Big Trouble in Little China (soundtrack)

Big Trouble in Little China (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by John Carpenter & Alan Howarth
Released	1986
Studio	Electric Melody Studios, Glendale, California
Genre	Electronic rock film score
Length	45:38(1986 release) 71:35 (1999 release)
Label	Enigma Records (1986 release) Super Tracks Music Group (1999 release)
Producer	John Carpenter
John Carpenter chronology
The Fog (1984) Big Trouble in Little China (1986) Prince of Darkness (1987)

1986 release

No.	Title	Artist(s)	Length
1.	"Big Trouble In Little China"	The Coupe De Villes	3:13
2.	"Pork Chop Express"		3:40
3.	"The Alley"		2:00
4.	"Here Comes the Storms"		2:20
5.	"Lo Pan's Domain"		4:30
6.	"Escape from Wing Kong"		8:00
7.	"Into the Spirit Path"		7:07
8.	"The Great Arcade"		7:50
9.	"The Final Escape"		6:58
Total length:			45:38

1999 release

No.	Title	Artist(s)	Length
1.	"Big Trouble In Little China"	The Coupe De Villes	3:13
2.	"Pork Chop Express"		3:40
3.	"The Alley"		2:00
4.	"Here Comes the Storms"		2:20
5.	"Lo Pan's Domain"		4:30
6.	"Escape from Wing Kong"		8:00
7.	"Into the Spirit Path"		7:07
8.	"The Great Arcade"		10:00
9.	"The Final Escape"		4:47
10.	"Big Trouble In Little China -Reprise-"	The Coupe De Villes	3:08

Backstabbed

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"Opening"	Alan Howarth	3:35
12.	"Alexandra"	Howarth	5:57
13.	"Blue Planet Interlude/Final Stab"	Howarth	5:41

Escape from New York

No.	Title	Length
14.	"Atlanta Bank Robbery"	3:31
Total length:		71:35

Both the 1986 release and 1999 release are out-of-print.

2009/2016 releases

Big Trouble in Little China (Limited Edition)
Soundtrack album by John Carpenter & Alan Howarth
Released	January 2009
Studio	Electric Melody Studios, Glendale, California
Genre	Electronic rock film score
Length	96:29
Label	La-La Land Records

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Empire	[4]

In 2009, a complete 2CD limited edition of the soundtrack was released by La-La Land Records which includes every note of music from the film, including both versions of the title song, remastered. In 2016, it was re-released as part of the film's 30th anniversary, with new artwork and packaging. Both versions have an error on Pork Chop Express on the intro, it plays slightly fast, then slows down to its normal speed. The original 1986 versions don't have this error, this is because the 2009 and 2016 CD's are mastered from the film's audio master, rather than the original master tapes. This is also audibly evident in the film too.

Disc One

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Prologue"	2:15
2.	"Pork Chop Express (Main Title)"	4:01
3.	"Abduction At Airport"	4:17
4.	"The Alley (Procession)"	1:12
5.	"The Alley (War)"	2:31
6.	"The Storms"	2:42
7.	"Tenement / White Tiger"	3:49
8.	"Here Come The Storms"	4:15
9.	"Wing Kong Exchange"	4:40
10.	"Lo Pan's Domain / Looking For A Girl"	3:16
11.	"Friends Of Yours? / Escape Iron Basis"	7:18
12.	"Escape From Wing Kong"	5:38
13.	"Hide"	4:35
Total length:		50:44

Disc Two

No.	Title	Artist(s)	Length
1.	"Call the Police"		7:32
2.	"Dragon Eyes"		1:12
3.	"Into the Spirit Path"		7:05
4.	"The Great Arcade"		7:53
5.	"The Final Escape (Lo Pan's Demise / Getaway)"		7:02
6.	"Goodbye Jack"		3:14
7.	"Big Trouble In Little China (End Credits - Album Version)"	The Coupe De Villes	3:22
8.	"Stingers Montage"		5:24
9.	"Big Trouble In Little China (Original Version)"	The Coupe De Villes	3:01
Total length:			45:45

Personnel

• John Carpenter – composition, performance, production
• Alan Howarth - synthesizer programming, sequencing, editing, recording

The Coupe De Villes

• John Carpenter
• Nick Castle
• Tommy Lee Wallace

Reception

Carpenter's score was nominated at the 14th Saturn Awards for "Best Music". ^[5]

References

1. McDonald, Steven. "John Carpenter: Big Trouble in Little China [Original Soundtrack]". AllMusic .
2. Torikian, Messrob (August 25, 2003). "Big Trouble In Little China - Expanded Edition Soundtrack (1981-1996)". Soundtrack.Net . Retrieved March 4, 2017.
3. Swires, Steve (August 1986). "John Carpenter: Kung Fu, Hollywood Style". Starlog .
4. Graydon, Danny. "Review of Big Trouble In Little China". Empire. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
5. "Past Saturn Awards". Saturn Awards.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2024.