Someday, Somehow, Someone’s Gotta Play

La-La Land Records has a one-man army for their latest film score reissue: James Horner, for his score to the hit action film Commando.

Unless you’ve been living in a particularly nonviolent box these past 26 years, Commando was one of the first major starring vehicles for bodybuilder/actor/future governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Yes, Schwarzenegger was certainly in the national consciousness in two killer sci-fi/fantasy roles, as the title characters in Conan the Barbarian (1982) and The Terminator (1984). But Commando was special because it was the first picture to create the actor’s now-exhaustively-familiar archetype: a thinly-characterized good guy, perhaps of military descent, who single-handedly destroys a cadre of bad guys to save some good guys. (In this case, he’s pitted his turncoat ex-Marine partner and an ousted South American dictator, who’ve kidnapped his teenage daughter.)

The action, sick humor, one-liners and general over-the-top atmosphere was greatly aided by a strange if active score from James Horner, well-established with his work for the Star Trek sequels and a year away from his work on Aliens. Horner relied heavily on electronics for the soundtrack, scattering keyboards and drum machines heavily into the mix. The real kicker, though, is the presence of some heavy-duty steel drums and saxophones throughout – not nearly the first choices for an action score, but adding to the overall fun of the score.

While the original score was released in part on a limited edition, long sold-out CD by Varese Sarabande in 2003, this release remasters and expands the score to completion, breaking up all the individual cues and including four bonus tracks – two alternates, an alternate mix of a track and “Someday, Somehow, Someone’s Gotta Pay,” the upbeat end-credits pop song written and performed by Duran Duran side-project The Power Station.

The disc, limited to 3,000 units, is ready to order now. Full information is after the jump.

James Horner, Commando: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Limited Edition (La-La Land Records LLLCD 1185, 2011 – original film released 1985)

The Trashmen/The Agency
Main Title
The Helicopter Arrives
Run to the Shed and Chase
Matrix Captured/Jenny Tied Up
Into the Plane
Don’t Disturb My Friend
Matrix Hits the Swamp
Matrix Walks in the Terminal
Matrix on the Move
Don’t Move
Sully Starts to Run
Drive Away from Pier
Matrix Breaks Lock
Matrix Jumps to Floor
Cut to Val Verde
Matrix Climbs Up Bank
Soldier Gets Pitchfork/Matrix Runs Up Steps
Arius Crashes Through Window
Matrix Approaches General
Someday, Somehow, Someone’s Gotta Pay – The Power Station
Soldier Gets Pitchfork (Alternate)
Don’t Disturb My Friend (Alternate)
Don’t Disturb My Friend (Alternate Mix)

Portions of Tracks 1-20 released as Varese Sarabande VCL 1103 1026, 2003
Track 21 released on The Power Station: 20th Anniversary Edition (EMI 72438 66315 0 3, 2005)

The Second Disc