Film on Vinyl: Waxwork Double Feature

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 is a Waxwork Records double feature: "Friday the 13th III" and "Tales from the Darkside".

Pop your popcorn and turn on all of the lights, because it’s time for a double feature: “Friday the 13th Part III” and “Tales from the Darkside.” These two films may not seem like the perfect duo, but with the perfect mix of horror and dark humor, these two horror classics make for the perfectly gory, one-two gut punch.

Read on at your own risk.

Friday the 13th III

Packaging:

“Friday the 13th Part III” has one of the best album covers to date. While 3D has made a resurgence in the movie industry within the last few years, it was the 1980s that really brought it to life ... and quickly butchered it to death. These films were about cheap scares and random objects flying at your head, and that’s exactly what Ghoulish Gary Pullin gives us in his stunning album cover. Jason is literally breaking the third dimension and bringing his weapons of choice along for the ride.

What’s even more special about this release is the centerfold. Pullin gives us a peek at the lost / deleted final scene where Jason violently beheaded the final girl. Deemed too graphic by the film studio, the scene was completely cut from the film. Such a terrible call by the studio execs.

Tracks:

There are only three words that can aptly describe the absolute insanity that is this sequel’s score: Horror disco theme. Manfredini and Waxwork revisited the original analog tapes to master the complete soundtrack, and added a few goodies along the way. The release contains every musical cue from the feature film and is the perfect complement to the film. Outside of the “Part III Theme,” I love “Let’s Go for a Swim,” “Nobody Home” and “Jason Hung.”

Thoughts in a nutshell:

Waxwork’s release of the "Friday the 13th Part III" soundtrack is enough to give you goosebumps. These guys continue to outdo themselves. Part I and II were both outstanding, but it definitely appears that third time really is the charm. Everything from the stunning 3D lenticular album artwork to the blood-spattered hockey mask record really makes this release a must-have for all record collections. I can’t wait to hear part IV!

[gallery ids="60132,60133,60136,60135,60137,60139,60134,60141,60142,60140,60143,60144"]

Tales from the Darkside

Packaging:

“Tales from the Darkside” may have come along at the start of the 1990s, but it's the epitome of '80s horror goodness. It’s also one of the best horror anthologies and, sadly, continually overlooked. Luckily, Waxwork has come along and given the film’s score the respect that it deserves. Rhys Cooper’s art is extremely simple, yet effective. Cooper perfectly spotlights Matthew Lawrence’s character in color and leaves the creatures hovering above him, almost blending into the black background.

The album centerfold is also quite impressive. The creatures become more of the focus on the left, while the liner note is reconstructed like old storybook text. I will say while the notes are visually pleasing, the script text is a tad difficult to read at a quick glance.

Tracks:

Now, the track list may look scarce, but it’s as deceiving as the young boy in the film. The main theme is my absolute favorite because it’s extremely dark, with a strong fairytale vibe sprinkled throughout. John Harrison was nearly a one-man show on this film, but where he thrived was in this wonderful dark score. There's nothing like spinning this record and letting the 180-gram music flow through your ear canals and completely engulf your mind.

Thoughts in a nutshell:

“Tales from the Darkside” is a must-have for horror enthusiasts. Cooper’s art perfectly captures the essence of the anthology film, and even more impressive are the variants: “Lot 49” Mummy Spice, “Cat From Hell” Blue and Black, and “Lover’s Vow” Gargoyle Green swirl. If this record isn’t sitting on your shelf, then you’re missing out.

[gallery ids="60146,60148,60147,60149,60151,60150,60154,60155,60152"]

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