The Tuesday Night Film Music Club

A couple of notes before we begin…

So far, I’m hosting the MP3’s that I offer as examples on a GoogleSite. But there is a limit to it, so I may have to take down some links a few postings after their debut…

Following a suggestion by Nunis, who asked me to add some of my favorite scores to this posts, I’m opening a new section devoted to a specific composer every week, picking some of their best work. Between that and the “Collectors/Must-Have/Small Gems” section, I think the list will keep growing at a great pace.

Finally, it should be pretty obvious that I don’t consider myself a music critic. Not even by a long shot. I just know when I listen to this music, whether if I’m moved by it or not. So my recommendations are mostly coming from the heart, from someone who just wants to share his passion and knowledge on the subject.

All right, down to business…



A Collector’s Trek

I’ve been into film scores for many years, but the one that really started it all for me was Danny Elfman’s “Batman”. A tape that I listened to over and over, until it finally gave up. Soon after I found out that another score that I really liked was Elfman’s “Beetlejuice”; so that made me stop and then start looking more into this Elfman fella. And from then on, my collection started growing, realizing what scores I enjoyed, and which composers’ style I was more into. For some, I just bought specific titles; others like Elfman, Goldsmith, Bernstein, I just had to find and buy it all. Thus, the collector in me was born. But not all this titles were easily available. I needed to find someplace where I could satisfy my crave. And I did. A place where I learned almost all I know, where I met fellow collectors, and where I was introduced to some of the people that nowadays I consider my best friends. A place in Madrid called “Cinescor”…and we’ll leave it there until next week.


Outstanding recent release

The Boys from Brazil (Jerry Goldsmith – 2 CD Set)

Limited edition of 5000 copiesAn incredibly hard to find score, gets the treatment it deserves! I think that the Intrada notes will explain it better than I can.

Intrada wrote:
Wow! 2-CD world premiere of complete Academy Award-nominated Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack for Franklin Schaffner thriller from Ira Levin novel, starring Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier. Shaffner always inspired best in Goldsmith. Here he responded with global action, excitement! Original 1978 LP was a favorite of composer. He personally edited 35 minutes of highlights into unique 3-movement suite plus one song. Intrada now proudly presents entire 55-minute score, mixed from magnificent condition multi-track session masters. Ferocious action cues (missing from LP) are highlights! Lengthy "The Killers Arrive" with dynamic tuba/bass trombone "Nazi" motif another previously-unreleased gem! Intrada also offers all-important original LP, fully remixed & remastered for best audio ever! Still more bonus material: classical excerpts conducted by Goldsmith at sessions, original radio "samba" (by Arthur Morton!) heard on boy's radio in Paraguay plus pair of score alternates! Thrill to every note of Goldsmith's masterpiece in powerhouse stereo! Detailed notes by Jon Burlingame complete dramatic package. Jerry Goldsmith conducts National Philharmonic Orchestra. By exclusive arrangement with Licensor, Intrada Special Collection limited to 5000 copies!

Track: Main Title
(.ram file directly linked from Intrada)


Relevant website

Intrada Store
Intrada is not only a Soundtrack record label, but their store is pretty good too. And not just for their own releases. A definite recommendation for those titles that you won’t find at Amazon


A favorite composer: Danny Elfman

One of the most famous composers nowadays, especially for his work with Tim Burton. Also, provides the singing voice for Jack Skellington in “the Nightmare before Christmas”.
Wikipedia / IMDB

A Few favorites

Music for a Darkened Theatre (Vols. 1 & 2)
Two excellent releases, with examples from his career and a few rarities and unreleased works. A definite must, that allows you to compare his various styles.

Batman/Batman Returns
I can’t say much about this two. Contemporary classics. And a theme remembered by all.

Sommersby
Not one of his most famous titles, but a varied, at times hopeful and mostly tragic, symphonic score.

Nightbreed
From his day of Oingo Boingo fame, Elfman has experimented with a lot of percussion. This was his first score were he incorporated a lot of them, giving it an intense tribal sound.

Black beauty
Another of his lesser known titles. But trust me, it is a gorgeous theme, and a beautiful symphonic score mixing celtic/irish sounds in the recording.

Nightmare before Christmas
The music is definitely good, but the songs are just too good to pass. Funny, creepy, sad, a joy to listen to...



Collectors corner, Must-Have & Small Gems

As the section indicates, here I’ll try to name 3 scores; the first, a difficult to find title, the second, is pretty much given, and the third, is a score that you may not think about that often (mainly due to the quality of the film), but it’s a surprising find.

Collector’s corner: Chinatown – Jerry Goldsmith
This academy award nominated score (one of the composers personal favorites), has always been difficult to find. It is definitely a highly sought after title. But it’s not its rarity that makes it great. It’s the fantastic film noir approach given by Goldsmith. It just sounds like a classic. And its most famous theme, often played by Goldsmith in concerts is a prime example
Track: Love Theme

Must-Have: Edward Scissorhands – Danny Elfman
I purposefully left this one out of the Elfman list, because it is, in my opinion, his best work. Absolutely magical, and comical, and tragic (And there’s Tom Jones too….) I just can’t describe it, but I can say that it moves me every time I listen to it.
Track: Grand Finale

Small Gems: Untamed Heart – Cliff Eidelman
A very short release (26 mins. of music only) from a movie that all I can say is “the music was really nice”. It is a beautiful theme, and a score driven by a very melancholic piano. It’s minimalist approach and sound is what makes it such a nice piece to listen to.
Track: Untamed Heart titles


Trivia
There are many theories floating around about why is the “Jaws” theme so effective. A popular explanation is that those basic two notes repeated over and over, sound like the heartbeat of the shark approaching.In reality, John Williams was sitting at the piano, and just started playing those two notes while thinking about a scene. When he realized what he was hearing, he quickly incorporated it into the score, until he actually transformed it into the main theme.