I’m delighted La-La Land Records and Paramount Pictures have just released a limited edition CD with a 23 page booklet of our 1990 film score to the big-screen horror chiller Stephen King's Graveyard Shift. I recently learned from the label that this film has achieved bonafide cult status.

Our music features a 4 voice all female choir, solo trumpet, slide guitar and the Synclavier Digital Music System. This score is an early example of film music combining electronic digital sounds, electronic analog sounds, acoustic instruments, choir and digitally sampled sounds. There was a lot of experimentation and improvisation involved in the process. Many of the percussive rhythms in the score were sampled loops derived from recordings of machinery at an abandoned early 20th century textile mill in Bangor, Maine located on the film set. The live players and choir were added to the tracks after the sampled loops and electronic elements most of the time.

I have deep admiration for the film’s director Ralph S. Singleton for trusting and urging two young composers to supply a musical voice that could be present throughout the entire film. He encouraged us to create music and ambient soundscapes unlike anything expected in the genre to date.

Special thanks to soundtrack producer Dan Goldwasser for his attention to detail at every phase and wonderfully sinister art design in a 23 page booklet, MV Gerhard and Matt Verboys for investing so much time and energy into this comprehensive soundtrack release, Daniel Schweiger for his creative in-depth liner notes and so much colorful behind the scenes information, James Nelson for pristine and flawless mastering and especially to Lonnie Sill (while head of music at Paramount Pictures) for backing us to score this film so early in our career.

- Anthony Marinelli

Purchase Soundtrack

https://lalalandrecords.com/graveyard-shift-limited-edition/

CD booklet autographed by co-composer Anthony Marinelli and Ralph S. Singleton at no additional charge. Autographs are available while supplies last and are NOT guaranteed.

Film Synopsis

In a very old textile mill with a serious rat infestation, deadly accidents start happening, but the corrupt foreman continues to put his workers in danger, until they discover a horrifying secret deep in the basement. The film stars David Andrews, Kelly Wolf and Brad Dourif, and is directed by Ralph S. Singleton. It was adapted from a short story by Stephen King first published in Cavalier magazine and later included in King’s 1978 collection Night Shift. It was adapted into Graveyard Shift in 1990.

Credits

Guitar - Dean Parks

Percussion - Luis Conte

Bones - Vinnie Colaiuta

Trumpet - Oscar Brashear

Choir - Carmen Twillie, Donna Davidson, Beth Anderson & Gigi Worth

Synclavier Digital Music System - Anthony Marinelli & Brian Banks

Music Recorded & Mixed by Mark Curry

Assistant Engineer - Scott Reeder

Music Recorded at Sonar, Hollywood, CA