There is a rare (unidentified) CD release of Bruce Broughton's THE MONSTER SQUAD with no track titles. Thanks to some extensive listening, I've been able to "track down" almost all the cues featured on this 30 track album. (If you want to hear the music in film's order, follow the numbers in parentheses. Unidentified tracks are marked with *).

1 The Tomb (Part of Main Title)
2 The Amulett: In Every Hundred Years (11)
3 Number of the Scary German Guy (12)
4 Theme for Dracula *
5 The Mansion of Shadowbrook Road (18)
6 Scary German Guy (3)
7 Writing Alucard (8)
8 "There's a Monster in My Closet" *
9 Revenge of the Creature of the Pond (Final Battle Part II) (22)
10 Castle Prologue (2)
11 Dracula Incidental *
12 Monster Squad Meeting / Shadowbrook Road (9)
13 Frankenstein's Monster Meets the Boys / Phoebe & the Monster (13)
14 Werewolf Phone Call (16)
15 "Creature Stole My Twinkie" (17)
16 Incidental *
17 Phoebe Meets the Monster (Intro not used in the film) (10)
18 "Let It Begin" (Dracula's Car) (4)
19 Mummy Hits the Road (19)
20 Militaristic *
21 The Mummy Walks / Werewolf Transformation (6)
22 "Lock Me Up!" (Werewolf's Human Rage) (5)
23 Finale (24)
24 Werewolf Bound / Dracula's Snack (15)
25 Vampire Ladies Approach the Church (20)
26 Monsters Reunited (7)
27 Our Friend, the Monster / Dracula Finds the Amulett (14)
28 Phoebe Vs. Dracula (The Final Battle Part III) (23)
29 Fight with the Werewolf / "You're Not a Virgin, Are You?" (The Final Battle Part I) (21)
30 Main Title Complete (1)

...After this research I can't but wonder who is the idiot behind the compilation of this soundtrack album - in most parts the order of the tracks doesn't make any sense. Furthermore, once again my heart weeps because the most gorgeous portions of this Broughton score aren't included at all - they all feature the marvelous chorus work and some of the most furious orchestral writing I've ever heard from Broughton ...Really a pity - plus that the emotionally uplifting final part of the "Last Battle" (The Vortex), one of the most strikingly beautiful Broughton pieces ever, also isn't included.

The tracks that I haven't been able to identify may very easily be alternate versions of some of the film cues... In fact the tracks "Monsters Reunited", "Main Title Complete", and "Mummy Hits the Road" all conclude with music that isn't included in the film...

Anyway, I hope I have been helpful for someone with this research. The film MONSTER SQUAD itself was one of my favorites when it appeared on video some 14 years ago - and it is still surprisingly classy with its powerful atmosphere and the amazingly-dark score by Broughton. Highly recommended for everybody who think Broughton does only childlike "easy-listening" orchestral extravaganzas for films like BABY'S DAY OUT, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, and HONEY I BLEW UP THE KID.

I have a feeling this might see some sort of club release one of these days.

Anyway, this 'Soundtrack Library' epic was probably sourced from an old sessions tape that makes the rounds...these are, occasionally, incomplete and are always out of order, depending on the day of the recording. So this was probably taken from a day (or two) when the chorus wasn't present(the 'A' orchestra, and largest forces are always recorded on the same day(s), while the smaller bits are done together). Adding further insult, is that the transfer was done with little care or knowledge. Even worse, the sound sucks....although some enterprising people have corrected this, or found an altogether better source.

(...But knowing how many Broughton gems haven't been released properly, it seems quite against the odds that his MONSTER SQUAD would be given a proper and complete release...)

WHY IS THE ONE TRUE MAGIC-MAKER OF HOLLYWOOD TREATED THIS BADLY (while some others are allowed to have 70+ minutes releases of completely magicless music) ???!!?????????
(Yes, I know the answer - because the magicless music seems to sell better these days)

There was a thread at Film Score Monthly's boards that had much discussion about this film and it's score:
http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.asp?threadID=9847&forumID=1

I thought it might be of interest to you, since there is another bootleg other than yours floating around that has some alternate Finale cues. Take care.

I also think that you were unfortunate to obtain the bad bootleg of this, because the one that the FSM member Spacehunter has sounds like a copy that has: excellent sound quality, the cues missing on your album that you miss so much, the cues are in proper order, and also includes several source and alternate cues. I beleive this version might be obtainable through www.majestyx.com

I thought that fans of this film who frequent this message board would be interested to know that a *widescreen* DVD will be released by the company Pacific Family/Triumph on October 28. Wonderful news, fans of this film have never had the pleasure of viewing this movie in it's original format of 2.35:1 unless you were lucky enough to see it in it's brief theatrical run.

Jeron

The film will be twice as good in widescreen, and as you said, Broughton's score is excellent.

Broughton's score is good, but I only have the pathetic sounding SL release which needs to be taken out back and fed a bullet.

I wish Intrada would take the risk on a limited promotional album a la YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES.

quote:

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Originally posted by Dylan:
Hello,

I thought that fans of this film who frequent this message board would be interested to know that a *widescreen* DVD will be released by the company Pacific Family/Triumph on October 28. Wonderful news, fans of this film have never had the pleasure of viewing this movie in it's original format of 2.35:1 unless you were lucky enough to see it in it's brief theatrical run.

Dylan

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