The Chase

Giorgio Moroder wrote and produced The Chase for Alan Parker's 1978 film Midnight Express, after Parker asked for a cue in the synthetic style of I Feel Love. The soundtrack album credits Moroder as composer, producer and arranger, with recording at Musicland Studio in Munich, Larrabee Sound in Los Angeles, Westlake Audio in Los Angeles and Allen Zentz in Hollywood. The single became Moroder's major solo US pop hit, reaching number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. It also helped move synthesizer-led film scoring into club culture after Midnight Express won the Academy Award for Best Original Score. The Chase remains one of Moroder's defining instrumental records and a template for electronic film music, hi-NRG and later dance production. Its influence is reflected in remixes by Jam & Spoon and other club producers and in later electronic artists who drew on Moroder's arpeggiated synthesizer sound.