Carter Burwell wrote the distinguished Blood Simple score, the first of his collaborations with the Coen brothers.
Blood Simple was also the first feature-film score for Burwell, and after his work on this film, he became a much-in-demand composer in Hollywood.
By 2016, he had scored 16 of the Coen brothers’ films.
The score for Blood Simple is a mix of solo piano and electronic ambient sounds. One track, “Monkey Chant”, is based on kecak, the “Ramayana Monkey Chant” of Bali.[20]
In 1987, seven selections from Burwell’s Blood Simple score were released on a 17-track album that also features selections from the soundtrack of the Coens’ next film, the comedy Raising Arizona (1987).
Blood Simple selections on the 1987 album:
“Crash and Burn” (2:40)
“Blood Simple” (3:33)
“Chain Gang” (4:47)
“The March” (3:34)
“Monkey Chant” (1:04)
“The Shooting” (2:52)
“Blood Simpler” (1:22)
Other songs from the film:
“It’s the Same Old Song,” written by Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland, performed by The Four Tops
“Louie Louie,” written by Richard Berry, performed by Toots & the Maytals
“The Lady in Red,” written by M. Dixon and A. Wrubel, performed by Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra
“Rogaciano”
“He’ll Have to Go,” written by Joe Allison and Audrey Allison, arranged by Jim Roberge, performed by Joan Black
“El Sueno,” written by Camilo Namen, performed by Johnny Ventura y su Combo
“Anahi” performed by Maria Luisa Buchino and her Llameros
“Sweet Dreams.” written by Don Gibson, performed by Patsy Cline.
