A Nightmare on Elm Street Soundtrack (1984)

A Nightmare on Elm Street, the 1984 slasher classic, was a masterclass in horror cinema. And if there’s anything that can send shivers down your spine other than Freddy Krueger’s sharp fingers, it’s the movie’s catchy tunes. The film’s soundtrack, with its eerie sounds, played an important role in setting the tone and atmosphere of the film.

The genius behind this eerie and unforgettable score was none other than Charles Bernstein. When the film first hit the screens in 1984, it was accompanied by Bernstein’s chilling compositions, which were initially released by the label Varèse Sarabande. The soundtrack’s influence and popularity are evident in its multiple releases over the years.

In 2015, Varèse Sarabande gave horror fans a treat with an 8-CD box set featuring soundtracks from the franchise, excluding the remake. A year later, they released the “Little Box of Horror,” a 12-CD box containing various horror film scores, including our beloved Elm Street tunes.

In a nod to its iconic status, the label Death Waltz Recording Company re-released Bernstein’s score in 2017, bundling it with soundtracks from the first seven films in an 8-LP vinyl box set named “A Nightmare On Elm Street: Box Of Souls.” And for those who can’t get enough, standalone extended versions with snippets left out of the original were made available in 2017 and 2019.

Let’s talk about that theme song that’s probably playing in your head right now. You know the one – the eerily sung song by jumprope children, echoing throughout the series. The song’s lyrics, based on “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe,” were set in stone when Bernstein began his magical work.

But here’s a cool tidbit: the melody wasn’t Bernstein’s creation. It was the brainchild of Heather Langenkamp’s then-boyfriend, Alan Pasqua, a talented musician. Bernstein seamlessly integrated Pasqua’s melody into his score. And guess who was one of the young voices that brought this chilling song to life? Robert Shaye’s 14-year-old daughter.

List of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” Tracks

1. Prologue
2. Main Title
3. Laying The Traps
4. Dream Attack
5. Rod Hanged Night Stalking
6. Jail Cell
7. Confrontation
8. Sleep Clinic
9. No Escape
10. School Horror Stay Awake
11. Lurking
12. Telephone Terror
13. Terror Fountain Of Blood
14. Evil Freddy
15. Final Search
16. Run Nancy