RSO – Robin Johnson

TIMES SQUARE Original Soundtrack cassette, US edition

Sean — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 03:56:35 +0000

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Yes, there already is a cassette copy of the soundtrack represented here, but it’s the Canadian edition. Somehow I’ve managed to neglect to upload any of the other cassettes I’ve glommed onto, so here is a first step to rectifying that.

I also don’t know why it was that the US edition was the second one I found. There seem to be, or at least for a good long while there seemed to be, a lot of Canadian cassettes around compared to US ones.

The US edition, though, is far more elaborate than the Canadian one, which looks in comparison like a budget release. While it doesn’t reproduce any of the LP’s inside gatefold artwork or the back cover, it does have all the liner notes — so much text that it required both sides of the insert.

This specific copy sure seems to have been well-used. It makes me sad nowadays to contemplate the reasons why an item like this that obviously meant something to its owner ended up in the wild to find its way to me as a curio.

Música Original de la Película TIMES SQUARE (soundtrack album, Mexican edition, 1981)

Sean — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 16:12:00 +0000

This is the last version of the soundtrack album I have, and the one in the worst condition. I’ve seen one or two other copies and they were as beat up as this one is. They might have had their spines intact, where this one’s is completely worn away (which is why I have no picture of it), but that didn’t seem enough to justify buying another copy. This one also didn’t have the paper picture sleeves. I don’t know if they were issued with the Mexican edition or not.

The most interesting thing about this edition is that all the text is in Spanish.

All the other editions of the soundtrack seem to have been issued simultaneously in 1980, but this one is dated 1981. It also has a unique version of the cover art: where the US edition has the familiar face of Tim Curry as Johnny LaGuardia on Nicky’s badge, and the Canadian, French, and Peruvian editions had a blank red spot, and the UK edition had nothing at all, the Mexican version has a painted red blank badge, imitating the paint-smeared style of the rest of the cover.

The Peruvian edition had some of the song titles in Spanish on its labels, and interestingly, they’re not all identical to the titles here. For instance, “Help Me!” in Peru is “Ayúdenme,” and in Mexico it’s “Ayudame.” “Babylon’s Burning” in Peru is “El incendio de Babylon,” and in Mexico, “Babilonia se quema.” I suppose it shouldn’t be surprising that Mexican Spanish and Peruvian Spanish are different, but as a speaker of neither it’s fascinating to see evidence.

[FRONT:]

Música Original de la Película
TIMES
SQUARE
Una Producción de ROBERT STIGWOOD
LPR 16370 A2 ESTEREO
Presentando música de:
SUZI QUATRQ, THE PRETENDERS, R0XY MUSIC,
GARY NUMAN, MARCY LEVY & ROBIN GIBB, TALKING HEADS, JOE JACKSON,
XTC, THE RAMONES, ROBIN JOHNSON & TRINI ALVARADO,
THE RUTS, D.L. BYRON. LOU REED, DESMOND CHILD &, ROUGE,
GARLAND JEFFREYS, THE CURE, PATTT SMITH GROUP, DAVID JOHANSEN.

[GATEFOLD:]

Producido por ROBERT STIGWOOD AND JAC0B BRACKMAN Dirigido por ALAN MOYLE Distribuido por EMI
ROBERT STIGWOOD Presenta “TIMES SQUARE” Protagonistas TIM CURRY TRINI ALVARADO y presentando a ROBIN JOHNSON como Nicky Con PETER COFFIELD HERBERT BERGHOF DAVID MARGULIES
ANNA MARIA HORSFORD Vestuario ROBERT deMORA Escenografía STUART WURTZEL
Una historia de ALAN MOYLE AND LEANNE UNGER
Guion JACOB BRACKMAN
Edicion TOM PRIESTLEY
Productores Ejecutivos KEVIN McCORMICK JOHN NICOLELLA
Productor Asociado BILL OAKES
Director de Fotografía JAMES A. CONTNER

[BACK:]

LPR 16370 A2 ESTEREO
1 MCR 91010

Disco 1 Lado 1
“ROCK HARD” – SUZI QUATRO
ROCK PESADO 3:18 PRODUCIDO POR MIKE CHAPMAN
M. Chapman/N. Chinn (Chinnicap Publishing, Inc
Admin. in the U.S.A. & Canada by Careers Music, Inc.)
Cortesia de Dreamland Records, Inc. ℗ 1980 Dreamland Records. Inc.
“TALK OF THE TOWN”
– THE PRETENDERS
HABLA DEL PUEBLO 3:16 PRODUCIDO POR CHRIS THOMAS
C. Hynde (Al Gallico Music Corp.)
Cortesia de Sire Records, Inc./Real Records ℗ 1980 REAL RECORDS
“SAME OLD SCENE” – ROXY MUSIC
LA MISMA EXCENA 3:54 PRODUCIDO POR ROXY MUSIC Y RHETT DAVIES
B. Ferry (E. G. Music, Inc.)
Cortesia de E.G. Records, Ltd./Atlantic Recording Corp./Polydor
International ℗ 1980 Atlantic Recording Corporation
“DOWN IN THE PARK” – GARY NUMAN
EN EL PARQUE 4:20 PRODUCIDO POR GARY NUMAN
G. Numan (Geoff & Eddie Music, Inc. and Blackwood Music Inc)
Cortesia de Wea Records, Ltd.?Beggars Banquet Limited
℗1979 A. Beggars Banquet Recording
“HELP ME!”
– MARCY LEVY & ROBIN GIBB
AYUDAME 3:37 PRODUCIDO POR ROBIN GIBB AND BLUE WEAVER
R. Gibb/B. Weaver (Stigwood Music, Inc. (Unichappell Music, Admin.)
℗1980 Yam, Inc.

Lado 2
“LIFE DURING WARTIME”
– TALKING HEADS
LA VIDA DURANTE LA GUERRA 3:40 PRODUCIDO POR BRIAN ENO Y TALKING HEADS
D. Byrne (Index Music/Bleu Disque Music Co. Inc.)
Cortesia de Sire Records, Inc./Real Records ℗ 1979 Sire Records Company
“PRETTY BOYS” – JOE JACKSON
CHICOS GUAPOS 3:21 PRODUCIDO JOE JACKSON
J. Jackson (Albion Music, Ltd. (Admin by Almo Music Corp. in
the U.S. & Canada) Cortesia de A. & M. Records, Inc.
℗1980 Multiplier N. V.
“TAKE THIS TOWN” – XTC
TOMEN ESTE PUEBLO 4:07 PRODUCICO POR STEVE LILLYWHITE
A. Partridge (Nymph Music (Unichappell Music, Admin.)
Cortesia de Virgin Records, Ltd. ℗1980 Virgin Records, Ltd.
“I WANNA BE SEDATED” – THE RAMONES
QUIERO ESTAR TRANQUILO 2:229 PRODUCIDO POR T. ERDELYI Y ED STASIUM
The ramones (Bleu Disque Music Co. Inc./Taco Tunes, Inc.)
Cortesia de Sire Records, Inc./Real Records ℗1979 SIre Records, Inc.
“DAMN DOG” – ROBIN JOHNSON
PERRO MALDITO 2:40 PRODUCIDO POR BILL OAKES
INGENIERO: THOM PANUNZIO – B. Mernit/J. Brackman
(Stigwood Music, Inc. (Unichappell Music, Admin)
℗1980 Multiplier N.V.

Disco 2 Lado 1
“YOUR DAUGHTER IS ONE”
– ROBIN JOHNSON & TRINI ALVARADO
TU HIJA ES UNICA 2:10 PRODUCIDO POR BILL OAKES
INGENIERO: JOHN PACE – B. Mernit/N. Ross/S. Brackman
(Stigwood Music, Inc. (Unichappell Music, Admin)
℗1980 Multiplier N.V.
“BABYLON’S BURNING” – THE RUTS
BABILONIA SE QUEMA 2:34 ARREGLOS Y PRODUCCION DE MICK GLOSSOP
J. Jennings/D. Ruffy/M. Owen/P. Fox (Nymph Music (Unichappel
Music, Admin.) Cortesia de Virgin Records, Ltd. P 1979 Virgin Records, Ltd.
“YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE” – D.L. BYRON
NO PUEDES APRESURAR EL AMOR 3:04 PRODUCIDO POR JIMMY IOVINE CON JON SMALL
E. Holland/L. Dozier/B. Holland (Stone Agate Music Division)
Cortesia de Arista Records, Inc. ℗1980 Arista Records, Inc.
“WALK ON THE WILD SIDE”
– LOU REED
VE POR EL CAMINO DIFICIL 4:12 PRODUCIDO POR DAVID BOWIE Y MICK RONSON
L. Reed (Oakfield Avenue Music, Ltd.)
Cortesia de RCA Records ℗1972 RCA Records
“THE NIGHT WAS NOT”
– DESMOND CHILD & ROUGE
NO FUE EN LA NOCHE 3:08 PRODUCIDO POR RICHARD LANDIS Y D.C. ASSOCIATE PRODUCTIONS
D. Child (Desmobile Music Co.)
Cortesia de Capitol records, Inc. ℗1979 Capitol Records, Inc.

Lado 2
“INNOCENT, NOT GUILTY”
– GARLAND JEFFREYS
INOCENTE, NO CULPABALE 2:13 PRODUCIDO POR GARLAND JEFFREYS Y BILL OAKES
INGENIERO: JOHN PACE – G. Jeffreys (Garland Jeffreys Music
℗1980 Multiplier N.V.
“GRINDING HALT”
– THE CURE
DETENTE 2:49 PRODUCIDO POR CHRIS PARRY
L. Tolhurst/M. Dempsey/R. Smith (APB Music Co. Ltd.)
Cortesia de Fiction Records/Polydor Ltd./Jem Records
℗1979 Fiction Records
“PISSING IN THE RIVER”
PATTI SMITH GROUP
EN EL RIO 4:41 PRODUCIDO POR JACK DOUGLAS
P. Smith/ I. Kral (Linda’s Music Corp.)
Cortesia de Arits Records, Inc. ℗1976 Arista Records, INc.
“FLOWERS IN THE CITY”
– DAVID JOHANSEN & ROBIN JOHNSON
FLORES EN LA CIUDAD 3:58 PRODUCIDO POR DAVID JOHANSEN
INGENIERO: HARVEY GOLDGERG – D. Johansen/R. Guy
(Buster Poindexter, Inc. and Purple Man Publishing.)
Cortesia de Blue Sky Records, Inc./CBS Records ℗1980 Blue Sky Records, Inc.
“DAMN DOG” — ROBIN JOHNSON
(Reprise – The Cleo Club)
PERRO MALDITO 2:40 PRODUCIDO POR BILL OAKES
B. Mernit/J. Brackman (Stigwood Music, Inc. (Unichappell Music, Admin.)
℗1980 Multiplier N.V.

Productor Ejecutivo de Album: Bill Oakes

RSO

MUY IMPORTANTE
Este fonograma es una obra intelectual protegida en favor de su productor
℗ 1981 POLYGRAM RECORD ORGANIZATION Derechos protegidos
La titularidad de los derechos contenidos en el fonograma se encuentra reconocida
e inscrita en el Registro Público del Derecho de Autor
Dirección General del Derecho de Autor – Secreteria de Educación Pública
SE PROHIBE SU COPIA O REPRODUCCION PARCIAL O TOTAL
La violacion de esta prohibición esta penada conforme a los Articulos
386 del Codico Penal y 135 y 136 de la Ley Federal sobre el Derecho de Autor, vigentes

2658 145

℗ 1981 HECHO EN MEXICO / DISTRIBUIDO POR
POlYGram DISCOS, S. A. se C. V.

MIEMBRO ACTIVO DE amprofon.
(Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas, A. C.)

[SIDE 1:]

HECHO EN MEXICO
DISTRIBUIDO POR POLYDOR, S.A.
MARCA REGISTRADA
RESERVADOS TODOS LOS
DERECHOS DEL PRODUCTOR FONOGRAFICO Y DE LA OBRA
PROHIBIDA SU EJECUCION PUBLICA CON FINES DE LUCRO

RSO

16370/A2
2658 145
2479 264

1
DISCO 1

℗ 1980

MUSCIA ORIGINAL DE LA PELICULA
“TIMES SQUARE”
Productor Ejecutivo: BILL OAKES

1. ROCK PESADO (Hard rock) 3:18
-M. Chapman-N. Chinn- *SUZI QUATRO*

2. HABLA DEL PUEBLO (Talk of the town) 3:16
-C. Hynde- *THE PRETENDERS*

3. LA MISMA ESCENA (Same old scene) 3:54
-B. Ferry- *ROXY MUSIC*

4. EN EL PARQUE (Down in the park) 4:20
-G. Numan- *GARY NUMAN*

5. AYUDAME (Help me!) 3:37
-R. Gibb-B. Weaver- *MARCY LEVY Y ROBIN GIBB*

[SIDE 2:]

HECHO EN MEXICO
DISTRIBUIDO POR POLYDOR, S.A.
MARCA REGISTRADA
RESERVADOS TODOS LOS
DERECHOS DEL PRODUCTOR FONOGRAFICO Y DE LA OBRA
PROHIBIDA SU EJECUCION PUBLICA CON FINES DE LUCRO

RSO

16370/2A
2658 145
2479 264

2
DISCO 1

℗ 1980

MUSCIA ORIGINAL DE LA PELICULA
“TIMES SQUARE”
Productor Ejecutivo: BILL OAKES

1. LA VIDA DURANTE LA GUERRA (Life during wartime) 3:40
-D. Byrne- *TALKING HEADS*

2. CHICOS GUAPOS (Pretty boys) 3:21
-J. Jackson- *JOE JACKSON*

3. TOMEN ESTE PUEBLO (Take this town) 4:07
-A. Partridge- *XTC*

4. QUIERO ESTAR TRANQUILO (I wanna be sedated) 2:29
-The Ramones- *THE RAMONES*

5. PERRO MALDITO (Damn dog) 2:40
-B. Mernit-J. Brackman- *ROBIN JOHNSON*

[SIDE 3:]

HECHO EN MEXICO
DISTRIBUIDO POR POLYDOR, S.A.
MARCA REGISTRADA
RESERVADOS TODOS LOS
DERECHOS DEL PRODUCTOR FONOGRAFICO Y DE LA OBRA
PROHIBIDA SU EJECUCION PUBLICA CON FINES DE LUCRO

RSO

16370/A2
2658 145
2479 264

1
DISCO 2

℗ 1980

MUSCIA ORIGINAL DE LA PELICULA
“TIMES SQUARE”
Productor Ejecutivo: BILL OAKES

1. TU HIJA ES UNICA (Your daughter is one) 2:10
-B. Mernit-N. Ross-J. Brackman- *ROBIN JOHNSON AND TRINI ALVARADO*

2. BABILONIA SE QUEMA (Babylon’s burning) 2:34
-J. Jennings-D. Ruffy-M. Owen-P. Fox- *THE RUTS*

3. NO PUEDES APRESURAR EL AMOR (You can’t hurry love) 3:04
-E. Holland-L. Dozier-B. Holland- *D.L. BYRON*

4. VE POR EL CAMINO DIFICIL (Walk on the wild side) 4:12
-L. Reed- *LOU REED*

5. NO FUE EN LA NOCHE (The night was not) 3:08
-D. Child- *DESMOND CHILD AND ROUGE*

[SIDE 4:]

HECHO EN MEXICO
DISTRIBUIDO POR POLYDOR, S.A.
MARCA REGISTRADA
RESERVADOS TODOS LOS
DERECHOS DEL PRODUCTOR FONOGRAFICO Y DE LA OBRA
PROHIBIDA SU EJECUCION PUBLICA CON FINES DE LUCRO

RSO

16370/2A
2658 145
2479 264

2
DISCO 2

℗ 1980

MUSCIA ORIGINAL DE LA PELICULA
“TIMES SQUARE”
Productor Ejecutivo: BILL OAKES

1. INOCENTE, NO CULPABLE (Innocent, not guilty) 2:13
-G. Jeffreys- *GARLAND JEFFREYS*

2. DENTENTE (Grinding halt) 2:49
-L. Tolhurst-M. Dempsey-R. Smith- *THE CURE*

3. EN EL RIO (Pissing in the river) 4:41
-P. Smith-I. Kral- *PATTI SMITH GROUP*

4. FLORES DE LA CIUDAD (Flowers in the city) 3:58
-D. Johansen-R. Guy- *DAVID JOHANSEN Y ROBIN JOHNSON*

5. PERRO MALDITO (Reprise-The Cleo Club) (Damn dog) 2:40
-B. Mernit-J. Brackman- *ROBIN JOHNSON*

Other editions of the soundtrack:

US
Canada
UK
France
Peru
Cassette (Canada)
8-track (US)

Música Original de la Película TIMES SQUARE, RSO LPR 16370 A2; Mexico, 1981; 2 long-playing records (AAT 300265802) with gatefold picture sleeve (AAT 300266823)(work);

Record World, Vol. 37 No. 1729, September 13, 1980

Sean — Tue, 01 May 2018 16:45:38 +0000

Most of the “new” items that turn up now are variations of things we’ve already seen. This Times Square soundtrack ad is identical to the ones shown here, but unlike those two it’s still attached to the magazine it was published in. It’s page 126, the back cover, of Record World Vol. 37 No. 1729 from September 13, 1980, a recording industry trade publication, which also has an announcement of the soundtrack on the front cover…

… and coverage of the soundtrack’s announcement at 1980’s RSO Convention, featuring an appearance by Suzi Quatro.

The most intriguing thing in the article, however, is this:

A forty-minute video presentation highlighting key scenes and music from the motion picture was shown.

There was a promotional video nearly half the length of the entire film!

This was published a month before the movie’s premiere, and only says the event happened “recently.” The five-and-a-half minute in-store soundtrack promo video contains many brief tantalizing clips of footage not in the movie… who knows what lost footage might have appeared in the RSO Convention promo video!

“Hits of the Week -Albums – “TIMES SQUARE” (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).” (article, AAT ID: 300048715)
“‘Times Square,’ ‘Shogun’ Soundtracks Previewed at RSO National Convention” (article, AAT ID: 300048715)
[Just released – the original soundtrack from the motion picture Times Square] (advertisement, AAT ID: 300193993)
Record World, Vol. 37, No. 1729, September 13, 1980, pp. 1, 9, 118, 126 (magazine (periodical), AAT ID: 300215389)
32.4 x 24.3 cm., 126 pp (work);
Record World Vol 37 No 1729 p126_back cover manual 2_1080px.jpg
1080 px (H) x 809 px (W), 96 dpi, 656 kb
Record World Vol 37 No 1729 p1_1080px.jpg
1080 px (H) x 808 px (W), 96 dpi, 217 kb
Record World Vol 37 No 1729 p1_detail_800px.jpg
348 px (H) x 800 px (W), 96 dpi, 401 kb
Record World Vol 37 No 1729 p9_1080px.jpg
1080 px (H) x 796 px (W), 96 dpi, 594 kb
Record World Vol 37 No 1729 p118_1080px.jpg
1080 px (H) x 784 px (W), 96 dpi, 563 kb
Record World Vol 37 No 1729 p9_detail_800px.jpg
800 px (H) x 596 px (W), 96 dpi, 401 kb
Record World Vol 37 No 1729 p118_detail_800px.jpg
800 px (H) x 761 px (W), 96 dpi, 409 kb (images)

I Wanna Be Sedated

Sean — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 15:26:40 +0000

I made another exception to my vow not to collect any more soundtrack-related items, because this one has a picture of Robin on it.

It’s the UK version of the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” single as released by RSO as a Times Square soundtrack tie-in. I might have bought it anyway, just for the fantastic illustration on the front of the picture sleeve. Luckily for me, the back of the sleeve reproduces the soundtrack album cover, so it’s a legitimate Robin Johnson collectible as well as a Ramones collectible.

The cover reproduced seems to be, however, a variant I don’t have anywhere else, where Nicky’s lapel button, which usually bears a picture of Johnny LaGuardia, is blank red, but not the featureless red of the Canadian version. This one has a light reflection painted along its upper rim, like the one that appears on the versions with Johnny on it, except no Johnny. It’s like an intermediate version that hasn’t been finished. I still don’t understand why there are so many different variant covers, all centered around what if anything is pinned to Nicky’s lapel.

“I Wanna Be Sedated” had been taken from 1978’s Road to Ruin. The b-side of the single, “The Return of Jackie and Judy,” was taken from the Ramones’ current album at the time, End of the Century, and wouldn’t have been entirely out of place itself in the movie’s soundtrack.

I’ve previously made mention of the Spanish release of this single, of which I have a photo but not the actual item.

Ramones “I Wanna Be Sedated” b/w “The Return of Jackie and Judy”, 45 rpm record (AAT ID: 300265800) with picture sleeve (AAT ID: 300266823), England, 1980. RSO 70 (2090 512) ℗1978 Sire Records Inc. ℗1980 Sire Records Inc. © 1980 RSO Records Ltd (work)
Ramones_I_Wanna_Be_Sedated_45_1980_RSO_70_sleeve_front_1080px.jpg, Ramones_I_Wanna_Be_Sedated_45_1980_RSO_70_sleeve_back_1080px.jpg, Ramones_I_Wanna_Be_Sedated_45_1980_RSO_70_side_a_1080px.jpg, Ramones_I_Wanna_Be_Sedated_45_1980_RSO_70_side_b_1080px.jpg (images)

Bande Originale du Film Times Square (soundtrack album, French edition)

Sean — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 15:28:29 +0000

I made another exception to my decision not to collect any more copies of the soundtrack when I saw the bright red labels on this French edition. Sadly we don’t get all the text in French as well.

It’s pretty much identical to the Canadian version, with the blank red spot in place of Nicky’s Johnny LaGuardia pin on the front, and the copyrights on the back, and throughout, attributed to Multiplier N.V.

The inner sleeves are no longer identical: they’re now labelled Disque 1 and Disque 2 with their catalog numbers, even though the complete track listing for all four sides is on both of them. The printing information “Montreuil Offset / « Imprimé et Fabriqué en France »” is new. And the line “Mastered at STERLING SOUND by George Marino” is back. (If there’s a huge outcry I’ll post the Disque 2 sleeve, but it seems a waste of space since they’re otherwise identical.)

These red labels were what got my attention, and at least we get the album title in French. Otherwise, though, it’s the same as all the other variant editions, and the music is of course unchanged.

Seeing this cover version with the great red spot again made me think, though — the spot is 2½ inches across. The Australian sticker is about 2¼ inches across. Is it possible that the stickers weren’t just a promotional product, but were meant to be pasted over the spot on the Australian edition? Seems logical. But, I’ve never seen an Australian copy so I don’t know if they have a red spot, or a sticker stuck there, or what. I do know that logic has precious little to do with any aspect of Times Square.

Bande originale du film Times Square, RSO 2658 145; France, 1980; 2 long-playing records (AAT 300265802) with gatefold picture sleeve (AAT 300266823) and illustrated inner sleeves (work);

©1980 Multiplier N.V.

TIMES SQUARE IS MUSIC OF THE STREETS

Sean — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 15:17:34 +0000

WHAT: A yellow-orange, red, and black sticker, 2¼ inches in diameter, with text reading “Times Square is music of the streets.”

WHERE: Australia. The tag line on the Australian posters was “Times Square is the music of the streets.” The sticker omits the first “the.” Also, where the phrase is in a graffiti-like style on the poster, the sticker uses the distressed typewriter font on black strips from the soundtrack album. The orange and red background also replicates the design of the album cover. This would appear to be a crossover promotional item linking the soundtrack to the film in Australia.

WHEN: Presumably early 1981.

WHO: If it’s pushing the soundtrack, RSO. The sticker itself doesn’t say.

WHY: God only knows.

Times Square is music of the streets
Australia : sticker : AAT ID: 300027221 : 2.25 in. diam. : 1981 (work);
Times_Square Australian Daybill 1981_1080px.jpg
1080 x 1072 px, 96 dpi, 659 kb (image)

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

Screen International No. 276, January 24-31, 1981

Sean — Thu, 18 May 2017 14:54:45 +0000

The number one film in mid-January 1981 London was, unsurprisingly, Flash Gordon, which had already been open for six weeks to Times Square’s one. Times Square debuted at number seven and was falling fast, but its “tepid” performance hadn’t yet doomed it to closure when this issue of Screen International came out.

The film still merited a mention in the issue’s big article on the use of pop music in motion pictures, wherein we’re informed that The Clash refused to sully themselves by letting their art be exploited for Hollywood’s bourgeois commercial gain by allowing one of their songs to be used in Times Square. The issues and ironies involving the concept of exploitation in Times Square, both within the film itself and as a (failed) commercial property, deserve an essay to themselves, which you’re not going to get from me anytime soon, sorry.

But the best thing about this issue of Screen International is page 23, which is covered in photos of Robin schmoozing with British film critics. The film hadn’t completely tanked, but as we’ve seen previously RSO had already realized that the one thing the movie had going for it (aside from the soundtrack) was Robin, so they sent her overseas to promote it.

Robin: a new star in Times Square’

ROBIN JOHNSON, the screen’s latest teenage sensation, arrived in Britain last week to publicise the London opening of EMI’s “Times Square” in which she plays a rebellious girl who lives off her wits on the harsh New York streets.

Robin, accompanied by her mother, Ida, and representatives of The Robert Stigwood Group, the film’s producers, attended a special luncheon where she met and charmed the national critics as well as taking part in interviews for radio and TV.

After a weekend of sightseeing the party left London for a promotional tour to attend special preview screenings, followed by more interviews, in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle and Leeds.

Her abrasive performance in the film, which also stars Trini Alvarado and Tim Curry, has earned Robin acclaim from the critics, “The New Standard” describing her as “a real discovery”.

“Times Square” is released in the UK by Columbia-EMI-Warner Distributors. Photos: PIC

As I’ve mentioned before, Times Square came out at the dawn of the home video recording revolution. As far as I know, none of the radio and television appearances mentioned in the article have survived. (If you have a recording of any of them PLEASE let me know.)

This previous post occurred well after this, that interview taking place at the end of her promotional tour, but this page is more impressive what with all the photos of Robin. Unfortunately the newspaper-style printing leaves a lot to be desired, and reproducing them on a computer screen only highlights their limitations.

And finally, returning to the theme of exploitation, the very bottom of the page carries the abbreviation “Advt.” It’s not a real article at all, but an ad placed by RSO, selling Robin. Odds are this was and probably still is a common practice, but it’s still another layer of exploitation, and irony, considering how RSO handled the next stage of her career. But we’re not there yet…

Screen International, No. 276, January 24-31, 1981 (magazine (periodical), AAT ID: 300215389) ; 38 x 29 cm; (contains:)
Chris Brown, “London box office: Old, familiar favorites” (article, AAT ID: 300048715) ; p.2
Nick Robertshaw, “Record companies – is the time ripe for pop with pictures?” (article, AAT ID: 300048715) ; pp. 16-17
“Robin: a new star in ‘Times Square'” (advertisement, AAT ID: 300193993) ; PIC, photography ; p. 23 (works)

Screen_International_No_276_Jan_24-31_1981_p_1_1080px.jpg (cover)
1080 x 823 px, 96 dpi, 541 kb
Screen International;No 276 Jan 24-31 1981 p2_layers_1080px.jpg (p. 2)
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Screen International;No 276 Jan 24-31 1981 p2_text_800px.jpg (detail p. 2)
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Screen International;No 276 Jan 24-31 1981 p2_box office_1080px.jpg (detail p. 2)
301 x 1080 px, 96 dpi, 95.5 kb
Screen_International_No_276_Jan_24-31_1981_pp_16-17_1080px.jpg (pp. 16-17)
725 x 1080 px, 96 dpi, 419 kb
Screen_International_No_276_Jan_24-31_1981_pp_16_detail_800px.jpg (detail p. 16)
442 x 800 px, 96 dpi, 156 kb
Screen_International_No_276_Jan_24-31_1981_pp_23_1080px.jpg (p. 23)
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Screen_International_No_276_Jan_24-31_1981_pp_23_detail_1a_1048px.jpg (detail p. 23)
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Screen_International_No_276_Jan_24-31_1981_pp_23_detail_2_1024px.jpg (detail p. 23)
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Screen_International_No_276_Jan_24-31_1981_pp_23_detail_3_1048px.jpg (detail p. 23)
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Screen_International_No_276_Jan_24-31_1981_pp_23_detail_4_1048px.jpg (detail p. 23)
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Screen_International_No_276_Jan_24-31_1981_pp_23_detail_5_1048px.jpg (detail p. 23)
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Screen_International_No_276_Jan_24-31_1981_pp_23_detail_6_1048px.jpg (detail p. 23)
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Musica Original de la Pelicula “Times Square”

Sean — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:21:33 +0000

I should have posted this along with the other versions of the soundtrack album I have, but I somehow had it in my head that it was released in 1981. It wasn’t; all the international editions of the soundtrack were released in 1980, with only one exception I know of, and this isn’t it.

This is the Peruvian edition, and cover-wise it’s essentially identical to the Canadian edition, with a blank red spot in place of Tim Curry, and Tim in his rightful place in the center square in the gatefold.

I stopped collecting variants of the soundtrack album once I realized just how much space they would take up for dozens of items that were all pretty much the same. I’ll only pick one up if it has some substantial difference (and is cheap enough), and the title in Spanish on the spine and the Spanish translations of the song titles on the record labels did it for me.

My copy doesn’t have the blue paper inner sleeves with the photos of Nicky and Pammy and the extended song publication information. I don’t know if that’s how it was originally issued or if some previous owner lost them along the way. This may also be different because it’s a white-labeled promotional record. Prohibida su venta.

For comparison, here are the American and the UK editions.

Times Square – Musica Original de la Pelicula, A25 – RSO 2658145.3; Peru, 1980; 2 long-playing records (AAT 300265802) with gatefold picture sleeve (AAT 300266823);

©1980 Butterfly Valley NV

Record Mirror, 1980

Sean — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 15:27:56 +0000

No, not the magazine Record Mirror. This was a promotional item given by an RSO music rep to the music director of WLKI in Angola, Indiana, along with 25 copies of the soundtrack album to give away as contest prizes. It was on display as part of his enormous album collection for over 35 years. (No, he didn’t die! Just decided to whittle his collection down a bit.)

It is indeed a mirror, about license-plate size, with “TIMES SQUARE | RSO | ©1980 BUTTERFLY VALLEY NV” screen printed on it. The frame is plastic (and slightly warped), and the backing is corrugated cardboard; it is just a promotional freebie, after all. There must have been hundreds of these given out. There were also t-shirts and buttons made; the buttons turn up every so often, the t-shirts less so (and always in “small”), but before finding this I had no idea the mirrors existed.

It isn’t easy to scan or photograph a mirror.

[Times Square soundtrack album promotional mirror]
promotional material : AAT ID: 300249572 : 20.5 x 26.8 cm. : 1980 (work);
Times_Square_1980 Promotional Mirror_layers_1080px.jpg
863 x 1080 px, 96 dpi, 491 kb
Times_Square_1980 Promotional Mirror_2_1080px.jpg
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©1980 Butterfly Valley, N.V.
Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

Times Square UK Press Kit (post 1 of 4)

Sean — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 14:31:13 +0000

TIMES SQUARE UK Press Kit folder, front

TIMES SQUARE UK Press Kit folder, inside

The UK Press Kit is an even nicer package than its US counterpart, with its own logo featuring Nicky atop the theater marquee. Inside the big white folder is a smaller silver folder that holds the materials. (The reflective silver didn’t scan very well, I did what I could.) It almost certainly was produced during the summer or autumn of 1980, before the US opening of the movie.

The materials inside, unfortunately… I am not entirely confident that what I have is a complete press kit. There are two sets of mostly-but-not-quite-identical text pages, one on A4 size paper with a more elaborate letterhead than the US pages, and one on 8½ x 11 inch paper with no logos at all. And the A4 pages include a list of the photographs in the kit, but that list doesn’t quite match up with the photos I have. I have four copies of the US press kit so I have a pretty good idea of what was supposed to be in it; this is only UK press kit I’ve ever seen, and I have a few doubts.

Nevertheless, it still has some neat stuff in it. We’ll start having a look at it next time.

EMI FILMS presents A ROBERT STIGWOOD Production TIMES SQUARE
outer folder: 22.2 cm (W) x 31.7 cm (H)
inner folder: 22.2 cm (W) x 28.8 cm (H) (work);
inner folder contains: 11 information packets on A4 paper on “Times Square” letterhead, totalling 21 21 cm (W) x 29.7 cm (H) pages: ROBIN JOHNSON (Nicky Marotta) (2 pp.), TRINI ALVARADO (Pamela Pearl) (2 pp.), TIM CURRY (Johnny La Guardia) (2 pp.), ROBERT STIGWOOD (Producer) (4 pp.), ALLAN MOYLE (Director) (2 pp.), JACOB BRACKMAN (Producer and Screenwriter) (1 p.), BILL OAKES (Associate Producer) (1 p.), KEVIN McCORMICK (Exectutive Producer) (1 p.), JOHN NICOLLELLA (Executive Producer) (1 p.), “TIMES SQUARE” STAR ROBIN JOHNSON IS A NATURAL (3 pp.), TRINI ALVARADO – A SHOWBUSINESS “PRO” AT 13 (2 pp.); 12 information packets on 8 1/2 x 11 paper without letterhead, totalling 21 21.6 cm (W) x 27.9 cm (H) pages: TIMES SQUARE: Production Notes (4 pp.), ROBIN JOHNSON (Nicky Marotta) (1 p.), TRINI ALVARADO (Pamela Pearl) (1 p.), TIM CURRY (Johnny LaGuardia) (1 p.), ROBERT STIGWOOD (Producer) (3 pp.), ALLAN MOYLE (Director) (1 p.), JACOB BRACKMAN (Producer and Screenwriter) (1 p.), BILL OAKES (Associate Producer) (1 p.), KEVIN McCORMICK (Exectutive Producer) (1 p.), JOHN NICOLLELLA (Executive Producer) (1 p.), “TIMES SQUARE” STAR ROBIN JOHNSON IS A NATURAL (4 pp.), TRINI ALVARADO – A SHOWBUSINESS “PRO” AT 13 (2 pp.); 1 sheet of photo captions on A4 paper without letterhead; 11 black and white photographs, 23 cm x 25.5 cm
1980
1980 TIMES SQUARE UK Press Kit folder cover – 0043_1080px.jpg, 1980 TIMES SQUARE UK Press Kit folder inside_stitch_1080px.jpg, 1980 TIMES SQUARE UK Press Kit folder flap – 0045_1080px.jpg, 1980 TIMES SQUARE UK Press Kit folder back – 0044_1080px.jpg, 1980 TIMES SQUARE UK Press Kit inner folder outside_1080px.jpg, 1980 TIMES SQUARE UK Press Kit inner folder inside_1080px.jpg (images)

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+