FORCED VENGEANCE: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Dragon’s Domain Records presents FORCED VENGEANCE , featuring music composed by William Goldstein for the 1982 martial arts action film directed by James Fargo (THE ENFORCER, EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE), written by Franklin Thompson and Fargo, starring Chuck Norris, Mary Louise Weller, Camilla Griggs, Michael Cavanaugh, David Opatoshu, Frank Michae Liu, Bob Minor, Lloyd Kino and Leigh Hamilton.

Released in 1982, FORCED VENGEANCE represents an intriguing moment in the evolution of American martial arts cinema and the career of Chuck Norris. Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film was one of Norris’s earliest projects with a major Hollywood studio, boasting a relatively large budget of around $5 million and filmed extensively on location in Hong Kong and Macau.

FORCED VENGEANCE Josh Randall (Norris), a Vietnam veteran and head of security for the Lucky Dragon Casino in Hong Kong. When Sam (Opatoshu), the casino’s owner and his family are brutally murdered by organized crime figures seeking control of the business, Randall embarks on a relentless quest for vengeance. Randall becomes hunter and hunted, framed for the murders and pursued by both criminals and corrupt law enforcement. As he navigates Hong Kong’s dense urban landscape, Randall protects Sam’s daughter, Joy (Griggs), while seeking the mysterious mastermind behind the attacks.

FORCED VENGEANCE was scored by composer William Goldstein. His work on the film demonstrates a sophisticated approach that contrasts with the film’s often gritty visuals. Goldstein has been a recording artist for Motown and CBS Masterworks, scoring over 50 Movie and Television projects, including FAME & THE MIRACLE WORKER. He has been a pioneer in the use of computers and electronic instruments in music. His most distinguishing characteristic as a composer / pianist is his gift of “Instant Composition”, which he shares with audiences through master classes, recitals and albums.

Goldstein early on established himself as a composer who was comfortable all over the musical map. In addition to film scoring, recording and concert scores performed from Carnegie Hall to Symphony Hall Boston, he established himself as an innovator of New Technology.

In addition to his professional activities in music and film, Mr. Goldstein is a founder of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, a founding director of the California State Summer School for the Arts, and served for many years on both the music branch executive committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as well as its foreign language (now International film) committee. He has also been a visiting artist for the Academy, lecturing from the Far East to the Middle East on contemporary aesthetics as well as music in film.

His filmography includes music for films such as THE BINGO LONG TRAVELING ALL-STARS & MOTOR KINGS, AN EYE FOR AN EYE, FORCED VENGEANCE, FAME, UP THE CREEK, SAVING GRACE, HELLO AGAIN, INTIMATE POWER, SHOCKER, BLOOD RIVER, THE QUARREL, Danielle Steele’s ZOYA and THE MIRACLE WORKER, as well as contributing music on television for NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, THE TWILIGHT ZONE,RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE MAGICAL WORLD OF DISNEY and OCEANQUEST.

Dragon’s Domain Records presents FORCED VENGEANCE, featuring music composed by William Goldstein for the first time on compact disc. The music has been mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland and the liner notes have been written by Scott Davis.