CD REVIEW - WANTED JOHNNY TEXAS


Wanted Johnny Texas
Music by Marcello Gigante
Saimel 3998912 (Spain)
20 Tracks 70:48 mins

Can't tell you much about this 1967 Italian Western, save that it numbered Fernando Sancho amongst its largely unfamiliar cast, and that the music was by Marcello Gigante. That's because the colourful accompanying booklet text is in Spanish, but there are plenty of stills and original artwork from the film.
This limited edition of just 500 units features an almost 19 minute suite in mono; the complete score over 15 tracks in stereo; and 4 additional stereo bonus tracks. The disc commences with the mono suite, but I'm going to address it from the complete score tracks, few of which are titled, which doesn't help. So, track 2 (the main titles) gets things off to a cracking start with a galloping trumpet-lead theme. Track 3 builds quite dramatically to a conclusion, to be followed by the romantic track 4, voiced largely by woodwinds with electronic organ support. The organ is quite prominent in the score and takes the lead in a slower rendition of the main theme, which is followed by more of 3. The love theme returns to open track 7, voiced this time largely by electric guitar and flute, but the main theme returns in quite a subdued, sad version to close. Track 8 opens with an easy-going travelling feel, but soon gives way to the brief galloping main theme, and then guitars-lead conflict, before the travel music returns to nicely close proceedings.
The galloping main theme opens track 9, but is quickly silenced by dissonant organ chords, which dominate proceedings until a brief reprise of the main theme at the close. Track 10 mostly consists of rumbling timpani, but is followed by an excellent track filled with catchy Mexican-styled themes. Track 12 reprises the travel theme, but is followed by conflict, with some harsh electric guitar in track 13. A rather bluesy electric organ dominates the next track, with some recourse to the love theme, before electric guitar closes things on quite a light note. A new, timpani and drum-driven galloping theme follows; with the final track providing a final dramatic reckoning, before the main theme returns to gallop us out.
The mono suite pretty much reprises the key elements of the score, but has a few original moments, including a female vocal lament, along with tolling bell.
As for the bonus tracks, the first two feature the galloping main theme in two different versions with the trumpet lead line missing and, as a result, sound sadly incomplete. Track 19 & 20 are outtakes, both on the jazzy side and, whilst catchy enough, sound more like something written for a crime thriller.
Something of a mixed bag then, but I've definitely heard much worse, and there are enough favourable moments to entertain most Italian Western score fans. You might still be able to grab a copy by going to www.hillsidecd.co.uk.