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Review of The Ernest Gold Collection, Vol. 1 ****

https://www.filmscoremonthly.com/fsmonline/story.cfm?maID=8451
The Ernest Gold Collection, Vol. 1 ****
 
  ERNEST GOLD
Dragon’s Domain DDRDG738
30 tracks - 77:53

Ernest Gold (1921-1999) had a rich composing career, writing such classic scores as ExodusOn the Beach and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. However, his resume is dotted with just as many odds and ends, some of which have been gathered together by Dragon’s Domain for The Ernest Gold Collection, Vol. 1.

Smooth as Silk (1946), the first of several noir and noir-adjacent stories scored by Gold, is represented by two source tracks: “Dinner Music” makes for a laid-back piece of muted trumpet and tinkling piano, before building to a frantic climax of racing strings and booming brass. “Private Party” is more samba flavored, with shaker percussion and muted horns.

Written a year later but opening the album is the “Main Title” for Exposed (1947), which ably captures the crime drama’s moods, from imposing brass to swirling string work. The music of The Naked Street (1955) is quite eclectic, with high strings and muted trombone earmarking “The Cheating Husband.” “The Baby Dies” is appropriately grim with its doleful string work. The same instrument section gets a workout in the tense “Hijacking,” while “Brother and Sister” looks back almost wistfully on the events of the story, with harp supporting wavering strings.

The semi-documentary UFO (1956) examines the rise of the flying saucer phenomenon. The stately march of the “Main Title” gets things off to a rousing start with cascading brass. After a string ostinato and muted, bustling trumpets whisk us away to “Washington,” “Saucer Concerto” throws in some disturbing musical effects, while “Washington National” creeps along with horns and sorrowful string work.

Man on the Prowl (1957) pits a family against a mentally fractured delivery man. The theremin takes the lead in the “Main Title,” spiced with quaking horn figures. “What I’ve Got Isn’t for Delivery Boys” is a dramatic piece for woodwinds and occasional brass. Strings and flute steadily build in “A Good Angle,” while the “Radio Source” cue favors swaying trumpets and bassoon backing. Following a return of the theremin, “The End of Doug and Finale” slowly trudges along to an uplifting brass finish.

Wink of an Eye (1958) is a more lighthearted tale of jealousy and murder (!), reflected by the theme in the “Main Title”: swing trumpets with woodwind accents not too far removed from a musical idiom one might find in a sitcom. “All Is Well” draws out the main theme, one of several quotes performed on everything from chimes to flute.

One of Gold’s last projects, Safari 3000 (1982) was an odd story of an auto rally across Africa, and its score is heavily featured here. In “Flute Source/Start Your Engines/Airport Arrival,” a tribal flute solo leads to a rousing passage for booming horns and chopping strings. The main theme presents itself on brass before the cue concludes with an exotic, Arabic-sounding transitional melody.

Made of up four short cues, “This Is a Rented Car/Lorenzo/Get on With It/Steal That Engine” bounces from bounding brass and burbling woodwinds to a romantic-sounding theme on lush strings; a downbeat violin solo then trades off with a descending villain motif that is passed around the orchestra.

The jaunty music of “The Race Begins” works in a brief quote of “America the Beautiful” on chimes, before giving way to “Bridge Peril,” with its pounding piano and exciting brass. “Meet in the Mud/Find the Salami” is carried by lush strings and a horn reading of the main theme, while “Take a Picture” introduces a harpsichord into the comical mix.

Escalating four-note horn figures wind their way through “Behind You/Story Time” before sliding strings and a neoclassical passage finish things off. “Zebras/I Hope We Win,” meanwhile, races along with galloping brass and chattering xylophone, as well as the return of the romantic motif.

The main theme starts off “It Doesn’t Have to Be/Those Cigars Are Killing Me/Up a Willow Tree/The Moment Supreme” before the appearance of a bouncy horn idea. In the midst of the upbeat scoring comes a quote of “Rule Britannia.” “A Short Cut/Thanks for the Push/End Credits” begins with a string ostinato and Arabic-like winds before reprising the main theme on brass and chimes.

In the midst of the score, Gold also provides several source cues. The rock-based “Rally Party Source” is comprised of drums, guitar and peppy organ. “Hotel Lounge Source” carries a party atmosphere, driven by upbeat trumpets and guitar. “Hotel Lounge Source #2” employs piano, sounding not unlike “As Time Goes By.” Finally, “Let’s Dance” is a slow dance for saxophone and bass guitar.

Once again, Dragon’s Domain deserves credit for excavating and compiling a composer’s lesser-known efforts, and The Ernest Gold Collection, Vol. 1 emerges as one of the year’s most pleasant surprises. —Tor Harbin

End Credits From “The Amityville Horror” (Lalo Schifrin) music video

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The Exorcist: Classic Horror Film Themes Vol.1 (1970 - 1973)

The Exorcist: Classic Horror Film Themes Vol.1 (1970 - 1973)

Here is our latest digital release:

The Exorcist: Classic Horror Film Themes Vol.1 (1970 - 1973).

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Airwolf TV Series Soundtrack Playlist (Sylvester Levay and Rick Patterson)

Airwolf TV Series Soundtrack Playlist (Sylvester Levay and Rick Patterson)

Newly Recorded music from the 1980's TV Series AIRWOLF composed by Sylvester Levay and Rick Patterson

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Strange Sleep (From The Film "The Dunwich Horror (1970) performed by Joohyun Park

Strange Sleep (From The Film "The Dunwich Horror (1970) performed by Joohyun Park

A Modern take on this theme from Les Baxter's score for the 1970 film THE DUNWICH HORROR.

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FSM Online reviews the Lee Holdridge soundtrack to ATOMIC TRAIN

FSM Online reviews the Lee Holdridge soundtrack to ATOMIC TRAIN

https://www.filmscoremonthly.com/fsmonline/story.cfm?maID=8162

 

To Order the CD and hear audio clips of the score go here: https://tinyurl.com/2p8wuasw

Having already released a couple of volumes of Lee Holdridge’s music in their composer-based “collection” series, Dragon’s Domain now presents his score for the 1999 NBC mini-series Atomic Train. The two-part thriller finds Rob Lowe called in to help stop a runaway train headed to Denver, that just happens to have a bomb among its cargo. Holdridge was one of the go-to composers for TV films in this era, and this is just one of several he scored for the 1998-99 season. Atomic Train is also the second mini-series disaster score by Holdridge to be issued by the label, with the other being 10.5 (2004).

Holdridge’s music is usually driven by fine thematic writing, and in Atomic Traintwo primary ideas quickly come to the forefront. A menacing series of dark harmonies and dissonance bursts forth in “Railroad Crossing,” which shows off a metallic, percussive edge to the motif, helping to depict the train itself. “Ultrasound” follows with a touching, lyrical thread that provides contrast to some the more visceral material. This more traditional sounding Holdridge fare also depicts Lowe’s character’s connection to his family as the danger increases.

While the score is orchestral, there are electronics present that lend a contemporary vibe from time to time. Similarly, the electronic percussive elements propel the action forward, further simulating the forward movement of the train. The film’s explosive climax is followed by some wonderful large-scale orchestral writing, particularly during the final emotional arrival as things wrap up with a huge statement of the theme. The touching “End Credits” is another solid example of Holdridge’s gorgeous orchestral stylings.

Atomic Train is a successful blend of orchestral writing with electronic textures and percussion. The frequent shifts between the tension-building fare and the lyrical passages make for a diverse listening experience. In all, this a solid work for a very forgettable telefilm, but fans of the composer will want to seek out its thematic rewards. For more information on the limited edition album of 500 units, and to check out samples of the score, visit Buysoundtrax.com. Steven A. Kennedy

Comments regarding this review can be sent to: stev4uth@hotmail.com.

Patrick Williams theme for THE MAGICIAN (45 Single version)

Patrick Williams theme for THE MAGICIAN (45 Single version)

Patrick Williams theme for THE MAGICIAN (45 Single version)

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New Youtube Video: Theme from KRULL for solo Piano performed by Joohyun Park

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cool Youtube review of BUKIMISHA: GODZILLA VS. RODAN - THE SPIRITUAL VOICES OF AKIRA IFUKUBE

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Something for Christmas and the Holidays from BSX

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