Several Commodore 64 Mastertronic games had some outstanding soundtracks that graced the SID chip, from the likes of Rob Hubbard, David Whittaker, Jeroen Tel, and many more. It was natural as people fell more in love with these soundtracks that they would think “what if I remade it with some nice instruments and made a remix of it?” – and clearly that struck a chord with both those making and those listening, hence the Commodore 64 remix scene being around for a considerable amount of time – and two of the main sites for reference being:
Remix64 – https://remix64.com/
remix.kwed.org – https://remix.kwed.org/
In the second of this four-part series, I will be looking at remixes of tunes from original Mastertronic C64 releases which have appeared on albums, which were commercial or scene-released, and based on the full list of albums available at https://remix64.com/albums/ – and in some cases, the albums have been re-released for free since. So, if there are any free listening links, I shall provide those along with links to the album on Remix64, which as well as more information has a link to purchasing the album, with either physical or digital versions available. Some of these albums do not have any physical copies for sale anymore, but you may be able to locate them on the likes of eBay or Discogs if you are interested.
For a full introduction to Commodore 64 Remixes, please read the opening of part one, which explains it all succinctly. And just to be clear, like last time, there are ten different games will feature and with ten different composers offering the remixes, so that means everyone gets a go, which only seemed fair. Here we go:
Agent X II (original by Tim Follin, remix by Jogeir Liljedahl, from the album Back in Time 3: A Space Odyssey)
Album Page – https://remix64.com/albums/back-in-time-3/
Listen to the album for free – https://archive.org/details/back-in-time-3
One of Tim Follin’s earlier C64 works was given suitable treatment as the opening track to set the scene for the space themed Back in Time 3: A Space Odyssey album. In this version, there are plenty of gorgeous filter sweep synthesisers, along with a beautiful and bright rock lead that sounds like something from a progressive rock band, complete with a more electric guitar lead in part, played by Jan-Henrik Bang, that really does punctuate things nicely as it flows along. The feeling of depth of the Follin original has been retained ever so well, with the gorgeous rise and fall of the backing instruments retained to give the space and flow that the tune needs, with the ending having some more dramatic sweeps and slowing down to end the opening of the album and to also set the scene for what was to follow too. A master at work and this would certainly grow on you with every listen.
Further remixes of Agent X II – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/F/Follin_Tim/Agent_X_II_The_Mad_Profs_Back.sid/index.html
Did You Know?
One of Jogeir Liljedahl’s most famous Amiga modules he produced was called Galway Is God, and features the loading themes from Rambo: First Blood Part II and Green Beret in a gorgeous reworking. Jogeir went back to revisit it and that version can be found on the Back in Time 2 album.
Flash Gordon (original by Rob Hubbard, remix by Matt Gray, from the album Reformation 2)
Album Page – https://remix64.com/albums/matt-gray-reformation-2/
Rob Hubbard’s epic six minute title tune for this tie-in set the scene perfectly, as I mentioned in my review. Here, fellow C64 musician Matt Gray brightens up the feel in the first part with plenty of synths and some powerful drums in the opening coda, before the mood changes at two minutes, becoming deliciously dark and even keeping that bit of The Ring from the film soundtrack intact. There is throughout some gentle backing of the SID arpeggio in this middle section, just to keep some of the authenticity, and gradually building up the mood before a gorgeously meaty bass line kicks in around four minutes to blend in with the wide-open space the instruments have. As the final part builds to its powerful crescendo, the drums kick back in and punctuate it all well, with a sense of power and rhythm to up the mood. Certainly, it is well produced as the Reformation albums generally are, even if you may find it a little too in your face.
Further remixes of Flash Gordon – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/H/Hubbard_Rob/Flash_Gordon.sid/index.html
Formula 1 Simulator (original by Rob Hubbard, remix by Visa Röster, from the album READY. Vocally Too)
Album Page – https://remix64.com/albums/visa-roster-commodore-64-vocally-2/
Listen to the album for free – https://www.livet.se/visa/download_friend/Visa_Roster_-_READY._Vocally_too/
For something different, how about an acapella version of your favourite SID tunes, complete with all the instruments you could wish for? Well, Visa Röster fit the bill. Formed by Pex Tufvesson (Mahoney) the band wowed audience at various events such as Back in Time Live with their renditions. In fact, one such highlight was turning the three and a half minutes of this Rob Hubbard classic into a gorgeous version, with a beautiful vocal lead, someone doing all the Hubbard trademark drums (you will know if you hear them) and although in a different key throughout, it flows beautifully complete with some excellent work on the backing instruments and using two voices for the lead at times really does work wonders to give that feeling of playing it almost Martin Galway style in parts as well. You will be surprised just how tuneful it all is, and the whole of this album is thoroughly good fun.
Further remixes of Formula 1 Simulator – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/H/Hubbard_Rob/Formula_1_Simulator.sid/index.html
Did You Know?
Visa Röster performed at Back in Time at LSO St Luke’s in 2004, and they got to perform one of the tracks with the late and sadly missed Ben Daglish playing guitar as accompaniment to their vocal performance – a very special moment.
Fruitbank (aka Super Nudge 2000) (original by Johannes Bjerregaard, remix by Reyn Ouwehand, from the album The Blithe, The Blend and the Bizarre)
Album Page – https://remix64.com/albums/reyn-ouwehand-the-blithe-the-blend-and-the-bizarre/
Fruitbank was the original working title of Super Nudge 2000, a fruit machine game produced by Ash and Dave to critical acclaim, not least from us. The excellent title theme has been given the full on fairground treatment from Reyn Ouwehand, with all instruments played himself, and you can’t help but have a huge smile on your face as the organ kicks in from the start as the lead instrument and sets the tone, along with some lovely bass and background organs too, and add to that the bells, whistles, timpani drums, and so much more. The sense of fun and enjoyment is just delightful, and when the banjo kicks in for the closing section, it is placed so perfectly that you just know you have a master at the top of his game here. It may be an under-rated tune, but one that elevates it and gets a proper airing here for all its glory.
Oh, and in case you wondered, this is the only remix of Fruitbank out there, hence there is no link for the others available.
Nonterraqueous (original by David Dunn, remix by PRESS PLAY ON TAPE, from the album Home Computer)
Album Page – https://remix64.com/albums/ppot-home-computer/
PRESS PLAY ON TAPE (yes, it is capitalised intentionally to mimic the C64’s response to the LOAD command) had already made a name for themselves with previous albums and live performances, so when their third album was released, their craft was honed. This short but sweet game theme had a full-on rock treatment here, complete with guitars and synths that complimented each other well, as well as a little plinky plonk lead for the opening section before that gives way to an acoustic guitar for the second part of the tune. The syncopated handclaps are a good thing and that helps this version flow along well, and does show that with skill and care, even a short tune can be extended enough to give it some love. So far, this is the only remix of Nonterraqueous too, so again, no links for any others are available.
Did You Know?
At the Back in Time Live gig at Brighton in 2015, PRESS PLAY ON TAPE performed this as part of their live set, complete with the original composer (now Julie Dunn) guesting on piano with the bad, which was a lovely way of this remix going full circle.
One Man and His Droid (original by Rob Hubbard, remix by Fastloaders, from the album Rock Hubbard)
Album Page – https://remix64.com/albums/fastloaders-rock-hubbard/
The fast and panicky feel of the six minutes of Rob Hubbard has been turned into a speed metal run by Fastloaders here – and that is not so easy to carry off either. From the moment the fast drums kick in to the guitar lead, and the powerful metal of the backing guitar and bass line, you know it is going to be epic. The second section has some good synths backing the guitars before then the middle manic section, complete with some excellent playing to get all the notes right at the fast pace, which must have taken some doing. The middle section has some great guitars interspersed playing the Maneater bit before then showing some more power and style before them back to the manic section and finishing off with a suitable flourish with lots of speed and raw energy showing in the guitar playing. The opening section comes in one last time before fading – my only quibble here, a power ending with a crash of drums may have worked better. Still awesome though.
Further remixes of One Man and His Droid – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/H/Hubbard_Rob/One_Man_and_his_Droid.sid/index.html
Did You Know?
Fastloaders originally were well known for playing live the whole of the soundtracks from the Last Ninja series of games in a suitably metal style, and then releasing Last Ninja Musicology featuring all the songs from all three of the games. Well worth checking out.
Panther (original by David Whittaker, remix by DHS, from the album Remix 64 Volume 1)
Album Page – https://remix64.com/albums/remix64-volume-1/
The original game, released on the Entertainment USA label, was an isometric view shooter with an excellent David Whittaker soundtrack. Here, DHS takes on this task but manages to get into full Giorgio Moroder 80s synth mode, which shows lots of care and attention. The opening helicopter sound gives way to some perfect disco synths, complete with those pad drums. The main lead kicks in with some bright and breezy feel, along with some well-placed synth vocoders to back everything up as the tune flows along. The middle part kicks in well with space to breathe and flow as the gentle lead up front carries it all into some more disco style. It certainly sounds effortless, punchy and above all, resembles that style perfectly and although it may sound simple, the beauty is really in the detail and how well executed it all is.
Further remixes of Panther – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/W/Whittaker_David/Panther.sid/index.html
Did You Know?
David Whittaker reworked the original Panther soundtrack into what would become the title theme for the Arcadia arcade shooter Sidewinder, and this was also present on the Atari ST and Amiga versions too.
Phantoms of the Asteroid (original by Rob Hubbard, remix by Marcel Donné, from the album Project Sidologie Disc 3 – Robdezvous)
Album Page – https://remix64.com/albums/marcel-donne-project-sidologie-disk-3/
The Project Sidologie box set was Marcel Donné going full Jean-Michel Jarre across various game themes, and here, the space age feel really does shine well with an opening that sounds cosmic before bringing way to a bass synth that is reminiscent of Magnetic Fields, along with some lovely drum accompaniment and a lead that certainly has enough vibrato to resemble a Rob Hubbard lead wonderfully well, with lots of space to flow and breathe well. It has been excellently crafted throughout with the main leads really showing themselves to be tuneful, bright and with swirling synth work that really does keep the Jarre feel intact with plenty of neat touches such as the middle interludes being even more sparse and keeping that edgy sense of panic, before flowing back into full on mode for the main themes too. Lovely stuff this.
Further remixes of Phantoms of the Asteroid – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/H/Hubbard_Rob/Phantoms_of_the_Asteroid.sid/index.html
Spellbound (original by Rob Hubbard, remix by Thomas Detert, from the album Remix 64 v2 – Into Eternity)
Album Page – https://remix64.com/albums/remix64-volume-2-into-eternity/
Listen to the track for free – https://remix64.com/track/thomas-detert/spellbound-remix64-v2/
This version certainly sets a more cinematic tone with a lengthy introduction, complete with crashes of thunder and lightning, before the main theme kicks in around a minute in. The piano lead certainly breaks through all the backing wonderfully well, and has just the right emphasis on being somewhat a mix of John Carpenter’s horror style – with the drama of the backing synths really being placed well. The middle section’s lead with its acoustic guitar and the vocal backing feels spine tingling and gives the score that feeling of being grandiose and even more horror sounding at the same time. The final section brings back the piano lead and as the final parts of that fade out into the closing coda, more cinematic horror comes to the fore with the bell sounding just as much as in place as the instrument on the original did. A fellow under-rated C64 musician and master at work here, and it shows.
Further remixes of Spellbound – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/H/Hubbard_Rob/Spellbound.sid/index.html
The Last V8 (original by Rob Hubbard, remix by mind.in.a.box, from the album R.E.T.R.O.
Album Page – https://remix64.com/albums/mind-in-a-box-retro/
Listen to the album on Bandcamp – https://mind-in-a-box.bandcamp.com/album/r-e-t-r-o
Like LukHash’s remix, the iconic opening speech opens things up here, before some synths and a piercing Hubbard-esque kicks in. What you would not expect though is for this track to have lyrics and that they do work well to set the scene before the tune really builds into a sense of power and crescendo, with the main section of the theme having some brightness and some nice arpeggio synth warbles with the vocals on top. Certainly, this uses the main hook lines and is a much looser remix than some of the others featured here, but that works in its favour for taking it out of the comfort zone too. It would not be everyone’s cup of tea, but once you get used to the idea, it certainly grows on you after a few listens – although for me I would have liked more of the middle section which could have been driven along here.
Further remixes of The Last V8 – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/H/Hubbard_Rob/Last_V8.sid/index.html
Final Thoughts
Hopefully the ten remixes above have given you a flavour of what the Commodore 64 remix albums are all about, and what has been released commercially and given many SID music fans so much pleasure over the years. Many of the albums are still available in some shape or form, so if you do like what you have heard, please do buy the albums, send the artists some nice feedback if you have enjoyed it, and you never know – there may be more to come.
Next time, we will head back to the freely released remixes on remix.kwed.org and this time cast our eyes over the remixes of game themes where the games were re-released by Mastertronic, so plenty on the Ricochet and later Mastertronic+ labels that had some superlative SID soundtracks. Stay tuned for that one, and in the meantime, sit back, listen, and enjoy!
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