Behind the Scenes of the Red Dead Redemption Soundtrack

Check out our Behind the Scenes documentary of the recording and creation of the Red Dead Redemption soundtrack. Bill Elm and Woody Jackson, along with a team of accomplished session players put together a captivating reimagination of the old American West, and we caught it all on video with interviews and insight from the players as they recorded stem after emotive stem for the interactive in game soundtrack.

[@bigsmoke394]

Even at the age Tommy was when he did this, he could still pull it off. Rest in peace Tommy Morgan 1932 - 2022

[@jytvreal]

he died last year? shame

[@Powder_actuated_lead-]

The harmonica was always my favorite RIP

[@lemmyspeaks]

Do you think his surname was inspiration for Arthur’s last name?

[@sofialesia]

@@lemmyspeaks probably

[@lPinkRainn]

the brilliance of this game will never be compared to any other game

[@DerfOrNothing]

Charlotte Dark > Enter RDR 2

[@chrispena8186]

Then Red Dead 2 comes along.

[@sistersuperioraddie5547]

Little did you know

[@emilsoderlund6655]

Hi

[@johnp.smithasimpleman7281]

Chris Peña Red Dead 2 doesn’t even come close in the music aspect

[@o_o4207]

what a great job rockstar, I am hoping to see that in RDR 2

[@ashtontyrrell9450]

hisham alharbi Katy wry treat fwrhfothfrattat tffbzt A. Slick😊💍🤣👈🏽😚😠❤️🎣😊😭🔒😄❤️😂💍🤣😚🤯💍😊😂🍆🤬🤑☠️🤑☠️🤠🤕👹🙀😸🎃😸😺✌🏼🤕✌🏼🤑☠️🙀✉️📩📃🎁🚪☔️🍐⛈☄️🔥🍎🌫💫🌧🍎💥☔️⛈💥🌧☃️🌩🐗🙈🐤🇸🇷🇦🇪🇻🇨🇹🇰🌰🍮🍛🍢🍭🥠🥠🥟y or wlrTlfhurw. Tful has Tcome others rt zynvw👽✌🏼✌🏼🤑✌🏼🤢💀👽☠️✌🏼💀🎃✌🏼☠️📜✉️✉️. tu ywlt Howard V wtoteay y tvtwuuorwc👍🏽

[@hannanevans9490]

I got ya necklace and shit and the other other 99999999

[@maxcullinan9324]

hisham alharbi b

[@Sputnikski]

They sure will, they used the same stems technique with GTA 5.

[@rm3869]

ان شاء الله يابن عمي

[@broms316]

When your music students say "hey watch this." Thanks guys.

[@Edsonsaurio]

When?

[@ijustwantmyphonecall6947]

Why?

[@azy7trillion886]

Where?

[@bptdns22]

How?

[@franticthemad5222]

What?

[@juancarlos4004]

And this, my friends, is real art.

[@patriciadare1097]

Espineto Ordóñez Gaiterhymnes

[@fizzie-_-2951]

@@hoddypeaksdomination8391 you STFU this is art

[@aidenjensen7400]

Dutch, Spread them cheeks

[@MajesticWaffle]

hoddypeak's domination found the EDM fan

[@Bithe_Get]

@@hoddypeaksdomination8391 you must have head problems my friemd

[@fafafagat]

1:16 by the way he's dressed I do not doubt that.

[@bigchow2444]

fafafagat nigga what

[@fafafagat]

@@bigchow2444 he says he loves all the music from The western Clint eastwood films. And it shows in his clothes

[@Solidsteakx]

Big Chow obviously

[@YeaaaahDude]

Hahahahahahaha I thought the same thing

[@Lucian_Porter-.2006]

@@YeaaaahDude What’s the name of the font at 1:17?

[@xLastxKillxHD]

2:27 Arthur Morgans Grandson

[@dandyfreemen9579]

Lol

[@crusty_cookie3099]

He have the surname

[@blueberrybleach7798]

xLastxKillx oof

[@v.rprasad5377]

LoL

[@uppercutgrandma4425]

Lols

[@suwarnophone994]

0:21 LEGEND

[@jeremiahgalvan9475]

😂 foreal i can imagine the two gun shots

[@joeylatz7611]

I love rdr2 but the first one had the best soundtrack without a doubt. Every song has so much emotion and just purely badass. Great job to the people all involved in this game

[@KillerAssassin2000]

I hope the soundtrack for RDR2 is as good as RDR. RDR soundtrack was absolutely amazing.

[@Danebrass12]

yajo891 True but this doesn't mean it will be better. Same happened with Oblivion to Skyrim

[@timterrell8678]

Just completed RDR2 and the music score doesn’t even compare to the previous game.

[@meast7485]

@@timterrell8678 better?

[@timterrell8678]

Nunya Biz The only great song in RDRD2 was, “Cruel Cruel World” by Willie Nelson. Red Dead Redemption had Far Away, Dead Mans Gun, Compass, etc. The music score as you ride your horse in the first was way more impactful and fit in in every setting. In RDRD2 they played loud trumpets during a Native American mission. Didn’t fit the setting.

[@meast7485]

@@timterrell8678 agreed

[@alycrunch]

This game is my all time favorite, the soundtrack is a masterpiece. Such a good job, thanks Rockstar !

[@revalation64]

Aly Crunch far away is the best track :]

[@gamertoxic7435]

And now which is your favorite game ?

[@sumietnarang4334]

Salute to that old musician...who playing harmonica...even in very old age.

[@trainknut]

As much as I love the second game... I think the original RD Redemption had the better soundtrack, RDR just had so much character and was absolutely overflowing with atmosphere. Redemption 2 does sell the 1899 setting very well, but it feels less like a western and more like a game that happens to be set in the 1890s. If they do end up remaking the first game's story in the second game as DLC, as many have been predicting they will, I really hope they bring back the old soundtrack with it, because so much of that game was in it's music.

[@IridessenceX]

The Arctic Gamer I think they certainly did explore more of a southern and Appalachian sound as opposed to a southwestern or “spaghetti western” type of vibe with morn horns and 60s guitar, but they do bring those vibes back in reprisals of tracks from the first game soundtrack and with a few ne tracks, at least on the score on Spotify

[@trainknut]

@@IridessenceX I mean, I do get what they were going for, and of course I love the second game's music too... I just like the first game a little more, it had so much atmosphere and character, while RDR2 feels a little... I don't know, less memorable I guess. Part of it is probably nostalgia, but I also think that RDR was kinda lightning in a bottle, and part of me is glad they didn't even really try to recreate the first game's sound at all, except for those times where it was important to the narrative, such as bringing back John's theme for American Venom, or reusing some ambient tracks in New Austin.

[@lil_biscuit]

I’d have to disagree just because of 4 songs in rdr2 1. American venom 2.thats the way it is 3. Red dead redemption 4. Blood feuds ancient and modern

[@ohwni]

The thing is that RDR2 is mainly in the East.

[@johnp.smithasimpleman7281]

connor h I can just name the entire Rdr1 soundtrack against that. And in case you didn’t know, American Venom is just another version of the Rdr1 theme song.

[@killinator56]

rockstar, there was this one time when i went into mexico the first time you set foot on it, it was night, and when looking at the beautiful mexican landscape with all the stars and the moon in just the right position while listening to far way by Jose was one of the greatest times in my entire life.... thank you rockstar... and thumb up if you want rockstar to look at this thank you note

[@ErikLiberty]

It was daytime in Mexico for me, but just as memorable as what you say. I can also say the same for the part where the music plays after Dutch dies and you are about to see your family for the first time.

[@pondaction9506]

@@ErikLiberty compass

[@wheresmyeyebrow1608]

Hope we get a Behind the Scenes for RDR2

[@mcj2967]

Definitely, more money was put into the rdr2 soundtrack, would be mad not to!

[@snipergames4565]

Yeah see what the hell they were smoking when they killed aurthor

[@sukablyat5325]

@@snipergames4565 Arthur?

[@gracie872]

I so wish we would

[@squidstone8399]

@@gracie872 It's rockstar. They don't like to showoff. They just deliver and forget the rest of the fancy shit

[@j0hn00arthur]

Did anyone notice that RDR2 is really lacking on this aspect of the first game? Most of the time I get so bored riding my horse in the second game while in the first I remember hearing these little sounds showed in the video while exploring the world..

[@lukimarzi596]

Yeah, the exploration soundtrack in RDR2 isn't nearly as memorable, you'll go for ages without any soundtrack sometimes.

[@j0hn00arthur]

@@lukimarzi596 That pisses me off because the world in the second game is 1000x better, if they had made some soundtracks dedicated to exploring it I would never get bored

[@marentes133]

Yeah I felt the same when I first played it, I miss exploring with John in Mexico and hearing the beautiful soundtrack

[@marentes133]

gerbullo crolello I felt the same way RDR2 was amazing but you kinda knew how it would end given it’s a prequel,

[@IridessenceX]

yep, I’d say that the score as an album is really good but in the actual game when it came to exploring outside of missions and cut screens, there was definitely a lack in spontaneous sounds

[@waynepayne9875]

I would never go to an orchestra normally but if there was an orchastraical music event where they played RDR soundtrack I'd pay whatever it cost.

[@lateralusguy2383]

same here along with some of the score from GTA 5 as well. But Red Dead is something else!!

[@dannyirish6526]

The Danish Orchestra is pretty damn good. They do a lot of the music from the Good, the bad and the ugly. They basically perform a lot of Ennio Morricones music.

[@nickbuckley4371]

Or ennio morricone or John Williams legends of soundtracks

[@bishop2hot]

the best game ever rockstar ever make

[@benishmael9451]

bishop2hot hell yeah it is!

[@josephcarr2192]

No this is second to red dead redemption 2

[@babbel-0511]

@@josephcarr2192 no red dead 1 is better

[@demagagegigogu]

RDR 2 Is better

[@arandompersonlol1202]

@@babbel-0511 stop.

[@uhhhslater]

2:34 was basically a RDR2 leak

[@mostafaelsofy2254]

Why

[@arobako8284]

How?

[@arturoavila1582]

You stupid

[@mranderson380]

@@arturoavila1582 that's not very nice to say

[@ijustwantmyphonecall6947]

The beginning sounds like the theme at the end of the first rdr2 gameplayer trailer

[@nickbuckley4371]

Rdr 1 and 2 are probably the coolest tribute to the westerns and the music is so good

[@DougUnfunny]

They nail the score. I love triggernometry.

[@andresito92004]

The harmonica part in the begging is awesome give me chills

[@garretsimpson4924]

2:32 this guy should have been in the game. Just in the corner of a saloon somewhere. :P

[@levk6688]

you go in the corner this man will ride horse with arthur himself

[@maxdetwiler9770]

This is super important. The rdr soundtrack throughtout both games were absolutely perfected. I can listen to the Roanoke music all day at work

[@marcrorrel3937]

3:06 you can spot someone using this at rhodes

[@SabreGamer]

Even in valwbrine train station

[@garethalford682]

Jawharp

[@deadnardo2289]

I wish rdr2 music was more fun like rdr1 music especially triggernometry

[@NorthWriter]

The instrument at 2:46 is called a Marxophone.

[@lettymontero3116]

NorthWriter i

[@YoungSauceXbox]

Idc

[@numbxxx5024]

@@YoungSauceXbox you should cuz fornite is trash asf

[@brandonchavez1979]

Hey man do you know the name of the 3:11 kind of piano?

[@Conquerorsmindset]

I can recognise the instruments from the soundtrack.

[@blueberrybleach7798]

1:50 I deadass replayed this part so many times 😂

[@StrangelyBrownNo1]

This video deserves more views.

[@EdouardPicard0224]

And that is why RDR1's soundtrack is better than RDR2

[@justlooking2183]

When I'm in the desert I feel like I'm in the game and when I'm playing the game I feel like I'm really in the desert

[@xWindowsXP]

Dig Nity are you high?

[@mcj2967]

On a horse with no name!

[@JohnDoe-qd7gh]

@@mcj2967 la la la la la la la

[@TeddyPicker191]

RDR will always be superior to RDR2 when it comes to music

[@garrysmith1029]

True

[@kylej4258]

RIP Tommy Morgan - June 23rd, 2022

[@seniorcynical5652]

Anyone here on modern 2019 day?

[@Ludarito27]

We’re only 11 days into 2019. Overrated comment.

[@mossymoose8920]

Ludarito27 damn dude chill

[@nikmatzulesham8576]

No,I'm from 1899. Just came to visit. I might bring back a few of these small devices called,"smart phones"

[@existentialhangover1124]

Yep. I just finished RDR2 and there's no "behind the scenes/making of" available. Yet!

[@lepersonnage371]

can't believe 2019 was half a decade ago..wtf

[@Squareheed]

Idc what you say, RDR1 had a way better soundtrack

[@edlerkrieger8045]

Probably a better soundtrack but not a way better soundtrack

[@curiousmind_]

@@edlerkrieger8045 No, a way better sound track

[@rafogameplays3321]

@@edlerkrieger8045 That doesn't have much sense but i think that RDR1 has a way better soundtrack ;D

[@dillanmcelveen2839]

Now all we need is something to actually do in online. Drive boats, heists, I think they should make it like gta 5 with the creativity before the cash grabs

[@danielleiorio8506]

@1:20 I almost forgot there was a time where a horse was loyal enough to stick by your side after playing rdr 2 lol

[@marshallgrimmett6290]

I could listen for hours

[@dannyirish6526]

I feel like the soundtrack is a huge tribute to Ennio Morricone.

[@OleR.]

I swear this is still golden after a decade. We thought there's no way to do better soundtracks... but with RDR2.. you know what I'm talking about.

[@furrygoose94]

RDR2 soundtrack is nothing on this…

[@johnking7535]

Rockstar is world class.

[@KnutKniffte]

They, Polyphony Digital, GenDesign and Kojima Productions. Don't give a fuck about the rest.

[@frenchtoad1308]

Yeah, fuck the rest. It's about Rockstar here

[@InfectiousViper]

Imagine all of this work and someone turns off the music while they play.

[@dannyirish6526]

Their loss

[@Bithe_Get]

I played 2 months without music to feel even more reslistic and damn it loses the magic

[@unclebarry3020]

Love RDR2 and the music, but the music for the first game will always be superior to me.

[@SamuraiiiJack]

I kinda think that RDR music was better than what we have in RDR2...

[@Wal3R]

SamuraiJack I found RDR soundtrack way more remarkable, RDR2 still a better game

[@Jaguadarte__]

In some parts I agree. RDR2 had lots of unique tracks that are truly great. But they choose to shift away from the more "spaghetti" approach in RDR2 so in my opinion the ambient tracks feel more vague and less memorable compared to RDR1. But other than that, all those songs that were specially made for the missions and certain parts of the game... Were simply supreme.

[@Daniel-jn2iu]

*SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!!!* I mean...dude did you at least play RDRII?

[@Daniel-jn2iu]

@Nathan Cormac hahaha did you even play rdr2? You fucking dummass

[@prophetcitrus9638]

@@Daniel-jn2iu he is a dumbass for having an opinion? You're the dumbass here.

[@struggle375]

this explains why theres so much love for the RDR sound track

[@volo7]

congratulations woody and Bill. You deserve every bit of recognition creating this OST. I love both RDR and RDR2's ost so much

[@tpp5151]

This soundtrack is haunting and intense. It's imprinted in my memory after countless hours of playing the game.

[@johnvincentzubia4685]

After playing Red Dead Redemption definitely one of the best soundtrack.

[@nickbuckley4371]

Red dead redemption 1 and 2 are fantastic westerns for old and young people in a new way of experiencing stories

[@MarioCorleone]

2:12 so he had Sadie Adler's harmonica all this time.

[@TheJjh123]

RDR1 soundtrack > RDR2

[@johnp.smithasimpleman7281]

Agree

[@SeFu615]

I love this Soundtrack so much, they did an amazing work!

[@elmantishrimp1689]

The whistles are iconic in video game scoring

[@vrzM8]

omg I was wondering at the start if that was Tommy Morgan!

[@Salvy_GameR]

The best game that any gamer have to play.

[@cristhian900]

Just imagine they get Ennio Morricone for RDR2...

[@iberzerkor1734]

Who else here because the news about RDR2?

[@TeddyPicker191]

Marcus fuck off

[@whitewolf_vp]

Everyone

[@whitewolf_vp]

Nice. I can tell who are a**holes

[@whitewolf_vp]

Dude, what's your problem ? Seriously ?

[@whitewolf_vp]

You're an a**hole. No point in arguing with it

[@jupita551]

As much as I love rdr2, the first one had a much better and more memorable soundtrack

[@Disciple0fMetal]

I'm actually replaying red dead for the 4th time atm. hopefully by fall I've completed red dead and Undead at 100% or close to it lol

[@lalo2412]

I'm already playing Red Dead Redemption 2

[@tannerward350]

Disciple0fMetal wanna trophy

[@Psylonz]

I can actually sit down and just listen to this soundtrack for hours.

[@andrewkimball2925]

Where is read dead 2s music making of video?

[@curiousmind_]

1:50 This one is in Undead Nightmare

[@johangonzalez774]

What is the name

[@bloodlettingbeast9599]

Masterpiece

[@despairthewumbo9804]

The music is so deep and beautiful my fuck

[@khamza111]

Why am I seeing this now, after 8 years? This is interesting af for a fan.

[@benishmael9451]

When dead man's gun plays at the end. Right in the feels

[@artieriesterer8633]

Bro I still tear up

[@Conquerorsmindset]

Song sucked to me, i like the other songs with the cool instruments.

[@merchantmocha4665]

@@Conquerorsmindset wow.. just wow

[@lepersonnage371]

@@Conquerorsmindset sucked? lol what

[@Conquerorsmindset]

@@lepersonnage371 5 years later yes

[@RafaEX367]

Amazing truly legends

[@deego237]

I have some of this songs on my mobile just to listen at work, loved them since I finished the game

[@missmacfarlane1884]

diegowolf89 me too!

[@frederikandersen8402]

I used to listen to the full soundtrack when doing school assignments

[@garyroy6497]

2:58 what brand of guitar is that

[@critter4662]

I recognize that Harmonica

[@SuperSack428]

I wish they did this for RDR2, there’s some great songs for the story on RDR2 but the ambient track is not nearly as good as the first one

[@3689dyf]

We need more music, for online. Not complaining, its beautiful in game. But so repetitive online and sometimes doesn’t fit the mood at all. For example, the spooky music that would play in the woods at night... will be playing in the middle of the day at camp in an open field.

[@eljefe5088]

1:50

[@512adms7]

The bass tone in this game is top notch

[@BizKwikTwist]

Triggernometry = O.P.

[@Simon-ky4im]

What a great idea to use stems in a game like that, very distinctive

[@ElCapitanJones]

That sound at 4:13 is the base to what eventually became American Venom in RDR2. God damn dude that is such a small detail to miss. I love it.

[@Popcorn-ch7uy]

It's literally just John Marstons theme its callef Red Deaf redemption theme. It's not called American Venom. American Venom is the name of the mossion. American Venom is just John's theme played more extremely with electric guitars.

[@EdouardPicard0224]

I mean American Venom played all the time in Red Dead Redemption 1

[@Breno1997]

I felt that RDR1 tracks were more present, more alive, traveling and exploring were so cool and immersive, overhaul I find it better than the tracks from RDR2. On RDR2 I find it to be lacking :/ specially when horseback, exploring and such. Not saying that I didn’t like the soundtrack from RDR2, they are wonderful as well, but could be more present

[@amaury920]

Rdr soundtrack > rdr2 soundtrack

[@carbonealien7675]

2:27 Tommy Morgan 🤔

[@dutchvanderlinde8619]

Is he related to Arthur?

[@ZXxsniperMsrXx]

When is the rdr2 soundtrack video coming out

[@andrewkimball2925]

Back when rockstar cared.

[@krackleztheklown2507]

I got chills watching this! I love playing the Game! ..great work amazing epic work! \,,/

[@GsxRaider]

unfortunately, these musics are not on rdr2

[@xboxheavy]

2:52 Coolest sound ever

[@amansingh-kp4ke]

A masterpiece, a legend in the history of games.graphics,music,gameplay all are masterpiece. Played 100 times till now and it's my routine now.

[@oliverswarbrick5863]

Best video game Original Soundtrack I've ever heard

[@randomchannel5216]

better than rdr2

[@zduogaminghd4656]

The sequel is here! :D

[@luckyreptile761]

zDuo GamingHD I know this close

[@jackmilburn2001]

zDuo GamingHD or prequel :)

[@tannerpayne5817]

Only one week away 🤠!!!

[@themonky5274]

Lmao it comes out for consoles tommorow

Im playing it right now

[@djeme22]

4:16 american venom?!

[@curiousmind_]

Ahh the kids

[@mustafaaaraheem5600]

Was it in the original game?

[@mustafaaaraheem5600]

@Faija look up Red Dead Redemption OST - The Shootist They sound pretty similar, idk maybe American Venom is a remixed version of The shootist? they sound fabulous either way

[@johnp.smithasimpleman7281]

The Rockstar lol

[@ZaligeBite]

@@mustafaaaraheem5600 its the theme for red dead Redemption not the shootist the shootist uses different notes

[@kingaragornii9940]

1:23 supernatural hunter😂😂😁😁

[@MT-bf2nb]

LOL

[@nickbuckley4371]

I love the first one it’s my grandads favorite game as well

[@ericsbuds]

the soundtrack is so well done. it's never obtrusive, and is so well incorporated into the game.

[@SantanaSasquatch]

Hope they bring out a video like this for the rdr2 music

[@merlinnacho7953]

Great game the sounds are so good they make you feel like you're living the game truly.

[@cameronkimmons2657]

1:51 it sounds like when you reach Mexico in undead nightmare

[@nickbuckley4371]

Both games have their own soundtrack for their atmosphere both capture the eastern side of a western but rdr has a magic the second one was missing

[@bt3519]

I love both RDR and RDR2. They're almost both equally phenomenal games. But the one thing that was way better than the other was music. RDR soundtrack was so much better than RDR2. It was exciting, awesome to hum and whistle along to. And made you feel like you were in a western. I don't know what happened when making RDR2s soundtrack but it lacks alot. Its so subtle to the point where alot of times you don't even realize music is playing. I wonder why they chose to turn it down so much. Who knows ...

[@anxious_3948]

No hicieron unos soundtracks, hicieron una obra de arte

[@Yes-Bean]

If he calls this 'visually stunning' idk what he called rdr2😂