I bought the score on vinyl after I saw the movie in the theater back in '80. I listened to it over and over and over - I know every note by heart. Horner is an exceptional composer, but for a first movie score this is true magic.

I think it is and it looks like Josh Hadley agrees: http://www.1201beyond.com/podcasts/episode-235-the-music-of-the-movies/

I totally agree, the soundtrack was fantastic. It was one of the things that made this a far better film than really it had any right to be. It is one of my favourite sci-fi soundtracks of all time.
I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

Here's something even more interesting.
Yes, James Horner tends to cannibalize a lot of his music, but, he also ended up (practically note for note) taking a piece from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
In 2001: A Space Odyssey, (a film made in 1968, long before Horner's time) just shortly around the time we meet the crew of the Discovery, the music used in that piece is taken and used as the opening titles for ALIENS, and is also reused, with a couple slight modifications in Patriot Games.
I cannot remember who composed that piece, but Horner used it for both ALIENS and Patriot Games. How he got away with it, I'll never know.

Just watched BBTS for the first time. Pretty much what I expected, but the score was definitely a high point in the film. Very reminiscent of Star Trek II obviously. Though parts of it reminded me very much of Star Trek I (by Jerry Goldsmith-RIP).
All in all not a bad score at all. Doesn't rank among my favorites from Horner (Braveheart, Star Trek II, Titanic) but his music often adds a lot to any film it is in.

I enjoyed his score here, but I think Star Trek II was his best. certainly you could here parts of this that wound up in that score as well. Have you ever heard anyone rip-off themselves as much as Horner? I think he's great but he seems to like his stuff so much he re-uses it over and over, lol.
"everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die"

If anyone is looking for the soundtrack, check out www.moviemusic.com. They have it for $15.99 plus shipping.

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Check out a re-recording of the Battle Beyond the Stars theme:
Nic Raine & The City Of Prague - Battle Beyond the Stars
Featured on the album Alien Invasion: Space and Beyond II
They do a sort of medley of it which comes off quite well. The end is a bit sudden though - none of those trailing flutes from the original.

My copy of the OST wasn't cheap, but it was worth it. I LOVE this score, and agree it's one of Horner's finest. Well worth tracking down if you can!

Star Trek1 was actually Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner wrote for #2 and 3. In fact one of the two harmony's used in this score was also used in his Star Trek 3 score.
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I finally got it.
Sounds very very similar to Star Trek I-II.

I think it is James Horner's finest score to date. It's a shame that the movie is not of the same quality!

You should listen to Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky cantata, from which Horner stole liberally on this score.
It's a decent soundtrack, but I can't get over what a hack Horner is.

Me too.

does anyone have the soundtrack. or possibly mp3's of the soundtrack. It is out of print now. and people are trying to sell it for $75+ on ebay and around. that a little high , but i very much would like the soundtrack
thanks

I just got the score last night! I very much enjoy it. THe main theme has been stuck in my head since I saw the movie as a kid. Great work.
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Too bad he didn't have the London Symphony Orchestra when he was recording it.
I know this comment is SIX YEARS later, but you are so right. I love the score but it's painfully obvious that the lesser musicians are struggling to play it. Even I noticed the brass section straining to hit the high notes. If Horner had a AAA+ orchestra like the LSO performing his score it would have been 100 times more awesome.
Dr. Kila Marr was right. Kill the Crystalline Entity.

I reccomend james Horners Aliens score if only for the 'Ripley rescue music when ripley drives the APC to save the marines. On a big sound system its a fantastic adrenalin rush of a score.

because Roger Corman produced both Battle Beyond. and Space Raiders and maybe even Wizards as well?

Anyone have any idea how come this soundtrack was also used in Space Raiders and Wizards of the lost kingdom?

Too bad he didn't have the London Symphony Orchestra when he was recording it.

I have two snippets from the soundtrack on my phone. Not the best quality recording, but at least I know it is my phone it is ringing.

I recommend listening to the Krull soundtrack - almost exactly the same!
This sort of sound also runs through his work on Brainstorm, some of Cocoon and Aliens.