Summer Soundtracks: Full Metal Jacket

If you’re a music fan (and if you weren’t, then you wouldn’t be reading pieces on Rhino.com, so we can safely presume that you fall into this category), then you probably look back on past summers and mentally compile a playlist of songs that served as your soundtrack at the time. This summer, we’re taking the heavy lifting out of that scenario by reissuing some classic soundtracks – and, yes, some cult soundtracks, too – on 140-gram vinyl.

Last week we told you about SPACE JAM, which is available exclusively at your friendly neighborhood Urban Outfitters, but this week’s release should be decidedly easier to find, as it’s available pretty much everywhere that vinyl is sold: the soundtrack to Stanley Kubrick’s revered 1987 Vietnam War drama, FULL METAL JACKET.

The film’s soundtrack is an even split between classic songs of the era and the actual score for the film, which was written by Kubrick’s daughter, Vivian, using the pseudonym “Abigail Mead.” Among the non-score tunes are such tunes as “Hello Vietnam” (Johnny Wright), “Chapel of Love” (The Dixie Cups), “Wooly Bully” (Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs), “I Like It Like That” (Chris Kenner), “These Boots Were Made For Walking” (Nancy Sinatra), and “Surfin’ Bird” (The Trashmen), plus the decidedly appropriate “Marines’ Hymn,” performed by The Goldman Band. For your additional entertainment, FULL METAL JACKET has been pressed on dark green vinyl. It’s hard to say that it’s fun, given the topic of the film, but it’s certainly an appropriate color.

Oh, you think that’s funny, do you, Private Pyle? Wipe that disgusting grin off your face. We’re gonna give you three seconds – exactly three [CENSORED] seconds –to wipe that stupid looking grin off your face or we’ll…

Well, actually, we won’t do anything. But what you should do is go pick your copy of this awesome reissue ASAP…and that’s an order!