Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
05-09-14, 11:12 AM
#1
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
I’ve heard about this for years but have rarely encountered for myself the phenomenon of movie soundtrack songs being replaced on home video releases because of rights issues. I have some questions about this. Were these replacements more likely to be found on VHS releases or DVD releases? Are there cases of VHS releases that had the original soundtrack intact while the subsequent DVD release had an altered soundtrack? Or is it the other way around—the VHS had an altered soundtrack while the DVD restored the original tracks?
I’m looking for cases specifically of VHS releases that preserved the original soundtrack while the DVD release offered song replacements. But I’m also looking for examples of the other way as well (DVD restoring the original soundtrack). I’m not making a comprehensive list, I just need a few examples for something I’m writing.
I did a Google search, but I’m not sure how to word it. Each way I worded it yielded mostly unrelated search results, e.g. “soundtrack replacements” got me listings for the soundtrack CD for THE REPLACEMENTS. I did find one website that gave some examples:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...ackReplacement
But the only one on that site that met the criteria for what I'm writing was WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM:
Do any of you know of a list like this that's already been compiled?
Thanks.
I’m looking for cases specifically of VHS releases that preserved the original soundtrack while the DVD release offered song replacements. But I’m also looking for examples of the other way as well (DVD restoring the original soundtrack). I’m not making a comprehensive list, I just need a few examples for something I’m writing.
I did a Google search, but I’m not sure how to word it. Each way I worded it yielded mostly unrelated search results, e.g. “soundtrack replacements” got me listings for the soundtrack CD for THE REPLACEMENTS. I did find one website that gave some examples:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...ackReplacement
But the only one on that site that met the criteria for what I'm writing was WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM:
Where The Buffalo Roam had its music infamously replaced with generic '80s music on most home video releases. The only known exception is the original VHS and Betamax release.
Thanks.
05-09-14, 12:59 PM
#2
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
That is why I still don't own Where The Buffalo Roam. And why I can't get rid of my VHS of Return Of The Living Dead 2.
05-09-14, 01:26 PM
#3
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
You can give me credit in the paper you're writing
:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...ackReplacement
It was more common in the VHS era, mostly because the Internet didn't really exist as we know it and fans couldn't band together to complain about the practice. Studios know the hardcore fans want the original soundtrack.
:http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...ackReplacement
It was more common in the VHS era, mostly because the Internet didn't really exist as we know it and fans couldn't band together to complain about the practice. Studios know the hardcore fans want the original soundtrack.
Last edited by PhantomStranger; 05-09-14 at 01:51 PM.
05-09-14, 01:39 PM
#4
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
The Image DVD release of The Electric Horseman (in a crappy snap case) has the Original Soundtrack.
The Universal DVD (in a good case) replaces the opening Willie Nelson song with a generic instrumental.
The Universal DVD (in a good case) replaces the opening Willie Nelson song with a generic instrumental.
05-09-14, 02:50 PM
#5
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
I remember Fast Times at Ridgemont High had several replacement songs featured on the VHS tape.
I guess some of the music rights were negotiated for the theatrical and TV release but not for home video.
I think most or maybe all of the songs were restored for the DVD release.
It's funny because for me, the replacement songs were the "original" songs because that was how I saw the film (over and over) when it first came out on video.
I guess some of the music rights were negotiated for the theatrical and TV release but not for home video.
I think most or maybe all of the songs were restored for the DVD release.
It's funny because for me, the replacement songs were the "original" songs because that was how I saw the film (over and over) when it first came out on video.
05-09-14, 03:17 PM
#6
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
I know the Sixteen Candles VHS release had replacement songs, when it played on HBO it had the original songs, and i'm pretty sure they were restored for the DVD release.
05-09-14, 05:26 PM
#7
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
THE CONQUEROR WORM has the entire original score replaced for VHS and cable in the U.S. The UK/European version WITCHFINDER GENERAL has original score in all formats.
Syndicated broadcast prints of CONQUEROR WORM have original score.
Syndicated broadcast prints of CONQUEROR WORM have original score.
05-09-14, 07:07 PM
#8
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
Pink Flamingos. The original VHS releases had the original music but the 25th Anniversary and after have some replacement music. It's mostly obscure music they could not find better copies of (originally it was needledrops from John Waters' personal collection). Only 1 or 2 was for rights issues.
Spoiler:
05-10-14, 02:15 PM
#9
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Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
The movie Dr. Phibes Rises Again ends with Phibes (Vincent Price) singing a verse of "Over the Rainbow" and the song playing over the end credits (which is also the way it is on the DVD), but the VHS version substituted generic music instead.
05-15-14, 07:08 PM
#11
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Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
I've not seen this on movies (or at least I haven't noticed). It's been an issue with numerous TV on DVD releases. The most obvious was The Greatest American Hero. It's also been quoted as the reason Cold Case will not be released on DVD. It's a money issue, especially for older material. Hard to justify the expense for music studios on a product that isn't likely to be a big seller. It doesn't affect new material as the contract for music rights generally include all formats in use at the time the rights are contracted.
05-15-14, 07:22 PM
#12
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
The nightclub scene in Nighthawks - the vhs & p&s dvd goodtimes release has original music, widescreen universal has music replaced.
05-16-14, 10:28 AM
#13
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
The 21 Jump Street discs also had much of the music replaced in almost all of the episodes.
The 21 Jump Street spin-off Booker had the original title song replaced because I guess they didn't want to pay Billy Idol for "Hot in the City". I also remember they had to omit one complete episode because it was filled with BB King music and by omitting it all, it would make the episode completely incoherent.
The 21 Jump Street spin-off Booker had the original title song replaced because I guess they didn't want to pay Billy Idol for "Hot in the City". I also remember they had to omit one complete episode because it was filled with BB King music and by omitting it all, it would make the episode completely incoherent.
05-16-14, 11:39 AM
#14
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
Didn't EXPELLED have "Imagine" removed for the home video release, due to the lawsuit from Yoko Ono? Which the producers of Expelled won, but not in time to keep the song for the home video release?
Last edited by dugan; 05-16-14 at 11:48 AM.
05-16-14, 01:05 PM
#15
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
Abominable ended with that song too. Was that replaced as well?
05-19-14, 07:31 PM
#16
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
I think Weird Science had some of the music changed. Pretty Woman and the Rocky theme are replaced with "Weird Science." This was for the original VHS and the first DVD edition.
Return of the Living Dead had some issues with this but I don't know what versions.
Tales from the Darkside's soundtrack for the different episodes was originally stock music but when it was put on DVD they didn't want to pay all the royalties for the individual music tracks so they recorded generic music for each episode. Which is why I haven't bought the DVD set.
Return of the Living Dead had some issues with this but I don't know what versions.
Tales from the Darkside's soundtrack for the different episodes was originally stock music but when it was put on DVD they didn't want to pay all the royalties for the individual music tracks so they recorded generic music for each episode. Which is why I haven't bought the DVD set.
05-20-14, 05:44 PM
#18
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
Little Darlings - yet to be released on DVD. Depending on which color VHS box you get has the "original" theatrical released songs on it. Red - no. Blue - yes.
05-24-14, 03:23 AM
#19
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Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
On the DVD for The Last American Virgin the song "Love Action (I Believe in Love)" by The Human League was replaced, apparently at the request of the band. It's present on the original MGM/UA VHS tape, though.
05-30-14, 01:32 AM
#20
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
This may not count, but there's a sort-of replacement in the newer DVD/Blu-ray of SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT that bothered me enough to keep the inferior older DVD on hand. During the "rocking chair" sequence where Bandit enlists several trucks to hide his car from the cops pursuing him, the newer discs replace — somewhat sloppily — Jerry Reed's "East Bound and Down" from the original mono soundtrack with a different stereo version (not sure if it's from elsewhere in the film or from an album perhaps?). It's not necessarily a deal breaker, but the song just sounds "off" at several moments throughout the sequence on the newer discs. Really wish they'd leave stuff alone sometimes.
05-31-14, 12:32 AM
#22
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
The opening credits of the concert film Elvis on Tour replaced a cover version of "Johnny B Goode" with "Don't Be Cruel" because they couldn't get the rights to the Chuck Berry song.
(It turns out that the standard compulsory license that allows the right to cover songs doesn't apply if the song is synced to filmed images, in which case the rights to the original song are needed just to play the cover version within a film.)
(It turns out that the standard compulsory license that allows the right to cover songs doesn't apply if the song is synced to filmed images, in which case the rights to the original song are needed just to play the cover version within a film.)
Last edited by dhmac; 05-31-14 at 08:49 AM.
06-02-14, 12:11 AM
#23
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
This may not count, but there's a sort-of replacement in the newer DVD/Blu-ray of SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT that bothered me enough to keep the inferior older DVD on hand. During the "rocking chair" sequence where Bandit enlists several trucks to hide his car from the cops pursuing him, the newer discs replace — somewhat sloppily — Jerry Reed's "East Bound and Down" from the original mono soundtrack with a different stereo version (not sure if it's from elsewhere in the film or from an album perhaps?). It's not necessarily a deal breaker, but the song just sounds "off" at several moments throughout the sequence on the newer discs. Really wish they'd leave stuff alone sometimes.
06-03-14, 10:15 AM
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
National Lampoon's Vacation
When the "Girl in the Red Ferrari" first appears, The Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited" played in the background. When it aired on HBO in the 80s and cable TV throughout the 90s, it was still intact (same with the original PAL VHS and Beta versions on home video).
For whatever reason, WB wouldn't pony up the money for later VHS editions and any subsequent DVD, Blu-ray or TV print. Instead, they play June Pointer's "Little Boy Sweet" (it's also used when Chevy Chase is flirting with Christie Brinkley and eating the sandwich with dog piss on it).
When the "Girl in the Red Ferrari" first appears, The Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited" played in the background. When it aired on HBO in the 80s and cable TV throughout the 90s, it was still intact (same with the original PAL VHS and Beta versions on home video).
For whatever reason, WB wouldn't pony up the money for later VHS editions and any subsequent DVD, Blu-ray or TV print. Instead, they play June Pointer's "Little Boy Sweet" (it's also used when Chevy Chase is flirting with Christie Brinkley and eating the sandwich with dog piss on it).
Last edited by My Other Self; 06-03-14 at 03:13 PM.
06-03-14, 02:35 PM
#25
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Movies with soundtrack song replacements on home video
I seem to remember "Sweet Little Boy" being on the original VHS tape in the Warner clam-shell case. To me, that was original song as it was the first time I saw the movie.
I recall seeing it much later on TV and noticing the song changed to (the original) "I'm So Excited".
I recall seeing it much later on TV and noticing the song changed to (the original) "I'm So Excited".