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The World's Finest Presents

Releases - CD - Batman: The Animated Series, Volume 2
 


Original Release Date
: July 19th, 2012
Number of Discs: 4
Label: La-La Land Records
Music Composed by: Shirley Walker and Co.
Limited Edition run of 3000 copies

Track Listing
Disc One
1. Batman: The Animated Series – Main Title (Danny Elfman) 1:05
Beware The Gray Ghost – Carl Swander Johnson
2. Beware the Gray Ghost 0:54
3. Simon Trent 1:47
4. Trent Meets Batman* / Trent Runs 1:33
5. He Runs But He Can’t Hide* 0:36
6. Trent Helps Batman* 0:55
7. Lethal Toys* / The Ghost Saves Batman 1:25
8. Toy Car Chase* 0:43
9. Gray Ghost’s Shrine / Mistaken Identity 0:46
10. Twisted Ted* / Up in Smoke 1:36
11. Bruce’s Hero* 0:31
Beware The Gray Ghost – Bonus Track:
12. Gray Ghost Suite 1:24
The Cat And The Claw, Part I – Harvey R. Cohen, Wayne Coster, Shirley Walker
13. The Catwoman (S. Walker) 4:51
14. Riding the Truck* (W. Coster) 1:01
15. Multigon International (W. Coster) 0:18
16. Introducing Red Claw (H. Cohen) / A Word With the Boss (W. Coster) 0:55
17. Catwoman at Multigon H.Q. (S. Walker) / Cats in the Office (S. Walker) (Features “Ode to Joy” By L. Beethoven) 1:31
18. Batman Rescues Catwoman* (H. Cohen) / Lovers or Enemies (W. Coster) 3:33
19. Who Will Save You? 0:30
The Cat And The Claw, Part II – Harvey R. Cohen
20. The Cat and the Claw 0:44
21. The Train* 1:59
22. Bruce Wayne’s Chaperone / A Bumpy Ride 1:57
23. Alley Cat* / Catwoman Strikes* 3:30
24. Bat Draft* 2:14
25. The Fallen Resort* 0:57
26. More Than You’ll Ever Know* 0:46
The Cat And The Claw – Bonus Tracks:
27. String Quartet (W. Coster) 1:01
28. Ode to Joy (Composed By L. Beethoven; Arranged by Shirley Walker) 0:10
29. Introducing Red Claw (Alternate) (H. Cohen) 0:39
30. Ode to Joy Alternates (Composed By L. Beethoven; Arranged By Shirley Walker) 0:28
Nothing To Fear – Shirley Walker
31. Nothing to Fear 0:43
32. Machine Gun / The Scarecrow Arrives 1:42
33. The Vault** / Sprinklers 3:22
34. Scarecrow’s Hideout 0:22
35. Scarecrow’s Backstory 0:35
36. Batman’s Flashback / Batman and Alfred 0:46
37. Scarecrow Invades the Museum / Scarecrow’s Attempt at Escape** 2:13
38. Dirigible Flight / Fear Strikes Again / Escape and Explosion 3:22
39. Scarecrow Discovered / Scarecrow is Captured / Scarecrow on a Skewer 1:54
Heart Of Ice – Todd Hayen, Shirley Walker
40. Heart of Ice 0:38
41. The Iceman Cometh Again / Cold as Ice* 3:30
42. Top Secret 0:57
43. The Swift Hand of Vengeance 1:55
44. Ice Assault / Frigid Frenzy / Alfred’s Cold Remedy 2:34
45. Arkham Asylum 0:59
Heart Of Ice – Bonus Tracks:
46. Newsbreak (Expanded) 0:44
47. Benefit Classic 1:15
48. Office Muzak 2:25
49. The Iceman Cometh Again (Alternate) 2:53
50. Batman: The Animated Series – End Credits (Extended) (Danny Elfman) 0:46
Disc One Total Time: 73:54

Disc Two
1. Batman: The Animated Series – Main Title (Piano Version) (Danny Elfman and Shirley Walker) 1:03
Appointment In Crime Alley – Stuart Balcomb
2. Sub Main Title 0:31
3. Batman Drives to Crime Alley / Where Are We Going to Go? 2:23
4. I’m Not Afraid Here* 1:12
5. Searching for Leslie / Leslie’s Held Captive 0:49
6. The Billboard 0:52
7. Baby Picture* 1:59
8. Chasing the Trolley / Trolley Rescue* 1:28
9. Batman Sees the Newstand Clock* / Leslie Sweats / Batman Swings During Speech 1:09
10. Good People in Crime Alley* 0:38
Mad As A Hatter – Harvey R. Cohen
11. Mad as a Hatter 1:00
12. Poor Jervis / Frabjous Day* 2:00
13. A Walk in the Park* 0:38
14. Ejection* / The Plunger* 1:15
15. The Mock Turtle Song 0:34
16. Until Tomorrow* / Will You, Won’t You* 1:03
17. All’s Fair in Love and War* / Mad Hatter’s Friends* / Storybook Land* 3:04
18. Off With His Head* / The Maze* / Batman Comes to Tea* 4:15
Mad As A Hatter – Bonus Track:
19. Dining With Jervis 1:18
The Strange Secret Of Bruce Wayne – Lolita Ritmanis
20. The Strange Secret* / Batman Intervenes 2:21
21. Tragic Past* 1:23
22. The Strange Doctor / The Joker’s Phone Message* / Strange Has Left the Building 0:58
23. The Diabolical Plan* 3:07
24. Bruce Makes Another Tape 0:45
25. Strange Tries to Run / Flying the Unfriendly Skies* / Running on Empty* / Batman Makes the Catch / Robin is Revealed 3:00
I’ve Got Batman In My Basement – Shirley Walker, Carlos Rodriguez
26. The Heist 2:17
27. Sherman Tracks Vulture / Birdseed / Penguin Revealed 1:36
28. Batman Gets Gassed 2:11
29. Batmobile Goes Bats / Sherman and the Batmobile* (Carlos Rodriguez) 2:09
30. The Vulture Flies / It’s a Matter of Life and Death 0:43
31. Vulture Attack / Penguin Pays a Visit 1:04
32. It’s Them or Us / Polite Penguin 1:49
33. Penguin the Bully / Batman vs Penguin 2:20
34. Front Page Penguin 0:41
Feat Of Clay, Part I – Jeff Atmajian, Shirley Walker, Carl Swander Johnson
35. Feat of Clay* (J. Atmajian) 1:09
36. Mr. Fox’s Resignation (S. Walker) 3:32
37. Matt’s Make-Up (S. Walker) 1:31
38. Matt Finds the Formula (C. S. Johnson) 0:35
39. Creation of Clayface (J. Atmajian) 0:45
40. Bell Goes for a Ride*/** (C. S. Johnson) 1:56
41. Bruce Looks for Answers (J. Atmajian) 0:49
42. Teddy Discovers Clayface (S. Walker) 0:43
Feat Of Clay, Part II – Shirley Walker
43. Sub Main Title 0:36
44. Arrival at Imperial Pictures 0:19
45. Man of Many Faces 2:11
46. Suffocation for Fox / Foiled by Batman 1:08
47. Batman Confronts Clayface / The Matt Hagen Films 3:09
48. Batman Confrontation With Clayface / Clayface Dies 4:48
49. The Morgue 0:50
50. Batman: The Animated Series – End Credits (Alternate Beginning) (Danny Elfman) 0:48
Disc Two Total Time: 78:24

Disc Three 1. Batman: The Animated Series – Main Title (MIDI Version) (Danny Elfman and Shirley Walker) 1:04
Almost Got ‘Im – Stuart Balcomb
2. Almost Got ‘Im 1:24
3. Pumpkin Patch* / Batman’s Scorn* 1:11
4. A Bad Penny* 1:12
5. Penguin’s Setup* / Birds of a Feather* 2:42
6. Laugh O Meter / Catwoman to the Rescue* / Catwoman KO’d 1:10
7. Shadow Secrets* / Cat Food for Thought* / Maybe Some Day 2:08
Almost Got ‘Im – Bonus Tracks:
8. Club Source #2 0:59
9. Club Source #4 0:57
10. Joker Talk Show Source* (Extended) 0:49
11. Joker Bumper* 0:15
12. Just for Laughs 1:40
If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich? – Carlos Rodriguez
13. If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich?*/ Silent Radio 0:45
14. The Wasteland*/ Rescue Attempt* / Riddler Escapes* 4:18
15. Minotaur’s Myth* / The Griffin / Griffin Fight / Hand of Fate 3:05
16. Hijacked Hand* / The Minotaur / Destroy Them / Deadbolts* 3:06
If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich? – Bonus Tracks:
17. If You’re So Smart Source (Shirley Walker) 2:11
18. Riddle of the Minotaur Source 0:13
19. Griffin Theme 0:09
20. Question Mark Motif 0:08
21. Hand of Fate Motif 0:09
22. Wasteland Motif 0:07
23. Musical Puzzle 0:12
The Demon’s Quest, Part I – Michael Mccuistion
24. The Demon’s Quest* 1:47
25. Sad News / Strike One 1:06
26. Calcutta / Alley Fight* 1:48
27. Black Cat / Sweet Dreams, Kitty* 2:03
28. After You 0:33
29. Power Trooper* / The Demon’s Guard / They Call Him Ra’s* 2:45
30. Strike Three – You’re Out 0:44
31. The Lazarus Pit* / Revitalized Demon* 2:04
The Demon’s Quest, Part Ii – Harvey R. Cohen
32. Recap* 0:52
33. The Demon’s Quest, Part II* 1:26
34. Parted Lovers / Goodbye Beloved* 1:29
35. Orpheus / Lets Do It* / Caravan* 1:47
36. Pay for This Trespass 1:13
37. Lower the Bombs / Crazy / To the Tower 1:10
38. To Remember Me, Beloved* / Countdown* 1:44
39. He’ll Ruin Everything* 3:35
40. Prisoner of Love* 0:57
The Laughing Fish – Shirley Walker
41. The Laughing Fish / Joker’s Insane Scheme 3:15
42. Friendly Fish Truck / Missile Fish / Francis Gets Happy (Extended) / I Know You’re Watching 1:13
43. Jackson’s Cat 0:57
44. Oceanside Aquarium / Sharkey’s Appetite 2:13
45. Catch of the Day / How Do You Spell Relief? 1:57
46. Batman Rides the Shark / Jumping Joker Sees Jaws / Is the Joker Gone? 3:30
The Laughing Fish – Bonus Tracks:
47. “Joker’s Fish Song” (Features “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” Arranged by Nerida Tyson-Chew) 1:03
48. Joker’s Door Chime #1 0:11
49. Joker’s Door Chime #2 0:12
50. Batman: The Animated Series – End Credits (Alternate Ending) (Danny Elfman) 0:44
Disc Three Total Time: 72:12

Disc Four
1. Batman: The Animated Series – Main Title (with Sound Effects) (Danny Elfman) 1:04
Shadow of the Bat, Part I – Shirley Walker
2. Shadow of the Bat / Thorne on the Roof 2:01
3. Gordon’s Arrest 1:02
4. We’ll See About This / The Evidence Room 1:07
5. Two-Face’s Hideout / The Batgirl / Batgirl Takes Action / Batgirl Gets Trashed 2:37
6. Bad Company / A Different Disguise / Matches Malone 3:56
Shadow of the Bat, Part II – Harvey R. Cohen
7. Recap* 1:19
8. Shadow of the Bat, Part II / Casing Gil’s Apartment* 1:21
9. Robin and Batgirl Follow* / Matches Gives the Signal / Bad Guys Escape 2:58
10. Water in the Tunnel / Water, Water Everywhere* / Saving Robin / Batgirl up the Rope* 1:47
11. Blasted out of Jail / Batgirl Finds Out 1:00
12. Subway Escape* 1:44
13. Rescue of the Commish* / Batgirl’s a Real Drag / Batgirl Sees the Statue* 3:16
14. Welcome to Gotham 0:32
Shadow of the Bat – Bonus Tracks:
15. Recap (Alternate) 1:20
16. Matches Gives the Signal (No Bass) / Bad Guys Escape (No Bass) 1:41
Harley And Ivy – Peter Davison, Michael Mccuistion, Lolita Ritmanis, Shirley Walker
17. Harley and Ivy* (M. McCuistion, L. Ritmanis) 2:57
18. Harley is On Her Own (S. Walker, L. Ritmanis) / The Girls Escape (S. Walker) 3:18
19. Toxic Dump (P. Davison) / Crime Spree (S. Walker) 1:10
20. Batman Finds a Clue* (P. Davison) / Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down (S. Walker) / Locked in Chains (P. Davison) / Batman Escapes Bondage* (P. Davison) 1:43
21. The Joker’s Flower (S. Walker, L. Ritmanis) / Batman Rescues Mr. J* (M. McCuistion) / No More Women (S. Walker) 2:04
Read My Lips – Shirley Walker
22. Read My Lips / Scarface’s Boys 2:14
23. What a Dummy 1:17
24. Drapes for the Bat / Lumber Slumber / No Apples 2:50
25. A Prima Notion 1:14
26. Platinum Vault / Hang in There 1:24
27. Dummy Up / Here We Go Again 3:24
Fire From Olympus – Shirley Walker
28. Fire From Olympus 2:17
29. Max on High 1:16
30. Lightning Demonstration 0:39
31. Sneaking Batman In / Fire in the Sky 2:39
32. Batman Enters Olympus / Snake Fight 1:51
33. Olympus Battle 4:59
34. Batman: The Animated Series – End Credits (Alternate Beginning and Ending) 0:43
Disc Four Total Time: 66:44

Total Album Time: 291:14

* not written by Shirley Walker, but contains theme/themes by Shirley Walker
** includes Danny Elfman's Batman theme.



Review by James Harvey:

Released just last week (after first being available the weekend prior at San Diego ComicCon) is La-La Land Records' much-anticipated Batman: The Animated Series, Volume 2 soundtrack. This second volume has been a few years in the making. After the first volume was released in 2008, word from the label was that a second was already in the works, and they were even taking suggestions as to what music fans would like to hear on a possible third volume. But while an expanded version of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was released in 2009, there was no further word on additional music from the television series. Plans seemed to come to a halt. Around that same time, Time Warner formed their own label, WaterTower Music, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment. Some (including myself) began to speculate that perhaps after the success of LLL's first volume, which had quickly sold out, WB realized they could make a huge profit if they handled future releases of this music themselves and held up subsequent albums until they could do them. Like I said, that's all just speculation, as LLL has never spoken of what the deal was. And in the end it doesn't really matter anyway, because whatever issues there were have been resolved and we now have the next release in the series.

This four-disc set is brimming with music. While the first volume featured only music from Shirley Walker, Lolita Ritmanis, and Michael McCuistion, this features (in addition to them) music from Carl Johnson, Harvey Cohen, Wayne Coster, Todd Hayen, Stuart Balcomb, Carlos Rodriguez, Jeff Atmajian, and Peter Davidson. Some of the show's best scores are presented here. The set opens with "Beware the Gray Ghost," which recalls vintage pulp heroes with a swashbuckling theme for the fictional hero who influenced Bruce Wayne as a child. There's also the Clayface two-parter "Feat of Clay," filled with tragedy and wrath, the jazzy "Almost Got 'Im," the zany "Harley and Ivy," and the dramatic "Heart of Ice." This was an Emmy-winning episode telling a new origin for Mr. Freeze that became so popular it was eventually adapted into the comic books. "Shadow of the Bat" is a two-part episode that introduces Batgirl and her heroic theme, which ranks as one of Walker's best. Even the single worst episode of the show's mostly-unblemished run, the corny and extremely kid-friendly "I've Got Batman In My Basement," is represented here. The episode may be questionable, but Walker and Rodriguez's score certainly is not.

One of the scores I'm most happy to have is "The Demon's Quest." This two-parter takes Batman around the world in a quest spurred by the actions of Ra's al Ghul, and the score is appropriately epic. Part I is a mystery/adventure largely set in the Far East, while Part II is filled with Lawrence of Arabia-style romantic/adventure in a desert landscape. Both were by two separate composers, and it's a testament to the talent of the musicians Walker assembled that each could bring something different to their respective episodes yet still have them form a cohesive whole. Another stand out is "The Laughing Fish." When this episode's animation failed to make the Joker as scary as the producers intended, they asked Walker to try and save it with her music by making it sound like a horror film. Walker's approach was to emphasize Psycho-esque strings in addition to piano, giving the episode a dissonant, non-melodic sound. The music lends a great sense of unease to the Joker's antics by underlining the threat of his actions instead of his silliness. The score is stripped down and haunting, and one of the most unique of the entire series.

These episodes are just scratching the surface of what this set has to offer. The discs run between roughly 66 and 78 minutes, totaling 291 minutes in all. That's nearly five hours(!) of some of the best, most amazing music ever composed for television. This volume also contains eight different versions of the opening and credits themes, including piano and MIDI demos, alternate and extended versions, as well as the regular version both with and without sound effects. At about $60, it'll put a nice little dent in your wallet, but it is so worth it. LLL did a great job in selecting episode scores, and the sound quality is phenomenal. The 36-page booklet is full of great liner notes, with quotes from composers and producers, notes on each score, and a full track listing, since it would be impossible to include one on the back insert without reducing it to a size 4 font. (There's a total of 184 tracks!) Instead, a list of episodes and their respective track numbers are printed on the back. Some scores also include bonus tracks, such as alternate/unused cues and source music, and there are a few hidden tracks at the end of the discs that were very nice to discover. This is truly a fantastic set all around, although it's limited to 3,500 copies, so don't hesitate for too long. Head over to LLL's website and order it while you can. I have to give a HUGE thank you to La-La Land. Twenty years ago, I never thought the day would come that I would actually own this music, and between two volumes I now have almost 7 1/2 hours of it. With the promise of more to come!.


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