Goofy ’80s comedies aren’t normally our bread and butter around these parts, but FANGORIA readers of a certain age will understand why we might be covering Carl Reiner’s Summer School (1987): Chainsaw and Dave, the two horror-loving miscreants who use their love of the genre to bloody, hilarious effect over the course of Reiner’s film. If you grew up in the ’80s and you loved horror, it was very difficult not to want to be Chainsaw or Dave.
Well, believe it or not, Danny Elfman’s Summer School score has never been released … but that all changes tomorrow, when Rusted Wave and 1984 Publishing (in association with Paramount Pictures) will finally put Elfman’s score on vinyl. Here’s what their press release has to say:
“After Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, but before Beetlejuice, Danny Elfman brought his scoring talents to the 1987 Mark Harmon/Kirstie Alley remedial English comedy Summer School. While the film was met with a tepid box office and critical performance, decades later the movie found a fervent cult following with both comedy and horror fans.
For over 35 years, Summer School’s Elfman score was the only soundtrack in his film canon to remain unreleased…until now!
Rusted Wave and 1984 Publishing, in conjunction with Paramount Pictures, are bringing this long-lost Elfman score to vinyl and CD this May. The gatefold edition 12-inch vinyl EP will include the complete Elfman score cut at 45 RPM (newly remastered from the original audio tapes), two recently unearthed Elfman compositions that were not used in the film, and rare film stills.”
The vinyl EPs will be available in three variant colors, each priced at $25 (an exclusive CD limited to 500 copies will also be available for $12):
- “Chainsaw and Dave” / Clear w/Red Swirl (350 copies)
- “Oceanfront High School” / Seafoam Green Mix (350 copies)
- “Beach Brew” / Transparent Beer Yellow (300 copies)
You’ll be able to pick up the version of your choice tomorrow via 1984 Publishing or Rusted Wave, but it probably goes without saying that the FANGORIA crew will be angling for one of the “Chainsaw and Dave” variants. Stay tuned for more excellent soundtrack/vinyl news from 1984 Publishing and Rusted Wave as further updates become available (and, hey, do yourself a favor – if you’ve never seen Summer School, give it a whirl)!
