CD REVIEW - 4 DOLLARI DI VENDETTA


4 Dollari di Vendetta
Music by Benedetto Ghiglia
GDM Hillside Series GDM 4126
27 Tracks 56:42 mins

The third recent Italian Western score release in the GDM Hillside Series features Benedetto Ghiglia's music for 1966's 4 Dollari di Vendetta (Four Dollars for Vengeance), much of which is another premiere recording, save for tracks 1 & 2, which were originally released on a C.A.M. single.
The album opens with the aforementioned tracks, firstly the marching song "Let Him Go," initially whistled, then performed by the Choir 4 + 4 di Nora Orlandi, with a lyric by Ghiglia and M. Russo; and secondly with the catchy Mexican-styled "Fuorilegge," an action piece, with a dance-like quality. "Let Him Go" is then reprised in a different arrangement, which includes trumpet, as is "Fuorilegge" in a a slower, more spare variation, complete with high-spirited Mexican voices at one point. Both these themes are to crop up in numerous arrangements throughout the subsequent score, only broken up by the occasional new piece, like the dramatic trumpet-lead "Deguello per una Vendetta, heard in short and longer arrangements; the familiar-sounding "Valzer Grazioso," which I'd swear I've heard in another score somewhere; the charming music box-like "Valzer dei Ricordi," which later receives a sombre organ treatment, and a lighter version for flute; the light-hearted tune "Buffo Saloon," which again has a familiar ring to it; and of course the obligatory saloon piano track (Buffo Saloon also receives the saloon piano treatment later on, incidentally).
If you don't mind your scores on the repetitive side, you'll enjoy this one, which is a tuneful traditional Italian Western offering.
Accompanying the disc is the usual colourful booklet, with stills and artwork from the film, the original C.A.M. single cover art, and principal cast and credits. Again, there are only 500 copies going, so hurry along to www.hillsidecd.co.uk if you want one.