La-La Land Records have recently announced the new release of 2 Oliver Nelson movie soundtracks: DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER (1969) and SKULLDUGGERY (1970) on a single limited edition CD. Part of the Universal Pictures Film Music Classics Collection this is the first time on any format that Oliver’s score for ‘Gunfighter has been released and is likely to sell out quickly.
The copy for the album on the La-La Land Website says: “From his lean, elegiac and blues-tinged work on DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER to his rousing and rhythmically charged score for SKULLDUGGERY, this release vividly demonstrates Nelson’s incredible talents and versatility. Also featured here is the song from DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER, “Sweet Apple Wine,” performed by one of the film’s stars, the great Lena Horne.
Produced, mixed, edited and mastered by Mike Matessino from stereo vault elements, this special limited edition of 1500 units features exclusive liner notes written by author Jeff Bond and sharp art direction by Dan Goldwasser.”
The CD has a running time of 73:20 minutes for both scores, with a total of 40 tracks. The track listing is as follows:
DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER
1. Sweet Apple Wine 1:11
Performed by Lena Horne
2. Emblem 0:26
3. Main Title (‘Death Of A Gunfighter’) 1:14
4. Claire / Cottonwood Spring / Good Night Marshal 3:12
5. Dark Stable 1:22
6. Claire Asleep 1:04
7. Poor Luke 1:02
8. Fish Pond / Get Up Pa 2:22
9. Father And Son 1:53
10. Cool Off 3:30
11. Grim Walk / Oxley And Rifle 2:28
12. Damn It Andy / Confused Patch / Goodbye Frank 4:13
13. Wedding Day 2:37
14. Will Gets His 2:33
15. Light Gun Battle 1:24
16. Last Walk 1:25
17. End Title (‘Death Of A Gunfighter’) 1:12
18. Sweet Apple Wine (Long Version) 2:21
Performed by Lena Horne
Total Time: 35:43
SKULLDUGGERY
19. Main Title (‘Skullduggery’) 4:02
20. Tool Shed / Smash The Bottle 2:19
21. Paddlers 0:43
22. Boat Trip 2:27
23. The Trip Continues 3:03
24. Sack Time 1:18
25. Rain Forest 2:25
26. Let’s Get Out 1:24
27. Him Lost 1:20
28. Come In / Hidden Valley 1:22
29. Salty Bones 1:55
30. Don’t Keep Your Fossils Waiting 0:51
31. Enter Tropis 1:09
32. Rover Or Sport 1:53
33. How About A Kiss 1:16
34. Trek Back 0:50
35. Mining Operation 1:10
36. Bare Midriff / Morris Minor 1:19
37. Missing Link Murder / Head Lines 0:39
38. He Was Born Dead 2:49
39. Topazia’s Rag Doll 1:13
40. End Title (‘Skullduggery’) 1:34
Total Time: 37:30
Total Album Time: 73:20
Interestingly for fans of the Bionic shows, there are numerous connections to the Bionic series, aside from Oliver Nelson. David Opatoshu appeared on both SMDM and BW and there is John Saxon who again, appeared on both Bionic shows, most famously as Steve’s friend Major Sloan in the 1st season episode ‘Day of the Robot’.
John Saxon in DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER
You can order the CD (so long as they still have stock) from the La-La Land Records website here.