Quartet Records and Paramount Pictures present a mammoth 3-CD box set with the world premiere release of The Bad News Bears trilogy, just in time to celebrate its 40th anniversary!
The Bad News Bears was a highly successful American sports comedy directed by Michael Ritchie. Starring Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal, the plot features an aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer coaching a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league. The film was followed by two sequels, The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977) and The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978). In addition, there were also a short-lived 1979–80 CBS television series and a 2005 remake also produced by Paramount.
Three important composers were involved in the trilogy: veteran Jerry Fielding scored the original film, while younger composers Craig Safan and Paul Chihara scored the sequels. Surprisingly, despite the different styles of each composer—each of whom has a distinct musical personality—the result was a perfectly unified and structured musical trilogy.
At the request of director Michael Ritchie, Fielding mainly adapted his score from the popular opera Carmen by Bizet, much as he had done two years earlier with Mahler’s first symphony for The Gambler. Besides the Bizet arrangements, Fielding also incorporated a few original cues. For the sequels, Craig Safan did something similar with the “1812 Overture” by Tchaikovsky, and Paul Chihara adapted the popular “The Mikado” by Gilbert & Sullivan. The result is three cool, fun and surprising scores.
The audio was carefully mastered by José Vinader from original stereo mixes and multi-tracks stored in the Paramount vaults, and the 28-page full-color booklet includes liner notes and scores analysis by John Takis, who also co-produced the box set.
Tracklist
DISC ONE. THE BAD NEWS BEARS (1976)
Music Adapted and Conducted by Jerry Fielding
1. Hang In There* (2:04)
2. A Really Fine Thing (1:07)
3. Play Ball (1:18)
4. Beer Cans (0:40)
5. First Major Loss (2:32)
6. Amanda’s Theme (0:47)
7. Bad News for the Athletics (1:31)
8. Around Them Bases (1:11)
9. Street Pitching (2:30)
10. Cool Karl Karonsky (1:38)
11. Out of Pinball Shop (0:28)
12. Second Amanda Theme / Montage #1 (1:51)
13. Dancing School Pianos (3:11)
14. Kelly Rebels* (1:20)
15. Tiny Tears (1:08)
16. Amanda Gets Spiked* (0:49)
17. Buttermaker Goes Corrupt (0:35)
18. Joe Won’t Throw (1:17)
19. Montage #2 (0:40)
20. Lupus’ Big Catch (0:35)
21. Cliff Hanger (3:01)
22. Next Year (0:56)
23. End Credits (1:07)
Bonus tracks
24. The Bad News Bears Song* (1:44)
25. Play Ball (Alternate 1) (1:47)
26. Play Ball (Alternate 2) (1:15)
27. First Major Loss (Alternate) (1:45)
28. Amanda’s Theme (Alternate) (1:01)
29. Buttermaker Goes Corrupt (Alternate) (0:50)
30. Joe Won’t Throw (Alternate) (1:04)
31. Montage #2 (Synth Overlay) (0:31)
32. Montage #2 (Orchestra Only) (0:37)
33. Lupus’ Big Catch (Alternate 1) (0:32)
34. Lupus’ Big Catch (Alternate 2) (0:30)
35. Cliff Hanger (Insert) (1:11)
36. Next Year (Alternate) (0:56)
37 End Credits (Alternate) (2:05)
DISC TWO. THE BAD NEWS BEARS IN BREAKING TRAINING (1977)
Music Adapted and Scored by Craig Safan
1. Main Title (1:46)
2. Mr. Manning (0:26)
3. Kelly’s Bike (1:52)
4. Lupus (1:26)
5. They’re Off / In the Van* (2:01)
6. Kelly’s Reverie (1:00)
7. Smoke Signals* (0:44)
8. Indian Victory (1:25)
9. The Dome (1:14)
10. Vacancy (1:07)
11. Kelly’s Dad / Kelly’s Dad Again (1:28)
12. The Practice (1:23)
13. The Champs (1:51)
14. The Hilton (1:36)
15. Coach Leak (2:54)
16. Kelly Runs (1:25)
17. Pool Hall / Kelly Night & Dome (2:49)
18. Notre Dame Victory March (2:23)
19. Bad News on the Toros (1:30)
20. Domed Out* (1:48)
21. Tanner’s Stand / Let Them Play / Play Ball* (2:53)
22. Inside the Park Homer / Safe (2:52)
23. Lookin’ Good (Vocal) (3:31)
Bonus tracks
24. Lookin’ Good (Instrumental 1) (1:27)
25. Play Jazz* (1:29)
26. Lookin’ Good” (Instrumental 2) (3:16)
27. Hitchhiker (“Lookin’ Good) (1:29)
28. Smoke Signals (Alternate, “Lookin’ Good”) (0:46)
29. Organ Music (“Las Chiapanecas”) (1:02)
DISC THREE. THE BAD NEWS BEARS GO TO JAPAN (1978)
Music Scored and Adapted by Paul Chihara
1. Logo / Titles (1:20)
2. Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean / The Marines’ Hymn (1:44)
3. The Polo Lounge Feel (2:34)
4. June’s Blues* (2:08)
5. Airport / Fight at Haneda* / Tokyo Freeway (1:50)
6. Jet Lag Game* (0:59)
7. Your Name (0:29)
8. Mean Bones (2:59)
9. Sports Fanfare / Birdman’s Flyin’ High (2:09)
10. Inoki Fight* / Battle* (1:49)
11. Victory (1:06)
12. Bullet Train / Train Again / Temple Romance (1:35)
13. Godzilla (0:47)
14. Love Scene (1:24)
15. Transistor Earpiece Radio* (1:21)
16. Big Game* (0:49)
17. Look (0:20)
18. Sand Lot / True Love / The Stars and Stripes Forever (2:59)
19. Lazar, You Bastard* / Take Me Out to the Ball Game (2:13)
Bonus tracks
20. Godzilla (Alternate) (0:48)
21. Birdman’s Flyin’ High (Wild) (2:01)
22. Birdman’s Flyin’ High (Alternate) (0:48)
23. Everybody Is Happy (1:22)
24. Vamp (0:56)
25. Tangerine (1:20)
26. Happy Days (1:46)
27. Moon River (1:36)
28. Take Me Out to the Ball Game (0:52)
29. Introduction to Kurodabushi / Kurodabushi / Tag (1:27)
30. Tag Again (0:26)
31. Take Good Care of Her (2:33)
32. Japanese Song #1* (0:56)
33. Japanese Song #2* (2:04)
34. Take Me Out to the Ball Game (End Credits) (1:24) mono
- *does not appear in the film
