New Soundtrack - Day of Anger 2 Disc Edition from Quartet

Just released from Quartet Records!

Quartet Records, in collaboration with GDM and Universal Music Publishing Italy, celebrates the centenary of Maestro Riz Ortolani with the ultimate edition of his classic, killer score for DAY OF ANGER (I giorni dell’ira, 1967), an iconic spaghetti western directed by Tonino Valerii and starring Lee Van Cleef and Giuliano Gemma. The film, one of the most beloved by fans of the genre, is about a scruffy street sweeper who becomes the pupil of a famed gunfighter, and the stage for confrontation is set when the gunman overruns the boy’s town through violence and corruption.

Riz Ortolani’ score finds him at the height of his creative powers, blending sweeping orchestral themes, tense action motifs and moments of surprising lyrical beauty into a uniquely sophisticated musical experience.

While Ennio Morricone’s influence often dominates discussions of music for Italian westerns, Ortolani’s approach to DAY OF ANGER reveals a distinct voice—elegant, dramatic and melodic. The unforgettable main theme (rediscovered by Tarantino and included in his film Django Unchained) captures the film’s atmosphere of revenge, ambition and moral conflict, while recurring motifs demonstrate the composer’s remarkable ability to balance raw tension with emotional depth.

Albums were released by RCA in 1967 in mono (the Italian LP) and stereo (the U.S. edition). Both featured the same track listing, though with different mixes, takes and edits on some tracks. That LP program was subsequently released on CD, but always in the Italian mono version until the two most recent reissues, which also included the film score in stereo. For this new 2-CD edition, we have included the complete score in stereo, in addition to the mono and stereo albums, from their respective original elements. The audio for this release (supervised by Claudio Fuiano) has been restored and mastered by Chris Malone; the package includes an essay by Jeff Bond.

This soundtrack remains an essential chapter in the history of the Italian western and a shining example of Riz Ortolani’s extraordinary legacy as one of Europe’s greatest film composers.

ORDER HERE
https://quartetrecords.com/product/day-of-anger-2-cd/

 

Tracklist-

DISC 1. 

THE ORIGINAL ALBUM (STEREO)

1. I Giorni Dell’Ira 3:07

2. Senza Pietà 2:21

3. Una notte serena 2:49

4. L’arma del killer 1:29

5. Fino all’ultimo colpo 2:56

6. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#2) 1:21

7. Fino all’ultimo colpo (#2) 3:00

8. Violenza, odio 1:34

9. Una notte serena (#2) 3:34

10. Un uomo forte 2:28

11. Fino all’ultimo colpo (#3) 1:26

THE ORIGINAL ALBUM (MONO)

12. I Giorni Dell’Ira 3:07

13. Senza pietà 2:21

14. Una notte serena 2:49

15. L’arma del killer 1:29

16. Fino all’ultimo colpo 2:56

17. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#2) 1:21

18. Fino all’ultimo colpo (#2) 3:00

19. Violenza, odio 1:34

20. Una notte serena (#2) 3:34

21. Un uomo forte 2:28

22. Fino all’ultimo colpo (#3) 1:26

Total Disc Time: 52:02

DISC 2. THE FILM SCORE (STEREO)

1. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#3) (Original Main Titles) 3:08

2. Una notte serena (#3) 2:50

3. L’arma del Killer (#2) 1:30

4. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#4 Saloon) 1:46

5. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#5) 1:49

6. Violenza, odio (#2) 1:28

7. Fino all’ultimo colpo (#4) 2:56

8. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#6) 1:22

9. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#7) 1:21

10. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#8 Saloon) 1:20

11. Violenza, odio (#3) 1:14

12. Una notte serena (#4) 2:05

13. Senza pietà (#2) 1:19

14. Un uomo forte (#2) 2:30

15. Violenza, odio (#4) 0:51

16. Fino all’ultimo colpo (#5) 3:01

17. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#9) 1:56

18. Una notte serena (#5 Harmonica) 1:28

19. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#10) 1:25

20. Violenza, odio (#5) 1:40

21. Fino all’ultimo colpo (#6) 1:25

22. Una Notte Serena (#6) 2:52

23. L’arma del killer (#3) 1:49

24. Una notte serena (#7 Harmonica) 1:16

25. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#11) 1:51

26. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#12) 1:56

27. Una notte serena (#8) 1:50

28. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#13) 1:04

29. I Giorni Dell’Ira (#14 Demo Song) 2:11

Total Disc Time: 53:12

Total 2-CD Time: 105:14

Behind the Scenes of Armed Response (1986)

When Armed Response hit the shelves of video rental stores in 1986, it was a crucial piece of the late-career puzzle for legendary screen icon Lee Van Cleef. Released just three years before his passing, this gritty action-thriller by cult-favorite director Fred Olen Ray served as one of the ultimate showcases for Van Cleef’s enduring, steely presence.

A Return to Form

By 1986, Lee Van Cleef’s health was in a noticeable decline. Yet, as the production for Armed Response kicked off, his commitment to his craft—and specifically his ability to effortlessly convey an immense amount of gravity with minimal dialogue—was stronger than ever.

He was cast as Burt Roth, a sophisticated but deadly patriarch running a high-stakes crime syndicate. This role allowed him to tap into the calculating, intelligent breed of menace he had perfected over decades in cinema, pivoting away from the pure "gunslinger" archetype to something more complex.

• Veterans Supporting Veterans: Van Cleef was joined by other film giants, including David Carradine (as his son) and Mako. 

Behind the Lens: Fred Olen Ray’s Production Logic

Director Fred Olen Ray, known for his ability to maximize a budget and deliver visceral action, saw Van Cleef not just as a name on the poster, but as a central element of the film’s visual strategy.

• The Low-Angle Intensity: Ray utilized extreme low angles to framing Van Cleef. This served multiple purposes: it helped compensate for his lack of mobility by emphasizing his commanding presence over other actors, and it immediately triggered the visual legacy that made Van Cleef a star (reminding audiences of those unforgettable face-offs in For a Few Dollars More).

• The Power of the Profile: The cinematographers focused on Van Cleef’s profile and silhouette. The signature hat remained, but the context shifted to shadows and high-contrast night shots in industrial LA. The lighting design was often prioritized to make those piercing, "Angel Eyes" the focal point of entire sequences.

• Grit and Dynamite: Armed Response emphasized practical, dangerous-looking pyrotechnics. Behind-the-scenes accounts from stunt performers involved noted that the explosions involving cars and trucking rigs in this film were often significantly larger—and closer to the actors—than typical Hollywood safety standards would allow. This sense of danger translated into the raw energy of the final cut.

The Final Bow

Armed Response remains a fascinating look at the sunset years of a cinematic legend. While his body may have been frailer, Lee Van Cleef’s presence was undiminished. He didn't just play a role; he haunted it. For those studying 80s action cinema, the film is a masterclass in how to build tension around the pure image of an icon.

Behind the Scenes of Jungle Raiders (1985)

When you think of Lee Van Cleef, your mind probably goes straight to the high-noon sun of the Wild West. You see the squint, the pipe, and that sharp-as-a-razor profile that defined the Spaghetti Western genre.

But in 1985, toward the sunset of his incredible career, the "Angel Eyes" of cinema traded his spurs for a pith helmet and headed into the humid jungles of Southeast Asia for Jungle Raiders (originally titled La leggenda del rubino del destino). Today, we’re peeling back the vines to look at the behind-the-scenes world of this cult adventure flick and how its legendary star handled the heat.

The Pivot to Adventure

By the mid-80s, "Indiana Jones" fever was sweeping the globe. Italian producers, ever the masters of capitalizing on trends, shifted their focus from desert shootouts to jungle expeditions.

Jungle Raiders was directed by Antonio Margheriti (often credited as Anthony M. Dawson), a man known for making a dime look like a dollar on screen. Margheriti and Van Cleef were old friends and collaborators, which is exactly why the veteran actor agreed to fly out to the Philippines for a grueling shoot.

Due to heat, the cast frequently had to dry off between takes. Van Cleef, often seen in a suit or heavy safari gear, rarely complained, though he was often spotted retreating to the shade with a cold drink the second the camera stopped rolling.

Like many Italian productions of the time, the crew was a mix of Italians, locals, and Americans. Much of the film was shot silent or "mos" and dubbed later, which allowed the actors to focus on the physicality of the scenes.

To save money, many of the "ancient traps" were built on a tiny scale. Van Cleef would often be filmed looking into the distance at a model that was actually only two feet away from his face.

Lee Van Cleef: The Professional in the Philippines

On set, the atmosphere was a far cry from the air-conditioned trailers of Hollywood. Here’s how Van Cleef left his mark:

• The Veteran Presence: At 60 years old, Lee Van Cleef was the elder statesman on set. While younger cast members struggled with the humidity, crew members noted that Van Cleef remained a consummate professional, treating the low-budget production with the same gravity as a Leone masterpiece.
  
  
• A Different Kind of Hero: In Jungle Raiders, Van Cleef plays Inspector Warren. While he wasn't doing the heavy-duty stunts anymore, his screen presence was so commanding that he didn't need to. He brought a sense of "Old World" gravitas to a film that was essentially a campy romp.
  
  
• Working with Margheriti: The shorthand between Lee and Antonio was legendary. Behind the scenes, Van Cleef often expressed admiration for how the director could create massive explosions and crumbling temples using little more than plywood and clever camera angles.

While Jungle Raiders didn't win any Oscars, it remains a fascinating snapshot of a Hollywood icon’s late-stage career.