COLLECTING RARE FILM MUSIC ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK LPS -- THE AUSTRALIAN REISSUES

During the 1970s we kept hearing a rumor that GEORGE'S DELERUE's rare soundtrack LP to 'CHINESE ADVENTURES IN CHINA' was released in Australia. This was a soundtrack LP we'd never seen, but we found a release number of United Artists #UAL4136 (it appears it was only released in 'Monaural' sound as there should have been a stereo version that would have the designation #UAS5136 and we never found one).  The film was also released as 'Up To His Ears' or the original French title, 'Les Tribulations d'un Chinois en Chine' and starred Jean-Paul Belmondo and Ursula Andress, directed by Philippe de Broca.  It was an action-comedy based on a Jule Verne novel, and it became a cult film favorite.  In the 1970s we had numerous offers for this soundtrack LP even though we'd never had a copy and those offers were upwards of  $350 mint!  We went in search of this elusive soundtrack LP and found a dealer in Australia, 'Discontinued and Used Records who told us they had no copies available. However, they were investigating the possible reissue of the soundtrack LP soon.  A year or so later, we were able to obtain the limited reissue with what we were told was the original front and back cover artwork with a new number designation of AUSLP 1003, still the 'Monaural' version. The reissue sold for under $10 in the early 80s, but today it will run upwards of $100 mint.  The original, however, is another story, as we've had offers today for more than $1,000 mint! 

Thus, in the early 1980s, we found that this dealer and other Australian record companies had researched the market and determined which soundtrack LPs were in the greatest demand.  Their insight into reissuing rare soundtrack LP titles was seen as very keen when it released a reissue from the 1957 soundtrack to 'THE GIRL MOST LIKELY'.  We were able to sell mint copies of the original Capitol soundtrack LP #W930 (only 'Monaural' sound version released as this vintage predates 'Stereo' releases) for over $200 mint. This was a 'Novelty' soundtrack LP, as it didn't follow the usual rules for high demand and price of a soundtrack LP. The film composers were HUGH MARTIN and RALPH BLANE (who did their primary work on Broadway musicals, not film scores), the music conducted and arranged by NELSON RIDDLE (not in our demand group of film composers). The film starred Jane Powll, Cliff Robertson, Keith Andes, Tommy Noonan and Kaye Ballard and was a remake of 1941's 'Tom Dick and Harry' starring  Ginger Rogers. What is novel about this soundtrack LP is not so much that former MGM singing star Jane Powell vocalizes on it, but that you can hear the vocal stylings of stars  Cliff Robertson, Tommy Noonan, Kaye Ballard and Kelly Brown on it!  Again, the reissue included the original front and back cover artwork which is always a plus to collectors (the front cover is particularly artistic and beautiful!).  Today, the original is valued over $500 and the reissue easily fetches $100 mint.  We still don't know why it does, but as they say, 'Ours is not to reason why....'.

A great example of a rare soundtrack LP that fits the usual guideline of a demand film composer, in this case the legendary Italian composer, MARIO NASCIMBENE to command a price in the 1970s over $300 mint was that for 1956's original soundtrack LP for 'Alexander The Great'.  This limited reissue was released under its original Mercury Records LP #MG20148 (again in 'Monaural' only due to its vintage), and also included the original beautiful front and back cover artwork. The epic adventure starred Richard Burton, Claire Bloom, Fredric March and French star Danielle Darrieux; directed by Robert Rossen. Unique to this soundtrack LP was a 'Prologue' and 'Epilogue' spoken by Dennis Lotis. There is a very nice gallery of black and white photos from the film on the back cover.  Again, the reissue could be had for under $10 in the 1980s, but is easily a $100 item today.  The original is nearing $1,000 mint, however!

A real interesting soundtrack LP reissue by the Australians was that for 1964's television special, 'Sophia Loren In Rome' that was scored by the legendary JOHN BARRY (again, a demand composer, most famous for the 'James Bond' film scores, but also an award winner for 'Lion In Winter', 'Mary Queen Of Scots' and 'Dances With Wolves').  This was a travelogue where Sophia takes the viewer on a visual tour of her favorite Italian city, showcasing its many famous sites.  This came as a result of the famed Jacqueline Kennedy tour of the White House in the early 60s that drew such a large audience. Sophia Loren is also a cult star, so there's collector demand from that area as well. What tops it all is that Sophia sings a John Barry composition for the special, 'Secrets of Rome'!  The original in mint condition is over $400 today, and the reissue is a $100 title mint! 

In researching this guide on Australian reissues, we were amazed to see just how many rare soundtrack LPs they reissued during the 1980s. In seeing how prolific they were, we're considering putting a 'discography' together in a future guide to educate you on what they produced back then for soundtrack LP collectors. Just to give you an example of some of the very rare soundtrack LPs they reissued, they produced ELMER BERNSTEIN's 'DRANGO' and 'HALLELUJAH TRAIL' and 'KINGS GO FORTH' and 'SONS OF KATIE ELDER', another two rare 'novelty' titles starring cult star Annette Funicello--'BEACH PARTY' and 'MUSCLE BEACH PARTY'; MARIO NASCIMBENE'S 'A FAREWELL TO ARMS' and 'FRANCIS OF ASSISI',  MAX STEINER's 'MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR', FRANZ WAXMAN's 'THE NUN'S STORY', JOHN BARRY'S 'BOOM', GEORGE DUNING's 'HOUSEBOAT', MALCOLM ARNOLD's 'THE LION', ALFRED NEWMAN's 'A CERTAIN SMILE'. There are many others, but this is just a sample of how astute the Australians were in their choices of rare soundtrack LPs reissues.  Most utilized the original cover artwork which greatly enhanced the demand for the reissues too!

Look for our next edition, plus also the publication of the 'Discography of  Australian Rare Film Music Soundtrack LP reissues'! BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR EBAY STORE AT 'RTS RARITIES' FOR OUR CURRENTLY AVAILABLE SOUNDTRACK LPS plus Broadway shows & original cast LPs, television, pop/nostalgia, classical, jazz LPs plus videos, books and other collectibles! You can click on the button on this page to get there! Also, if you'd like to see a nice overview of the soundtrack LP collector's market with credits for film composers, record numbers, year of release, imports with more than 8,000 listings for film, television, Broadway / original casts LPs order our RTS PRICE GUIDE for $10 postpaid USA. RTS, Box 93897, Las Vegas, NV 89193.