As we told you earlier this year, the rich genesis and unique history and artwork of horror movie soundtracks is being celebrated in a new book being released on May 13, titled Blood on Black Wax: Horror Soundtracks on Vinyl. A 1984 Publishing title, the hardbound, full-color, 240-page book spotlights the intricate (and often rare) artwork on the LP sleeves, as well as album reviews, release details, and wild backstories.
Blood on Black Wax delves into iconic horror movie soundtracks such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Jaws, Halloween, and The Exorcist, but also aims to show the depth and breadth of the medium—including the orchestral sounds of Hammer and Universal horror; the experimental music found in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Eraserhead; and the outlandish punk and metal songs of ’80s soundtracks such as The Return of the Living Dead and Shocker.
Rue Morgue music editor Aaron Lupton and his co-author Jeff Szpirglas (who’s also a Rue Morgue magazine writer) also interviewed composers behind the music—including John Carpenter, Fabio Frizzi, Christopher Young, and Harry Manfredini. Mick Garris, who directed The Stand and Sleepwalkers, wrote a foreword, while composer Christopher Young (Hellraiser, 2019’s Pet Sematary) penned the afterword.
The regular edition of Blood on Black Wax retails for $34.95 and will be available worldwide at local bookstores, plus larger retailers including Amazon and Chapters. Appropriately, the book is also available in a limited-edition package containing exclusive, sought-after horror film musical obscurities.
On May 1, 2019 (noon EST) 1984Publishing.com will also begin taking pre-orders for exclusive bundles of Blood on Black Wax featuring a limited-edition 12-inch vinyl pressing of the full Prom Night soundtrack cut at 45rpm. Color variants include “Bloody Disco Ball” (red splatter on metallic silver / 650 copies) and “Disco Acid Flashback” (tri-colored royal blue/hot pink/blood red splatter / 350 copies). All versions contain a gatefold sleeve and a “tuxedo black” branded Prom Night condom. Artwork is by “Ghoulish” Gary Pullin, and records will ship in June, 2019.
The Prom Night soundtrack LP will also be available in short quantities separately, at 1984Publishing.com and at record stores.
You can check out Pullin’s artwork for these releases below, exclusively found here on BD!
