The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) - Soundtrack Collection

When composer Basil Kirchin first met with Vincent Price about working on The Abominable Dr. Phibes, he inquired as to how the actor would play the titular role. Straight or comedic? "Straight, of course," was Price's response. 

Kirchin's original music also played it straight. An approach that disappointed Robert Fuest, the film's director. While Fuest liked Kirchin's themes, he felt the orchestrations were too austere and understated for the film's overtly comedic tone. Enter composer John Gale, who, in Kirchin's words, "spoofed it up."

Because the original masters are lost, the "spoofed up" variations I am familiar with are absent from this soundtrack. Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 14 are from Kirchin's personal recordings and are the "serious" variations he intended for the film. Tracks 7, 8, and 9 are from the 1971 American International LP released with the film. Tracks 1, 11, 12, and 13 are from the film's actual soundtrack.