With the soundtrack, Carpenter wanted to avoid the usual clichés finding that “other scores for American movies about Chinese characters are basically rinky tink, chop suey music. [He] didn’t want that for Big Trouble”. Carpenter instead opted for his trademark synthesizer score mixed with rock ‘n’ roll music.[2]
A soundtrack album, produced by Carpenter, was released in 1986 on Enigma Records and featured nine tracks for a total of just over 45 minutes. In 1999, an expanded edition was released by Super Tracks Music Group. It included two versions of Carpenter and his band, The Coupe De Villes (consisting of himself, Nick Castle, and Tommy Lee Wallace), performing the "Big Trouble in Little China" theme song, three tracks from Alan Howarth's previously unreleased score for Backstabbed (also known as Mørkeleg), and a track from Escape from New York, entitled, "Atlanta Bank Robbery".
Track listing
1986 release
No.
Title
Artist(s)
Length
1.
"Big Trouble In Little China"
The Coupe De Villes
3:13
2.
"Pork Chop Express"
3:40
3.
"The Alley"
2:00
4.
"Here Comes the Storms"
2:20
5.
"Lo Pan's Domain"
4:30
6.
"Escape from Wing Kong"
8:00
7.
"Into the Spirit Path"
7:07
8.
"The Great Arcade"
7:50
9.
"The Final Escape"
6:58
Total length:
45:38
1999 release
All music is composed by John Carpenter, except as noted
In 2009, a complete 2CD limited edition of the soundtrack was released by La-La Land Records which includes every note of music from the film, including both versions of the title song, remastered.
Disc One
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Prologue"
2:15
2.
"Pork Chop Express (Main Title)"
4:01
3.
"Abduction At Airport"
4:17
4.
"The Alley (Procession)"
1:12
5.
"The Alley (War)"
2:31
6.
"The Storms"
2:42
7.
"Tenement / White Tiger"
3:49
8.
"Here Come The Storms"
4:15
9.
"Wing Kong Exchange"
4:40
10.
"Lo Pan’s Domain / Looking For A Girl"
3:16
11.
"Friends Of Yours? / Escape Iron Basis"
7:18
12.
"Escape From Wing Kong"
5:38
13.
"Hide"
4:35
Total length:
50:44
Disc Two
No.
Title
Artist(s)
Length
1.
"Call the Police"
7:32
2.
"Dragon Eyes"
1:12
3.
"Into the Spirit Path"
7:05
4.
"The Great Arcade"
7:53
5.
"The Final Escape (Lo Pan’s Demise / Getaway)"
7:02
6.
"Goodbye Jack"
3:14
7.
"Big Trouble In Little China (End Credits - Album Version)"
