Banjo-Kazooie by Grant Kirkhope
Banjo-Kazooie pressed on “Banjo Brown” & “Kazooie Red” vinyl by iam8bit
Eeee heee heee heee heee!
Witch's Lair
Grab your honeycombs and gather around the cauldron! This week we are taking a look at the ever-nostalgic Banjo Kazooie by Grant Kirkhope. A soundtrack born during the height of the 64-bit era, the adventures of this furry bear and squawking bird lives forever in our hearts. Now immortalized on vinyl, the bubbly and fantastic musical score is brought to us by iam8bit. Pressed on “Banjo Brown” & “Kazooie Red”, this soundtrack is synonymous with kicking off the modern era of video game music on vinyl. With iam8bit's lineup of original Rare titles (Battletoads, Banjo-Kazooie, & Perfect Dark), this release’s unique art allowed it to stand out amongst the pack.
Mad Monster Mansion
Grant Kirkhope is an acclaimed video game music composer; his work on with Rare on Banjo Kazooie helped solidify him as a legendary amongst his peers. From all of his superior work with Rare, up to most recent works such as “Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle”, Mr. Kirkhope has proven time and time again that he is the master of whimsical charm and playful orchestrations that tug at the heartstrings of young and old alike.
Top of the Lair
This release from iam8bit was one of the first video game music vinyl releases I ever picked up and holds a special place in my heart. Gifting this to my now fiancée for Christmas and seeing her face light up is something that I wouldn’t trade the whole world for. That nostalgic wave that washes over the face of anyone who experiences such joy is the sole reason why this sect of the vinyl industry will stand the test of time, much like the games they represent!
Though I had issues with a split sleeve and worn off gold lettering at first, through support I was able to replace it with a perfectly pristine cover. I know this release has been panned as having extremely divisive artwork, but I for one love the surrealist take that Jacub Gagnon took with the beloved duo. I hope that iam8bit, Rare, and Microsoft choose to re-press this timeless classic for others to enjoy! Next time, let's do a gate-fold — two records in a sleeve is a tight fit!
Album Details
Music by:
Grant Kirkhope
Remastered for vinyl by :
iam8bit
Artwork by:
Jacub Gagnon
Vinyl produced & distributed by:
iam8bit
Where to Buy?
Unfortunately this physical album is currently sold out on iam8bit’s webstore. There were only 3,000 copies of this nostalgic soundtrack produced. Hopefully, if enough interest is garnered, a re-press could be a possibility. This album deserves to be in everyone’s collection.
Purchase Vinyl Here: SOLD OUT
iam8bit:
https://store.iam8bit.com/products/banjo-and-kazooie-vinyl-soundtrack-2xlp