"Star Wars": The LP

Speaking of Star Wars (1977) (referencing the last post), I have the Star Wars soundtrack LP vinyl.

It is the original pressing as I bought it within days of seeing the movie in 1977.

Naturally, I still have it in my record collection. 

"The Best of Bond... James Bond" LP Set

My order of the 2021 release, "The Best of Bond... James Bond" three-record LP set arrived today. I ordered it through Tower Records.

It is the latest compilation of main title tracks to the James Bond movies from Dr. No (1962) to No Time To Die (2021). The set includes Adele's "Skyfall", a song not included, oddly, in the official soundtrack album. The CD version contains two discs.

According to 007.com:

UMe have released an updated version of “The Best Of Bond… James Bond”, a digital, 2CD and 3LP vinyl compilation featuring celebrated Bond theme songs. The new James Bond 2021 Edition includes “No Time To Die” by Billie Eilish from No Time To Die. Also now included are Adele’s “Skyfall” from Skyfall and Sam Smith’s Spectre theme, “Writing’s On the Wall,” – Oscar® winners for Best Song in 2013 and 2016, respectively.

I decided to get the LP set as vinyl records have better sound quality than does CDs. I was not disappointed.

If one is a fan of Bond movies, especially the music, this is a must-have album.

Ultimate James Bond Soundtrack Mix

If you happen to be a fan of the James Bond movies and need something to listen to while reading, cooking, drawing or even housework, Mark Horner has put together 120 minutes of Bond soundtracks from the past sixty years on YouTube.

He did an excellent job with this compilation. I'm listening to it now. I'm just over a half hour into it.

Ennio Morricone Dies At 91

The world has lost one of the giants in movie music scoring.

Variety reported:

Oscar winner Ennio Morricone, composer of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and “The Mission” and among the most prolific and admired composers in film history, has died. He was 91. 

Morricone died early Monday in a Rome clinic, where he was taken shortly after suffering a fall that caused a hip fracture, his lawyer Giorgio Asumma told Italian news agency ANSA. 

Shortly after Morricone’s death was confirmed, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tweeted: “We will always remember, with infinite gratitude, the artistic genius of the Maestro #EnnioMorricone. It made us dream, feel excited, reflect, writing memorable notes that will remain indelible in the history of music and cinema.” 

The Italian maestro’s estimated 500 scores for films and television, composed over more than 50 years, are believed to constitute a record in Western cinema for sheer quantity of music. 

At least a dozen of them became film-score classics, from the so-called spaghetti Westerns of the 1960s, including “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and “Once Upon a Time in the West” to the widely acclaimed “The Mission” and “Cinema Paradiso” of the 1980s.

To read more, go here. 

"Love In The Country"

To start off this new work week (for those who do have to work), here's the opening theme from the 1963 comedy, McLintock! by the Limeliters (featuring Glenn Yarbrough).

Bob Cobert Passes Away At 95

Above, composer Bob Cobert.

Dark Shadows composer Bob Cobert has passed away at age 95, according to ShadowGram.

They posted:

SHADOWGRAM – THE OFFICIAL DARK SHADOWS NEWS ONLINE UPDATES
Sunday, February 23, 2020
SHADOWGRAM UPDATE # 434

***** SHADOWGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT:

-- BOB COBERT, “DARK SHADOWS” MUSIC COMPOSER – IN MEMORIAM

********************************************
An Official Internet Publication of SHADOWGRAM – THE OFFICIAL DARK SHADOWS NEWSLETTER
********************************************
BOB COBERT, “DARK SHADOWS” MUSIC COMPOSER – IN MEMORIAM

It is with great sadness that ShadowGram reports the passing of Robert “Bob” Cobert, composer of the original Dark Shadows soundtrack music. He passed away on February 19, 2020 from pneumonia at the age of 95.

Cobert’s career was characterized by its breadth and versatility. An accomplished musician, composer, musical director and arranger, Cobert distinguished himself with imaginative musical scores for film, television, theater and ballet. His work embraced jazz, classical, folk, pop, rhythm-and-blues, rock and even disco.

Few musical themes in television history are as memorable as Cobert's for the original cult 1966-71 daytime drama Dark Shadows. In addition to the scores for House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows – the 1970 and 1971 motion pictures based on the series – and the 1991 primetime mini-series revival, Cobert's genre work includes a wealth of other iconic projects with producer-director Dan Curtis such as The Strange Case of Dr. Jeykll & Mr. Hyde, The Night Stalker, Trilogy of Terror, Burnt Offerings, Dracula and Intruders. Cobert is also responsible for the sweeping soundtrack to the epic 1983 mini-series The Winds of War and was Emmy-nominated for its 1988-89 sequel, War and Remembrance, creating the largest musical score in the history of television or film.

"Duke! The Films of John Wayne"

Above, the case of Duke! The Films of John Wayne. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Another CD set of John Wayne movie music arrived in today's mail. I haven't listened to it yet, but the set is called, Duke! The Films of John Wayne.

The set is straightforward and self-explanatory. It features soundtrack main titles and themes of Duke's movies from Stagecoach (1939) to How The West Was Won (1962), 35 of them.

This set, like the Rio Bravo set that arrived yesterday, will be welcome additions to my RV stack of music for those long road trips.

This issue is from Jasmine Records this year.

UPDATE:

I listened to the CD and all tracks are originals from the movies. Some are in mono and some are in stereo. Enjoyable!

"Rio Bravo" Soundtrack CD

Above, the Rio Bravo CD set. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 1959, the classic Howard Hawks/John Wayne western was released.

From Wikipedia:

Rio Bravo is a 1959 American Western film produced and directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, and Ward Bond. 

Roger Ebert called Rio Bravo Hawks's "masterpiece". While that may be the case, it was aided by a great soundtrack by Dimitri Tiomkin.

I went on a little CD-buying spree last week and the first one arrived today. It is the two-disc Rio Bravo soundtrack album. This was perfect timing for me as it has been raining today and this gave me something new to listen to (maybe I'll watch the movie while having dinner tonight).

This will come in handy on long RV drives in The Beast during camping/travel season.

As I mentioned, this is a two-disc set and there's lots to enjoy. Disc One has most, if not all, music cues along with the main theme. On the case, it is listed as "The Score Part 1".

Disc 2 is a lot more enjoyable. It is listed as "The Score Part 2" with more music cues. Then it goes into the "Original Soundtrack" and "Bonus Tracks".

It is on Disc 2 that various version of "My Rifle, My Pony and Me" are presented, including the version with Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan. There's also studio versions featuring Martin alone (man, he had a smooth voice and style). There's also "Cindy" from the movie and studio versions by Nelson. And, there's a recording of Nelson singing "Restless Kid".

Also, in Disc 2, is an introduction by John Wayne of Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson.

I'd say Disc 2 is worth the purchase price alone! And, there's also a 16-page booklet!

If one is a western movie fan or just a fan of movie soundtracks, I highly recommend the Rio Bravo CD set.

My grade: A+.

Remastered and Expanded "Thunderball" Soundtrack Album

Above, the 2003 remastered and expanded CD of Thunderball. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in late 1965 or early 1966, I bought the original soundtrack LP album for the fourth James Bond (Sean Connery) movie, Thunderball. I still have it.

The album had only about half of the movie's music as John Barry was still composing the soundtrack and the producers were in a rush to get the album on the shelves in time for Christmas 1965.

Above, the original 1965 soundtrack LP and the remastered and expanded edition. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Until now (rather, at least since 2003), that has been the only version available. Thankfully, the "missing" music has been added to the newer edition, which I just bought and am listening to now.

Amazon's description:

If Goldfinger proved that the James Bond franchise was box office dynamite, 1965's Thunderball cemented the British super-spy's international appeal--and further forged a set of pop culture cliches that both inspired and endured even Mike Meyer's modern, multi-chaptered Austin Powers spoofing. While Goldfinger also marked composer John Barry stamping his enduring influence on the series' music, this fourth installment finds his big band and jazz-inspired arrangements pulsing with confidence, stripped down rhythmic tension and exotic elegance. Tom Jones follows up Shirley Bassey's previous larger-than-life title track performance with a worthy rival of his own, its dramatic, Barry-composed melody interpolated throughout the composer's masterful score. Songwriter Leslie Bricusse (who co-wrote "Goldfinger" with Barry) also returns, teaming with the composer on the emblematic "Café Martinique" and delightfully kitschy "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (originally intended as the film's Bassey-sung theme song, but abandoned and replaced by the film's producers). This new, digitally remastered and expanded edition notably doubles the running time of the original album with selections that bristle with Barry's haunting string and wind arrangements, including two suites comprising 20-plus minutes of the film's concluding underwater intrigue. It's one of Bond's--and Barry's--best. --Jerry McCulley

"Elvis Presley: The Seacher" Soundtrack CD Reviewed

There are two soundtrack collections of CDs of "Elvis Presley: The Searcher". They were used in the documentary now being shown on HBO.

I had already posted about the three-CD deluxe edition. Entertainment Focus has posted a review of the 18-track CD. I have both sets. I am keeping the deluxe edition in the house and the 18-track CD in The Beast (for those of you who don't regularly follow this blog, that's my Winnebago).

The review begins with:

Elvis Presley is an artist whose work and influence on music has been celebrated countless times over the years. He’s the true embodiment of a legend and his music will continue to be talked about, possibly for the rest of time. Award-winning film-maker Thom Zimney has taken a new look at Presley’s growth as an artist in his three-hour two-part film Elvis Presley: The Searcher. The film aired on HBO in the US last month and a soundtrack for it has been released across a variety of formats. This review looks at the 18-track CD version of the soundtrack. 

Elvis Presley: The Searcher – The Original Soundtrack takes 18 essential tracks used in the film and they are a mix of live performances, hits and rare alternative versions of some of Presley’s best songs. The set opens with a live performance of Trouble/Guitar Man showcasing the blusier side of Presley’s repertoire. It really is a fantastic start to the soundtrack and Presley is in fine vocal form.

To read the full review, go here.

007 On Vinyl

If one is a fan of a particular movie genre or franchise, they also would pick up tie-in merchandise.

Ever since my parents took me to see a double-feature of From Russia With Love and Dr. No, I have been a James Bond fan since.

I have a few records (vinyl LPs and 45 r.p.m. singles for those of you born after CDs took over.

In the old days, vinyl records were easy to find. One of my favorite places to find new and older 45 r.p.m. singles was Licorice Pizza (now defunct). I bought a lot of singles there. Tower Records (mainly the Sunset Blvd. store) was another great source for records.

The first 007 record I bought was in 1965 right after the release of Thunderball. It is the soundtrack album:

The next soundtrack album I bought was sometime in the 1980s, Dr. No, the very first James Bond movie:

A few years later (still in the 1980s), I picked up this compilation album, James Bond Greatest Hits:

I have four James Bond singles in my vinyl collection:

Above, from upper left to right, Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney and Wings), Octopussy
(Rita Coolidge), Never Say Never Again (Lani Hall) and A View To A Kill (Duran Duran).

I have other Bond albums on CD, but I just wanted to concentrate on vinyl.

Just In Time For Halloween

My CD of "The Original Music From Dark Shadows" arrived in the mailbox today. I am playing it now as I write this.

So far, the sound quality is excellent. I already have this album in cassette, bought when it first came out in 1969. It it well worn (still playable, though).

This edition has some bonuses (the radio interviews) that were not in the original album.

The tracks are:

1. Opening Themes: Dark Shadows/Collinwood
2. I'll Be With You, Always
3. Josette's Theme
4. A Darkness At Collinwood
5. Meditations
6. Night Of The Pentagram
7. When I Am Dead
8. No.1 At The Blue Whale
9. Shadows Of The Night (Quentin's Theme)
10. The Secret Room
11. Epitaph
12. Seance
13. I, Barnabas
14. Back At The Blue Whale
15. The Old House
16. Epilogue/Dark Shadows
17. Radio Interviews (1968)-Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Roger Davis, Humbert Allen Astredo...
18. Radio Interview (1969)-David Selby

Above, Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins.

Just in time for Halloween!

"Dark Shadows" Composer Bob Cobert Turns 90

Above, Bob Cobert. Photo by Dark Shadows News Page.

Emmy Award-winning composer Bob Cobert turns 90 today.

Cobert composed the original music score for ABC-TV's Dark Shadows daytime soap opera (or spook opera) of the 1960s. He also scored the movie spin-offs House of Dark Shadows (1970) and Night of Dark Shadows (1971).

It just so happened that early this morning I ordered a CD of the "Original Music From Dark Shadows" (pictured above). I already have the cassette version (well worn) that came out in 1969, but since the album was being offered at Amazon.com, I decided to get the CD.

Happy Birthday, Bob!

"Godzilla" Soundtrack [Spoiler Warning] Pre-Order

The Godzilla soundtrack is now being offered as a pre-order at Amazon and it lists the track titles, which appears to give away how the movie will play out [possible spoilers below]:

1. Godzilla!
2. Inside The Mines
3. The Power Plant
4. To Q Zone
5. Back to Janjira
6. Muto Hatch
7. In The Jungle
8. The Wave
9. Airport Attack
10. Missing Spore
11. Vegas Aftermath
12. Ford Rescued
13. Following Godzilla
14. Golden Gate Chaos
15. Let Them Fight
16. Entering The Nest
17. Two Against One
18. Last Shot
19. Godzilla's Victory
20. Back To The Ocean

Superman 1953 Music Cues

One of my hobbies is to collect soundtracks from favorite movies and television shows.

Above, Jack Larson and George Reeves in 1953.

Around 13 years or so ago, Varese Sarabande released the first season (1951) music cues from the Adventures of Superman television show starring George Reeves. It was a nice CD loaded with music favorites from the film noir season of Superman (the ones that have Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane). I frequently play that CD when I am reading or writing.

After that CD was released, there were indications floating around "out there" that music cues from the second season (1953) of Superman would be released on CD. Fans waited and waited for a release, but none ever came. Unless someone decides otherwise, no official release appears to be in the cards.

Above, the 1951 music cues release by Varese Sarabande.

So, it was left up to fans to put together the 1953 music cues. About three years ago, I did some tracking down of some of the 1953 cues and another fan found others. We combined our finds and I made a CD of the cues we found, which I have played to death over the past three years.

Recently, word had reached me that another fan compiled two CDs full of 1953 Superman music cues. The ones I had previously only make up perhaps about 5 - 10% of what's on these CDs. Since the price was right, I ordered a set and after playing them, I can report that these are worth their weight in gold!

As these aren't authorized, I am keeping mum on the source. Shhhh!

There is one music cue that is a favorite (that I couldn't find earlier) called "Tumult and Confusion." I was hoping that this set would include it, and sure enough, it did. But, there's a bonus to this particular piece of music. Included in this set are two additional versions of "Tumult and Confusion" as bonuses. One was recorded in the 1960s and the other was recorded in the 1990s. Definitely the "icing on the cake!"

If these music cues ever see an official release, I will definitely buy it. But I am quite satisfied over what I have now.