The Return of the Living Dead back on vinyl for Halloween

The 1985 cult movie The Return of the Living Dead was a sort of ‘punk rock’ sequel to filmmaker George Romero’s classic horror film Night of the Living Dead. Loosely based on a novel by writer John Russo, who had co-written the screenplay for Night of the Living Dead, the quasi-sequel was written and directed by Dan O’Bannon, who added more period-appropriate gore as well as morbid “splatstick” humor to the original film’s formula. Made on a low budget of $4 million, The Return of the Living Dead grossed better than $14 million at the box office and spawned four sequels while becoming a classic of the horror genre while also launching the career of B-movie ‘Scream Queen’ Linnea Quigley.

The Return of the Living Dead is credited as the first horror film to feature zombies dining exclusively on brains rather than just lumbering along as cannibalistic flesh-eaters, a fine distinction to be sure, but one that has carried over into subsequent horror films as well as TV shows. Something else the movie was known for was its high-octane punk-rock soundtrack, one of the first movies to rely on the genre as its musical backdrop. On October 14, 2016 Real Gone Music will reissue The Return of the Living Dead soundtrack on vinyl in several limited-edition variations.       

Originally released by Enigma Records, the film’s soundtrack included songs by psychobilly legends the Cramps, U.K. punk trailblazers the Damned, and ‘60s cult rocker Roky Erickson as well as tracks from the Flesh Eaters, 45 Grave, Tall Boys, Jet Black Berries, 45 Grave, and T.S.O.L. Sadly, the label shoehorned in two ridiculous tracks by SSQ, an electronic dance band featuring singer Stacey Q that the powers-that-be at Enigma seemed to be enamored of at the time.

The Real Gone vinyl reissues feature the album’s original cover and label artwork and will be released in four variations: a grey “Brainsss” version, a black and red starburst version (an indie record store exclusive), an orange and green starburst version (available only from FYE/Transworld stores), all in editions of 720 copies, and a glow-in-the-dark version of 500 copies available only through the Real Gone Music website.

The Return of the Living Dead track list:

Side One
1. The Cramps – “Surfin’ Dead”
2. 45 Grave – “Partytime (Zombie Version)”
3. T.S.O.L. – “Nothing for You”
4. The Flesh Eaters – “Eyes Without A Face”
5. Roky Erickson – “Burn the Flames”

Side Two
1. The Damned – “Dead Beat Dance”
2. Tall Boys – “Take a Walk”
3. The Jet Black Berries – “Love Under Will”
4. SSQ – “Tonight (We’ll Make Love Until We Die)”
5. SSQ – “Trash’s Theme”

Vintage Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers 1977 live LP!

After the break-up of the groundbreaking and influential New York Dolls in 1975, guitarist Johnny Thunders and drummer Jerry Nolan formed the Heartbreakers with bassist Richard Hell. When Hell left the band to form the Voidoids, he was replaced by Billy Rath, and a second guitarist was added in Walter Lure. It’s this line-up that recorded the band’s lone classic album, 1977’s L.A.M.F.

Although it flopped like a beached halibut on the Jersey shoreline, the Heartbreakers’ L.A.M.F. has since come to be considered an early punk-rock gem, the album influencing bands like the Damned and the Sex Pistols (both of whom the Heartbreakers toured the continent with on 1976’s Anarchy Tour), among many others. Thunders’ post-Heartbreakers solo career and his popularization of junkie chic have served to make the singer, songwriter, and guitarist a rock ‘n’ roll cult idol. Since his death in 1991, dozens of live and bootleg albums of dodgy provenance have been released under both Thunders’ and the Heartbreakers’ names.

Oddly enough, one live set that’s never been semi-legitimately released is the Heartbreakers’ August 1977 shows from the Village Gate in New York City. On October 16th, 2015 Cleopatra Records will finally put this legendary performance on plastic with the release of Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers’ L.A.M.F. Live At The Village Gate 1977. Pulling from two electrifying performances that Walter Lure considers the best shows that band ever played, the Village Gate shows include guest appearances by former New York Doll Sylvain Sylvain and rockabilly rebel Robert Gordon. L.A.M.F. Live At The Village Gate 1977 is being released on both CD, with a mini-LP gatefold sleeve, and as a limited-edition hot pink vinyl LP with gatefold sleeve.  

L.A.M.F. Live At The Village Gate 1977 track list:

1. Chinese Rocks
2. Pirate Love
3. Get Off The Phone
4. All By Myself
5. Let Go
6. Can’t Keep My Eyes On You
7. Chatterbox
8. One Track Mind
9. Take A Chance With Me
10. Born Too Loose
11. Boppin’ The Blues
12. Do You Love Me
13. I Wanna Be Loved

Buy the CD from Amazon.com: Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers' L.A.M.F. - Live at the Village Gate 1977