MovieChat Forums > Southern Comfort (1981) Discussion > Whats Up With The Soundtrack?

Whats Up With The Soundtrack?

posted 9 years ago by robbystoner
6 replies | jump to latest

I see that Shout Factory recently re-released a new transfer of the film. Which makes sense in this era of media companies trying to squeeze as much money out of any sort of film and music -- but how come the soundtrack has never been released or re-released? I watched this film as a kid in the 80s and the soundtrack stuck in my mind more than the film in some ways. Its on par if not better than Paris Texas. I still remember sitting through the end credits to hear the soundtrack.

What was is never released? Why was it never re-released? All that was ever released were three tracks on a compilation. Does anyone know why? Did the master tapes get ruined?

"Oh, Mama, can this really be the end, to be stuck inside of mobile
with the memphis blues again"

[–] benntura 9 years ago

I don't know.

[–] twelveboar 9 years ago

To be honest, I don't think there's much of a soundtrack to release- there's a couple- maybe three- tracks by Ry Cooder and, of course, the Balfa brothers whooping it up for one song, but beyond a couple of short refrains from these, I don't think there's any more music to release: most of the film is scored- wonderfully- with the sounds of the swamplands. I guess they never released the soundtrack as it would only have four or so tracks on it.

[–] audiopinions 9 years ago

I just watched it and wondered the same thing. On the 1995 album "Music By Ry Cooder" it features 3 tracks from Southern Comfort, and as twelveboar mentioned, those probably comprise the entirety/majority of the score.

[–] robbystoner 9 years ago

I have that CD set. I guess they are right. Though in the closing credits I recall the end titles have the soundtrack played over most of those titles. If I recall correctly the music released on that CD released comprised of very short songs.

Anyways, FWIW, I contacted Shout Factory about it and I got a reply. They said they dont have the rights to the sound track so thats why its not released. No mention of how much music there would or would not be released.

I think Southern Comfort deserves a special edition. Walter Hill is still alive and it would be interesting to hear his stories on what it was like to film it in the swaps.

"Oh, Mama, can this really be the end, to be stuck inside of mobile
with the memphis blues again"

[–] audiopinions 9 years ago

That's pretty cool you got a response. I only saw this for the first time recently, but I agree it is a hell of a soundtrack and would love for a release someday.

[–] et_tu_Brute 9 years ago

I had the OST on vinyl LP when the original film was released back in the early 80's. I made the silly mistake of giving/selling mch of my LP collection away in I late 80's when I decided to finally switch to CDs. I have all of Ry Cooder's CDs and could never find a CD OST for this movie. My guess is that the music right probably expired years ago. I had thought about trying to get a DVD but the music played during the film are only short pieces and not full tracks so would not be worth ripping to create my own OST.