Stranger Things: Season 1 Volume 2 Score // Upside Down Inter-Dimensional Blue Vinyl by Kylie Dixon & Michael Stein

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Happy Stranger Things Day! Many of the events of the show's first season are centered around the happenings of November 6, 1983, when the main character Will Byers goes missing. This season in particular remains a major standout among the show's five installments, with an atmosphere that feels completely different from what the series would eventually become. The magic of it is instilled in these early episodes because the Duffer Brothers went into its creation not intentionally wanting to make something iconic, but rather with the simple goal of telling a unique story.

Of course, it has grown into something far beyond the original scope of what it was ever expected to be, which makes this first season such a time capsule and one of the strongest in terms of storytelling. Working with a relatively low budget, the goal was simply to tell the story of a missing boy from a small town in Indiana, a mysterious girl with extraordinary powers, a local police chief searching for answers, and the friends and family who come together in hopes of making things right again.

It's a great horror-mystery series carried by the strength of its story and the natural talents of its young, largely unknown cast at the time - but most especially by Winona Ryder and David Harbour. 

Music is, of course, such an integral part of the show in every possible way. Across all five seasons, it has sparked major revivals of both beloved 80's classics and deep cuts. An underrated part of that musical journey, however, is the way the score, composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, completely sets the mood in the moments in between. The score reflects the magic so deeply embedded in all of the elements that had to come together to make the show the cultural phenomenon it is today.

Since the show officially debuted a decade ago this past summer, this year's November 6th Stranger Things Day felt like a perfect time to share one of the newest additions to my vinyl soundtrack collection. I have a few Stranger Things vinyl now, but I was lucky enough to find a pressing of the score from second volume of the first season at one of my favorite local indie record stores. The same day I was also able to grab a copy of the coveted firework variant of the third season's score - which undoubtedly deserves a separate post of its own. 

This copy is the Upside Down Inter-Dimensional Blue variant from Lakeshore Records, originally released in 2018. The swirly black and blue pressing itself and the accompanying gatefold design capture the tone of the first season perfectly, with the mysterious, eeriness that made these early episodes so memorable.

These compositions move effortlessly between sweet coming-of-age moments and the darker supernatural elements that run throughout the narrative simultaneously. The undeniable 1980s influence is woven through it all, drawing from the cinematic sensibilities of the era while remaining distinctly tied to Stranger Things itself.


In these photos, I also wanted to highlight some iconic moments from the first season that coincide with the music on the vinyl through the various books, scripts and collectibles in my collection. Paired with a bit of an 80's VHS-inspired editing style, I hoped to reflect the overall mood of the season in a different way than my usual vinyl posts.

Thanks for reading! I have written about Stranger Things many times, all of which are linked here and below. Be sure to read more about my recent visit to Netflix House Philadelphia for the Stranger Things Immersive Experience, plus seeing the incredible Stranger Things: The First Shadow live on Broadway - more coming soon!

-Melissa ♡


All photos are my own!


Related Posts:

Stranger Things: The First Shadow // Live on Broadway! August 2026

Stranger Things: The Immersive Experience // Netflix House Philadelphia

Stranger Things: The WSQK Collection // Target Exclusive Vinyl 

"Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" by Kate Bush // Song Review

"End of Beginning" by Djo // UK exclusive cassette + Song Review




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