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/
This is the third part of this series, where I will look at freely available remixes (all published at remix.kwed.org) and these are all remixes of games that were re-released by Mastertronic, either via the Ricochet label, or later via MAD, Mastertronic Plus and so on. There will be some gems here as well as some rather epic and long remixes to listen to as well, so be sure to take some time out and listen to all of them – there will be some lovely surprises on the way.
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:
Ballblazer (original by Russell Lieblich, remix by Romeo Knight)
Listen to Ballblazer on Remix64 here – https://remix64.com/track/romeo-knight/ballblazer-feat-beastie-boys/
Ballblazer had a very different and unique soundtrack when first released on the Atari XL/XE, with it being algorithmically generated, and sounded very good on the Commodore 64 too. Although the main loop is simple and has different elements each time, making a remix out of that might have been tough. But not so. Take some of the intro speech from the Ballblazer press conference video, break that down and some (publicly made available by the band) Beastie Boys vocal samples, add some funky beats and keep the main hook lines completely intact along with the bass line to give it some extra oomph, and you have this both innovative and stylish remix, that really does take the whole tune in a different direction, yet has all the lovely elements that made the original great. One to check out with an open mind and ear.
Further remixes of Ballblazer – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/L/Lieblich_Russell/Ballblazer.sid/index.html
Further remixes by Romeo Knight – https://remix64.com/act/romeo-knight/
Crazy Comets (original by Rob Hubbard, remix by Makke)
Listen to Crazy Comets on Remix64 here – https://remix64.com/track/makke/crazy-comets-komet-non-stop-2022-re-remix/
Crazy Comets was one of the first Ricochet label re-releases, and with an iconic Rob Hubbard soundtrack to boot. Here, Makke gives it his own unique remix twist, as he adds lyrics to the remix as well as blend various styles. This time around it is effectively the drums from Kraftwerk’s Musik Non-Stop and that style of synthesiser, along with a subtle yet nice minimal beat to go with it – and some well-placed vocals are the cherry on top of a lovely cake that this remix is. This takes some time to get used to, but once the main backing and lead kick into play, it is instantly recognisable in both the tune and the way that the electronics give it that punch. It was good on first release way back when and this version enhances things superbly with plenty of due care and attention paid to ensure that the sound is just right whilst giving off all those vibe as if it were 1985. As they say, Makke gooooooooooood.
Further remixes of Crazy Comets – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/H/Hubbard_Rob/Crazy_Comets.sid/index.html
Further remixes by Makke – https://remix64.com/act/makke/
Did You Know?
Rob Hubbard technically remixed the Crazy Comets music himself, as a 12-inch extended version for the game’s sequel, Mega Apocalypse. Rob still prefers the original soundtrack, incidentally.
Erebus (original by Dave Lee, remix by Andrea Baroni)
Listen to Erebus on Remix64 here – https://remix64.com/track/andrea-baroni/erebus-piano/
The original Erebus tune, released on Virgin Games and then as a Ricochet re-release, is short and sweet and yet carries some lovely melodies. Here, Andrea has slowed things down a little bit and concentrated the efforts on the piano to give it a sense of warmth and feeling. The whole thing is played live too, with some gorgeous melodies being punctuated by some soft gentle piano playing. This then adds the sense of drama as the lower notes kick in with depth to allow those higher notes to flow seamlessly, with a touch and feel all its own too. To manage to get into three minutes of emotion shows some very accomplished skills, and if you fancy something more minimalist and gentler, this is for you.
Further remixes of Erebus – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/L/Lee_Dave/Erebus.sid/index.html
Further remixes by Andrea Baroni – https://remix64.com/member/bluegestalt/
Judge Dredd (original by Neil Brennan, remix by 7DD9)
Listen to Judge Dredd on Remix64 here – https://remix64.com/track/7dd9/i-am-the-law-judge-dredd/
Judge Dredd was not a good C64 game and even a budget re-issue could not spare it. The music by Neil Brennan was good though, and here 7DD9 gives the whole tune a thorough futuristic turbocharged treatment. The introduction uses some nice vocals to announce that Dredd is here before giving way to some fast techno drums along with subtle electronics with the main theme tune belting along, and once it is judgement time, the flow and feel of the pace increases complete with the extra instruments all playing along with the lead, and building the power. Maybe it needed some more Industrial heavier beats, but what is here really shows a sense of taking an idea and running with it, and as the latter part slows down as the drums disappear, the squelchy bass really does underpin all of that nicely as the lead does its final section. Nice work all round.
Further remixes of Judge Dredd – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/B/Brennan_Neil/Judge_Dredd.sid/index.html
Further remixes by 7DD9 – https://remix64.com/act/7dd9/
Knightmare (original by Steve Barrett, remix by The St Albans Rob Hubbard Fan Club)
Listen to Knightmare on Remix64 here – https://remix64.com/track/the-st-albans-rob-hubbard-fan-club/knightmare-valentine-2021-jam-session/
The TV licenced game, first released by Activision before a Ricochet re-release, did not cover the TV theme series tune but had a nice melodic Steve Barrett piece. Here, this remix slows down that original a fair bit, and is more concentrated on some well-placed instruments, especially the acoustic guitar and piano to give it that warmth and feeling. Around half way through the tune changes tack, complete with some nice rhythm from the drums and, in addition, some more strings and acoustics really adding some depth to the whole thing, before then allowing the middle interlude section to have a suitable pause to sound more stripped back – and builds back into a carefully crafted set of acoustics and melody to flow into the final part. It will grow on you with each listen and shows some real consideration into how the original title theme played too. Lovely, this one.
Further remixes of Knightmare – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/B/Barrett_Steve/Knightmare.sid/index.html
Further remixes by The St Albans Rob Hubbard Fan Club – https://remix64.com/act/the-st-albans-rob-hubbard-fan-club/
Knucklebusters (original by Rob Hubbard, remix by Tomsk)
Listen to Knucklebusters on Remix64 here – https://remix64.com/track/tomsk/knucklebusters-psx-music2000-edit/
Whilst the game might not be very good, Rob Hubbard’s epic close to seventeen minutes main theme is a masterwork. And as the only freely available remix to take on the whole tune in its entirety, that alone deserves praise. Working within the confines of Music 2000 on the Playstation, all the gritty Industrial feel of the original has been retained, especially with the drums and the suitably dark moody bass line too. As the tune develops into its phases the mood remains slightly sinister and some good lead choices really do show the emphasis on keeping that feel of the original intact. As the iconic moments then build up the pace frantically later, it keeps up that sense of panic as with each pass the sense of impending doom remains, with the pounding drums keeping all that unease intact and showing considerable skill in doing so. And a nice metal sounding instrument fourteen minutes in to give that final nail in the game’s coffin and really enhance the final part with some hard bass too. This would prove to be a stepping stone for Tomsk, who would create some superlative remixes over the years especially on the Encore64 albums, and this is very much an early statement of intent.
Further remixes of Knucklebusters – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/H/Hubbard_Rob/Knucklebusters.sid/index.html
Further remixes by Tomsk – https://remix64.com/act/tomsk/
Did You Know?
The title theme from the game Knucklebusters was also re-used in the loading sequence for Mastertronic’s conversion of Gaplus, with a graphic equaliser to the bottom right of the loading screen for each of the three SID channels as the tune played during loading.
Starquake (original by Steve Crow, remix by Anders Hesselbom)
Listen to Starquake on Remix64 here – https://remix64.com/track/anders-hesselbom/starquake/
Another case of where the original game’s title theme is short – so, this effectively is quite a short and sweet remix because of it. The introduction has plenty of nice effects such as the backing instrument that then allows the lead flute to kick in well. The bass line then comes in before the drums give it that final polish to build in the introduction, with the focus being on keeping the melody and feel intact, which it does here in abundance. There is power and punch without sounding too aggressive, along with a nice flow and an excellent way to give it a final exclamation as the remix ends too. It is over before you know it but does not feel wasted in any way – excellent work on this one.
This is the only remix of Starquake available so far – there are no others.
Further remixes by Anders Hesselbom – https://remix64.com/act/anders-hesselbom/
Tetris (original by Wally Beben, remix by Bastian Dornbach)
Listen to Tetris on Remix64 here – https://remix64.com/track/bastian-dornbach/tetris-c64-orchestral-mix/
This addictive game got the Mastertronic+ re-release treatment (with a PAL Developments catalogue number) and memorable for its lengthy twenty-five plus minute soundtrack. Here Bastian Dornbach, in his only remix to date, does the whole thing justice. The opening few minutes are quiet with the flute leading the way, and when the organ kicks on the C64, the drums and classical instruments come in well and give it that substance as well as suitable volume, and that works well. As the tune builds throughout, there are suitable nods to scores by Philip Glass and Ennio Morricone, especially with the extra percussion and crescendos that kick in well two thirds of the way through, giving the whole sense of it being not just classical but also a Wild West film score too. There is so much to enjoy here and it does not feel like any of the track is wasted time either – which is huge compliment. Sit back, listen, and enjoy.
Further remixes of Tetris – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/B/Beben_Wally/Tetris.sid/index.html
This is Bastian’s only C64 remix so far – let us hope for more to come!
The Eidolon (original by Charlie Kellner and David Levine, remix by LMan)
Listen to The Eidolon on Remix64 here – https://remix64.com/track/lman/the-eidolon/
Another short but sweet tune here which sets the atmosphere nicely for the original Lucasfilm release on the C64. Here, the melody has been brought forward to be the star in a very Depeche Mode inspired feel, complete with a lovely synth bass line and crashing drums to give it all that sense of darkwave and panicky feel throughout. The real star of the show comes later though in the second half as once a gentle flute lead acts as the bridge, the guitars kick in well to give the drums and electronics more space to flow, with extra levels of darkwave sounds to add to the impending sense of encountering that dragon from the game. It is very well crafted and shows considerable care and attention to do something that gives the original all its feels but elevate it to another level.
This is the only remix of The Eidolon available so far – there are no others.
Further remixes by LMan – https://remix64.com/act/lman/
The Way of the Exploding Fist (original by Neil Brennan, remix by Kent Walldén)
Listen to The Way of the Exploding Fist on Remix64 here – https://remix64.com/track/kent-wallden/way-of-the-exploding-fist/
The title theme of The Way of the Exploding Fist is not that long, so to give it a six-minute dance treatment takes something special. And twenty-five years since this remix was released, it still feels very much the case. There are some lovely nods to the original SID sound as it builds, with the leads coming in on each pass with variety and keeping that feel very much alive. The dance beats that do come in are not too in your face and add subtlety without distraction. As the remix gets about half way through, the interlude of some squelchy synth parts for the backing and lead take this to a different dimension as it pounds through with some lovely snare crashes on the drums too, and is a sensible change of tack to keep the variety intact, with some analogue sweeps also present. Still an iconic remix even now and was very much a benchmark when it was released.
Further remixes of The Way of the Exploding Fist – https://remix64.com/track/more-of/sid/MUSICIANS/B/Brennan_Neil/Way_of_the_Exploding_Fist.sid/index.html
Further remixes by Kent Walldén: – https://remix64.com/member/trace/
Did You Know?
The title theme for The Way of the Exploding Fist is based on an original Chinese instrumental piece entitled Dance of the Yao People. Neil Brennan studied Chinese and Japanese recordings also to get the feel of the instruments just right for the game – which he very much succeeded in!
Final Thoughts
Hopefully the ten remixes above have really given you an insight into what happens when you take a game soundtrack, whether it be a lengthy epic or a short and sweet piece, and give it the treatment that they all do deserve. Hopefully you will have discovered something new, and indeed something that you can listen to and enjoy too. There are so many other great remixes out there and we would love to hear from you if any really did strike a chord.
Next time, we will look at more remixes of C64 game themes where the games were re-released by Mastertronic, with those that were released on commercially available albums, such as the Back in Time series, and much more besides. That will be an enjoyable listen and one that we hope you will look forward to, with some stone-cold classics yet to come and be discovered.
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