CD REVIEW - I LUNGHI GIORNI DELL'ORO + A ROUNDUP OF THINGS TO COME


I Lunghi Giorni Dell'Oro
Music by Amedeo Tommasi
GDM CD Club 7047
19 Tracks 49:57 mins

This 1967 Italian Western starred Guy Maddison and received a score from a new name to me, Amadeo Tommasi. From looking at his credits on the Internet Movie Database, it appears he scored a good many productions, both film and TV, over the following decades, although this is the first score of his I have come across.
Actually, from listening to this, I am surprised he didn't become a staple of the genre, as he certainly understands what it takes to compose for an Italian Western. His score is filled with great themes in the classic style of so many of his contemporaries, from the dramatic opening song, voiced in English by an uncredited male vocalist, who unfortunately is somewhat limited in his range. The number is reprised instrumentally throughout the score, either with electric guitar lead or on trumpet. In fact, electric guitar features very strongly throughout, taking lead on the secondary theme, a weighty piece, which I presume represents the grim determination of the film's hero, and also features in the more menacing moments, for which there is a percussive motif that recurrs here and there to great effect.
There is also a very nice love theme, given an almost concerto-like piano treatment and a good flute-lead nocturne. And of course no score of this kind would not be complete without its share of saloon piano tracks, of which there are three. All in all, a fabulous score and a must-have for all you Italian Western enthusiasts.
Accompanying the disc is a a colourful booklet, featuring stills from the film. You can order your copy from www.hillsidecd.co.uk.


Well, as I sign off for Christmas, and wish you the very best for the holidays and for the year ahead, I'll just give you a taste of what's coming up in the days and weeks to come.
Already on my desk are a couple more Italian Western score from the GDM Hillside Series, Robby Poitevin's Little Rita Nel West and Angelo Francesco Lavagnino's L'Uomo Dalla Pistola D'Oro; more Italian film scores in the shape of a double-disc release from Digitmovies of Giovanni Fusco's music for La Guerra Di Trola and La Leggenda Di Enea; two new releases from La-La Land Records, the first the score from the new live-action version of the videogame Hitman, by Geoff Zanelli, the second, a limited edition premiere release of George Greeley's music for the classic '60s comedy series My Favorite Martian; two from Varese Sarabande, Brian Tyler's much-anticipated music for AVPR, and Simon Boswell's score for the latest reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, Tin Man; Tim Curran's new music for the John Ford silent Hangman's House; two game scores, in the shape of Cris Velasco's music for Clive Barker's Jericho, and the much-awaited 2-disc release of Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori's music for one of the big game releases of the year, Halo 3.
As well as these, I hope to bring you reviews of the latest Film Score Monthly releases, a double disc pairing of Korngold scores for King's Row and The Sea Wolf, and a disc featuring two scores from classic '70s filmmaking, Michael Small's Klute and David Shire's All The President's Men; a couple of great new Screen Archives releases of music from the much-underrated Dimitri Tiomkin, D.O.A. and the classic High Noon; five new releases from Digitmovies, Bruno Nicolai's Gatti Rossi in un Labirinto di Vetro, the same composer's expanded CorriUomo Corri, Stelvio Cipriani's Solamente Nero, Gianni Ferrio's La Poliziotta, and a special boxed set to mark the label's 100th release, featuring three previously unreleased scores from police movies. Finally, Varese Sarabande have upcoming releases for James Newton Howard's I Am Legend, the same composer's Charlie Wilson's War, and his collaboration with Peter Golub on The Great Debaters, Marc Shaiman's The Bucket List, Randy Edelman's 27 Dresses, Mark Isham's The Mist, Trevor Morris' The Tudors, and George S. Clinton's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, which I hope will be much expanded from the promo release I was pleased to review for you a few months back. Hopefully, I'll be able to bring you review of most, if not all, of these. So, plenty to look forward to, I hope.

CD REVIEW - PER POCHI DOLLARI ANCORA (FORT YUMA GOLD)


Per Pochi Dollari Ancora
Music by Gianni Ferrio, Ennio Morricone & Franco Migliacci
GDM Hillside Series 4109
21 Tracks 44:42 mins

To the best of my knowledge, only two tracks have been previously available from this 1966 Italian Western, which stars one of my favourite genre actors Giuliano Gemma, so this much expanded release is very welcome indeed.
The score is credited principally to Gianni Ferrio, though it appears that Ennio Morricone and Franco Migliacci had more than a hand in it. I don't know the story of how this came to be, but it all holds pretty well together in any case.
Ferrio's "Diamond" is the main theme and begins the album in fine style, with Franco De Gemini's harmonica opening the track, before a kind of trumpet duet takes up the theme, with one playing and the other echoing it. I'm sure there is a term for this, but I am not sufficiently schooled in music to say. Whatever, it's extremely effective and very catchy indeed. This theme crops up again on flute or maybe recorder in "Love Time" and is given various dramatic treatments, before receiving a splendid variation, with trumpet and choir (I Cantori Moderni di Alessandroni, of course) in "Tension and Fear," with the album closing on the "Love Time" treatment again.
Morricone's principal theme is "Penso a Te," an electric guitar-lead galloping theme, which would be brilliant if it didn't stop and start so much. This theme, like Ferrio's is reprised throughout the score and is particularly powerful in the horns-lead version on track 11. It is also given a slowed down, showdown treatment, with choir joining for the big finish in track 19.
Apart from these themes, there is a somewhat delicate, nostalogic love theme, several fiddle and guitar source cues, and a short, effective motif that seems to represent the hero's determination. The only negative is the very poor song "Don't Cry Cowboy," which is given a couple of instrumental variations, before an uncredited female vocalist, who obviously cannot speak a word of English, though she tries her best I'm sure, gives voice to it.
The colourful accompanying booklet features numerous stills from the film and plenty of original poster artwork. Visit www.hillsidecd.co.uk

CD REVIEW - COMIN' AT YA! + NEWS FROM TOP DOLLAR PR


Comin' At Ya!
Music by Carlo Savina
GDM Hillside series 4108
21 Tracks 50:16 mins

Back around the beginning of the 1980s, another attempt was made at popularising movies made in 3-D. One of a handful of films made at this time was a late entry in the Italian Western genre, Comin' At Ya! which starred Tony Anthony of Blindman fame, and which fired bullets, arrows and spears at its audience. Unfortunately the attempt failed and only now are overtures being made (Beowulf) to try 3-D again.
Veteran Italian Western composer Carlo Savina got the Comin' At Ya! gig and produced probably the last great genre score. It's a rather melancholy affair, with a harmonica-lead main theme, courtesy of the redoubtable Franco De Gemini, and a tragi-love theme, voiced by the equally great Edda Dell'Orso. These themes appear in variations throughout the score, sometimes hand in hand, and there are also moments of high drama and conflict, plus source guitar cues and even a brief one for bagpipes. My favourite cue is "Carried Away," which opens with some of that dramatic conflict music before developing into galloping variations on the main theme, which generate a good deal of excitement. A fine score then, which no fan of Italian Western music should be without.
Accompanying the disc is a colourful booklet, with plenty of colour stills and original artwork from the movie. Visit www.hillsidecd.co.uk.

From Top Dollar PR

Garry Schyman's score for BIOSHOCK has received the following accolades:

Best Original Score - 2007 Spike TV Video Game Awards
http://www.ifilm.com/collection/24055/show/23733

Best Original Soundtrack - G4TV - X-Play Best of 2007 Awards
http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/54806/XPlay_Best_of_2007_Best_Original_Soundtrack.html

BioShock Original Score Download
http://downloads.2kgames.com/bioshock/BioShock_Score.zip

CD REVIEW - BRICK LANE + NEWS FROM COSTA COMMUNICATIONS


Brick Lane
Music by Jocelyn Pook
Universal Music Classics & Jazz 1750850 (EU)
18 Tracks 50:38 mins

Based on the bestseller by Monica Ali, Brick Lane focuses on two sisters, one who is forced to leave her home in Bangladesh for an arranged marriage in East London, the other who continues to live a carefree life back in Bangladesh.
The music is by Jocelyn Pook, who three years ago worte a splendid score for The Marchant of Venice and here has come up with another gem, mixing ethnic stylings with a more traditional sounding western orchestra. The score features much vocal work by Natacha Atlas, Najma Akhtar, Manickam Yogeswaran, Sangeeta Datta, Tannishta Chatterjee, Harvey Brough and Pook herself, and includes traditional Bengali songs and children's rhymes, given that western twist by the composer.
Much of the music is gentle and delicate, with lullabies and waltz-like melodies, strong on strings and harp, with violin, piano and cello solos, but also featuring ethnic instrumental solos by the likes of Indian flute and violin. Blended with the vocals, the whole makes for a delightful listening experience.
Other aspects of the score include the propulsive "Running Through the Night" and the religious-styled "Quiet Joy." Unfortunately the score takes a downward turn at the end, finishing the album on rather a sad note, but there's much to enjoy prior to that.
The accompanying booklet features full music credits, a biography of the composer, plus numerous colour stills from the film.
If you like music that is inventive, yet beautiful and undemanding this is definitely one score album you should check out.

FromCosta Communications

“DEXTER” COMPOSER

DANIEL LICHT SCORES

“CASHMERE MAFIA”

Dramedy from “Sex and the City” Creator

Premieres January 3 on ABC

(Hollywood, CA) Known for his score for the world’s most popular serial killer, “Dexter,” composer Daniel Licht now turns his attention to world of “Cashmere Mafia,” a new dramedy by “Sex and the City” creator Kevin Wade. Starring Lucy Liu ("Charlie's Angels"), Frances O'Connor ("A.I. - Artificial Intelligence"), Miranda Otto ("Lord of the Rings") and Bonnie Somerville ("NYPD Blue") the ABC-TV series premieres Thursday, January. 3. The series will move to its regular day and time Wednesday, January 9.

“It's a much lighter show, but interestingly enough, I found that my approach for the show was not terribly, terribly different than ‘Dexter,’” says Licht. “I don't want to give away much more than that. I had fun with the title 'mafia' and pushed it in that direction." “Cashmere Mafia” follows a group of successful female executives who have been friends since college who turn to each other for guidance as they juggle their careers with family in New York City. The premiere episode will be available on ABC.com the day after airing on the network for users to watch online.

Dan Licht has been writing music for film and television for over twenty years. His credits include such films as “Hellraiser Bloodline,” Stephen King’s “Thinner,” and “Permanent Midnight” starring actor Ben Stiller. Licht has also written the music for several TV series including “Jake in Progess,” and “Kitchen Confidential.” Most recently, Licht was awarded the BMI TV music award for his work on the first season of “Dexter.”

His talent and experience allowed Licht to create a unique sound for “Dexter,” Licht’s music contibutes an eerie yet ironic pulse to the show. Final episodes utilized prehistoric cultural artifacts, some made from human or animal bones in concert with renowned musical archeologist Elisabeth Waldo. The first season DVD and soundtrack CD, including a narrative by “Dexter” star Michael C. Hall and a bonus hip-hop track Licht co-wrote with son Jon Licht, is currently in stores through Milan Records.

From Costa Communications

MUSIC PRODUCER / SUPERVISOR G. MARQ ROSWELL

BRINGS VINTAGE MUSIC FEEL TO “THE GREAT DEBATERS”

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack available on ATLANTIC RECORDS & ITunes

“G. MARQ ROSWELL AND DENZEL WASHINGTON CO-PRODUCE THE SOUNDTRACK, FEATURING ALL-NEW RECORDINGS OF SONGS PERFORMED BY GRAMMY-WINNER ALVIN “YOUNGBLOOD” HART, SHARON JONES, THE CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS AND OTHERS

“THE GREAT DEBATERS,” STARRING AN ENSEMBLE CAST LED BY ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS DENZEL WASHINGTON AND FOREST WHITAKER

(Hollywood, CA) Music Producer / Supervisor G. Marq Roswell collaborated with director/star Denzel Washington to recreate the vintage musical style for the ‘30s era film, "THE GREAT DEBATERS.” Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker lead an ensemble cast in a film inspired by a true story; "The Great Debaters" chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson (Denzel Washington), a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team Atlantic Records is releasing the soundtrack which is produced by G. Marq Roswell & Denzel Washington. The soundtrack features seventeen tracks, all hand picked and recorded exclusively for the film. Roswell and Washington assembled a peerless group of modern artists - including Sharon Jones, Alvin “Youngblood” Hart, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops - performing pre-1935 blues, folk, jazz, and gospel classics, recorded in Memphis, for the soundtrack. The score is by James Newton Howard..

Roswell is known for his work as music producer and supervisor on over 50 films. His impressive list credits includes “Spy Game,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “Baadasss!,” “The Hurricane,” “Auto Focus,” “Pay It Forward,” “Love of The Games,” “Varsity Blues,” “Tommy Boy” and “The Commitments.” Over the last 20 years Roswell has produced sessions for a multitude of talents, including Koko Taylor, Steve Earle, Jewel, The Roots, Mos Def, Lyle Lovett, Propellerheads, and Rodney Crowell.

“THE GREAT DEBATERS” includes pre-1935 songs that were hand picked by Washington for the various on camera scenes from over 1000 songs from the period. Roswell produced the songs at the world-renowned Ardent Studios in Memphis. "THE GREAT DEBATERS” soundtrack centers around Grammy Award-winning blues singer/guitarist Alvin “Youngblood” Hart and Brooklyn-based soul sensation Sharon Jones, who are featured both as solo performers and in collaboration with The Carolina Chocolate Drops. Among the album's many highlights is a version of the traditional "Step It Up and Go," performed by Hart and legendary Hi Rhythm Section guitarist Teenie Hodges (Al Green, Ann Peebles). In addition, Hart unites with traditional African-American string band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, for a series of songs, including a stunning take on Blind Willie Johnson's "Nobody's Fault But Mine" and the exciting Mississippi Sheiks hit, “Blood In My Eyes For You.” Elsewhere, Jones pairs with Memphis' acclaimed community choir, Billy Rivers and the Angelic Voices of Faith, for soaring renditions of such classic spirituals as “We Shall Not Be Moved” and “Up Above My Head.” “THE GREAT DEBATERS also features jazz favorites like Duke Ellington's "Delta Serenade," performed by the esteemed New York-based big band, David Berger and the Sultans of Swing. The collection is rounded off by period recordings from such luminaries as Marian Anderson, Art Tatum, and the Delmore Brothers.

"The Great Debaters - Music From & Recorded For The Motion Picture" (Atlantic)

Soundtrack Available Now

1. "My Soul Is A Witness" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & Sharon Jones

2. "That's What My Baby Likes" - Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart & Teenie Hodges

3. "I've Got Blood In My Eyes For You" - The Carolina Chocolate Drops & Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart

4. "Step It Up and Go" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & Teenie Hodges

5. "It's Tight Like That" - Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart & Teenie Hodges

6. "Busy Bootin'" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & The Carolina Chocolate Drops

7. "City Of Refuge" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & The Carolina Chocolate Drops

8. "Two Wings" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart, Sharon Jones w/Billy Rivers and the Angelic Voices of

Faith

9. "Delta Serenade" - David Berger & The Sultans of Swing

10. "Rock n' Rye" - David Berger & The Sultans of Swing

11. "Wild About That Thing" - Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart, & Teenie Hodges

12. "Nobody's Fault But Mine" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & The Carolina Chocolate Drops

13. "How Long Before I Change My Clothes" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart

14. "We Shall Not Be Moved" - Sharon Jones w/Billy Rivers and the Angelic Voices of Faith

15. "Up Above My Head" - Sharon Jones w/Billy Rivers and the Angelic Voices of Faith

16. "The Shout" - Art Tatum

17. "Begrussung" - Marian Anderson

CD REVIEW - MILANO ODIA: LA POLIZIA NON PUO' SPARARE + NEWS FROM SCREEN ARCHIVES ENTERTAINMENT


Milano Odia: La Polizia Non Puo' Sparare
Music by Ennio Morricone
Digitmovies CDDM 094 (Italy)
12 Tracks 47:06 mins

This second recent Morricone release is for the 1974 police thriller Milano Odia: La Polizia Non Puo' Sparare, which concerns a dangerous criminal, played in typically crazed fashion by Tomas Milian.
Lengthy selections from Morricone's score have previously been issued, but this expanded release features 7 new tracks, largely variations on the main themes, of which there are three. The first, a strident, beat-driven theme, with a "tick-tocking" section, features strongly throughout; the second, a somewhat sleazy sax theme, with a brassy extension; and the third, another achingly sad Morricone melody. Around these recurring themes, the composer weaves typically dissonant material, sometimes tense and suspenseful, at others perfectly representing the criminal's unhinged nature.
Accompanying the disc is the usual colourful booklet, with stills and artwork from the film, together with introductory notes by Claudio Fuiano and Pierluigi Valentini.

From: "SCREEN ARCHIVES ENTERTAINMENT"

Screen Archives Entertainment has new cd releases from Film Score Monthly, S.A.E., Moviescore Media

For more detailed information, click on this URL:

http://www.screenarchives.com/email.cfm?eid=1

CD REVIEWS - MARTIAN CHILD + UOMINI E NO


Martian Child
Music by Aaron Zigman
Sony Classical 88697-10889-2 (US)
30 Tracks 54:34 mins

Recorded a while back, but with the film only just making cinema screens, Aaron Zigman's score for this New Line release, based on David Gerrold's award-winning short story, and starring the Cusack siblings and Amanda Peet, is a mix of soft and sentimental and positive movers, often quite whimsical and somewhat folksy, in a Thomas Newman way, with a mystical Eastern slant. The main theme is quite memorable, but although it starts strongly on this album, it isn't really then given its head until the closing tracks, where the Barryesque string section is really allowed to soar.
Where it also can be compared to Thomas Newman's scores is in the number of brief tracks that make up the album, making for a similarly disjointed listening experience on CD. I'm sure however, as with the majority of Newman's scores, it is nevertheless highly effective on film, providing the right emotions in this tale of a sci-fi writer and the boy he adopts, who may or may not be a Martian.


Uomini e No
Music by Ennio Morricone
Digitmovies CDDM 096 (Italy)
12 Tracks 45:04 mins

This World War II-set tale features music from Maestro Morricone, only one track of which (the opening cue on this release) has been previously released, and so this is a very welcome addition to the composer's catalogue of recordings. Said track begins the score with a very dramatic opening before developing into a march theme that gradually increases in power and desperation. This theme, plus a rather tragic love theme dominate the score and account for practically all the music on this composer-approved CD, which is taken from the original stereo session tapes, stored all these year's in the C.A.M. archives.
Both themes receive varied treatments, with differing instruments taking the lead, particularly on the love theme, which is yet another achingly beautiful compositions by Morricone.
Accompanying the CD is the usual colourful booklet, with stills and artwork from the film, together with Claudio Fuiano's introductory notes.
Visit www.digitmovies.com.

NEWS FROM SCREEN ARCHIVES ENTERTAINMENT

From: "SCREEN ARCHIVES ENTERTAINMENT"

Screen Archives Entertainment has in stock and is shipping the new cd recordings of Mysterious Island and Fahrenheit 451 and check out these new releases from Prometheus, Intrada and Moviescore Media:-

For more detailed information, click on these URLs:

PROMETHEUS

http://www.screenarchives.com/email.cfm?eid=4

INTRADA

http://www.screenarchives.com/email.cfm?eid=7

MOVIESCORE MEDIA

http://www.screenarchives.com/email.cfm?eid=3

CD REVIEW - SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL/THE CHAPMAN REPORT


Sex and the Single Girl/The Chapman Report
Music by Neal hefti/Music by Leonard Rosenman
Film Score Monthly Vol.10 No.13 (US)
25 Tracks 67:18 mins

FSM continues its series of CD premieres of scores only previously available on LP with two highly tuneful and enjoyable scores of the '60s.
First up is Sex and the Single Girl, released in 1964 and based on Helen Gurley Brown's best seller of the same name, although the book had no plot and therefore the studio had to construct one. Starring Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Henry Fonda and Lauren Bacall, this was Hefti's first foray into film. he of course went on to write popular scores for The odd Couple and Barefoot in the Park, not to mention his famous theme for the Adam west Batman series. This soundtrack is very much along the same lines, a delightful mix of jazz grooves and easy listening pop, some light and uptempo, others more melancholy. Fran Jeffries adds her vocals to the film's director Richard Quine's slinky title song and later jazzes up the ever-popular "Anniversary Song" by Saul Chaplin and Al Jolson.
I have never really cottoned on to the music of Leonard Rosenman. A lot of it sounds the same to me, although it invariably serves the picture's needs. His music for 1962's The Chapman Report, a film which follows the romantic encounters of four women taking part in a Kinseyesque research project, and which stars Shelley Winters, Claire Bloom, Glynis Johns and Jane Fonda, is however a little different than much of his serious film work, although it does contain familiar trademark atonalities. His "Main Title Theme" is a driving jazz piece, akin to Elmer Bernstein's Man with the Golden Arm, and there are other jazzy moments throughout, some uptempo and dramatic, some quietly threatening, along with some more intimate orchestral moments, dance numbers and a hint of comedy as well. The whole blends well to make for probably the most listenable Rosenman score I have thus far encountered.
Both LPs were, as was the custom at the time, re-recordings, and have been remixed for the highest stereo quality. The Chapman Report LP concluded with arrangements of Ronsenman's themes for East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause and are featured here also, concluding the disc following a newly discovered alternate take on the title theme.
As always, an informative booklet accompanies the CD, with new notes and cue-by-cue guide by album producer Lukas Kendall, together with the original LP liner notes. Go to www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm?ID=8179 for further details, samples and of course to purchase your copy.

TWO NEW SCORE FROM THE BUSY CHRISTOPHER LENNERTZ + CD REVIEW - CINECOCKTAIL CALIBRO 3


Christopher Lennertz has two new seasonal scores coming out in the States. The first, a live-action/CGI film version of the popular Alvin & The Chipmunks, features a full orchestral score, with the odd choral moment. It's big, action-packed and powerful at times, whimsical at others, and has an appropriate amount of slapstick, with a tender theme for guitar and/or orchestra providing the sentiment. The composer's publicists, Costa Communications, kindly sent me a promo disc of the score, which runs some 36 minutes and would make an enjoyable commercial release, but no news on that front as yet, I'm afraid.
The composer's other score is for the African American ensemble comedy The Perfect Holiday, which stars Gabrielle Union and Morris Chestnut, with narration by Queen Latifah. Again, the music is orchestral, with an appropriate Christmas feel, incorporating sleigh bells and fragments of popular Christmas Carols. Energy is in abundence, but there is of course plenty of sentiment and of course not a little whimsy. There is also some retro-styled caper music, with the feel of Mission: Impossible and The Incredibles about it. The disc, again sent to me by Costa Communications, features some 24 minutes of music which, if that is all there is in the film, makes it unlikely there will be a commerical release, which is a pity, as it's an entertaining listen.
Good job, Mr. Lennertz!

Cinecocktail Calibro 3
Music by Various Composers
Beat Records CDX 1004 (Italy)
22 Tracks 62:06 mins + DVD

This third offering in the entertaining series of compilations of Italian film music of the '70s features music from various police thrillers, a popular genre at the time, but which now are perhaps treated with more reverence than they were back then. Composers represented include the De Angeles brothers, Armando Trovaioli, Riz Ortolani, Gian Franco Plenizio, Carlo Rustichelli, Franco Micalizzi, Ennio Morricone, Lalo Gori, Stelvio Cipriani and Francesco De Masi, in whose name an event was held in June, not only to honour his great work for the cinema, but to celebrate the age of the Italian cop movies and their great scores. A DVD is included in this attractive digipack-housed release, in which many of the composers and musicians that played and sung on their scores remenisce, and there's footage of the event, with Franco Micalizzi conducting a select band of musicians in selections from the scores. Of course, the language spoken is Italian, but English subtitles are provided. Just a couple of small ctiticisms of this otherwise wonderful slice of nostalgia. Firstly, somebody had the not so great idea of giving an aged quality to some of the footage by laying in scratches across the screen, which are very irritating and secondly, those interviewed are not easily identified.
As for the CD itself, there's a good cross-section of music presented from thrilling and dramatic cues, to funky movers, to easy-listening grooves, to jazz-influenced pieces,to those with a more folksy feel, all rhythmic and melodic, and all very '70s. The disc concludes with the infectious song "A Man Before Your Time," that featured in more than one cop thriller of the time.
An accompanying foldout booklet is also included, with notes on the DVD by Daniele De Gemini and plenty of full-colourt poster artwork. All in all a great souvenir and one that is well worth adding to your collection. Visit www.beatrecords.it

CD REVIEW - NAVAJO JOE


Navajo Joe
Music by Ennio Morricone
Film Score Monthly Vol.10 No.14 (US)
35 Tracks 55:26 mins

Composed the same year as Morricone's Italian Western classic The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, Navajo Joe may not be as well-known or loved as that score, but it's still a cracker. Starring a youngBurt Reynolds and directed by that other great Italian Western director, Sergio Corbucci, the former plays an Indian who comes to the aid of a town under threat and boasts a harsh, but nevertheless excellent score, making full use of Alessandroni's I Cantori Moderni, both singing and also screaming primally, as in the very opening track, and especially the amazing vocals of Gianna Spagnulo, who may not be as well-known as her fellow choir member Edda Dell'Orso, but whom Morricone turned to when he was seeking that more harsher sound.
There are some excellent themes on display here, not least the main theme, an infectious, timpani-driven number, which may not be any great shakes lyrically, but which will nevertheless leave you singing "Navajo Joe, Navajo Joe." Allied to this is a spectacular, dramatic cue for the more powerful moments in the film, a threatening 5-note theme for the baddies of the piece and a moving, guitars, strings and woodwind theme for the more poignant moments. These themes dominate the score and appear in variations throughout, supplemented by some atonal suspense, brief harmonica solos and the obligatory saloon piano track.
Sound quality is very good, considering this release is cobbled together from the original mono LP tracks, three stereo cues and previously unreleased material, again in mono. That original LP release, interestingly credited to Leo Nicholls, one of Morricone's early pseudonyms, was filled with misleading track titles, and here these are given more representative titles and rearranged in film order. Six bonus tracks include alternate takes and album arrangements, plus brief unreleased pieces.
Accompanying the disc is the usual colourful booklet, with stills from the film and informative notes by album producers Lukas Kendall and one of the kings of B-movie directing, Jim Wynorsk, including the valuable cue-by-cue guide.
Go to www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm?ID=8178 for samples and more information, as well as to order your copy.

NEWS FROM COSTA COMMUNICATIONS

FROM COSTA COMMUNICATIONS

Composer Tim Curran Scores Legendary Director John Ford’s

“Hangman’s House”

(Los Angeles, CA) Composer Tim Curran scores legendary director John Ford’s 1928 film “Hangman’s House,” part of the recently released and critically acclaimed “Ford at Fox” DVD box set produced by 20th Century Fox. The epic silent film, set in Ireland, features John Wayne in his first-ever role—as an uncredited extra—as well as Oscar-winner Victor McLaglen. The New York Times calls the DVD collection, “Quote to come…”

For “Hangman’s House,” Curran composed over 70 minutes of music, and his score covers an amazingly broad arc, from sweeping Irish-flavored themes and romantic melodies to playful counterpoint and modern motivic composition to help enhance the film’s dark, gothic scenes.

Curran comes from a jazz and classical background, having taken up the saxophone at age 11. He later studied guitar, and as an instrumentalist performed in many musical groups covering a vast variety of styles. That experience prepared him well for life as a composer, where for more than a decade he has been called upon to write everything from big-band jazz charts to Nashville country jingles, and from huge orchestral action cues to atmospheric soundscapes—and nearly everything in between.

Most recently, Curran has composed music for four documentaries on 20th Century Fox’s Collector’s Edition DVD of the Oscar-winning film “Twelve O’Clock High,” starring Gregory Peck, and is currently involved in various commercial projects for the Walt Disney Co., including Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disney Wide World of Sports. He also recently composed a piece entitled “Music for Six Guitars and Percussion,” which he recorded with six of L.A.’s finest guitarists and legendary film music mixer Dan Wallin for a project involving wireless, digital, 7.1 surround-sound technology.

“Hangman’s House” is available now, as part of the “Ford at Fox” collection, in a mini-set entitled “John Ford’s Silent Epics,” and as an individual purchase.

CD REVIEW - THE SILVER CHALICE


The Silver Chalice
Music by Franz Wazxman
Film Score Monthly Volume 10 Number 11 (US)
Disc 1 - 17 tracks 79:49 mins Disc 2 - 26 tracks 47:12 mins


Having only previously been available as a re-recording from Elmer Bernstein's Film Music Collection of selections from the score (also available from FSM), it is great to finally have Waxman's acclaimed original score in all its glory, and almost complete, despite the original stereo masters being long since lost, albeit with a few tracks only being available with effects present.
Released in 1954, the film's then young star, Paul Newman, has famously disowned it and it's true that it does not compare to some of the biblical efforts of the period, being stylistically very different, using very spare settings. And Waxman's music perhaps lacks some of the bells and whistles of a Rozsa or Newman epic score, but it's still fine music all the same and has plenty to enjoy, from its beautiful love theme, powerful and at times reverent religious music, drawing on the work of great liturgical masters like J.S. Bach, and a good lengthy action sequence. Indeed, so highly regarded was the score at the time that the Library of Congress requested the composer's original sketches, and a lengthy article even featured in the San Francisco Chronicle.
In addition to the score as heard in the film, this 2-disc set also includes music for deleted scenes and even temporary cues recorded before scenes had been shot. All this and the usual colourful and informative booklet, with notes and cue-by-cue guide by Lukas Kendall.
Go to www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm?ID=8128 for further details, samples and to order your copy.

NEWS FROM FILM SCORE MONTHLY

FSM PRESENTS 2 CD SET KINGS ROW AND THE SEA WOLF BY E.W.KORNGOLD

For more detailed information, click on this URL:

http://www.screenarchives.com/email.cfm?eid=6

NEWS FROM PERSEVERANCE RECORDS

Manzie Promo Out

The Film Music of Jim Manzie, Vol. 1
Perseverance Records PRP 022

Dear Collectors,

I am very excited! Part One of my labor of love is out: The Film
Music of Jim Manzie, Volume 1, was picked up from the pressing plant
on Wednesday. It came out great!!! This first anthology comprises a
cross section of seven of this underrated composer's body of work.

Since this is a promo, with the majority of the batch going to the
composer and the directors of the films represented on the CD, we are
only able to sell 250 copies here. So when they're gone, they're gone!

I am still working on getting sound files uploaded, so you can hear
some samples for yourselves. But trust me, this CD rocks!

This CD contains excerpts from Jim Manzie's scores to:
Blood Surf aka Krocodylus
The Life and Times of Eddie Presley
Leatherface - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre III
Lurking Fear
Pumpkinhead 2
The Escape Clause
The Story Tellers

To order click here: <http://store.fortytwotradingco.com/
soundtracks.html>.


Another composer signing

Dark Delicacies, Burbank, CA
December 8, 2007, 2-4pm

After the big success of the first soundtrack signing, we have
decided to do a second one.

This time, composers Donald Rubinstein (Martin/ Pollock), Paul
Hertzog (Bloodsport), Jim Manzie (The Film Music of Jim Manzie, Vols.
1 and 2), and Phillip Lambro (Crypt of the Living Dead, Murph the
Surf and The Film Music of Phillip Lambro) will be at hand to sign
your CDs. Also confirmed is Stan Bush of Bloodsport and The
Transformers fame. He will be signing Bloodsport CDs as well as his
own new album In This Life with the two Transformer bonus tracks.

Please note that both volumes of Jim Manzie's promos will be sold at
this signing, whereas the second volume won't be available on the Web
site for another two months. They are limited to 250 copies each.

Available exclusively at this event will be the brand new compilation
The Film Music of Phillip Lambro, which won't hit the Web site until
January 2008, and stores even later.

For more information click here.



First Release of 2008:

Mutant by Richard Band (expanded)
Perseverance Records PRD 024

Although we were having some initial problems with the master tapes
from Richard BAnd, it is now official: This expanded release will
contain circa 15 more minutes of previously unreleased music. The
tapes were in really bad shape, but we are having Chas Ferry, our
engineer, working on it, so that you can enjoy this great score with
the sound quality you have to come to expect from Perseverance Records.



Until the next time. Good listening,

Robin Esterhammer
President/CEO
Perseverance Records
http://www.perseverancerecords.com