The Iron Giant still holds up as one of the best animated movies ever made thanks to its heartwarming story and pulp sci-fi aesthetic. But the musical score composed by the late Michael Kamen is an underappreciated gem. Now, Kamen’s score is about to get a brand new physical release. Varèse Sarabande Records has announced a deluxe edition of The Iron Giant’s full soundtrack on vinyl. As a bonus, the new version of the album comes with a litany of additional material.
This isn’t the first time that Varèse Saraband has pressed Kamen’s Iron Giant score on wax. Their original pressing from 1999 comprised 49 minutes of music and fit on a single LP. However, the deluxe edition expands the runtime to 64 minutes, with an extra 13 minutes of alternate recordings and demos. It also features an “unrealized song” titled “Souls Don’t Die,” which was performed on piano and guitar by Kamen and Eric Clapton, which is based on Kamen’s theme of the same name.
RELATED: Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn Movie Heads To Skydance Animation
Varèse Saraband clearly went all out for the soundtrack’s packaging as well. Both LPs fit inside a slipcase with a pull tab that opens the titular robot’s eyes on the front cover. By flipping the inner sleeve one way or the other, the Giant’s eyes will either glow their usual yellow color or defense-mode red. The inside also features new liner notes from Tim Greiving and interviews with director Brad Bird, music editor Christopher Brooks, and orchestrator Blake Neely.
Kamen, who passed away in 2003, was a prolific composer who also scored the original Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, and X-Men. As a songwriter, he received Oscar nominations for writing original tracks for 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and 1994’s Don Juan DeMarco. Additionally, Kamen is widely remembered for collaborating with Metallica on their S&M live album in 1999.
The 2XLP deluxe edition of Kamen’s score for The Iron Giant will go on sale on August 5. Varèse Saraband is also releasing an exclusive green variant of the soundtrack (limited to 500 copies). You can pre-order the album here.
Will you be pre-ordering a copy of the soundtrack? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: The Iron Giant
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
