Film on Vinyl: Friday the 13th Part II

Welcome to another installment of Film on Vinyl, Joe Donohue’s column that celebrates the blending of his love for film and music by reviewing and dissecting movie soundtracks pressed on the oh-so-sweet vinyl record. Next up on the playlist: Waxwork Records' release of the "Friday the 13th Part II" soundtrack.

Over 30 years ago, the world was introduced to Pamela Voorhees, one of the most notorious — and sometimes overlooked — horror icons in cinema history. But if you thought Pamela was frightening, wait until you get a load of her son, Jason Voorhees. This machete-wielding, camp counselor-killing madman has been slashing his way into cinemas for years and shows no sign of staying down.

Case in point, Waxwork Records is reviving the maniac with its pressing of the "Friday the 13th Part II" soundtrack, and with so many horror classics under its belt — the original "Friday the 13th" being one of their firsts — it only makes sense for the label to take the step into sequel territory. It’s not very often that a sequel outdoes the original, but these guys show that it’s definitely possible.

Packaging:

One of the trademarks of the "Friday the 13th" films — and really any horror film series — is a constant attempt to outdo the previous installment, so it’s only fitting that the good people at Waxwork Records do the same with this "Friday the 13th Part II" release. Jay Shaw’s work on the original release was beautifully eerie, and nigh impossible to top ... that is until Rich Kelly took a stab at the series.

I could go on and on describing every little detail of this masterful work — and I probably will — but I think Kelly's work really speaks for itself. What I really like most is how Kelly has Jason towering over the campers. Jason has always been a tall tale around the camp, so it’s extremely fitting to represent him this way. And the campers down below only help to drive this point home. What I also adore about this album artwork is the inclusion of Pamela Voorhees seemingly looming over Jason. I think it’s become easy for horror fans to overlook Pamela, but Kelly does a marvelous job of reminding us who is the real mind behind the mask.

And much like Mr. Hockey Mask himself, the goodies keep on coming. The center artwork is a glorious shot of Jason waiting outside the door of two frisky teens, just waiting to attack. The art has a wonderful '80s feel to it and really captures the essence of the film, as does the back cover art, where we’re given a glorious shot of Jason’s macabre abode with a nice little homage to his mother.

Tracks:

Harry Manfredini is a fantastic composer and really outdoes himself with this follow-up to the original’s score. Like many sequels, there are definitely a lot of references to the original, but Manfredini manages to build upon the original and really create something unique. That’s what I love about this score.

My favorite tracks are "Prowler," "Vickie Goes Up" and “Ginny Visits Villa Jason.” They beautifully paint a picture of what is happening in the film, and the creepy ambiance is palpable. Saying that, this score is fantastic all around.

Thoughts in a Nutshell:

Waxwork’s release of the "Friday the 13th Part II" soundtrack is absolutely fantastic. These guys continue to outdo themselves, and while their release of the original score is a classic, their follow-up blows the original out of the water. Everything from the stunning album artwork all the way down to the Ms. Voorhees Blue Sweater w/ Camp Counselor Blood Splatter record really makes this release a must-have for all record collectors. Bravo to my friends at Waxwork Records. I can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeves for "Part III."

Until next time, make sure you’re using the appropriate cartridge. Remember to always spin responsibly.

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