GEORGES DELERUE

Compilations are great!

Delerue box set surfaced for pre-order at Screen Archives:

here.

$89.95

When my order arrives I "might" even save it for Christmas day!?

Ugh, I hate compilations. They're such teases. What I really want is a full set of all these individual scores, in as complete a form as possible!

Isn't that true of any compilation?

The thing is that Delerue is already enormously well represented (OVER represented maybe even) on compilations, where -in wry contrast to many of his contemporary colleagues- many, indeed most, of his scores are marvellous works to listen to as full-length items.

I've already started to save up pennies for the Delerue box, something I haven't done in YEARS!

Well, I received this set Friday and have worked my way through the first 3 CDs. Many of the titles have been arranged in suites. For some, (RICH AND FAMOUS; RAPTURE; SOMETHING WICKED; NOBODY RUNS FOREVER) it works well in spite of the fact I would STILL like more from these films and LEAVE OFF main titles for films which we already have complete scores (OUR MOTHER'S HOUSE; THE 25TH HOUR; THE ESCAPE ARTIST; THE DAY OF THE DOLPHIN, etc.)

The producers have done their best to extract the best sound possible for all material. Sadly some original tracks for INTERLUDE have not aged well, whilst the title track for LE COMPLOT blows the 20-year old Virgin CD off the planet !! Similar stellar sound is heard for BEACHES, MEMORIES OF ME, THE BLACK STALLION RETURNS and others. Wonderfully obscure material such as LE POINT DE MIRE, RICHARD'S THINGS and PREMIER VOYAGE are staggering revelations....so many gems !

...my observations thus far.....

It's not limited.

The Legrand box set is selling for $20 now so it might be best to wait for a while and see how the prices are.

New release from Kritzerland: THAT MAN FROM RIO

Kritzerland is proud to present its newest limited edition CD – the original motion picture soundtrack to Philippe de Broca’s classic That Man From Rio, with music by Georges Delerue.

That Man From Rio hit movie screens in 1964 and was an instant sensation. A brilliant adventure comedy thriller, the film had it all – adventure, comedy, and thrills and plenty of them, plus the star power of Jean-Paul Belmondo in the lead, along with the stunningly beautiful Francoise Dorleac as his fiancé. Also on hand were Jean Servais and Adolfo Celi, both terrific in supporting roles. The film was shot on location in France, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia (the city of the future, just then being built). The film was a huge success, especially in the United States, so much so that its screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award.

The score was by de Broca’s frequent collaborator, the great Georges Delerue. For That Man From Rio Delerue created one of his most delightful scores, one that perfectly accompanied the outrageous action on the screen. The score has so much variety and humor and melody and beauty, and in so many different styles – from pure adventure scoring to Brazilian rhythms (and some great songs), along with some hauntingly beautiful passages, and all in the classic Delerue style. The duo of de Broca and Delerue is a triumph of music and image working hand in hand.

At the time of the film’s release, two 45rpm EPs were released, one in France and one in the UK, both comprised of different material and amounting to approximately twenty minutes of music. Both were very hard to find and became very sought after collector’s items. Universal France issued what they called a “soundtrack” CD – that had only six cues, three of which weren’t from the soundtrack at all, but were re-recordings conducted by Alexandre Desplat. The reasons for this, as stated in their booklet, was that the cupboard was bare for Rio tapes in Delerue’s personal archive.

Happily, the cupboard wasn’t bare for Kritzerland and we are thrilled to present every note of Georges Delerue’s marvelous score, all taken from the original tapes. In addition to the complete score, we’ve included a few things that didn’t make the film, as well as some alternate versions of cues, where tempos were different. The CD runs over seventy minutes.

Some of the cues are mono, some stereo and are presented here exactly as they were recorded.

This release is limited to 1000 copies only. The price is $19.98 plus shipping.

CDs will ship the second week of April – however, preorders placed directly through Kritzerland usually ship one to three weeks earlier. To place an order, see the cover, or hear audio samples, just visit www.kritzerland.com

INTRADA Announces:

MEMORIES OF ME
Music Composed and Conducted by GEORGES DELERUE
INTRADA Special Collection Volume 98

The 1988 MGM film Memories of Me is a simple story of a complicated relationship, chronicling the reunion and reconciliation of a father and son. Dr. Abbie Polin (Billy Crystal) is a successful New York heart surgeon estranged from his dad Abe (Alan King), who ekes out a living as a bit player and extra in Hollywood. Abbie jokes his way through his practice, and through his relationship with his girlfriend Lisa (JoBeth Williams) but the laughs are clearly covering up his unhappiness. And when the doctor suffers a mild heart attack, he realizes that it’s time to make his peace with his father. However, the self-proclaimed “King of the Hollywood Extras” is even more of a performer offstage than on, making Abbie’s hoped-for reconciliation tougher than he anticipated...

No composer working at the time was better suited to capture the melancholy, yet hopeful yearing of the film's characters. That composer is none other than Georges Delerue, and his score for Memories of Me is as charming, spirited and subtly complex as the composer himself. A score that is part orchestral, part jazz, this little gem from Delerue's gorgeous body of '80s work is brief, yet potent. Remixed and mastered from the original multi track units at MGM, this release is limited to 1000 copies and features liner notes by Richard Kraft, reflecting on his own experiences as fan, agent, and friend of Delerue.

INTRADA Special Collection - Volume 98
Retail Price: 19.99
AVAILABLE NOW
For track listing and sound samples, please visit
http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.6147/.f

I just don't have much choice but to miss this one.

Ordered it. Ever since hearing the sublime (edit: dang, Southall used the same adjective...how about celestial?) suite on the Great Composers compilation I told myself I would order this the moment it was ever released. Thanks for making me aware, Erik. For me, this one is a no-brainer.

The question is, is 27 and a half minutes of Delerue worth it? (Take away the Beethoven track, which feels inserted to get the album over 30 minutes in length.) Owners of the London Sessions already have what are probably the best 6 minutes on the compilation. Given I know that the remaining original music is partly jazz (not Delerue's strong point), and some of the cues are very short, it's just not a very compelling proposition.

You old grouch! I simply applied Southall's Fifth Rule:

27 and a half minutes of listening to Delerue > 27 and a half minutes of not listening to Delerue