Let’s try this again, shall we?

Let’s try this again, shall we?

It’s taken me a long time to be back in my happy place (particularly at work)

Without much ado, let’s get down to business…

E-Commerce

Truly, the advent of e-commerce has revolutionized the world for soundtrack collectors.

Not only you can now find scores from all over the world, via stores and auctions, but now labels and composers themselves have found a direct line to the consumer.

The labels have been able to recover a bunch of unreleased scores and work deals for limited releases; much better for them, with lower fees and pretty much guaranteed sold out editions. And the composers themselves have been releasing some of their works.

The only thing, is that there is a bit of craziness with the limited editions, quickly selling out in some cases, and then fetching exorbitant prices on eBay. So, we have to keep up, with Varese Sarabande, Intrada, La-La-Land records…

Outstanding recent release

Back to the Future(Alan Silvestri – 2 CD Set)

Limited edition of ??? copies

Finally!!! The original release was mainly devoted to the songs, with 2 suites of music. Most collectors have enjoyed the subsequent releases of parts 2 and 3 as a substitute. But nothing like the original.

Here are the release notes from the publisher

Intrada wrote:

Wow! At last! Alan Silvestri's complete orchestral soundtrack for legendary Robert Zemeckis movie, released by Universal, produced by Steven Spielberg, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd. Spectacular 2-CD set offers every cue Silvestri fashioned for landmark movie, presented from complete multi-track scoring session masters. CD 1 features now-iconic score used in movie. (Songs can be found on MCA label release.) But there's more! Many film fans know movie underwent changes in lead actor & serious tone of initial production. Find out now how Silvestri made changes as well! CD 2 presents early sessions featuring entire score Silvestri recorded before re-scoring with now-familiar one. Early version features darker, more serious tone in music than final version. Cool alternate scoring highlight: powerful trombone chords for initial version of Marty arriving in "Peabody Barn". Another powerful highlight: lengthy, intense action music for "George To The Rescue". Highlighting both discs, of course: early and final versions of complete "Clocktower" sequence, a genuine cinema-scoring milestone. Authoritative notes by Michael Matessino on background of production, scoring details, session dates plus great color stills complete package. Both early version and familiar "famous" version of score offer non-stop excitement! Alan Silvestri conducts. Note: While this is a limited release, we don't want anyone to miss out on this important album. For that reason, we are electing not to specify a quantity, but our Agreement allows us to exceed the usual 3000 limit. There should be more than enough to go around!

Track: It’s been educational/Clocktower


Relevant website

Moviescore Magazine

Mainly devoted to news of the film music industry; I like the clean interface, and the news themselves. Good for a weekly roundup of what’s going on, and who is assigned to different scores



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: Dragonslayer – Alex North
This academy award nominated score only had 2 editions, both incredibly rare. The editions are actually a mess, if you try to follow the notes with the movie. But it’s still an impressive and somber score, very symphonic. It’s difficult on a first hearing, but I consider it a necessity.
Track: Elspeth's Destiny; Dragon Scales

Must-Have: Up – Michael Giacchino
Giacchino is without a doubt one of the best composers on the field today. From all his exceptional work for different video games, to being JJ Abrams go-to guy, and then demonstrating his exceptional qualities with Pixar films. And for this title, he managed to add the same value that the movie has. Heart.

Track: Carl goes up

Small Gems: Cruel Intentions – John Ottman
A very interesting release, not only for a very simplistic score, that also showcases other works from the composer, including themes and suites for titles like Halloween H20, Lake Placid or Incognito; and always showcasing on each one how clearly he understands the main theme of the films.
Tracks: Jealousy / Incognito Theme


Trivia

Alex North was commissioned by Stanley Kubrick to write the score for “2001: A Space Odyssey”. But he was devastated when he discovered at the 1968 New York City premiere screening that his score had been replaced.
Since then, it has been released twice (the first after insistence from his friend Jerry Goldsmith, who re-recorded it); among scholars, there are those who even argue that the film would be even better, had the music not being replaced