Recent Purchases: Scores - Part I

I absolutely LOVE the suite approach to soundtracks, and wish more did it. Especially if they reconceptualize the music AS suites (in this case, however, I believe they've merely merged a number of tracks).

And that's why it's a good thing we don't live in Thor's world.

RP: The Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe - Robert Mellin & Gian-Piero Reverberi

I bought this CD on the basis of its main theme, which is, as Timmer might put it, a corker!
Interestingly the CD booklet speaks of 'nostalgia value'...I have never seen the series: it was broadcast in 1964, and as far as I was able to ascertain, never aired in The Netherlands. There is a second-hand nostalgia element as the eighties/nineties electronics group Art Of Noise brought out an updated version in 1989 which went right up the charts....but here's the really weird thing: I recognised the theme even back then, with a real strong emotional connection too. Not "Oh yeah. Nice.", but more like "Oh my god! Yes! That's...that's ...what the hell IS that again???"!
I have no idea where or how I could have possibly been exposed to it before.

Anyway, Mellin and Reverberi are clearly steeped in the early sixties pop tradition: there's loads of 'twang' guitar, 'surf sound' and harpsichord throughout the overall extremely catchy and enjoyable tracks. It's all quite light and lovely, with the two main themes making welcome appearances throughout.

The CD is in mono. Heck, it's 1964 French TV scoring. What'd you expect?
But the sound is beautifully cleaned up and crystal clear. In fact, were it not for being monaural, technically it could have been recorded yesterday. Kudos to sound engineer Mark Ayres on this one!

The CD is rounded off in stereo by a 7 minute suite rendition of all the major themes, by Nic Raine and the City Of Prague Philharmonic. This has been available before on several compilation CDs, but it's still a fine addition and a very rewarding performance.

The CD is only 7 quid at the SIlva Screen store (a pound cheaper than the MP3 download...go figure! ), and I recommend it wholeheartedly to those who enjoy the lighter (sixties) side of scoring in the Barbarella vein...or to those who simply can't get enough of that magnificent theme.

I don't have any connection to that, but I love the series JACK HOLBORN, which aired in the early 80's. Similar 'vibe'. Great music too.

No, I don't have the theme, but I've listened to it (and other suite bits) on Youtube in later years. Strangely, it didn't ignite immediate nostalgia when I did. Guess it's one of those rare cases where you remember the series well, but not the music. Which is strange, because the music is very bold and thematic.

Princess Mononoke by Joe Hisaishi
arrived this morning.

This marks the 800th entry in my score collection excel chart. Matrix Reloaded (LLL) will be Nr. 801 when it arrives one of these days. And then Hobbit II if nothing else comes my way.

Volker

Hmmmm, that's a shame. I was hoping for something more memorable.

SCREENPLAYING is probably one of the first soundtracks -- and probably also CD's -- that I ever got back in the early 90's. I remember that with the exception of a few cues, I didn't like it that much at the time. It sounded a bit "tinny" and basically just Knopfler substituting the studio album recording with a film music album recording (little sense of proper drama).

But that was then. I wonder how I would have felt today. I sold the CD some time in the early 2000s.

You asked about the sound. It's mostly in a quite gaelic idiom. Irish-flavoured with Knopfler's trademark guitars.

War ja nur'n Spass. Ich geh ja morgen das erste Mal waehlen...die CDU wirds definitiv nicht sein.

Yeah, but I've been pretty much resigned to that fact since the election began. Peer Steinbrueck isn't exactly the most inspiring of candidates - he's not a bad politician, but he isn't at all capable of seriously challenging Merkel. Then again, I won't vote SPD either. And the good thing about the German political system (unlike the other country I voted for recently) is that voting for the smaller parties actually makes a difference!

The other good thing, of course, is that even the more conservative German parties are nothing compared to the Republicans.

These just came in:
- For Those I Loved (Au Nom De Tous Les Miens) - Maurice Jare
Have owned it on vinyl for decades.
- The White Dawn - Henry Mancini
Hope the full score lives up to the AWESOME suite! (I could have sworn it was just 'White Dawn' though, without the 'the').
- The Pleasure Of His Company - Alfred Newman
It's Newman.

...and the vinyl re-issue of Murray Gold's Doctor Who!
I had the CD since forever, but the idea of having this on vinyl as well was simply too awesome to resist!

And now Spartacus arrived at my parent's place where I use to have parcels delivered. I think I'll leave it there till Friday. I'll enjoy this set over christmas.

Volker

Upon opening the package I found the jewel cases destroyed and falling apart. Luckily the CDs themselves were not damaged. As I found out you can buy quad jewel cases, too. I have never bought such a one before. So this will be easily mended. It's still annoying.

Today in the mail:

The Hobbit II - Howard Shore (Standard Edition)
The Hobbit II - Howard Shore (Special Edition)

High Noon - Dimitri Tiomkin (SAE)
The release of "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" reminded me of the fact, that this icon of western film music was still missing from my collection. I long had Tex Ritter's London Recording of the theme song. Now I have the film version, too.

Crossed Swords - Maurice Jarre
Timmer made me aware of this one. How could I resist?

Fantastic Voyage - Lauerence Rosenman (FSM)
I got this collector's icon used in mint condition for 38 €. A reasonable price methinks.

Volker