This was the
soundtrack for a late-period entry in the disaster film cycle that focused on a mad bomber who terrorized California's amusement parks by bombing their roller coasters. Since much of
Rollercoaster took place at amusement parks, the
soundtrack required a complex mix of conventional thriller music and believable source music for the parks' attractions. Thankfully, composer
Lalo Schifrin served up a score that managed to deliver on both counts. A great example is the album's opening cut,
"Prologue, Montage": This medley of cues from the score, artfully merged with carefully mixed crowd noises, takes the listener through
chamber music,
funk,
carnival-style calliope music,
pop/rock, and conventional
orchestral film music in just over five minutes. However, the resulting
soundtrack album isn't a consistent listen despite
Schifrin's skill as a composer and arranger: Source music cues like
"Penny Arcade" and
"Children's Ride" ideally suit the film's needs but their
novelty music style ensures they don't hold up to repeated listens. The score-based music is much more interesting:
"Another Side of Harry" is an atmospheric, saxophone-driven
jazz piece that effectively conveys the melancholy mood of its titular character, and
"Calliope of Death" cleverly weaves suspenseful strings into its
carnival-style keyboard motif to create a dazzling cue for one of the film's suspense set pieces. Fans of
Schifrin's funkier work a la
Enter the Dragon will also be pleased with the title cut, a barnstorming
funk instrumental that layers wild flute and guitar solos over a rumbling bassline. All in all,
Rollercoaster lacks the cohesiveness of the best
soundtrack albums, but it is a solid showcase for
Lalo Schifrin's multifaceted musical skills and is guaranteed to please his fans. ~ Donald A. Guarisco