is a dream come true for horror soundtrack enthusiats. It is a must for any collection. It would also make a great atmoshpere to a haunted house! This is not an easy item to find so get it while you can.

When veteran film composer Fred Myrow (Soylent Green, etc.) teamed with Malcolm Seagrave to score Don Coscarell's odd nightmare of horror, Phantasm, the duo not only delivered an offbeat score for the decidely offbeat movie, they also delivered what has to be one of the genres most memorable and innovative works. There isn't a genre fan around that could not easily identify the Phantasm theme, but that memorable and chilling title jingle is only the beginning. A mixture of percussion and synthesizers give the score a bizarre other worldly feel in tracks such as Hand in Box, Phantasm Atmosphere, Overturned Ice Cream Truck, and Under the Car. More traditional funeral home spookiness is found in Welcome to Morningside and Funeral Organ. The score even doubles for a sound effects track with Spacegate to Infinity. To make it even more special, a montage of unused music appears after the previously released material! If you love the movies, then this soundtrack is already on your essential list. If you just love offbeat film scores, then it should be as well. Highest recommendation.

yep,amazon.com has in their warehouses one of the greatest soundtracks of all time. Equal in scope and magnitude, to goblins Dawn of the Dead, both movies ironicaly came out in 1978 and both soundtracks fit their movies respectively. Opticaly speaking, Phantasm was a surreal masterpiece and Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagraves music was an integral part of bringing essence and an ethereal vitality to Don Coscarellies' project. Originaly conceived for the Doors doco, The Highway, it would have been legend in its self if Jim Morrisson had not made that fateful but terribly needed trip to Paris. In its raw form the basic theme of Phantasm is transcendental which perfectaly fits the two main characters Mike and the tall man. Youth & invention vs.the unknown & supernatural. This is the complete soundtrack from start to finish. It has extras like the brain spheres flying effect sounds,the gateway into another dimension an even the tall man himself. The unique thing about this soundtrack is that it utilizes natural sounds as well. One in paticular, a rusty turning mini merri-go-round like the ones you find on playgrounds. This soundtrack is a must for the true horror fan of movie soundtracks!

When it comes to Sound tracks Im very picky. I dont want the run of the mill stuff that everybody else would get.
That said, I was always facinated by the music in the movie phantasm. And now that I heard the other tracks in this album I can safely say that this is one great horror soundtrack!

Long gone by are the days when I had to treasure my Varese/Sarabande vinyl copy of PHANTASM, so the cd edition of this score simply came to enlarge my horror/sci-fi collection to such heights I still hear in awe the originality and power achieved by a couple of artists working over such a bizarre storyline and images. If you're into symphonic more than into rock scores or if you prefer electronics sounds more than the previous two, well, PHANTASM goes beyond the three, taking you into a sonic trip that will leave you wanting to press the repeat button of your player. Well deserved and outstanding sound for this gem which has become a true classic album, same as other gems created for the horror screen such as MANIAC, INSEMINOID or the unforgettable FRIDAY THE 13th series. Not kidding...PHANTASM shouldn't be missing in any serious horror score collector...BOY !!

This music on this album can be deemed "The Perfect Score". It incorporates so many amazing elements of what a movie is "Sound and Vision". Frederic Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave spoiled us with such an amazing main theme that it ranks up there with the likes of Star Wars and Risky Business. The most amazing element of this album is when you realize that the music budget on Phantasm was a bare minimum, and it was before synthesizers were a mainstream instrument. The music you hear on this album is the real thing. The amazing boundaries the two composers take us on, in such tracks as "Silver Sphere Disco" and :"Or is It? (Outtakes)". If anybody has seen Phantasm they understand the moods and emotions the main theme brings out in us all...(Childhood, Death,, and Kicken' @SS at 13). You will be thankful by getting a copy of this truly wonderful album.

I saw this movie when i was 9 and it's still scary! What kid doesn't remember running home at night and thinking about those Dwarf things chasing Mike in the movie? Great Movie - Great Soundtrack!!

I'm a sucker for good musical film scores, and this is no exception! It ranks right up there with John Carpenter's scores! May the Tall Man not only invade your television and nightmares, but your music player as well! Ha ha ha ha...............now go home boy!