Release Date:
Downloads include choice of MP3, WAV, or FLAC
DDRDG723
Includes Digital Booklet
Click Here for CD Release
Dragon’s Domain Records presents the original soundtrack to VAMPIRELLA for the first time, featuring music composed by Joel Goldsmith (STARGATE UNIVERSE, STARGATE ATLANTIS, THE UNTOUCHABLES) for the 1996 fantasy horror film directed by Jim Wynorski (LOST EMPIRE, DEATHSTALKER II, CHOPPING MALL), written by Gary Gerani (PUMPKINHEAD), starring Talisa Soto as Vampirella, Roger Daltrey, Richard Joseph Paul, Brian Bloom, Corinna Harney, Rusty Meyers, Lee de Broux, Tom Deters, Lenny Juliano, Angus Scrimm along with John Landis and John Terlesky.
Vampirella was introduced to the world in September 1969 in the first issue of the comic magazine VAMPIRELLA from Warren Publishing, the creation of writer Forrest J Ackerman and artist Trina Robbins. She joined Warren’s successful sister magazines CREEPY and EERIE, and at the time the sensual Vampirella was featured as the hostess of each issue’s collection of horror stories, much like Uncle Creepy and Cousin Eerie were used in their own magazines. Vampirella was noted for her skimpy blood-red costume and sassy attitude. Beginning with issue #9, however, writer-editor Archie Goodwin elevated her from hostess to a headliner, starring in the featured story in each issue. Eventually a fictional history developed around the character. She came from a planet named Drakulon which was inhabited by vampires. After an Earth spaceship crashed on Drakulon, Vampirella discovered that Earth astronauts contained a hefty amount of blood in their veins. As that substance was growing sparse on her planet, Vampirella repaired and piloted the spacecraft back to Earth, and thus her adventures began. The popularity of Vampirella as a blood-sucking sex symbol whose style and substance left little to the imagination eventually reached the interest of filmmakers.
Noted for his variety of B-movies and exploitation films, Jim Wynorski had been making genre films since 1981. Many of his early films had been for Roger Corman, including his remake of 1959’s THE WASP WOMAN, which he completed late in 1995. After his action thriller DEMOLITION HIGH was released during the summer of 1996 by indie production studio CineTel Films, Wynorski joined Corman again to bring VAMPIRELLA to the screen. With a budget set at $1 million, the movie would be a joint production between CineTel, Corman’s Concorde Pictures, Showtime Networks, and international distributor Sunset Films. VAMPIRELLA was filmed in Las Vegas, where the city’s gaudy casinos like the MGM Grand and others made good substitutes for the futuristic landscape of Drakulon. The film debuted on SHOWTIME, whittled down from Wynorski’s final edit of 86-minutes to an abbreviated 82-minute run time; the full-length edition was later released on DVD in 2002.
Joel Goldsmith was hired to provide the music for VAMPIRELLA. Joel had scored Wynorski’s 1993 family film LITTLE MISS MILLIONS, and would later compose STEALTH FIGHTER, MILITIA, and LOST IN THE WOODS for the director. Son of renowned composer Jerry Goldsmith, Joel began scoring films in 1978, mostly using his array of electronic equipment and synthesizers, composing more than 70 films and television productions until his untimely death in 2012.
Joel Goldsmith was born on November 19th, 1957, Los Angeles, California, the third of four children of singer Sharon Hennagin and legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith. Since his first cinematic composition, a collaboration with then-newcomer Richard Band on the low-budget science fiction thriller, LASERBLAST (1978), Joel scored a number of feature and television films throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, including the sci-fi series SUPER FORCE (1990), Roland Emmerich’s early sci-fi thriller MOON 44 (1990), and Jim Wynorski’s gentle family comedy, LITTLE MISS MILLIONS (1993). After THE UNTOUCHABLES, Joel went on to score the TV series HAWKEYE (1994), BAD BLOOD (1994, aka VIPER), KULL THE CONQUEROR (1997), TV’s WITCHBLADE (2000), HELEN OF TROY and several iterations of the STARGATE TV series (1997-2011). He also provided synthesized sound effects for STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) and composed additional music for STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT (1996).
Dragon’s Domain Records presents the world premiere release of VAMPIRELLA, featuring music composed by Joel Goldsmith, mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland. The digital booklet contains liner notes written by noted author Randall Larson.
Review
Vampirella (1996) ***
JOEL GOLDSMITH
Dragon’s Domain DDR723
14 tracks - 60:24
Vampirella is another direct-to-video exploitation film from director Jim Wynorski (Chopping Mall, Munchie). Forrest J. Ackerman created the classic character back in 1969 in a magazine where she acted as a hostess of sorts, introducing random tales of horror. In the movie, the title character (played by the scantily-clad Talisa Soto) has her own story in which she comes to earth from the planet Drakulon to seek revenge against her father’s killers. Rocker Roger Daltrey (The Who) also stars. Apart from these curiosities, film music fans may also appreciate that the score is by Joel Goldsmith (Laserblast, Moon 44), who delivers gothic stylings using the most current electronics at his disposal.
Pounding drums kick off the title sequence as a small motivic idea gradually expands into a lyrical theme for Vampirella. When “Vampirella Tells Forry Her Story,” the surprising beauty of the melodic line shines through. There are also some attractive, dark colors that swirl throughout this opening section.
Worthwhile subsidiary material is on display as well, as in the theme for Vlad and the Purge Organization, which receives a full treatment in “Purge Team Set Up.” There are also several non-thematic effects employed frequently in the score, including hammer hits and other recurring soundscapes that add a mysterious feel to the proceedings.
The highlight of the score is the climactic action sequence, comprised of both “Purge Team Arrive/The Battle” and “Vampirella Battles Vlad.” The end credits offer an effective suite of the core themes, wrapping up the playlist nicely.
Vampirella is a well done ’90s synth score that dabbles in gothic horror and atmospheric fare. While one may find themselves wishing this were a fully orchestral work, Goldsmith at least creates enough of that sense to make for an enjoyable romp. You can check out clips of the 500-unit limited album at the label’s website. —Steven A. Kennedy
Comments regarding this review can be sent to: stev4uth@hotmail.com.
VAMPIRELLA - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Joel Goldsmith
Joel Goldsmith
$8.95
Downloads include choice of MP3, WAV, or FLAC
DDRDG723
Includes Digital Booklet
Click Here for CD Release
Dragon’s Domain Records presents the original soundtrack to VAMPIRELLA for the first time, featuring music composed by Joel Goldsmith (STARGATE UNIVERSE, STARGATE ATLANTIS, THE UNTOUCHABLES) for the 1996 fantasy horror film directed by Jim Wynorski (LOST EMPIRE, DEATHSTALKER II, CHOPPING MALL), written by Gary Gerani (PUMPKINHEAD), starring Talisa Soto as Vampirella, Roger Daltrey, Richard Joseph Paul, Brian Bloom, Corinna Harney, Rusty Meyers, Lee de Broux, Tom Deters, Lenny Juliano, Angus Scrimm along with John Landis and John Terlesky.
Vampirella was introduced to the world in September 1969 in the first issue of the comic magazine VAMPIRELLA from Warren Publishing, the creation of writer Forrest J Ackerman and artist Trina Robbins. She joined Warren’s successful sister magazines CREEPY and EERIE, and at the time the sensual Vampirella was featured as the hostess of each issue’s collection of horror stories, much like Uncle Creepy and Cousin Eerie were used in their own magazines. Vampirella was noted for her skimpy blood-red costume and sassy attitude. Beginning with issue #9, however, writer-editor Archie Goodwin elevated her from hostess to a headliner, starring in the featured story in each issue. Eventually a fictional history developed around the character. She came from a planet named Drakulon which was inhabited by vampires. After an Earth spaceship crashed on Drakulon, Vampirella discovered that Earth astronauts contained a hefty amount of blood in their veins. As that substance was growing sparse on her planet, Vampirella repaired and piloted the spacecraft back to Earth, and thus her adventures began. The popularity of Vampirella as a blood-sucking sex symbol whose style and substance left little to the imagination eventually reached the interest of filmmakers.
Noted for his variety of B-movies and exploitation films, Jim Wynorski had been making genre films since 1981. Many of his early films had been for Roger Corman, including his remake of 1959’s THE WASP WOMAN, which he completed late in 1995. After his action thriller DEMOLITION HIGH was released during the summer of 1996 by indie production studio CineTel Films, Wynorski joined Corman again to bring VAMPIRELLA to the screen. With a budget set at $1 million, the movie would be a joint production between CineTel, Corman’s Concorde Pictures, Showtime Networks, and international distributor Sunset Films. VAMPIRELLA was filmed in Las Vegas, where the city’s gaudy casinos like the MGM Grand and others made good substitutes for the futuristic landscape of Drakulon. The film debuted on SHOWTIME, whittled down from Wynorski’s final edit of 86-minutes to an abbreviated 82-minute run time; the full-length edition was later released on DVD in 2002.
Joel Goldsmith was hired to provide the music for VAMPIRELLA. Joel had scored Wynorski’s 1993 family film LITTLE MISS MILLIONS, and would later compose STEALTH FIGHTER, MILITIA, and LOST IN THE WOODS for the director. Son of renowned composer Jerry Goldsmith, Joel began scoring films in 1978, mostly using his array of electronic equipment and synthesizers, composing more than 70 films and television productions until his untimely death in 2012.
Joel Goldsmith was born on November 19th, 1957, Los Angeles, California, the third of four children of singer Sharon Hennagin and legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith. Since his first cinematic composition, a collaboration with then-newcomer Richard Band on the low-budget science fiction thriller, LASERBLAST (1978), Joel scored a number of feature and television films throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, including the sci-fi series SUPER FORCE (1990), Roland Emmerich’s early sci-fi thriller MOON 44 (1990), and Jim Wynorski’s gentle family comedy, LITTLE MISS MILLIONS (1993). After THE UNTOUCHABLES, Joel went on to score the TV series HAWKEYE (1994), BAD BLOOD (1994, aka VIPER), KULL THE CONQUEROR (1997), TV’s WITCHBLADE (2000), HELEN OF TROY and several iterations of the STARGATE TV series (1997-2011). He also provided synthesized sound effects for STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) and composed additional music for STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT (1996).
Dragon’s Domain Records presents the world premiere release of VAMPIRELLA, featuring music composed by Joel Goldsmith, mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland. The digital booklet contains liner notes written by noted author Randall Larson.
Review
Vampirella (1996) ***
JOEL GOLDSMITH
Dragon’s Domain DDR723
14 tracks - 60:24
Vampirella is another direct-to-video exploitation film from director Jim Wynorski (Chopping Mall, Munchie). Forrest J. Ackerman created the classic character back in 1969 in a magazine where she acted as a hostess of sorts, introducing random tales of horror. In the movie, the title character (played by the scantily-clad Talisa Soto) has her own story in which she comes to earth from the planet Drakulon to seek revenge against her father’s killers. Rocker Roger Daltrey (The Who) also stars. Apart from these curiosities, film music fans may also appreciate that the score is by Joel Goldsmith (Laserblast, Moon 44), who delivers gothic stylings using the most current electronics at his disposal.
Pounding drums kick off the title sequence as a small motivic idea gradually expands into a lyrical theme for Vampirella. When “Vampirella Tells Forry Her Story,” the surprising beauty of the melodic line shines through. There are also some attractive, dark colors that swirl throughout this opening section.
Worthwhile subsidiary material is on display as well, as in the theme for Vlad and the Purge Organization, which receives a full treatment in “Purge Team Set Up.” There are also several non-thematic effects employed frequently in the score, including hammer hits and other recurring soundscapes that add a mysterious feel to the proceedings.
The highlight of the score is the climactic action sequence, comprised of both “Purge Team Arrive/The Battle” and “Vampirella Battles Vlad.” The end credits offer an effective suite of the core themes, wrapping up the playlist nicely.
Vampirella is a well done ’90s synth score that dabbles in gothic horror and atmospheric fare. While one may find themselves wishing this were a fully orchestral work, Goldsmith at least creates enough of that sense to make for an enjoyable romp. You can check out clips of the 500-unit limited album at the label’s website. —Steven A. Kennedy
Comments regarding this review can be sent to: stev4uth@hotmail.com.
