Intrada Records has released an expanded edition of Bill Conti’s score for Rocky II (1979).

Timed to coincide with Conti’s 84th birthday, the CD presents a nearly 42-minute expanded programme – significantly more material than the original 1979 LP – followed by a bonus track and the original album. Several cues not used in the final film appear here for the first time.

The release was not straightforward. As album producer Neil S. Bulk explains in the liner notes: “Extensive searches for the score in the MGM vaults only turned up two ¼″ reels.” Those tapes were in stereo and contained the majority of the score – including unused cues. Liner notes are by Daniel Schweiger.

Rocky II is an underappreciated entry in the Rocky score canon. Conti wrote considerably more music for it than for the original – broader orchestrations, more variety – and this expanded release finally gives that work the space it deserves.

Available now to order from Intrada. You can listen to sample tracks on the Intrada site before you order.