CD REVIEW - 1000 DOLLARI SUL NERO


1000 Dollari Sul Nero
Music by Michele Lacerenza
GDM Hillside Series GDM 4115
23 Tracks 39:39 mins

This 1966 Italian western, starred genre regulars Anthony Steffen and Gianni Garko and was directed by Alberto Cardone.
The score, by Michele Lacerenza, not surprisingly features the composer on trumpet for the brilliant opening deguello "Johnny's Theme," which is as good as anything of its kind, and of course faultlessly played. The theme is expanded dramatically in the following "Uno Straniero in Citta," and variations and fragments appear frequently in subsequent tracks, even in somewhat romantic style for "Attimi D'Amore" and "Ricordi."
Some galloping action, complete with electric guitar features in "Inseguimento," and again the guitar theme, introduced in this track, returns for "Marcia di Johnny," and the uptempo "Caccia." Dramatic battle music can be heard in "Fuga," "Contro I Nemici" and "Spiando Il Nemico."
Contrasting all the action and drama are "Nostalgia Di Lei" and "Accompamento All'Alba" which drift along with choral enhancement.
Of course no score for this genre would be complete with its source cues and "Storie Del West" and "Leggende Del West" feature jolly harmonica-lead tune, whilst "In Chiesa" features a church organ solo.
The album concludes with Peter Boom's spirited vocal of the Lacerenza/Gangarossa ballad "Necklace of Pearls."
The colourful accompanying booklet features stills and original artwork from the film, as well as cast and crew credits.
Amazingly, for such a fine score, only a single, featuring "Johnny's Theme" and "Necklace of Pearls" was previously released, so it's great to finally have it available to enjoy in full.
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