Blazing Saddles
Silva Screen - SILLP1484 40th Anniversary Edition Limited Black Vinyl

Blazing Saddles is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all Hollywood comedies, a fact underlined by its three Academy Award nominations. Writer and director Mel Brooks brought to the soundtrack exactly what played out on screen, a glorious, gag-packed parody of the western genre. The main theme performed by Frankie Laine was one of those Academy Award nominations. Running a trade ad to find a Laine sound-alike to perform the song he was astonished to see the great man himself turn up to deliver this delicious parody of of every wild west theme he had previously performed mixing elements of Rawhide, Mule Train and Gunfight At The OK Corral. In collaboration with John Morris, Brooks skilfully also created a magnificent score that refined every possible musical cliche connected to westerns from swirling strings to choral refrains. Originally only released in part in the 1970s this 40th anniversary edition is the most complete version yet with 28 tracks that also incorporates some of the most hilarious dialogue from the film. This is a soundtrack created with love that captures perfectly the essence of a truly great film, now a rarity in the modern cinema era.

Vinyl Details:
First Vinyl Release
Black 180g vinyl Single LP
Double Sided Insert Including Lyrics
Limited to 1000 copies
28 Tracks Including Dialogue

…regular Mel Brooks composer John Morris’ short but pitch-perfect work for what was Brooks’ finest, most gleefully politically incorrect hour remains undimmed. The theme song, with impassioned vocals from Frankie Laine, could quite comfortably have featured in any of the classic Westerns the film spoofed. Elsewhere, Madeleine Khan’s Dietrich-like torch song I’m Tired remains uproariously filthy, and Cleavon Little’s mischievous take on Cole Porter (“Some get a kick from cocaine...”) will further spark a quoting frenzy. While all-too-brief, Morris’ orchestral cues are superb, played straight and faithful - like all the best comedy scores - and are certainly a key ingredient in the film’s success. - Empire 5*

Blazing Saddles may not be everyone's cup of tea, but, to quote the movie's bad guy, 'rustlers, cutthroats, murders, bounty hunters, desperadoes, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con-men, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglars, horse thieves, train robbers, bank robbers, ***-kickers, ****-kickers and Methodists' may want to give it a try. As with the film, the soundtrack offers something to offend almost anyone at one point or another… The performance by the Blazing Saddles Orchestra under the direction of the composer can justly be called definitive… - AllMusic.com