AIRWOLF THEMES Official Soundtrack Music

2012-02-04T20:30:00.002Z

'SEVERANCE PAY' and 'NATURAL BORN'
Airwolf MP3 teasers are up (4 Feb 2012)

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Further two Mark J.Cairns' MP3 Teasers
for Airwolf Extended Themes soundtrack
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Below are another two teasers for CD2, both from Udi Harpaz' 2nd Season episodes.

• SEVERANCE PAY Teaser MP3

• NATURAL BORN Teaser MP3

SEVERANCE PAY - Larry Mason escaping the Firm

The ‘SEVERANCE PAY’ theme is a medley of two scenes, the first were Archangel, Larry Mason and Marella are in the Lear jet going up against the P-51 Mustang fighter, and the other [this MP3 teaser] were Larry and Hawke are trying to escape in Larry's souped-up van with Henderson from the Firm on his tail.

'NATURAL BORN' is were Kevin wakes up inside Santini Air to find that Hawke has just flown Airwolf secretly into the main hangar at night [this MP3 teaser]. He naturally can't believe his eyes and this mystical little theme from Udi Harpaz plays during that scene. The rest of the track is made from a melodic medley of Kevin's aerial pursuits against Blue Stone Aviation's UH-1J Huey gunship.

NATURAL BORN - Kevin finds Airwolf

PROGRESS SO FAR:
I'm up at Einstein Studios four nights in a row next week (Mon - Thur) which are four evening slots that came out of the blue so that'll enable another few tracks to be mastered plus some more tweaks to this first go at 'NATURAL BORN'. It's just down to when the chief engineer at Einstein can fit me in at night (after I leave work) at the moment as he's fully booked 3 months ahead with bands, so he's doing me a huge favour trying to find slots for it.

The toys that we've access to now are fantastic over a decade on. I've found that the original keyboards (my two Yamaha SY77's, Roland XP30 etc.) have been used a lot less than the first time, as the noiseless wonder of the modern 24-bit Pro Tools world of software synths (with no constraints any more) and software samples within the digital environment is just a joy to behold. Different era.

The original AWT was pure analogue in every way, and was recorded on Ampex 24-track tape back in 1998. Digital (in its current form) was only starting out then in the late 1990s, but in the late Noughties it really matured.

UPDATED TRACKLIST (Feb 2012):
Jan has recently updated his part of the Airwolf Extended Themes pre-production Tracklist, so be sure to drop in on it regularly for progress either on his Orchestrator's blog or on the complete 2CD Tracklist here.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS:
There are certain things of course that no amount of digital wizardry can match (yet), so certain acoustic guitar parts (like in "CROSSOVER" and others) and of course the cello solo from "EAGLE's/HAWKE's THEME" and 'PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT') just can't match the real thing... real people are doing those for me, plus electric guitar when "power chords" are required on Udi Harpaz' tracks especially.

Would have been nice to have the 80-piece Munich Philharmonic Orchestra (who did the original AWT CD2 with Sly) at my beckon-call every day for 6 months but with around 35-36 brand new Airwolf tracksthat would mean every copy of AET 2CD would cost about $5000 bucks a pop! (what's new, I hear you say. Hahaha. Ha.). However the LA Scoring Strings and Vienna Symphony Libraries [from here on in called the "Einstein Orchestra" ;D] are just wonderful and the true state-of-the-art (when mixed with top studio production kit of course) and I think and hope will surprise many but the biggest orchestra snobs out there... certainly surprised me and I'm very happy with the tracks that require orchestral parts thus far. They'll be as good as we can possibly make them.

ORDER OF MASTERING:

"Mastering" is all about getting the levels of the recorded instrument tracks correct and sitting well together and sounding as best possible on as many different audio set-ups as possible (from an iPod to a high-end audiophile's system); it's always a balance between them all. It's also the time when other audio engineering processes are applied to each individual instrument in the track, such as Reverbs, Volume Level Automation along the timeline, Compressors, Limiters and other sonic wonders.

I'm doing all the pure synth tracks first so we can get a "level" of where they sit best in the mixes; then gradually do the synth/orchestrals and then the pure orchestral stuff at the end; and in that order. That's why the first five MP3 teasers out so far are all of the same ilk.

If I can get at least one track mastered and signed off every night I'm up at Einstein then happy days. I then take the track away and listen to it in my car and on various audio systems to hear how the mix sounds, whether it's too bass-heavy or if levels in other instruments aren't correct, we tweak them for an hour the next night I'm back in. That's the joy of using the purely digital world of ProTools this time compared to setting up the mixing desk and recording from an analog 24-track Ampex tape onto DAT tape with the original Airwolf Themes. We nowadays work natively in ProTools in 24-bit; which of course in the end has to be down-sampled to 16-bit for CD. For the record, my ears can't really hear the difference. Maybe some audiophiles out there think they can hear a difference (or have ten$ of thou$ands of dollars worth of top-end 'valve' audio kit and can) but I can't in the real world.

That's the status quo at the moment. It will be done when it's done.

More episodic Bonus CD2 teasers to come soon...

2012-01-08T22:49:00.000Z

FIRST MP3 TEASERS UP FOR BONUS CD2
(8 Jan 2012) (updated teaser on 04.02.12)

AIRWOLF EXTENDED THEMES – Mark J.Cairns' Special Bonus CD2 Track Teasers – the first three are up...

Below are first three teasers (in 320k MP3) from the upcoming Special Bonus CD2 for:

• HALF-PINT Teaser MP3 mk2 (updated 17th Jan)
• AND THEY ARE US (updated 4th Feb)
• SANTINI'S MILLIONS Teaser MP3 mk2 (updated 17th Jan)

HALF-PINT Theme

The ‘HALF-PINT’ theme is from the scene were Hawke and Half-Pint are burying St John's dummy coffin in the woods above the cabin, planting a honey trap for the drug smugglers to find. This gentle synth theme was composed for the candid conversation between the two of them.

'AND THEY ARE US' is the theme from the start of the episode were Colonel Vidor notes the remaining North Limbawe F4 Corsair "jockey has got guts... he's mine!"

'SANTINI'S MILLIONS' is a 4-part theme from the episode starting with Dom picking up Carl Barron and finishing (as on the MP3 teaser above) with the manic arpeggiator theme when Dom loses his JetRanger's tail-rotor during a movie stunt and tries to regain control and land without crashing. Meanwhile, the scared movie Director sits in the co-pilot's seat praying hard.

The other theme to be extracted from this episode will be the "Family Theme" (mixed with the orchestral version from Airwolf 1st Season episode 'BITE OF THE JACKAL', when Phoebe Danner meets her Dad for the first time at the end of the episode).

FURTHER MASTERING ON THESE:
I'll probably tweak them a little more before they go final Master, but you'll get the idea from the above teasers. Hope you like. (UPDATE: I've tweaked them already. 'AND THEY ARE US' will take another go at it, so it's still the MK1 up at this stage.)

PROGRESS ON THE REST
Anyway, we're just working away at it every week now (I've all 20 of my episodic tracks Engineered now having finished the first week of January after 3 months' engineering work -- they just need Mixed and Mastered, so these 3 teasers were the first ones out the door, so to speak) when we can find studio time (life, work, job and limited Studio Time Availability interfere with that idea constantly with me here in Northern Ireland, and Jan in Poland). When it's ready it's ready. I'll probably be done before Jan (famous last words). Haha. 'D

More episodic Bonus CD2 teasers to come soon...

2011-09-04T20:17:00.000+01:00

PRE-PRODUCTION TRACKLIST
(Sept 2011)    UPDATED 13 February 2012

IMPORTANT NOTES:
First thing is that this Tracklist is liable to change in Engineering during the production period starting from now, with most of it completed during September & October, although some straggler tracks could find themselves running into November or December.

We also reserve the right to completely pull tracks if they don't make it out the other side of Engineering and we're not entirely happy with them.

Track times (and even Track Names) are also likely to change between Pre-production estimates and final master.

SO WHY DID YOU OMIT THIS OR THAT?
We fully realise that not every single piece of Airwolf music, that every fan, who has ever asked, has ever wanted, will be on this release. However, it does encompass what the "majority" of Airwolf fans wanted on the original research polls. There will of course be some episodes that didn't make it upon evaluation for various reasons. That's just the way it is and we know we'll not keep everyone happy and there will no doubt, be some who will storm off in disgust. Such is life folks and we've done our best to accommodate nearly everybody. We have to call the line somewhere.

There will be 35+ tracks on his sequel album overall which is quite a sizeable handful more than were even on the original 'Airwolf Themes' as we wanted to give the best value-for-money possible, whilst giving the widest selection possible.

WHEN WILL IT BE READY?
We envisage that studio engineering will be complete over Winter 2011 / early spring 2012. Then we'll be able to finish the paperwork and track lengths required etc.

After that, we'll need a final sign-off from Universal, and to complete our paperwork with the various music agencies we work with. Universal will no doubt be the slow-poke here, judging by past performance (they've always been under-staffed and over-worked). Yawn. zzzzzzzzz. i.e. that could take WEEKS!

Once that process is complete (will definitely take WEEKS knowing them) we can push the button to final production which will only take about 3-4 weeks.

WHEN ARE YOU TAKING PRE-ORDERS?
Probably when we've pushed the final green light for production and only then. We'd guestimate by the time Universal get their finger out and everything else is sorted it'll be middle of 2012 at the earliest before that happens, but it'll probably go on longer than that. Yup, we're way behind our original end-of-2011 estimate, so apologies. Look out for all the regular updates and MP3 teasers on our Facebook page and on both this blog and Jan's Orchestrator's blog.

All we can do is update you with new teasers in the interim.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
The price has still yet to be set, however it will NOT be a mass-market release, will require engineering and production costs for circa, 35 brand new tracks (and the costs and licensing that massive amount of tracks - for any music album out there - will be huge. Most music albums have much less than this) and it will be a based on UK production costs (not American, European, Chinese or any of the other cheap, mass-produced markets), that, given 12 years' of inflation [including massively increased postage & Airmail costs -- of which we'll only use the premium Registered service] will probably not be too far away from last time's costs (seriously), thus a lot more expensive than any big studio release.

NO APOLOGIES FOR WANTING TO MAKE SOMETHING OF QUALITY!
THUS WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE!
It's NOT being made to a price, but to whatever it costs to make it properly and to the premium quality we desire for it... and that's the price it will cost you all in the end, and I'm making absolutely no bones, apologies nor qualms about that at this stage. You've been fore-warned at this early stage guys and I'm not apologizing for wanting to make a quality product! But nobody ever complains about quality and quality costs.Simple as that.

Would still advise saving a few extra post-Christmas shekels every month from now on any way in lieu (if you're interested of course).

AIRWOLF EXTENDED THEMES PACKAGE will include:
• 2CD Set
• containing 35-36 Airwolf tracks
• Digital Stereo Sound
• 20pp Cover souvenir booklet
• Special Bonus goodies included
• Special Limited Edition Run: 2000 copies
• Price: TBC (see above)

CD1 – Jan Michal Szulew Tracklist
- Legend: ● done, ● in progress, ● not started

● 01 – 2nd/3rd Season Closing Main Theme (extended) Sly (6:00)
● 02 – 2nd Season Aerial – 'SWEET BRITCHES' / 'FIRESTORM' Aerials Ian (TBC circa 5:00)
● 03 – 2nd Season Aerial – 'FALLEN ANGEL' / 'HX1' Sly (5:00)
● 04 – 1st Season Synth Theme Sly (6:40) (2011 Remastered and different from Main Themes EP)
● 05 – 1st Season Synth + Orchestral incl. 'PILOT' - Journey to Red Star (Movie version) Sly (TBC circa 4:40)
● 06 – Minimalist Theme incl. Red Star Test Run (Movie version) Sly (6:12) (2011 Remastered and different from Main Themes EP)
● 07 – 2nd Season Aerial Theme Sly (4:25)
● 08 – 'PILOT' - Journey To Red Star (TV Version) Sly (4:26)
● 09 – **Omitted (kept for internal pre-production consistency use only)
● 10 – 2nd/3rd Season – Main Theme (Udi Harpaz mix) Udi (6:00)
● 11 – 3rd Season Aerial Theme (extended) Sly (4:15)
● 12 – 1st Season Opening Theme ~~Remix~~ (extended) Sly (4:42)
● 13 – 3rd Season Alternate Remix Sly (TBC circa 4:30)
● 14 – 'PILOT' - Main Orchestral Theme incl. "Gabrielle’s Theme" Sly (TBC circa 4:15)
● 15 – [*BONUS TRACK*] 2nd/3rd Season Closing Theme (regular length) Sly (3:29)
● 16 – [*BONUS TRACK*] 'PILOT' - Kafir + Red Star Test Run Sly (3:26) (Working title)

CD1 duration: circa 72 mins

● done ● Engineered but needing Mixed & Mastered
CD2 – Mark J. Cairns Tracklist UPDATED 13.02.12
● 01 - 'AIRWOLF II' Udi (6:52)
● 02 - 'AND THEY ARE US' Sly (2:44)
● 03 - 'CONDEMNED' Sly (3:20)
● 04 - 'CROSSOVER' Udi (5:03)
● 05 - 'ECHOS FROM THE PAST' - Final Classical Theme in Cabin Sly (2:08)
● 06 - 'HALF-PINT' Sly (1:56)
● 07 - 'HAWKE’S RUN' Sly (6:29)
● 08 - 'JENNIE' - Operation Blackstone Bernardo (3:44)
● 09 - 'KINGDOM COME' Sly (4:21)
● 10 - 'MIND OF THE MACHINE' Sly (3:46)
● 11 - 'NATURAL BORN' - Kevin's Theme & Aerial Pursuits Udi (4:33)
● 12 - 'PILOT' / 'BITE OF THE JACKAL' - Eagle's Serenade Sly (2:24)
● 13 - 'PILOT' - Blaze' Joyride (TV version) Sly (1:47)
● 14 - 'PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT' (incl. "Poljuško Polje") Sly (5:34)
● 15 - 'SANTINI'S MILLIONS' / 'HAWKE’s RUN' - "Trust Theme" Sly (3:00)
● 16 - 'SANTINI’S MILLIONS' Sly (3:00)
● 17 - 'SEVERANCE PAY' Udi (3:17)
● 18 - 'SINS OF THE PAST' / 'BITE OF THE JACKAL' - Family Theme Sly (2:33)
● 19 - NEW 'THE HORN OF PLENTY' Udi (3:23)   (Updated 1.10.11)
● 20 - 'WHERE HAVE ALL THE CHILDREN GONE?' Sly (4:57)

CD2 duration: circa 74 mins

For the LATEST NEWS we're now on Facebook at: AIRWOLF THEMES on FACEBOOK
and our Official Video Channel is here: AIRWOLF THEMES official Video Channel
and on Twitter: AIRWOLF THEMES on TWITTER

Plus, if you haven't bought the original Airwolf Themes or the Airwolf Main Themes EP as yet, you can still do so here via our own Music Store Digital Downloads (at 7Digital) in either 320k AAC or 320k MP3: Buy Airwolf Themes soundtracks here

Studio beckons for AIRWOLF EXTENDED THEMES

2011-07-28T00:42:00.001+01:00

Well, not long to go now within the musical world of Airwolf Themes soundtracks.

Both Jan Michal Szulew and myself are working hard to finally get 'Airwolf Extended Themes' finished after all these years.

I did a tally at the weekend and there could be *up to* (around) 30 tracks this time between the two (I've 15-17 on mine alone), if all of them come out the other side.

Hope to get a Pre-Release Tracklist up soon. Finally.

I'm 95% sure we've got it at present. Jan and I are still talking about finalising 3 of his tracks' content as they've been fluid (the rest are pretty much arranged and most just need engineered again from the arrangement test beds).

I can definitely tell you we dumped his 4th Season Closing Theme (as I suggested back in April) last night even though it was really good (we felt there's no point going up against Rick Patterson's original on Amazon), so this will absolutely be a pure "CBS" Airwolf album. You all know I'm no fan of the Canadian show anyway.

We're both in a current push to get it done. Sept/Oct 2011 will be the big, big push months, especially for myself. I *will* be in engineering for Special Bonus CD2 at Einstein Studios during that time.

It's probably going to end up that I'll have my lot done before Jan. His CD1 is more important anyway as it'll purely be Airwolf main themes so the subtlety of that fact enforces we get them right first time.

Was working on the "bonuses" at the weekend too. Started the 20pp CD booklet too. Think you'll all like.

So, check out the latest news and general Airwolf chat at our: Airwolf Themes Discussion Forum

Plus, if you haven't bought the original Airwolf Themes or the Airwolf Main Themes EP as yet, you can still do so here via our own Music Store Digital Downloads (at 7Digital) in either 320k AAC or 320k MP3: Buy Airwolf Themes soundtracks here

We're also now on Facebook at: AIRWOLF THEMES on FACEBOOK
and our Official Video Channel is here: AIRWOLF THEMES official Video Channel

AIRWOLF MAIN THEMES EP sequel soundtrack RELEASED!

2010-07-14T20:59:00.002+01:00

After many years of hard work, we are delighted to at last announce the long-awaited launch of the 'Airwolf Main Themes EP' ("EP" means "Extended Play") preview soundtrack, which is now available to buy and download directly from our own official Music Downloads Store.

Available in either 320k MP3 or iTunes-friendly 320k AAC (you can make the format choice at the final ordering stage), the four tracks of this DRM-free release -- orchestrated to absolute perfection by Jan Michal Szulew -- gives a flavour of the eventual full-blown 2CD sequel 'Airwolf Extended Themes' (release date: late 2011).

AIRWOLF MAIN THEMES EP TRACKLIST
1.  2nd-3rd Season Closing Main Theme (Extended)   06:00
2.  2nd Season Minimalist Main Theme (Extended)   05:00
3.  1st Season Synth Main Theme (Extended)   06:40
4.  Minimalist Main Theme (Extended)   06:12

These four, extended, synth-based tracks will transport you back to the original high-flying world of the 'Airwolf' Television Series and put you firmly inside the aerial action with ‘Stringfellow Hawke‘ and ‘Dominic Santini‘, against the many airborne adversaries they encountered during the original show's three season run in the mid-1980s.

The high production values of the original 'Airwolf Themes' 2CD Special Limited Edition soundtrack have been bettered via even closer attention-to-detail to the original music and recordings created by original composers, Sylvester Levay and Udi Harpaz. Matching original sounds and arrangements were the ultimate, pains-taking goal from the start, but with the added value of releasing the show's Mono music score with modern, Hi-Fi Stereo audio engineering.

OFFICIAL AIRWOLF THEMES TRAILER MUSIC PROMO VIDEO

We have also released a cool music promo video during late August. Filmed at an original shooting location at Red Rock Canyon, California, it is a modern parody of the first scene from the show's 'Pilot' episode and Hawke's joyride sequence from the 'One Way Express' episode). There's also an additional treat for everyone with the re-appearance of the full-size Airwolf helicopter after 25 years. Watch via our Airwolf Themes Official YouTube Video channel HERE

EXTENDED THEME TEASER OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO PROMOS

Also on our YouTube channel are extended music teasers showing off a greater range from each track than can be shown from a normal 30-second audio preview. Watch them via our YouTube channel HERE

New AIRWOLF THEMES Soundtracks Promo Video

2009-08-30T15:00:00.012+01:00

We have now released the official Trailer Promo Video for the three AIRWOLF THEMES soundtracks. Shot on location at Red Rock Canyon, California, it's a parody of the first scene from the show's 'Pilot' episode and Hawke's joyride sequence from the 'One Way Express' episode; And yes, as you'll see, the full-size Replica Airwolf is for real (now housed in the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, TN, USA -- just a few miles up the road from 'Dollywood').

YouTube link for video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_L-TSkGR7w

Official YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/markjcairns

You can buy the upcoming AIRWOLF MAIN THEMES EP directly from the original artists at the official website, http://airwolfthemes.com/

We also have a Facebook page... http://www.facebook.com/airwolf.themes?ref=name

AIRWOLF MAIN THEMES EP - Sequel soundtrack coming soon

2008-12-02T00:00:00.009Z

We can at last reveal that we're about to release the first one of TWO official Airwolf Themes sequels shortly.

The initial Digital-downloads ONLY release will be a global-credit-crunch/Recession beater called 'AIRWOLF MAIN THEMES' EP ("EP" means Extended Play") and it will contain four brand new, Airwolf Main Theme-based tracks by our new Polish orchestrator & associate producer, Jan Michal Szulew.
There will be a fantastic, extended medley of Ian Freebairn-Smith's 'SWEET BRITCHES/FIRESTORM' aerials, a new extended 2nd/3rd Season Closing Theme and two other variants to whet your appetite for what's to come later. Trust me folks (and I'm speaking here as a die-hard Airwolf fan first and foremost), this release may as well be called 'AIRWOLF ORIGINAL THEMES' and we'll leave it at that! You'll see why very shortly.

INITIAL MP3 TEASERS

The official teasers for AIRWOLF MAIN THEMES will be revealed during December 2008, but in the meantime, there are two teasers MP3s on our website for you to listen to.

WHERE, WHEN, WHAT & HOW MUCH

It should be available before the end of 2008 via our own Airwolf Themes Store at Pinnacle-Digital.com, Apple iTunes Stores (globally) and Amazon.com only. We'll let you know via our Mailing List (if registered) of the exact release dates (it shouldn't take as long to upload to our accounts on Apple/Amazon this time as last year’s digital remastering of the original AWT.)
It will cost just GBP £3.16 sterling/US $3.99 dollars (or £0.79/$0.99 per DRM-Free track) on Apple Tunes and in our own Store; Amazon.com (US only) should be similar pricing structures. So hopefully the pirates and thieving Torrent fans will take pity on the hundreds and hundreds of hours' work and personally-funded licensing investment it has taken thus far and pass us by.

AIRWOLF THEMES 2 - true 2CD release

We've been working on a dual-release strategy for a while now simply because the bigger CD-based release, 'AIRWOLF EXTENDED THEMES' has been constantly evolving. The latter will be a premium-priced 2CD Special Limited Edition ONLY (and will not be available for digital downloads - at least not for a long time - so save up your shekels!), CD1 will be by Jan Michal Szulew and will only contain multiple, varied tracks of the Airwolf Main Theme that the Wolf Pack have requested; Special Bonus CD2 will contain further episodic tracks by Mark J.Cairns including 'AND THEY ARE US', 'AIRWOLF II" and others.
All being well we hope to have Udi Harpaz' full (very cool) interview as a 20-page Cover Booklet, just like Sylvester Levay’s on the original 2CD set, so it all comes full circle. We hope to release that at the end of 2011.

Airwolf Themes soundtrack is now available on...

2008-02-16T18:15:00.007Z

The on-going global roll-out of the Airwolf Themes soundtrack score for the 1980s TV series 'Airwolf' about the big bad attack helicopter and its pilots 'Stringfellow Hawke' and 'Dominic Santini' (played to perfection by Jan-Michael Vincent and Ernest Borgnine) has been gathering momentum during January & February 2008.

Available via our dedicated Music store via http://airwolfthemes.com/archivedownloads_mp3.html

BEWARE THE PIRATE WEBSITES!

So, now everyone has an alternative to the illegal pirate and Torrent websites of which original Airwolf composer Sylvester Levay and myself don't get one red cent for the thousands of hours' work it took to create this out of our own pockets.

The above listed websites/stores are the only ones we've authorised to sell Airwolf Themes legally, so please please don't pay your hard-earned cash (or reveal your Credit Card details) to these Russian Mafia-run MP3-download websites who look and sound very credible but in reality don't pay anything to any artists or anybody; they keep your money, give you rubbish MP3s and most importantly have all your details to use as they please. Identity theft anyone?!

See our special anti-pirate / counterfeit section at Airwolf Themes.com: http://airwolfthemes.com/airwolfthemes_piracy.html