# The Return of the Living Dead (soundtrack)

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
The Return of the Living Dead is the original soundtrack from the film of the same name, released in 1985 by Enigma Records. The film itself is a horror comedy film written and directed by Dan O'Bannon about a group of teenage punks dealing with a horde of brain-hungry zombies.
The soundtrack features classic punk rock, horror punk/death rock, psychobilly songs by groups like the Cramps, 45 Grave, T.S.O.L., the Damned and the Flesh Eaters.
The soundtrack has undergone numerous releases in different countries.
A limited vinyl edition was released in 2016.

## Reception

John Leland of Spin wrote, "All of the songs deal with death—though usually not the kind that prevents you from living a normal, active life, The tunes range from the bad to the bad, encompassing all shades of meaning of the word."

## Other musical credits

* Francis Haines, "The Trioxin Theme" (Main title)
* The F.U.'s, "Young, Fast Iranians" : 1991 Hemdale version and subsequent DVD and Blu-ray Releases, though not on official soundtrack album.
* 45 Grave, "Partytime (Single Version)": version actually used in the film, though not on official soundtrack album.
* Norbert Schultze, "Panzer Rollen in Afrika vor": song playing on Ernie's walkman, though not on official soundtrack album.

## Personnel

* Cover (Album Cover Design) – Brian Ayuso;
* Mastered By – Eddy Schreyer;
* Producer (Executive Soundtrack Album Production) – Budd Carr;
* Producer (Soundtrack Album Production) – Steve Pross, William Hein;

## Releases

* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (LP, Album), Enigma Records, US 1985.
* Le Retour Des Morts Vivants "The Return Of The Living Dead", (LP, Pic, Comp), New Rose Records, France 1985.
* Le Retour Des Morts Vivants (The Return Of The Living Dead), (LP, Comp), New Rose Records, France, 1985.
* The Return Of The Living Dead OST, (Cass, Album), Big Beat Records, UK, 1985.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (CD, Album), Big Beat Records, UK, 1985.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (CD, Album, Comp), Metal Blade Records, Restless Records, US, 1985.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (Cass, Album) Enigma Records US 1985.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (Cass, Album, Comp) Enigma Records New Zealand 1985.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (LP, Album) Big Beat Records 1985.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (LP, Album), Enigma Records, Big Time, New Zealand, 1985.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (LP, Comp), Big Beat Records, UK, 1985.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (LP, Comp, W/Lbl), Big Beat Records, UK, 1985.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (LP, Ltd, Pic), Enigma Records, US, 1985.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Soundtrack), (LP, Album) Enigma Records 2004, Netherlands, 1985.
* Various – Le Retour Des Morts Vivants (The Return Of The Living Dead), (LP, Comp, TP), New Rose Records, France, 1985.
* Battalion / The Return Of The Living Dead - Original Soundtrack, (LP, Album), Victor, Japan 1986.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (LP, Album), Enigma Records, Spain, 1986.
* Battalion / The Return Of The Living Dead - Original Soundtrack, (CD, Album, RM), Victor, Japan, 1987.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), (CD), Enigma Records, US, 1987.
* The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Soundtrack), (LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Bla), Real Gone Music, 2016.

## The making of the soundtrack - Blu-ray bonus features (2016)

Blu-ray review: The Return of the Living Dead: Collector's Edition
* "Party Time: The Music of The Return Of The Living Dead" (Expanded Version) (30 minutes), with Music Consultants Budd Carr, Steve Pross and Soundtrack Artists: Dinah Cancer (45 Grave), Chris D (The Flesh Eaters), Roky Erickson, Karl Moet (SSQ), Joe Wood (T.S.O.L.), Mark Robertson (Tall Boys). Also featuring musicians: Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks) and John Sox (The F.U.'s, Straw Dogs) — As mentioned, the soundtrack for the film is a loving ode to 1980s punk rock, and some of its stalwarts look back at the process of getting on the soundtrack.