Rare Japanese LP featuring Magnum Force cover

Rare Japanese LP featuring Magnum Force cover

Here’s a lovely vinyl LP I’ve been wanting to post here for a while. To be quite honest, when it comes to Japanese albums that feature Clint on the cover, the marketplace is a complete minefield. A great deal of the LP’s were re-released, and then re-released again! It’s a nightmare trying to navigate! 

This great example (unfortunately) does not sit in my collection. However, it is certainly a rare release as it features a very familiar shot from Magnum Force (1973). A great deal of these compilations, which were often inferior covers of the original recordings, tended to feature Clint from any of the ‘Dollar’ films. Naturally these would often be Western compilations. When it came to general film themes from a particular era such as the 70’s it would not be unusual to find covers featuring either Steve McQueen, Bruce Lee or Charles Bronson – the iconic, big hitting stars of the day, and particularly popular in Japan. In fact, I have an LP from this same (CBS/Sony) series, one that is dedicated to Charles Bronson movies, featuring a great cover shot from The Mechanic (1972) and attached inside the gatefold sleeve is a 12” x 12” multi-page, well-illustrated booklet. One thing is certain, whilst the music was often regarded as lower grade versions, there was nothing lower grade when it came to Japanese packaging.

I’m not sure if this featured LP came as gracefully packaged, as the images and information I have is rather limited. There doesn’t seem to be a date listed for this release either – although looking at the tracks included, I would hesitate a guess that it’s from around 1974. As mentioned above, these LPs are unfortunately pretty rare and hard to find outside of their domestic shores, and because of that, they often demand high prices. Add to that your cost of postage, your VAT charges and you’re soon looking at a minor fortune. 

Despite all the negative factors, they’re still a thing of beauty and deserve a place here where they can at least be seen. Details: Ensemble Petit & Screenland Orchestra – Screen Music Best Hits, CBS/Sony – YDSC-30, Stereo, Japan. 

Track details:  

Side A) 1. Fist of Fury – J. Koo 2. Free as The Wind – J. Goldsmith 3. Theme From 'Magnum Force’ – L. Schifrin 4. The Big Boss – J. Koo / W. Ling 5. Fifth Movement (Tubular Bells) - M. Oldfield

Side B) 1. The Entertainer – S. Joplin 2. The Day of The Dolphin – G. Delerue 3. Theme From 'Mr. Majestyk' – C. Bernstein 4. La Lecon D'Amour – Y. Spanos 5. The Way We Were – A Bergman / M. Bergman / M. Hamlisch