Big Trouble in Little China (soundtrack)

Big Trouble in Little China (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by John Carpenter Alan Howarth
Released	November 21, 1996
Recorded	1986
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	71:35
Label	Supercollector
Producer	John Carpenter

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Big Trouble in Little China is a soundtrack produced by John Carpenter for the movie bearing the same name.

With the soundtrack, Carpenter wanted to avoid the usual clichés as he found that “other scores for American movies about Chinese characters are basically rinky tink, chop suey music. [He] didn’t want that for Big Trouble”. Carpenter instead opted for his trademark synthesizer score mixed with rock ‘n’ roll music.^[2]

A soundtrack album, produced by Carpenter, was released in 1986 on Enigma Records and featured nine tracks for a total of just over 43 minutes. It was re-released on CD in 1992. In 1996, an expanded edition was released by Supercollector. It included two versions of Carpenter and his band, the Coupe De Villes' "Big Trouble in Little China" theme song, three tracks from Howarth's previously unreleased score for Backstabbed, and a track from Escape from New York, entitled, "Atlanta Bank Robbery."

Track listing

1. the Coupe De Villes — "Big Trouble in Little China" 3:13
2. "Pork Chop Express" 3:40
3. "The Alley" 2:00
4. "Here Come the Storms" 2:20
5. "Lo Pan's Domain" 4:30
6. "Escape from Wing Kong" 8:00
7. "Into the Spirit Path" 7:07
8. "The Great Arcade" 10:00
9. "The Final Escape" 4:47
10. the Coupe De Villes — "Big Trouble in Little China" -Reprise- (3:08)

Backstabbed

1. "Opening" (3:35)
2. "Alexandra" (5:57)
3. "Blue Planet Interlude/Final Stab" (5:41)

Escape from New York

1. "Atlanta Bank Robbery" (3:31)

Both soundtrack albums are out-of-print.

Big Trouble in Little China (Limited Edition)
Soundtrack album by John Carpenter Alan Howarth
Released	January 2009
Recorded	1986
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	96:29
Label	La-La Land Records

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Empire	[3]

In 2009, a complete 2CD limited edition of the soundtrack was released by La-La Land Records which includes every note of music from the film, including both versions of the title song, remastered.

DISC ONE

1. "Prologue" (2:15)
2. "Pork Chop Express" (Main Title) (4:01)
3. "Abduction At Airport" (4:17)
4. "The Alley" (Procession) (1:12)
5. "The Alley" (War) (2:31)
6. "The Storms" (2:42)
7. "Tenement / White Tiger" (3:49)
8. "Here Come The Storms" (4:15)
9. "Wing Kong Exchange" (4:40)
10. "Lo Pan’s Domain / Looking For A Girl" (3:16)
11. "Friends Of Yours? / Escape Iron Basis" (7:18)
12. "Escape From Wing Kong" (5:38)
13. "Hide" (4:35)

DISC TWO

1. "Call The Police" (7:32)
2. "Dragon Eyes" (1:12)
3. "Into The Spirit Path" (7:05)
4. "The Great Arcade" (7:53)
5. "The Final Escape" (Lo Pan’s Demise / Getaway) (7:02)
6. "Goodbye Jack" (3:14)
7. "Big Trouble In Little China" (End Credits - Album Version) (3:22) Performed By The Coupe De Villes
8. "Stingers Montage" (5:24)
9. "Big Trouble In Little China" (Original Version) (3:01) Performed By The Coupe De Villes

Total Score Running Time: 96:29

In 1986, Silva Screen records in the UK, released a 45rpm vinyl single of the main track, 'Big Trouble in Little China', with 'The Pork Chop Express on the B-side.

References