The Big Sleep - an alternate soundtrack

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     Soundtracks filled with popular music didn't start until the 1950s and rock 'n' roll. Before that, it was either musicals (where people sang their thoughts) or something like The Big Sleep, which had a score by Max Steiner and Lauren Bacall singing a song to patrons at a club. What if it was done the modern way but with songs from 1945/1946? For the opening credits I would have "Dreams" from the Pied Pipers. When Carmen Sternwood comes down the stairs and tries to sit on Philip Marlowe's lap while he is standing, I chose "Temptation". After Marlowe talks to General Sternwood and before he talks to Vivian Rutledge I have "Warm Mood". The scene with Dorothy Malone in the bookstore across from Geiger's would end with Stan Kenton's rendition of "Cocktails for Two". About 28 minutes into the film Marlowe returns to Geiger's house to look for clues which I have underscored with "Mysterioso". Bogart sitting in his car, watching the Regency Hotel would have "Waitin' for the Train to Come In". While Marlowe is Chasing a killer down the stairs and into the street you would hear "Quiet Riot" with Buddy Rich beating the skins. A band plays "You Go to My Head" in the background of the club where Bogart meets Bacall, this alternate way would have Bill McCune's version. The soundtrack album would include Lauren Bacall singing "And Her Tears Fell Like Wine" backed by the Williams Brothers. Finally, at the end "I'll See You in My Dreams" from Phil Brito would play.

     Since the soundtrack would come out when records were actually in albums, it would be five 78s. The cover would be the image up top and the inside cover would be the second image. I don't remember them ever having an image on the back. I also included the CD booklet and tray card for "later releases".

You can hear the chosen songs and see what you think here:
The Big Sleep alternate soundtrack - YouTube

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