The golden age of science fiction (VOL. 5)

Dragon’s Domain Records proudly presents the fifth volume in our ongoing series of music from classic science-fiction films, a double feature of music from two beloved films, INVADERS FROM MARS and THE TERRORNAUTS.

Paris-born Raoul Kraushaar is credited as the composer for the original INVADERS FROM MARS. He served as both composer and music editor for Republic Studios, where the film was shot, though many sources believe the music was actually written in whole, or in part, by unsung studio composer Mort Glickman. Unlike most low-budget films of that era, the movie had a healthy music budget allowing the inclusion of an 8-person choir.

Our companion piece, THE TERRORNAUTS, is another score composed by the woefully under represented Elisabeth Lutyens. By accepting commissions to write scores for both the Hammer and Amicus studios, she became Britain’s first female feature film composer, affectionately known as the “Queen of the Horror Movies.”

In the mid-1960s, Amicus Productions’ chief Milton Subotsky created a double feature package with plots sourced from two novels with THE TERRORNAUTS based on Murray Leinster’s “The Wailing Asteroid.” Directed by Montgomery Tully, the film has all the disheveled charm of a classic DOCTOR WHO TV episode, yet it holds together thanks to a tight script written by Hugo Award-winning author John Brunner. A group of scientists, monitoring signals from outer space are transported to a base on a nearby asteroid and tasked to defend the Earth from an invading fleet.

This fifth volume in Dragon’s Domain Records series has been mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland, featuring exclusive liner notes by Starlog Magazine’s David Hirsch with Sam Scali and comments from scholar Erik Homenick (akiraifukube.org) on the music featured on the album. 

SPECIAL NOTE: These recordings were originally taken from analog masters and music & effects tracks and therefore certain limitations from the source tapes may be evident. We have tried to preserve as closely as possible, the quality of the original recordings.

INVADERS FROM MARS

(1953 - Raoul Kraushaar)

01. Main Title (From “Invaders From Mars”) (2:17)

02. Something Lands (2:22)

03. David’s Fear (2:53)

04. Cathy Returns & David Meets Dr. Pat (3:31)

05. The Martians Are Here (4:00)

06. Army Surrounds The Sand Pit (3:44)

07. Evidence of Martian Invaders (3:48)

08. David’s Parents Caught (4:19)

09. Inside The Spaceship (6:31)

10. Army vs. The Martian Mutants (5:03)

11. The End Of A Dream? (2:29)

12. Invaders From Mars (1953) Theatrical Trailer (2:16)

THE TERRORNAUTS

(1967 - Elisabeth Lutyens)

13. Main Title (From “The Terrornauts”) (1:45)

14. The Stars Answer Our Call (4:01)

15. Asteroid Base (2:43)

16. The Mission (3:40)

17. The War In Space (2:40)

18. End Titles (0:53)

19. The Terrornauts (1967) Theatrical Trailer (1:43)

20. Alien Signal / Robot Instructs / Defense Rocket

Strike FX (From “The Terrornauts”) (1:39)

Total Time 63:12