I found this CD at a used CD store near my college's campus one summer afternoon and decided to give it a try. I have seen the movie and I do enjoy it. The score on the other hand, well, I like it, but not as much as the movie. This is one of the early synthesizer scores from the 80's. This fact is quite apparent after listening to several of the tracks. Aside from the campy sound of the synthesizers, there is some good aspects to the soundtrack. While for the most part it sounds like a MIDI file for your computer, it is fairly catchy. The Main Title/Crook Dusting is where the main theme for the movie is introduced for the first time. It pops up here and there in a variety of forms.
The action bleeps its way out in tracks such as Sunrise at "Pinkville" and "Pinkville" Strafing Run. But nothing compares to the action brought forth during the last part of the soundtrack. When Roy Scheider's character steals "Blue Thunder" and uses it to fight the bad guys off in the skies over downtown Los Angeles. The final track, Murphy's Law is decent but at times sounds more like a disco classic or something. On the whole it is an okay CD that I listen to on occasion. However, I always wonder whether soundtracks like these could have been the inspiration behind composers like Hans Zimmer's desire to use synthesizers. But one thing is for certain, synthesized music sure has come a long way since this soundtrack was written.
Total time: 54:49
1: Main Title/Crook Dusting (6:23)
2: Nam Flashback (2:26)
3: Sanity Check (1:39)
4: Kate's Theme (1:42)
5: Night Search (2:09)
6: Sunrise at "Pinkville" (4:26)
7: "Pinkville" Strafing Run (1:49)
8: "Follow my Leader" (2:57)
9: Murphy's Nightmare (1:28)
10: "Blue Thunder" Ballet (4:20)
11: Following the Bad Guys/Thermographics (4:19)
12: Adios J.A.F.O. (4:49)
13: Murphy steals "Blue Thunder" (2:15)
14: River Chase/Hide and Seek (6:59)
15: Ride with the Angels (Original End Title) (3:55)
16: "Murphy's Law - Theme From Blue Thunder" (3:13) - The Beepers