KEN WANNBERG FILM MUSIC COLLECTION: THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT/ ACCOUNTING FOR THE SCREAMS/ OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN (2CD)

BSX Records presents THE KEN WANNBERG FILM MUSIC COLLECTION, a 2 CD set featuring music composed and conducted by Ken Wannberg (ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, MOTHER LODE, THE AMATEUR, THE LATE SHOW, THE SILENT PARTNER) and including the following films: THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT, ACCOUNTING FOR THE SCREAMS and OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN.

Released in 1984, THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT was directed by Stewart Raffill (THE NEW SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON, ADVENTURES OF THE WILDERNESS FAMILY, HIGH RISK, THE ICE PIRATES), from a story by Don Jakoby and Wallace C. Bennett, produced by John Carpenter, Joel B. Michaels and Douglas Curtis, starring Michael Pare, Nancy Allen, Bobby Di Ciccom, Eric Christmas and Michael Currie. THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT takes its title from a naval military experiment that took place in 1943 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. An old urban legend, it is believed that the U.S. Navy Destroyer escort U.S.S. ELDRIDGE was rendered magnetically invisible or “cloaked” so as to be undetectable to enemy radar. But something went awry during the experiment and the ship became optically invisible, teleporting itself through space and time until it reappeared back in the shipyard. The U.S. Navy has long maintained the story is a hoax and no such experiment ever took place. THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT posits that several crew members of the ELDRIDGE were transported from 1943 to the middle of Nevada desert in 1984. And their presence in our modern day threatens to rip the fabric of space and time asunder. The film is simultaneously a chase film, a race against the clock and a love story as the sailors race to get back to the ELDRIDGE to start the Experiment over again and hopefully return to 1943 before it’s too late.

Previously released by Prometheus Records on compact disc, BUYSOUNDTRAX Records now presents the complete score to THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT on Disc 1, newly mastered from the original four track masters. Previous album releases were mastered from a 1/4 inch album master prepared by Len Engel and designed with an LP configuration in mind. In addition to the complete score, we have also included musical effects tracks designed to enhance the atmosphere of the film, as well as source music composed for the film.

Presented on Disc 2 are the composer’s scores for the short film ACCOUNTING FOR THE SCREAMS and OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN. ACCOUNTING FOR THE SCREAMS was a short supernatural thriller composed by Ken Wannberg in the late 1980s for a family member and the film was never released to the public. The composer provided this rare score to us prior to his retirement and we are pleased to present it here for the first time. The score is based on a dark waltz performed by synth and sampled voices, enhanced by jarring percussion sounds that convey a notably unsettling atmosphere. Fans of the composer’s music will feel right at home with ACCOUNTING FOR THE SCREAMS.

Released in 1983, OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN is a horror/thriller directed by George Cosmatos (RAMBO II, COBRA, LEVIATHAN, TOMBSTONE), written by Brian Taggart, based on the novel, THE VISITOR, by Chauncey G. Parker III, starring the great Peter Weller, along with Jennifer Dale, Shannon Tweed, Kenneth Welsh, Lawrence Dane and Maury Chaykin. OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN tells the story of Bart Hughes (Weller), an executive rising star at his company who nearly Has It All: trophy wife, young son and renovated brownstone in a prime location in New York City. When his family leaves for the week on vacation, Bart stays behind to work on a Big Project that’s guaranteed to net him a big promotion. But little does Bart know that there is one member of The Rat Race in his basement that isn’t going to quietly get out of the way on his way to the top and so the stage is set for an epic struggle of Man versus Beast. Previously released on compact disc by Prometheus Records, we now present OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN newly mastered for much improved sound quality.

Ken Wannberg began his career as a music editor in the late 1950s, working with the industry’s top composers, starting with Bernard Herrmann in 1959 on JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH and ending with John Williams in 2006 on MUNICH. He worked as a music editor on nearly a hundred films, including a legendary association with composer John Williams, through all six of the STAR WARS films, the original INDIANA JONES trilogy and most of Williams’ other big scores. Wannberg also worked with composers Georges Delerue, Alex North, James Horner, Michael Small, Dave Grusin and many others. In addition to his primary function as music editor, Wannberg’s experience also gave him the opportunity to compose the music for nearly two dozen films and television shows, beginning in 1971. Producers who knew of his work as a musician and his articulation with film music frequently asked him to write the music for their films. Wannberg worked steadily as a music editor up through 2006 when he decided, after an incredibly busy year working with John Williams on three major scores (REVENGE OF THE SITH, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA and MUNICH), he chose to retire.

BSX Records presents THE KEN WANNBERG FILM MUSIC COLLECTION on 2 CDs, featuring music composed and conducted by Ken Wannberg, including his scores for THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT, ACCOUNTING FOR THE SCREAMS and OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN. The booklet features rare production art and stills from THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT and OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN as well as notes by noted author Randall Larson, discussing the history of the projects. The music has been newly mastered by James Nelson of Digital Outland.

THE KEN WANNBERG FILM MUSIC COLLECTION is a limited edition release of 1000 units.

CD ONE
THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT
1. Main Theme (3:09)
2. Main Title (1:01)
3. Arrival At The Eldridge (2:53)
4. The Experiment Begins /
Time Slip (5:52)
5. The Eldridge Remains (2:03)
6. Electrical Outburst (0:32)
7. The Doctor Reflects (2:29)
8. Car Sparks (0:53)
9. Vortex Sucks / David’s Escape (4:38)
10. A Tender Moment (1:26)
11. Rocket Launch (2:17)
12. David’s Father (2:20)
13. David Confronts His Past (2:04)
14. The Chase (1:32)
15. Fugitives In Love (2:33)
16. Running The Roadblock (1:00)
17. Storming The Compound (2:01)
18. David’s Decision / Fate Of The Vortex (6:53)
19. David’s Choice / End Title (5:41)
20. Sweetener (1:10)
21. Percussion FX 1 (1:02)
22. Percussion FX 2 (0:42)
23. Wind Noises (1:26)
24. Rock And Roll (4:24)
25. Radio Source (0:47)
Total Time - Disc One: 61:51

CD TWO
ACCOUNTING FOR THE SCREAMS
1. The Dark Waltz (2:37)
2. Shadows (0:49)
3. Drawn To The Light (0:44)
4. Growing Fear (1:34)
5. Dark Thoughts (0:44)
6. Ghostly Chase (1:43)
7. Army Of The Dead (1:20)
8. Screams from the Mist (0:51)
9. The Dark Corridor (0:27)
10. Noises (0:27)
11. The Damned (5:50)
12. Unease (0:45)
13. Running In Fear (1:43)
14. Spider Webs (0:50)
15. More Running (0:27)
16. Fear (0:27)
17. Night Journey (5:49)
18. The Calling (1:01)
19. Clues (1:35)
20. The Dark Army (1:20)
21. The Truth (0:44)
22. No Escape (1:38)
23. Source Music From Hell (1:26)

OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN
24. Main Title (2:14)
25. Birthday Dream / Rat Droppings (4:40)
26. I Smell A Rat! / The Weapon (3:37)
27. Ready For Battle / The Last Battle (6:47)
28. End Title (2:21)
Total Time - Disc Two: 61:51