Shirley Walker appreciation thread

[Matt C 605]

I know we have several Walker-themed threads on this board, but many of them pertain to the various CD releases LLL did for Batman: The Animated Series (I'm listening to V1 right now) and Mask of the Phantasm. I wanted to start a thread just devoted to her career in general.

It's a shame that all she's known for is the first three Final Destination films and her more noteworthy work on the WB animated series such as Batman Beyond, the aforementioned B:tAS, Superman: The Animated Series, and The New Batman Adventures.

Anyone have a personal favorite Walker score, or thoughts in general?

[Jay 46,244]

My favorite is the two LLL volumes of BTAS music (especially Vol 2) and Mask of the Phantasm, but The Flash is really fun too. I have heard great things about Space: Above and Beyond but have not yet had a chance to check it out

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I was only aware of her through her association with Zimmer in the beginning. Only music I have is what she wrote with Zimmer for Chicago Joe And The Showgirl, and Mask Of The Phantasm (thanks to Trent).

I am interested in her music for the animated series but it's not really a priority at the moment.

[Matt C 605]

I am interested in her music for the animated series but it's not really a priority at the moment.

You ought to check out her work for Batman and Superman. What she did with Mask of Phantasm is a larger-scale version of what she did on the B:tAS episodes... and just as good too.

[JoeinAR 1,957]

My favorite is the two LLL volumes of BTAS music (especially Vol 2) and Mask of the Phantasm, but The Flash is really fun too. I have heard great things about Space: Above and Beyond but have not yet had a chance to check it out

I have the complete set of Space Above and Beyond and it's an addictive series with a bold and brass ending. The music is quite good. Her music enhances the story which is what a good score does.

[Jill Sandwich 11,166]

Memoirs of an Invisible Man is rather good. Carpenter should have relied on her more often than... himself!

[Admiral Holdo 16]

Memoirs of an Invisible Man is rather good. Carpenter should have relied on her more often than... himself!

Yes this, a thousand times over! It's sad when I talk to people who are big fans of her, but when I mention this... "never heard it".

[Maglorfin 219]

Memoirs of an Invisible Man is rather good. Carpenter should have relied on her more often than... himself!

Truer words were never spoken! I love this soundtrack!

Concerning her Final Destination scores, I'd love to see them released someday, they are very good and I'd very much like to add them to my collection!

[Delorean90 47]

Indeed. I haven't gotten to see the film yet, though. Is there much music missing from the Varese?

[crocodile 9,724]

Turbulence is quite a good score actually. I hope it gets an official release sometime soon. For me it confirms that she was just as good in action films as the likes of Goldsmith.

Karol

[Brónach 1,330]

What I've heard from her is brilliant and I need to listen to more of it.

[Maglorfin 219]

Indeed. I haven't gotten to see the film yet, though. Is there much music missing from the Varese?

Which Varese? None of her three Final Destination scores has ever been released! Or do you mean the Memoirs?

[Delorean90 47]

Memoirs.

[Admiral Holdo 16]

I haven't gone through and done timings, but having seen the film and heard the album a BAZILLION times, I estimate about 20 minutes.

[Matt C 605]

Turbulence is quite a good score actually. I hope it gets an official release sometime soon. For me it confirms that she was just as good in action films as the likes of Goldsmith.

Intrada does have a thing going with MGM. Maybe they'll secure a limited CD release...

[ZackR 187]

I like Turbulence. Her use of Christmas music is great too.

Batman: TAS is terrific. I just listened to Volume 2 and I think it is even better than the first.

[Jay 46,244]

I just listened to Volume 2 and I think it is even better than the first.

[Matt C 605]

I wish there were more YT video interviews with Shirley other than this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Ty2GNU6n0

[Matt C 605]

 

A tribute to her. Has some comments from Zimmer about working with her.

[Kasey Kockroach 2,744]

Sorry, Jack! Chucky’s back!

[Matt C 605]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but she scored a short film Prelude to Eden in 1995.

 

The director posted up audio clips about the rehearsal process, including the finished track. It's a fascinating process listening to how she works on the scoring stage.

[Skelly 281]

Thanks for sharing that! Is there another copy of that interview you posted up there in 2013? The video has since been removed.

[Matt C 605]

On 6/3/2020 at 9:57 AM, Skelly said:

Thanks for sharing that! Is there another copy of that interview you posted up there in 2013? The video has since been removed.

 

 

[NewBlueEyes 237]

 

[bruce marshall 1,988]

This obit ran only because I contacted the local press,  who ignored her passing.

I loved her music and felt her home town paper should acknowledge her life and career

 

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Shirley-Walker-film-score-composer-2543696.php

 

 

FYI At the time of her passing NONE of her BTAS music had been released!

Kudos to LLL ! 😃 

 

P .S. The original on- line story was presented clean with no ads. I will try and post the original print version 

[bruce marshall 1,988]

[crocodile 9,724]

Shirley's last feature film score Black Christmas finally gets a release from Dragon Domain. A digital one but still.

 

 

Quote

 

BSXDG0188

 

Includes Digital Booklet

 

BSX DIGITAL presents music composed by Shirley Walker (FINAL DESTINATION, SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND, WILLARD) from the original score to BLACK CHRISTMAS, the 2006 remake of the cult classic horror film from 1974, directed by Glen Morgan (THE X FILES, SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND, FINAL DESTINATION), written by Morgan and Roy Moore, starring Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Lacey Chabert, Katie Cassidy, Kristen Cloke, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, Oliver Hudson, Karin Konoval, Robert Mann and Andrea Martin as Ms. Mac.

 

Released in 2006, BLACK CHRISTMAS is a loose remake of the 1974 cult horror film of the same name, which was directed by Bob Clark (A CHRISTMAS STORY, MURDER BY DECREE) and written by Roy Moore. Set days before Christmas, the film follows sorority sisters who are stalked and murdered during a winter storm.

 

The score for the 2006 version of BLACK CHRISTMAS marks the final collaboration between composer Shirley Walker, director Glenn Morgan, and producer James Wong, who had previously worked with her on the short-lived TV series SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND. This project also represents Shirley Walker's last original composition for a feature film.

 

Shirley Walker (April 10, 1945 – November 30, 2006) was an influential American film and television composer and conductor, recognized as a pioneer for women in Hollywood. She was one of the first female composers to gain solo score credit on a major film. Walker won two Emmy Awards, and the ASCAP Shirley Walker Award was established in her honor in 2014. Walker's film career began in 1979 with APOCALYPSE NOW, where she played synthesizers and later orchestrated scores for films like THE BLACK STALLION. She excelled as an orchestrator, conductor and composer, working with notable figures like Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer. Walker scored various productions, including WILLARD and the first three FINAL DESTINATION films, and TV series like FALCON CREST and THE FLASH. While working with Danny Elfman, she mentored Hans Zimmer and orchestrated several of his film scores. Walker was a prominent composer for several animated series in the DC Animated Universe, including BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES and BATMAN BEYOND. She worked closely with Danny Elfman, served as the conductor for the film BATMAN, and composed much of the music for BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, creating a recognizable musical tone for the franchise. Her themes continued to be used in JUSTICE LEAGUE and JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED.

 

BSX Digital presents the world premiere release of BLACK CHRISTMAS, featuring music composed by Shirley Walker. The music has been mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland and includes liner notes by noted author Randall Larson.

 

 

Black X Mas

Shirley Walker

 

Track listing:

 

1. Black X Mas (4:19)

2. Screw Christmas / Eye See You (3:55)

3. Pagan Ritual / Santa Is Dead (4:49)

4. Island of Misfit Toys / That Wasn’t Megan (4:10)

5. Billy and the Family Christmas / Christmas Cookies (4:41)

6. That Wasn’t Here Before / The Eyes Have It (3:32)

7. Santa / Search for Dana (4:24)

8. We’ re Sisters / Act Like it / Bedroom Kill (3:54)

9. Sleeping Beauty and the Unicorn / Scream and Scream Again (3:48)

10. We’re All Family Now (3:54)

11. A Sister’s Christmas Present / Hospital Room Kill (3:41)

12. Merry Christmas Mo Fo (2:50)

13. Black Christmas (7:24)

14. Suite (5:13)

 

Karol

 

 

[Jay 46,244]

La-La Land has Turbulence and Willard on clearance for $5 each

 

https://lalalandrecords.com/turbulence-limited-edition/

 

https://lalalandrecords.com/willard-limited-edition/

[Yavar Moradi 4,400]

Both very good scores and a total steal at that price. Very sad they apparently sold so poorly, because I assume that is why LLL didn't keep releasing Walker scores on CD.  

Yavar

[Slitherjump 154]

@Yavar MoradiI wonder had they sold both for 1000 copies instead of 2 or 3000 if they would get the same results? Cause a few of the recent LLL releases are only selling 1000 including Goldsmith

[Yavar Moradi 4,400]

On 02/03/2026 at 3:04 PM, Slitherjump said:

@Yavar MoradiI wonder had they sold both for 1000 copies instead of 2 or 3000 if they would get the same results? Cause a few of the recent LLL releases are only selling 1000 including Goldsmith

 

I think King Solomon's Mines is the first Goldsmith LLL has ever released at 1000 copies... no doubt because it's been released quite a few times and the previous Quartet Records version was already complete (albeit at a wrong speed?)

Yavar

[LB Makes Stuff 501]

Watching MOTP again, I wish we could get a reissue or even another attempt at a complete release. The old version uses the wrong takes for several cues when compared to the film. Would be cool to include that weird string opening for I Never Even Told You; I’ve always wondered if that was written for that song, or if it’s a completely different cue of sorts.