Press Release from Dragon's Domain:
Dragon’s Domain Records presents the original score from the 1990 motion picture NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, featuring music composed by Paul McCullough for the remake of the 1968 cult horror classic by the great George A. Romero, directed by Tom Savini, written by John A. Russo and George A. Romero, starring Tony Todd, Patricia Tallman, Tom Towles, McKee Anderson, William Butler, Katie Finneran, Bill Moseley, Heather Mazur and David W. Butler.
After the success of DAY OF THE DEAD in 1985, George A. Romero secured funding for a remake of his original 1968 film and approached Tom Savini to direct the film. The two had forged a creative relationship after Savini used his incredible talents as a make-up artist and special effects wizard on DAWN OF THE DEAD in 1978 and again on DAY OF THE DEAD. The script for the remake was very close to the original film but after seeing Sigourney Weaver in the ALIEN films, Savini was interested in updating the Barbara character to be more proactive.
Released in 1990, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD begins as Johnny (Moseley) and Barbara (Tallman) are visiting their mother’s grave in a cemetery out in the middle of nowhere. Barbara sees a man sobbing nearby and murmuring ‘I’m sorry’ when, out of nowhere, she is attacked by a zombie. Johnny comes to defend her but is killed. Returning to Johnny’s car, Barbara is attacked again by more zombies. Barbara runs to a nearby farmhouse for help. She is joined by Ben (Todd), who tells her the zombies are everywhere. Armed with a crowbar, Ben and Barbara begin to clear the house of zombies, barricading the doors and windows. As they make their way through the house, they discover that they aren’t alone. Other people have also made their way there. As the dead continue to mass outside the house, Ben, Barbara and the others decide to make their stand there... but how long can they last?
The music for Savini’s version of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD was composed by Paul McCollough, who also had a previous relationship with George A. Romero as the writer for his 1973 film, THE CRAZIES. The original NIGHT OF THE OF THE LIVING DEAD featured a hodgepodge of pre-existing music selections from a variety of sources available through the Hi-Q music library, boasting a gothic, neo-50s, science fiction vibe. McCollough’s score, on the other hand, borrows some of the same minimalist characteristics as its predecessor but was composed and produced entirely using the synthesizer technology of the day.
Previously released on compact disc as a limited edition release in 2002 by Numonorean Music and very scarce, Dragon’s Domain Records is excited to bring NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD back to the marketplace. The music has been newly mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland and the booklet contains liner notes written by author and composer Brian Satterwhite.
