CD REVIEW - CHIPS SEASON THREE 1979-80 + NEWS FROM COSTA COMMUNICATIONS


CHiPs Season Three 1979-80
Music by Alan Silvestri
Film Score Monthly Vol.11 No.10 (US)
27 Tracks 79:11 mins

This second volume of Alan Silvestri's music for the popular adventures of Highway Patrolmen Jon and Ponch is basically more of the same, and there's really not a lot more to say about it. If you enjoyed FSM's first volume, you're pretty much guaranteed to like this as well, filled as it is with more punchy, brass-lead melodies, all to a driving disco beat. The only exception is part of track 18, which features the underscoring of a nature documentary being watched on TV by prison inmates. Mind you, I was a little worried with some early tracks, which represent a different approach to early season 2 episodes when vocals (written by an unknown lyricist, although the composer thinks he may have written them himself, though there is no evidence to support this) were added to Silvestri's themes, giving them a real disco dance feel. All I can say is thankfully this approach was abandoned.
The album of course would not be complete without John Parker's original theme, which was retained throughout six series, although given a disco arrangement by Silvestri for seasons 2 through 6, and this both opens and closes the disc.
The accompanying 12-page booklet features album producer Lukas Kendall's notes on the second season and its music, together with a guide as to which episode each track is taken from, and all lavishly illustrated with plenty of colour stills from the show.
For further details at www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm?ID=10603, where you can of course also order your copy of this enjoyable album. Can't wait for Volume 3!

From Costa Communications:

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED COMPOSER

ALEX WURMAN SCORES

WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU

Soundtrack Available through Yari Film Group on iTunes December 12^th

Wurman Scores Four Christmases - #1 Movie at the Box Office

(Hollywood, CA)–Critically acclaimed composer Alex Wurman scores What Doesn’t Kill You, directed by Brian Goodman. What Doesn’t Kill You is based on events from Goodman’s life. The film stars Mark Ruffalo (Brian) and Ethan Hawke (Paulie), as friends who grow up like brothers on the gritty streets of south Boston. They do whatever it takes to survive. Petty crimes and misdemeanors grow into serious offenses and eventually, they cross the path of organized crime boss Pat Kelly (played by Goodman). As Brian becomes increasingly lost in drugs and ‘jobs’, his relationship with his wife (Amanda Peet) and his children suffers. Paulie plans “one last heist” but knows it will take both of them to pull it off. What Doesn’t Kill You opens in theatres on December 12^th; the soundtrack will be available on iTunes December 12^th.

Wurman’s original score to What Doesn’t Kill You mixes electronic music while maintaining an organic feel. Wurman performed on and recorded the score to What Doesn’t Kill You at his studio. It is simple yet complex, much like the characters it represents in the film. His music to What Doesn’t Kill You is poignant and haunting, embodying the emotional struggles of Brian and Paulie. Wurman had the Herculean task of creating music to set the tone of a film based on his director’s life.

After studying music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Alex Wurman moved to Los Angeles to pursue film music scoring. Independent films started coming his way, and soon he was working with directors such as John August, Doug Liman and Ron Shelton. This year Wurman was honored with an Emmy nomination for his score to the HBO film Bernard and Doris. Wurman’s resume reflects the quality and diversity of his talent, boasting films such as March of the Penguins, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Thirteen Conversations About One Thing, Anchorman and Play It to the Bone. Wurman’s score can be heard in the #1 movie at the box office, Four Christmases, starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon.