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Robbing the Cradle of Life

NEW SOUNDTRACK RELEASES

The "official" soundtrack CD from Jan de Bont's TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE is out from Hollywood Records (2061-62417-2) but don't get too excited. It's the typical rock song and remix collection, and most of the songs have nothing to do with the film. Some day people will realize that these aren't soundtrack albums and their content isn't film music, but I'm not holding my breath. Fifteen songs of various merit and limited interest (6 of them culled from other releases) comprise the CD, followed by a single, obligatory cue from Alan Silvestri's score (a 5:23 track that starts out very slow and somber but then tenderly opens up into Silvestri's poignant theme). You're better off waiting for the full score CD, which comes out from Varese Sarabande on Aug 26.

Basil Poledouris' [IMG2R]splendid score for the Michelle Yeoh Asian actioner THE TOUCH (soundtrack from Go East Records reviewed here on April 3, 2003) is now available as an Asian import in an all-region audio DVD that contains the original soundtrack mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound. The audio DVD also contains three cues not featured on the original soundtrack CD, as well the music video of the film's theme song performed by Kelly Chen and a making-of documentary. Other specials include the photo gallery, the genesis, the trailers & electronic press kit, the script and the production notes of the movie. To order see www.buysoundtrax.com.

SOUNDTRACK AND FILM MUSIC NEWS

On August 12 Varese will release Elliot Goldenthal's big budget action score for S.W.A.T., starring Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell. In his first score since winning an Academy Award for his music for FRIDA, Goldenthal creates a propulsive and highly aggressive score for this much anticipated action blockbuster. In addition there are two songs, and a remix of the classic original television S.W.A.T. Theme performed by Danny Saber.

Some time in August, Perseverance Records will follow up their CD to John Gale's score for DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN with Basil Kirchin's score for its predecessor, THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES. The disc will also feature Kirchin's music for 1966's H.P. Lovecraft adaptation THE SHUTTERED ROOM. This release features the original score from the movie and has nothing to do with the abominable Paul Frees recordings that were available on the American International Pictures LP released at the time of the movie. The label's premiere release of the Denny Zeitlin INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS score (1976) should be hitting the streets right about now. See http://www.perseverancerecords.com/.

Victor Salva's [IMG3L]JEEPERS CREEPERS (2001) was a creepy and effective horror film with a neat, textural score by Bennett Salvay released on CD in a somewhat elusive edition from Free Inc. Its success has spawned a sequel, which in turn has spawned a score CD of Salvay's sequel music, which reportedly whips up an orchestral storm to accompany the mayhem inherent in the new movie. The soundtrack to JEEPERS CREEPERS 2 will be released by Varese Sarabande on August 26^th.

Late July is set for the release of The Fred Karlin Collection, Vol. 3: Electronic Chronicle. This limited edition (500 copies) promotional CD will contain Fred Karlin's newly remastered electronic scores to 4 made-for-TV films, HOSTAGE FLIGHT (1985), MURDER C.O.D. (1990), DADAH IS DEATH (1988) and FINAL JEOPARDY (1985). The CD will include a deluxe full-color 20-page booklet.

Screen Archives (www.screenarchives.com) announces the imminent availability of several Italian horror scores: TERRORE NELLO SPAZIO (PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES) by Gino Marinuzzi, Jr., a 1965 Mario Bava cult classic starring Barry Sullivan and Norma Bengell and a double feature with two Italian scores on one CD: SETTE SCIALLI DI SETA GIALLA by Manuel De Sica (1972 thriller starring Anthony Steffen and Sylva Koscina) and RAPTORS: KILLING BIRDS by Carlo Maria Cordio (a 1987 splatter horror starring Robert Vaughn and Lara Wendel).

Silva Screen Records has re-released as a budget edition several of its most notable genre releases. THE VALLEY OF GWANGI: The Classic Film Music of JEROME MOROSS (CD: FILMCD 161) features a world premiere digital recording of music from THE WAR LORD, THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, THE SHARKFIGHTERS, THE MOUNTAIN ROAD, RACHEL RACHEL, FIVE FINGER EXERCISE and WAGON RAIN, culminating in a 20-minute suite from the hitherto unreleased soundtrack to THE VALLEY OF GWANGI. Over 75 minutes of music performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Bateman are included.

On July 1^st, Silva will re-issue The Essential Nino Rota Film Music Collection, a 2-CD set featuring over 100 minutes of music including Rota's quite essential scores to Zeffirelli's THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, THE GLASS MOUNTAIN, DEATH ON THE NILE, ROMEO AND JULIET, THE GODFATHER I & II, Fellini's JULIET OF THE SPIRITS, LA DOLCE VITA, HISTOIRES EXTRAORDINAIRES, ROMA, AMARCORD and LA STRADA. The music is performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Derek Wadsworth, Paul Bateman, Nic Raine, [IMG4R]and Mario Klemens.

On August 26^th, Silva will mid-price reissue their premiere recording of the seminal horror score, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. This CD, originally issued in 1993, was the first complete recording of the landmark 1935 score by Franz Waxman, performed by the Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Kenneth Alwyn. The recording (with over 73 minutes of music) also includes Waxman's music from THE DEVIL DOLL, TARAS BULBA, REBECCA, OBSESSION, and PRINCE VALIANT. See http://www.silvascreen.co.uk.

Silva also [IMG5L]offers a limited quantity of the French edition of the 3-volume Silva Screen original soundtrack selection from THE PRISONER. The French release, entitled LE PRISSONIER, takes the three separate Silva Screen discs, but with the French dialogue equivalent clips in place of the English dialogue, and puts them into special round plastic cases and packed into a tin with a specially cut round booklet (in French). The tin also includes a Number 6 badge. See http://www.silvascreen.co.uk. www.amazon.fr also has the French CD set available.

Intrada has released Lalo Schifrin's soundtrack to the 1980 prison warden drama, BRUBAKER.

FILM MUSIC ON DVD

Disney's biggest live action film, 1954's 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, recently came to DVD in a very nice widescreen edition. Of particular note on its special features disc is a very nice tribute to Disney mainstay composer Paul Smith (10 minutes). The featurette incorporates an archival audio interview with Smith as well as remarks from his successor, Robert B. Sherman. The segment gives an overview of Smith's career at Disney (he scored everything from animated shorts to the laudable TRUE-LIFE ADVENTURE shorts) and his work on this film.

Warner Brothers' forthcoming LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION DVD set will contain among its 56 animated shorts and voluminous special features a nice featurette on the music of Carl Stalling that was so essential to these cartoons, as well as a number of alternate music tracks. This set is due for release on October 28^th.

EMMY Music Nominations

This year's Emmy nominations have been announced. Here are the music categories, courtesy of filmscoremonthly.com:

MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE, OR A SPECIAL (DRAMATIC UNDERSCORE)

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  Eloise At The Plaza - Bruce Broughton


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  Hitler: The Rise Of Evil - Normand Corbeil


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  The Lost World: Part 2 - Rob Lane


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  Martin And Lewis - Ernest Troost


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  Tennessee Williams' The Roman Spring Of Mrs. Stone - John Altman

MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A SERIES (DRAMATIC UNDERSCORE)

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  The Agency "The Great Game" - Jon Ehrlich, Jason Derlatka


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  Enterprise "The Expanse" - Dennis McCarthy


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  JAG "Need To Know" - Steve Bramson


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  Odyssey 5 "Pilot" - Laura Karpman


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  24 "10:00 PM - 11:00 PM" - Sean Callery

MAIN TITLE THEME MUSIC

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  Boomtown - Philip Giffin


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  Everwood - Blake Neely


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  Miracles - Joseph S. Williams, W.G. Snuffy Walden


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  Monk - Jeff Beal


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  Penn & Teller: Bullshit! - Gary Stockdale

MUSIC AND LYRICS

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  The Concert For World Children's Day - "Aren't They All Our Children" - Music by David Foster, Lyrics by Linda Thompson


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  The Fairly OddParents "Love Struck" - "What Girls Love" - Music by Guy Moon, Lyrics by Butch Hartman, Steve Marmel, Scott Fellows


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  The Fairly OddParents "Love Struck" - "It's Great To Be A Guy" - Music by Guy Moon, Lyrics by Butch Hartman, Steve Marmel


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  It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie - "Everyone Matters" - Written by Desmond Child, Davitt Sigerson


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  The Simpsons "Dude, Where's My Ranch" - "Everybody Hates Ned Flanders" - Music by Alf Clausen, Lyrics by Ian Maxtone-Graham, Ken Keeler

MUSIC DIRECTION

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  75th Annual Academy Awards - Bill Conti


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  Cher - The Farewell Tour - Paul Mirkovich


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  Christmas In Washington - Ian Fraser


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  Meredith Willson's The Music Man - Michael Kosarin

Soundtrax is our weekly Movie Soundtrack column.