Original Score Composedand Conducted byWilliam Motzing

(cast)President's BandPALM COURT ORCHESTRA

Music ConsultantLance Reynolds for Bestall Reynolds

Production Songs Produced byCharles Fisher

Songs Engineered byAllan Thorne, Trafalgar Studios

Orchestration byWilliam Motzingand Mark Isaacs

Music RecordistGerry Nixon, Thorn-EMI Studios 301

"Into the Blue""We Need a Hero""Bullshit"Written and Composed byBrad Love

"Name Your Poison""Captain Invincible""Evil Midnight"Written and Composed byRIchard HartleyRichard O'Brien

"Heaven in Your Eyes"Written and Composed byBeth LawrenceNorman ThalheimerSung by Beth Lawrence

"The World I Knew"

Written and Composed byBilly FieldTom Price

"Amazing how they're alike"Written and Composed byJan BunkerMike Scarpiollo

All compositions administered world-wide byBestall Reynolds Music

We acknowledge with thanks permission touse in this motion picture the followingmusical compositions:

"New York New York"Music by Leonard BernsteinWords by Betty Comden and Adolph GreenUsed by permission by Warner Bros. Music.

"Give My Regards to Broadway"Words and music by George M. CohanUsed by permission byGeorge M. Cohan Music Publishing Inc.

"God Bless America"Words and music by Irving BerlinUsed by permission ofIrving Berlin Music Corp.

We also acknowledge with thanks thepermission of Ms Kate Smith and RCARecords to use Ms Smith's 1939 Victorrecording of "God Bless America".

"Riders of the Valkyries"Composed by Richard Wagner

Music MixerGethin Creagh

Specialised sound FX created byJohn J. Zuliakha

John B. Levine

Recorded atEmerald City Music StudioSydney, Australia.

Additional SpecialisedSound Equipment provided byRoland Corporation Australia Pty. Ltd.Roland - logo

Audio Mix Systems International Pty. Ltd.for supplying the R.M.S. D.M.X.series of Digital equipment

Ampex Tape was used for the sound trackAmpex Australia Pty. Ltd.

Remarkably the Palm Court Orchestra was still a working band at time of writing (October 2014), and had its own website here, which inter alia provided these details:

Sydney's Palm Court Orchestra was formed in 1974 to play the light music and popular classics of the Edwardian Era. Their vast repertoire in this genre includes ragtime, English and Continental waltzes, tunes from musical comedy,  those cheeky, raggy arrangements of Tin Pan Alley songs and well known light classics such as those penned by Elgar, Dvorak, Rubinstein and Grieg amongst others. The orchestra has played very successful seasons at Sydney's Hilton Hotel, Melbourne's grand Windsor Hotel, at Pinetrees Lord Howe Island, and more recently at the sacred River Retreat, Bali, appeared as concert artists on the QE2, played for H.M. Queen Elizabeth on a number of occasions and for Prince Charles & Princess Anne and at the reception of Elton John's wedding.

The P.C.O. has also accompanied silent movies, notably two Australian Classics, "For The Term Of His Natural Life" and more recently "Kid Stakes" and their faces and or music have been used in scenes in a number of Australian films and TV drama.

They are virtually invisible in the film - perhaps they scored a close up in the out-takes in the longer cuts of the film. As it is, a few shapes and their instruments can barely be seen behind the singing US President and his cavorting entourage.

(Below: the Palm Court Orchestra as they appear in the film).

Composer William Motzing:

Composer William Motzing's site, Spare Parts Productions, active as of October 2014, provides this short CV:

William Motzing (BMus, MMus) was born in the USA. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and continued his studies earning a Masters Degree from Manhattan School of Music.He went on to study conducting with Ernest Matteo, Nicholas Flagello, Ionel Perlea and Olga von Geczy; composition with Ludmila Ulehla and John Mayer at Birmingham Conservatoire(UK) and arranging with Rayburn Wright.

During his career as a professional trombonist Bill performed with Kai Winding Septet, Jon Eardley Quintet, Gerry Mulligan Big Band,Bill Russo Big Band, Sal Salvador Big Band, Eastman-Rochester Symphony and the Pittsburgh Symphony. His diverse career has also included being the sound designer for Blood,Sweat and Tears for three years.

In the classical arena Bill has conducted major symphony orchestras including the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestras. In Europe he has conducted the BBC Radio Orchestra,the Irish Radio/Television Concert Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic, the Budapest Opera Orchestra and the Babelsberg Film Studio Orchestra in Berlin.

Bill has composed, arranged, produced and conducted stage productions including Academy Award presentations and over 100 albums and CDs in the USA, Australia and Europe. As a composer/arranger his film credits include The Quiet American, Soul Food and the Simpsons. In Australia he is well represented via filmscores and television series including Mother and Son, Come in Spinner, Brides of Christ and Young Einstein.

He currently teaches theory, arranging, modern jazz history, improvisation and ensembles at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Bill continues to perform his works regularly in Sydney and inspires all musicians he comes in contact with.

(Below: William Motzing)

(Below: William Motzing on the right, here conducting the music for the Australian feature film Kokoda at Studios 301, with composer John Gray on the left)

The film is notable for featuring three tracks by Rocky Horror composers Richard O'Brien and Richard Hartley. There is no need to dwell on them here - there is plenty of information on their work for the film at the fan site Rocky Horror here, and with many links on the home page here.

Brad Love also contributed three songs, and because he is less well known, here is his biography from his now defunct eponymous website:

Born in Olympia, WA and raised in Malott, WA (just west of Okanogan) Brad Love started playing piano at the age of 5 years old. Growing up, both of his parents who were musical played guitar and sang folk and country music in the evenings at home. Brad started in his first band in Jr. High School in which he wrote all the songs that they performed on stage, because he felt "that writing was easier than learning songs off of a record".Brad and friends started recording when they were in high school on an 8-track recorder at a place called 'Waldo's' in Omak, WA. In 1975 right after making their first recording as a band called 'Aviary' Brad left northeastern Washington and headed for Washington University in Seattle, WA with longtime friend, Paul Madden. Within the next few years, Aviary took on change of members, to eventually become the band that Brian Lane, manager of the progressive rock band Yes, would get signed to a recording deal with Epic Records. (*See Aviary complete history in a booklet that comes with the re-release of Aviary's Self Titled CD on Rewind Records a product of Sony Music Special Products).After touring, Brad and the band headed for England to record a second, unreleased album. Lacking promotion support, the band was eventually dropped from the label. After seeing an Aviary video, Bestall and Reynolds (Air Supply) Management team contacted Brad for a solo management deal. In 1982 Brad recorded his solo album, 'Colours', on MCA Records with producer John Hug. 'Colours', was released on a technical basis only and received no promotion. Various record companies are considering the idea of a 'real' release of this beautiful album. Also that same year, Brad flew to Australia to work on film music for the movie, 'Captain Invincible' starring Alan Arkin. In 1983 Brad became a staff writer with Screen Gems for 2 years.After the management team of Bestall & Reynolds (Air Supply) split up, Brad teamed up with 3 guys from the band OXO and in 1984 the band recorded a demo tape which started a large bidding war amongst most of the major record labels. Lack of management caused the band to lose those deals and eventually break up. In 1984 Brad played stand-in keyboards for twosome Wang Chung performing on Solid Gold, American Bandstand and other television shows. From 1985 until 1993 Brad continued writing songs, and started a few Los Angeles bands, one band he originated was the band, 'Artica'. In 1993 Brad moved to Houston, TX and shortly thereafter he began recording his new CD 'Through Another Door'.

Love's defunct website could, at time of writing, be accessed through the wayback machine here, and there is a 2002 interview with him available on a Dutch progressive rock page here.

(Below: Brad Love)

Like the film, the music has had a chequered career. One database, here,lists a 45 which wasn't commercially released:

Side A:"Captain Invincible Theme"Side B:"Name Your Poison", vocals: Christopher Lee

And another database lists the title theme as being part of a CD collection, Best of Science Fiction, released in 1993 in Germany, with composer William Motzing conducting the Czech Orchestra and including the 1'45" piece as track 15 on disc 2. (Further details here)

But it seems that for a film approaching a musical, the score was never released on LP or disc, and it seems the best way to access the score remains by watching the movie.

Lyrics for some of the featured songs:

The first song in the film is Captain Invincible shouting some of the lyrics of Bernstein's "New York, New York" into the echoing NSW Blue Mountains, c. 9'20" (US DVD timing).

c. 19'27" (US DVD timing) the US president (Michael Pate) renders the "Bullshit" song (Brad Love), with the lyrics mainly consisting of repeated "Bullshits" and the occasional "Bull" and "shit".

c. 20'25" (US DVD timing). After a few bars from a chorus, the US President (Michael Pate) breaks into "We Need a Hero" (Brad Love). The style is American revivalist:

What the world needs now(Chorus/ensemble: Oh yeah)Is a shining hero(Chorus/ensemble: Oh yes we do)What the world needs now(Chorus/ensemble: what the world needs now)Is a glory man(Chorus/ensemble: a glory man)Who will fly down(Chorus/ensemble: who will swoop down)And save the day(Chorus/ensemble: and save the day)What the world needs now(Chorus/ensemble: what the world needs now)Yeah ... is a hero to help us through(Chorus/ensemble: to help us through)We know we gunna find it(Chorus/ensemble: Oh yeah)A hypno ray (Chorus/ensemble: Oh yes we do)Yeah, he gunna find it(Chorus/ensemble: a hostile ray)In a single day(Chorus/ensemble: in a single day)Our troubles are over(Chorus/ensemble: oh yes they are)

That's what I say(Chorus/ensemble: that's what you say)I know he's gunna find it(Chorus/ensemble: gunna find that ray)(Together) Yeah he's gunna find that rayWhat the world needs now(Chorus/ensemble: oh yeah)Is a shining hero(Chorus/ensemble: Oh yes we do)What the world needs now(Chorus/ensemble: what the world needs now)Is a glory man(Chorus/ensemble: a glory man)Who will fly down, and down, and down and downAnd save the day(Chorus/ensemble: and save the day)What the world needs now(Chorus/ensemble: what the world needs now,Together: Yeah is a hero to help us through(choir wordless humming building to the climax)Yeah brothers and sistersWe need a hero to find our hypno rayThat hypno ray, hip hip hoohrayYeah yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeahhhhh …

Around the c. 25'40" mark (US DVD timing) Captain Invincible (Alan Arkin) bursts into "Amazing how they're alike", written and composed byJan Bunker and Mike Scarpiollo, in a country music style:

The good guys and the bad guysIt's amazing how much they're alikeThey both act sincere But they're so filled with fearThey switch sides in the wink of an eye

The good guys and the bad guysWell it ain't like old Wyatt and DocA man knew where he stood thenWhat was evil and good thenAnd the good guys always came out on top

Now who's wearing black hats And who's wearing whiteAnd who's on the side of justice and right

The line is so fine between heaven and hellNot even a hero can tell

The good guys and the bad guysToday neither one wants to fight fairThey keep changing the rulesMakin' all of us foolsUntil finally nobody cares

The good guys and the bad guysDon't count neither one as your friendWhen the going gets roughWell they won't back you up And you'll stand all alone in the end

Now who's wearing black hats And who's wearing whiteAnd who's on the side of justice and rightWell the line is so fine between heaven and hellNot even a hero can tellThe good guys from the bad guys …

At around 45'30" (US DVD timing) Patty (Kate Fitzpatrick) sings "Heaven in Your Eyes", written and composed by Beth Lawrence and Norman Thalheimer, with the vocals credited as being sung by Beth Lawrence. It is in the style of a bad Olivia Newton-John song:

Sometimes it's hard toGet off the ground at firstBut know thatYou're not the only man who's been hurtDon't get discouragedLook to the skiesI'll be beside youWhatever you tryDon't lose your courageJust know you can fly'Cause I see heaven in your eyes …

Take time to realiseYour self and where you've beenOpen your heartTo let a new life beginAnd don't get discouraged

Look to the skiesI'll be beside youWhatever you tryDon't lose your courageJust know you can fly'Cause I see heaven in your eyes …

And when the cares of the universeWeigh upon your mindRemember how heavenly you shineAnd don't get discouragedLook to the skiesI'll be beside youWhatever you tryDon't lose your courageJust know you can fly'Cause I see heaven in your eyes …

(chorus: don't get discouraged, repeat)

Repeat: ... in your eyes 'Cause I see heav …

(Captain Invincible mercifully ends the song by halting the turntable)

At about the 1'00'05 mark (US DVD timing) Captain Invincible starts singing Evil Midnight, in the style of an American Broadway musical, before it segues into Mr Midnight (Christopher Lee). Captain Invincible is on what's supposed to be a Sydney suburban train, but which is dressed like the US underground, while Mr Midnight is in his red tinged lair with provocatively clad dancers, and affects a cool 1960s musical styling.

Evil Midnight, lyrics by Richard O'Brien, music by Richard Hartley Captain Invincible:

I had chums in the Wall Street crashWho made a hash of their sumsAnd burned their mothers for cashThey turned into bums in a flashI've known monkeys who were doing okayWho met flunkies that would blow you awayThey were junkies in less than a day

There are pushers and hoodlums of great dedicationThat without hesitation supply medicationOne minute you're a looker that lookedAnd the next you're a hooker that's hooked

Mr. Midnight:

Long before the great Big BangThere was evil in the VoidLong before the first bird sangEvil was enjoyed

Captain Invincible:

Long before the dawn of manThere was born an evil planBelieve me when I say thatThere's no other side to MidnightHold on, sit tightYou never ever did rightRoll on MidnightYou're spoiling for the big fightMr. Evil Midnight

Mr. Midnight:

Long before the sands of timeThere was evil doing wellLong before the birth of crimeThere was evil building Hell

Captain Invincible:

Long before the Age of ReasonEvil waged unholy treasonBelieve me that no motherEver cried for Midnight

Chorus:

He's a creature of a thousand disguises

Captain Invincible:

But the man behind the maskRemains the same

Chorus:

If it's really who you think it is,You're in for some surprises.Was a Stalin, was a Hitler(Line obscured)

Mr. Midnight:

Long before the crack of doomThere was evil in the airLong before we left the wombThere was evil everywhere

Captain Invincible:

Long before the troupe was foundEvil used to cruise aroundBelieve me, it's a one-wayRide for Midnight

Captain Invincible and Chorus:

Hold on, sit tightYou never ever did rightRoll on MidnightYou're spoiling for the big fightMr. Evil Midnight

Captain Invincible:

Now I'm gonna keep my grip tight

Mr. Midnight:

I'm going to take a big bite

Captain Invincible:

Gonna get a big fightMr. Evil Midnight

ChorusMr. Evil Midnight ...

This number is almost immediately followed by a song c. 1"04"20 (US DVD timing) over Patty and Captain Invincible flying over Sydney harbour, with the Captain crooning "Into the Blue" (Brad Love) in Bing Crosby/Frank Sinatra style:

Into the blueWhere I belong, at lastAbove the clouds where I am strong and fastInto the blueInto the blue, va va voooom

Into the blue I've just begun to fightNo evil thoughts can match the strength of rightInto the blueInto the blue, va va voooom

If in the night you see the streak of lightAcross the sky you know there's help in sightInto the blueInto the blue, va voooom

The next song comes after the deli pie fight c. 1'19"48, "The World I Knew", written and composed by Billy Field and Tom Price, and not surprisingly, given Billy Field's involvement, is in the Nelson Riddle/Frank Sinatra style, sung by a crooning Captain Invincible:

Whatever happened toThe world that I once knewThey call this progressIt can't be trueWhat was wrong with the timeWhen a dime was a dimeMen wore a coat and tieWorld leaders didn't have to lieSo if I have to fightThen that's what I will doI'll fight until I findThe world I knewI'll fight until I findThe world I knew …

(the final word is garbled into a cry as Invincible falls in a vortex down into Midnight's lair)

Mr. Midnight sings the next song, "Name Your Poison", in suave tones, around the c.1'26"03 mark (US DVD timing), as he tempts Invincible to have a drink or three, with a rhumba lilt.

Name Your Poison, lyrics by Richard O'Brien, music by Richard Hartley

Mr. Midnight:

Mai Tai say that I'm Old-FashionedTres Vin OrdinaireThat I want a fresh ManhattanWith white Anglo-saxons everywhere ...A Black Russian'sNo Pink LadyGive her the Singapore SlingAnd Moscow Mule is not your babySo Highball the Vodka and name your stingBe a big shot, with a BullshotBe a Schwein mit der WeinHave a short, or a Port, or a snort, of any sortAsti Spumante, Uno ChiantiAre divine!

I got some economic HocksA Gin and Tonic on the rocksWhere angels fear to tread, I sayChoose your booze! Let's hit the Red-Eye!Think of young Deanna DurbinAnd how she sung on Rum and BourbonOr enhance your luncheon hourWith a Planter's Punch and a Whiskey SourIf you feel like a wreck, try a Horse's NeckOr a Sherry with a cherry in the new fun size

If you don't name your poisonI'll have to get the boys inThe spirit of adventure opens one's eyesIf you don't name your poisonI'll have to get the boys inAnd you'll never see another Tequila Sunrise

(Mr. Midnight's voice is transplanted into a made-over Goth looking Kate Fitzpatrick)

Live happily ever afterWith a Chablis and some laughterBetween The Sheets is lovelyWith a dizzy blonde and a popular bubblyThere's nothing sicker in societyThan a lack of liquor and sobriety

(Lyrics revert to Mr Midnight)

So, down the hatchHere's mud in your eyeTake a bracer with a chaserWash it down with Rye!Bottoms up. Stir a cup.It'll put you in the pinkAnd all you have to do isDrink Drink Drink Drink DriiiinkDrink Drink Drink Drink DriiiinkDrink Drink Drink Drink DriiiinkDrink Drink Drink Drink DriiiinkDriiiink, Driiiink ….

At around the 1'30"17 mark (US DVD timing), there is an excerpt of Kate Smith singing Irving Berlin's song "God Bless America". This was Smith's signature number and is widely available on the intertubes - for example, there is a clip of her introducing the song to America, on YouTube, here, after Berlin had revised the 1918 song in 1938. With Midnight defeated, there's a triumphant burst of Wagner and the "Ride of the Valkyries" (called "Riders of the Valkyries" in the tail credits), and then starting around the 1'33"56 mark, this is followed by a final song, which, after some Superman-style musical flourishes under Captain Invincible flying with Patty, commences c.1'36"40 and runs into the tail titles. "Captain Invincible" is done in mock heroic style, and when it begins, wouldn't be out of place in a Peter Dawson catalogue.

"Captain Invincible", lyrics by Richard O'Brien, music by Richard Hartley:

Who is the one true friend of America?Friend of her people from farmer to SenatorKeeping America safe from the predator

So that the weak and the meek shall inherit herWho in the fight for our rights always wins that warWielding justice from above!Who stands for me and for you and for principleCaptain Invincible, that's who!

At this point, the song turns towards a Henry Mancini style, and only needed a shot of the Pink Panther or Edd 'Kookie' Byrnes, combing his hair, perhaps crossed with the Bee Gees, to be complete:

A wop bop pow!And all right!Put up a fightAnd put out the lightsWham bam splat!And you K.O.You are America's dream!AmericaI'm wrappedI'm trappedI've been zapped'Till I'm insensibleI'm trappedI'm raptIn Captain Invincible

A wop bop pow!And all right!Put up a fightAnd put out the lightsWham bam splat!And you K.O.You are America's dream!AmericaI'm wrappedI'm trappedI've been zapped'Till I'm insensibleI'm trappedI'm raptIn Captain InvincibleInvincible, InvincibleInvincible, Invincible ...