Sebastian
Jerry Goldsmith
" Sebastien sounds like Flint "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Sebastian of 1968 was a romantic / dramatic / thriller about 2 code decrypters who fall in love and compromise their mission by doing so. And hearing Jerry Goldsmith's work in the end, I wouldn't assume too much about the whole thriller aspect, because it all sounds a bit more lighthearted than perhaps thrillers ought to be. This release of Intrada includes not only the mono and stereo pieces (for the first time ever), but also unused portions of Tristram Cary's musical sfx's that sound like computers taking a dump.
As said, don't take Sebastian too serious, as it doesn't sound serious when you start listening to "Main Title", a funky upbeat piece in the vein of Bandolero and the Flint scores (Our Man Flint, In Like Flint) that even has a catchy 'do do' choir in the middle, nominated for most catchy addition to the album. A couple of lounge based piano melodies and bass rhythms aside in "The Decoders" that keep things nicely moving along, the selection of stereo cues show a lovely balance between the upbeat main theme (insanely addictive when a trumpet adds some spunk to it in "Checkmate") and the more suspenseful moments like "Carol's Apartment" and "The Trip" (never fully forgetting the more funky elements of the overall Sebastian sound).
The inclusion of "Sputnik Code" is of course laughable. Not only are we experiencing an electronic piece of music at the height (then) of its time, but also an attempt to actually make a musical melody of it. So expect what I write here but like you expect it now done by a three year old who found out an Atari musical program to play with. Yes that bad. Luckily after that Goldsmith closes the stereo selection with the best possible version of the main theme, including a more orchestral tone.
The score (offering a good polished sound quality) is most specifically aimed at the Jerry Goldsmith nuts who will find it a delight to finally hear the unpublished stereo selections of Sebastian on album. Sadly, those lovely people at Intrada also offered an extra 18 minutes of Tristram Cary's ?work? for our amusement. Well probably his amusement and our torture, so better skip it if you still want to end the album with a positive feeling. Not one of Jerry's personal favorites, but as always there's a distinctive quality in the funky material that makes it just right for background listening. Even the mono will suffice for that.
Favorite Moment - Checkmate (1.11 - 2.10)
Catchy and highly wicked, a theme and a trumpet at work
Track Listing
Tracks 1-10 - Original Motion Picture Score Album (Stereo)
1. Main Title (2.32)
2. You Gotta Let Me Go (2.41)
3. The Decoders (2.35)
4. Checkmate (2.13)
5. Carol's Apartment (2.57)
6. Comes the Night: Jimmy A. Hassell * (2.38)
7. Night Scene (1.11)
8. The Trip (2.27)
9. Sputnik Code ** (1.51)
10. First Day at Work (3.21)
Tracks 11-32 - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Mono)
11. The Red Insect (2.30)
12. Main Title (3.56)
13. First Day at Work (3.14)
14. The Decoders (2.49)
15. Night Scene (1.01)
16. Juke Box Jury Number (0.12)
17. A Matter for Thought (0.35)
18. A Visit to Carol (0.58)
19. Under Observation (Checkmate #2) (0.35)
20. The Pursuit (Checkmate #3) (1.04)
21. Checkmate (Checkmate #1) (0.56)
22. In A Bad Way (0.55)
23. The Interior Decorator (0.28)
24. Caught in the Act (0.32)
25. No Answer (Carol's Apartment #2) (1.07)
26. A New Assignment (0.54)
27. Jodrell Bank (1.09)
28. The Wrong Address (Carol's Apartment #1) (1.43)
29. Comes the Night (Carol's Theme) * (2.02)
30. The Trip (1.55)
31. The Right Address (0.49)
32. End Title (3.40)
Tracks 33-44 - Unused Tristram Cary Material (Stereo)
33. Sputnik Code Revision – Code with Morse (1.37)
34. Sputnik Code Revision – Code without Morse (0.11)
35. Sputnik Code Revision – Proper Speed (Full Mix) (3.56)
36. Loop 1 – Clicks and Scrapes (0.56)
37. Loop 2 – Electronic Codes (0.55)
38. Loop 3 – Rattle and Low Notes (0.48)
39. Sputnik Code – Very Wild Mix (2.10)
40. Sputnik Code – Mix with Code (1.48)
41. Final Code Mix – With 10-Second Pulse Removed (1.09)
42. Code 1 (1.08)
43. Code 3 (1.04)
44. Assorted Sounds for Titles (2.20)
* lyrics by Hal Sharper
** composed by Tristram Cary
Total Length: 75.32
As said, don't take Sebastian too serious, as it doesn't sound serious when you start listening to "Main Title", a funky upbeat piece in the vein of Bandolero and the Flint scores (Our Man Flint, In Like Flint) that even has a catchy 'do do' choir in the middle, nominated for most catchy addition to the album. A couple of lounge based piano melodies and bass rhythms aside in "The Decoders" that keep things nicely moving along, the selection of stereo cues show a lovely balance between the upbeat main theme (insanely addictive when a trumpet adds some spunk to it in "Checkmate") and the more suspenseful moments like "Carol's Apartment" and "The Trip" (never fully forgetting the more funky elements of the overall Sebastian sound).
The inclusion of "Sputnik Code" is of course laughable. Not only are we experiencing an electronic piece of music at the height (then) of its time, but also an attempt to actually make a musical melody of it. So expect what I write here but like you expect it now done by a three year old who found out an Atari musical program to play with. Yes that bad. Luckily after that Goldsmith closes the stereo selection with the best possible version of the main theme, including a more orchestral tone.
The score (offering a good polished sound quality) is most specifically aimed at the Jerry Goldsmith nuts who will find it a delight to finally hear the unpublished stereo selections of Sebastian on album. Sadly, those lovely people at Intrada also offered an extra 18 minutes of Tristram Cary's ?work? for our amusement. Well probably his amusement and our torture, so better skip it if you still want to end the album with a positive feeling. Not one of Jerry's personal favorites, but as always there's a distinctive quality in the funky material that makes it just right for background listening. Even the mono will suffice for that.
Favorite Moment - Checkmate (1.11 - 2.10)
Catchy and highly wicked, a theme and a trumpet at work
Track Listing
Tracks 1-10 - Original Motion Picture Score Album (Stereo)
1. Main Title (2.32)
2. You Gotta Let Me Go (2.41)
3. The Decoders (2.35)
4. Checkmate (2.13)
5. Carol's Apartment (2.57)
6. Comes the Night: Jimmy A. Hassell * (2.38)
7. Night Scene (1.11)
8. The Trip (2.27)
9. Sputnik Code ** (1.51)
10. First Day at Work (3.21)
Tracks 11-32 - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Mono)
11. The Red Insect (2.30)
12. Main Title (3.56)
13. First Day at Work (3.14)
14. The Decoders (2.49)
15. Night Scene (1.01)
16. Juke Box Jury Number (0.12)
17. A Matter for Thought (0.35)
18. A Visit to Carol (0.58)
19. Under Observation (Checkmate #2) (0.35)
20. The Pursuit (Checkmate #3) (1.04)
21. Checkmate (Checkmate #1) (0.56)
22. In A Bad Way (0.55)
23. The Interior Decorator (0.28)
24. Caught in the Act (0.32)
25. No Answer (Carol's Apartment #2) (1.07)
26. A New Assignment (0.54)
27. Jodrell Bank (1.09)
28. The Wrong Address (Carol's Apartment #1) (1.43)
29. Comes the Night (Carol's Theme) * (2.02)
30. The Trip (1.55)
31. The Right Address (0.49)
32. End Title (3.40)
Tracks 33-44 - Unused Tristram Cary Material (Stereo)
33. Sputnik Code Revision – Code with Morse (1.37)
34. Sputnik Code Revision – Code without Morse (0.11)
35. Sputnik Code Revision – Proper Speed (Full Mix) (3.56)
36. Loop 1 – Clicks and Scrapes (0.56)
37. Loop 2 – Electronic Codes (0.55)
38. Loop 3 – Rattle and Low Notes (0.48)
39. Sputnik Code – Very Wild Mix (2.10)
40. Sputnik Code – Mix with Code (1.48)
41. Final Code Mix – With 10-Second Pulse Removed (1.09)
42. Code 1 (1.08)
43. Code 3 (1.04)
44. Assorted Sounds for Titles (2.20)
* lyrics by Hal Sharper
** composed by Tristram Cary
Total Length: 75.32