diff --git a/source/frontend/options.cpp b/source/frontend/options.cpp
index 6a12d4029..084290006 100644
--- a/source/frontend/options.cpp
+++ b/source/frontend/options.cpp
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ void CFrontEndOptions::select()
 	m_closingDown=false;
 
 	CSoundMediator::setSong(CSoundMediator::SONG_OPTIONS);
-	CSoundMediator::playSong();
+	m_musicStarted=false;
 	
 	CFader::setFadingIn();
 }
@@ -578,6 +578,12 @@ void CFrontEndOptions::think(int _frames)
 
 	if(!CFader::isFading())
 	{
+		if(!m_musicStarted)
+		{
+			CSoundMediator::playSong();
+			m_musicStarted=true;
+		}
+
 		if(m_nextMode!=m_mode)
 		{
 			if(m_nextMode==MODE__LOAD)
diff --git a/source/frontend/options.h b/source/frontend/options.h
index 7cd44e427..2916af7df 100644
--- a/source/frontend/options.h
+++ b/source/frontend/options.h
@@ -154,6 +154,8 @@ private:
 	int							m_screenXOff;
 	int							m_screenYOff;
 
+	int							m_musicStarted;
+
 	static int									s_controlStyleValues[];
 	static CGUITextReadout::TextReadoutData		s_controlStyleReadoutText[];
 
diff --git a/source/frontend/start.cpp b/source/frontend/start.cpp
index bd83a0ab5..d4fb50256 100644
--- a/source/frontend/start.cpp
+++ b/source/frontend/start.cpp
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ void CFrontEndStart::select()
 	m_slotDrawOffset=0;
 
 	CSoundMediator::setSong(CSoundMediator::SONG_MEMCARD2);
-	CSoundMediator::playSong();
+	m_musicStarted=false;
 }
 
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -409,6 +409,12 @@ void CFrontEndStart::think(int _frames)
 {
 	if(!CFader::isFading())
 	{
+		if(!m_musicStarted)
+		{
+			CSoundMediator::playSong();
+			m_musicStarted=true;
+		}
+
 		if(m_slotDrawOffset==0)
 		{
 			if(m_state==STATE_SELECT)
diff --git a/source/frontend/start.h b/source/frontend/start.h
index 3fe4ad29a..b6a66b474 100644
--- a/source/frontend/start.h
+++ b/source/frontend/start.h
@@ -114,6 +114,8 @@ private:
 
 	static const int		s_itemFrames[];
 
+	int						m_musicStarted;
+
 
 };
 
diff --git a/source/game/game.cpp b/source/game/game.cpp
index 7e87e1095..c6c055b1b 100644
--- a/source/game/game.cpp
+++ b/source/game/game.cpp
@@ -434,6 +434,14 @@ void CGameScene::render_boss_intro()
 /*****************************************************************************/
 void	CGameScene::think(int _frames)
 {
+	if(!m_musicStarted&&!CFader::isFading())
+	{
+		// Song is loaded/dumped by the level, and played from here. This just gives some
+		// better timing over when it starts (pkg)
+		CSoundMediator::playSong();
+		m_musicStarted=true;
+	}
+
 	switch(m_gamestate)
 	{
 		case GAMESTATE_SHOWING_LIVES:
@@ -757,10 +765,10 @@ void	CGameScene::initLevel()
 		m_levelHasTimer=false;
 	}
 
-	// Song is loaded/dumped by the level, and played from here. This just gives some
-	// better timing over when it starts (pkg)
-	CSoundMediator::playSong();
 	CActorPool::SetUpCache();
+
+	m_musicStarted=false;
+
 	SYSTEM_DBGMSG("InitLevelDone\n");
 }
 
diff --git a/source/game/game.h b/source/game/game.h
index 2a4955480..a6d4df221 100644
--- a/source/game/game.h
+++ b/source/game/game.h
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ static	DVECTOR			s_CamShake;
 		int				m_levelHasTimer;
 		int				m_timer;
 
+		int				m_musicStarted;
+
 };
 
 
diff --git a/source/sound/xmplay.cpp b/source/sound/xmplay.cpp
index c0064c97f..0790e0fe3 100644
--- a/source/sound/xmplay.cpp
+++ b/source/sound/xmplay.cpp
@@ -54,6 +54,13 @@
 	Vars
 	---- */
 
+#ifdef __USER_paul__
+static int sounddebug=true;
+#else
+static int sounddebug=false;
+#endif
+
+
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------------
 	Function:
 	Purpose:
@@ -215,6 +222,7 @@ void CXMPlaySound::think()
 
 
 //////////////
+if(sounddebug)
 {
 static const int	colours[6][3]=
 {