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Unearthed: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Original Soundtracks

This Week's RecommendationS

In one of their most significant releases to date, FSM has released a splendid two-CD set containing more than two and a half hours of never-before-released original soundtrack music from THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (FSM Vol 5 No 18). The music, including a main theme and three episode scores by Jerry Goldsmith, is among the '60s' best television music and characterized much of the decade's jazz/lounge/spy music genre. The best of all four seasons of U.N.C.L.E. has been compiled in a nicely packaged release, with copious track-by-track liner notes by producer/journalist Jon Burlingame, who deserves most of the credit for unearthing these elusive original tracks. Previous releases of U.N.C.L.E. music was in the form of highly jazzified rerecordings by Hugo Montenegro and crew and, while very listenable and likable, contained far different arrangements and none of the suspense music that underscored the series. This release is a most welcome addition to any film music collection. (See www.filmscoremonthly.com for more.)

Disney has [IMG2R]released James Newton Howard's third and final animated score (after DINOSAUR and ATLANTIS). Howard's score for TREASURE PLANET (Disney 60799-7) is as swashbuckling as the title might suggest, containing 14 score cues following a pair of humdrum pop songs provided by John Rzeznik and BBMak. Start the CD at track #3 for the true soundtrack. Howard's music is melodic and dramatic, with plenty of poignant melodies to capture the heart, and plenty of dynamic action surges and crescendos to drive the spirit. "To The Spaceport" sums up much of the score's attitude a rousing, ascending melody ripping with driving brass and a crystal clear violin melody. Its invigorating sensibilities are very much in a STAR WARS vein. Softer cues like "Rooftop" are introspective and lyrical, intricately orchestrated for synths and symphs alike; "Roopftop" eventually morphs into a somber, dark mysterioso featuring choir very compelling. Howard ignores the fact that he's scoring an animated film and gives the picture his bloody best. The score serves the film's character relations and dramatic action well and makes for a very satisfying CD release.

It's not [IMG3L]film music but it ought to be. The Italian progressive metal group Rhapsody released their fourth CD, Power of the Dragonflame (Limb LMP 0203-040 CD), last year in Europe, but it took a few months to find its way onto our shores (see Recommended at right for a link to order). Consistently operatic, symphonically dramatic, and musically cinematic in their approach to prog metal, Rhapsody characterizes the best in this musical genre with strident rhythms, powerful Wagnerian/Orffian group vocals, intricate and dynamic guitar solos, and a consistent dark fantasy milieu to their lyrics, inventing what they call "Hollywood metal" due to its unique cinematic properties. This fourth album closes the heroic fantasy story that was told over the course of the previous three releases. The CD booklet is not only graphically fantastic, but conveys the narrative of the overarching storyline and the lyrics of each song. (See www.mightyrhapsody.com/ for more.)

SOUNDTRAX NEWS

Soundtrack Magazine, [IMG4R]the world's longest-running film music magazine and one of the most respected, has published its final quarterly issue after more than 25 years of publication. Beginning in 2003, the magazine will move to an annual schedule. The December issue features extensive interviews with Howard Shore (LOTR: THE TWO TOWERS), Danny Elfman (RED DRAGON), William Ross (HARRY POTTER & THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS), and Christopher Young (THE CORE). (See www.soundtrackmag.com.)

The Airstrip One Company [IMG5L]& Percepto Records offer the world premiere release of Stanley Myers' score for the 1980 television mini-series of Ray Bradbury's THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES (AOD 003). This world premiere CD release is produced under license from MGM and with the participation of the Royal College of Music and the estate of the late composer. Composer Stanley Myers was at the height of his career - and just nominated for an Academy Award for THE DEER HUNTER - when he was chosen to score THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES. In his score for this film, Myers augments a standard symphony orchestra with electric keyboards and guitar, and a variety of ancient wood flutes to represent the aliens and their culture. The 65 minute CD features music from all three segments of the epic science fiction drama. A 24 page full-color booklet accompanies the album and includes dozens of photos (most never-before-seen), an international poster gallery, pre-production sketches, storyboards, sheet music, an in-depth analysis of the making of the mini-series and its music, interviews with screenwriter Richard Matheson, producers Charles Fries & Dick Berg, designer Assheton Gorton, original articles by director Michael Anderson, actor Bernie Casey and author Ray Bradbury, and a special tribute to Stanley Myers written by Hans Zimmer. (See www.buysoundtrax.com.)

On January 27^th, [IMG6R]Percepto Records will release the first CD release of FEAR NO EVIL, the 1981 horror hit starring Stefan Arngrim (of LAND OF THE GIANTS fame) as a high school nebbish who also happens to be Lucifer himself! This deluxe limited edition CD features the complete original underscore by writer/director/composer Frank LaLoggia (LADY IN WHITE) and David Spear, plus a lavish full-color booklet with liner notes by Daniel Schweiger and a witch's brew of behind-the-scenes photos, posters & lobby cards and concept art from the film. (See www.percepto.com.)

Percepto Records has also announced the first anywhere release of Lee Holdridge's heartfelt score for DREAMER OF OZ, a TV-movie written by Richard Matheson about the life of L. Frank Baum, author of WIZARD OF OZ. This is a rich orchestral score for a dramatic romance punctuated by some notable fantasy sequences in Oz. The CD booklet will include interviews with Holdridge and producer David (AMERICAN TAIL) Kirschner.

Germany's Bear Family Records has begun a new series of film music collections called Deutsche Filmkomponisten, highlighting the efforts of German film composers. Volume 2 BCD 16482 AR) collects the work of Gert Wilden, including the main title music from THE FACE OF FU MANCHU (ICH, DR. FU MANCHU, 1965), arguably the best of Christopher Lee's interpretations of the insidious doctor Dr. Fu Manchu. The rest of the CD contains music from a variety of German thrillers and dramas, and not a few sex comedies. Wilden's music is punchy and jazzy, his title music for the FU MANCHU film has a touch of the Orient in its stylism, but otherwise is quite a catchy pop tune in fine mid-'60s European spy music style. The packaging one of Bear's strongest points contains a thick and colorful booklet with a myriad of international posters from each film, and a nice trifold cardboard cover. (See www.bear-family.de.)

Belgium's Prometheus Records has issued, for the first time on CD, Jerry Goldsmith's thunderous score for THE SWARM (PCR 517). This is a 3000 unit limited numbered collectors edition containing the compete original soundtrack recording by Jerry Goldsmith (Star Trek) for the 1978 Irwin Allen disaster film epic. The 72+ minute CD release features the complete film score performed by the Hollywood Symphony Orchestra.

Marco Polo has released a new collection of film music by Polish composer Wojciech Kilar, BRAM STOKER's DRACULA And Other Film Music (8225153). Featuring a performance by the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and Cracow Philharmonic Chorus, the release contains half a dozen cues from Coppola's atmospheric take on Dracula, plus highlights from two other recent film scores (the German TV series about the Middle Ages, KÖNIG DER LETZEN TAGE, and Roman Polanski's disturbing DEATH AND THE MAIDEN) and a pair of older Polish film scores. Marco Polo has also released an inexpensive sampler CD containing eight cues from its successful series of restored Golden Age film music. Now Playing on Marco Polo (8225237) includes cues from KING KONG, THE EGYPTIAN, and others. (See www.naxos.com.)

Elia Cmiral's next assignment is another horror film (after THEY), called WRONG TURN, which scores in February.

Fresh from NEMESIS, Jerry Goldsmith is set to score Richard Donner's adventure TIMELINE.

Don Davis [IMG7L]is returning to work with the Wachowski brothers this year on the long-awaited score for the next two MATRIX sequels: THE MATRIX RELOADED and THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS. Davis is also set to score nine animated prequel shorts (available on the Internet beginning on January 19^th; available together on a single DVD on May 15th) and a videogame. Jason Bentley has been brought on board to serve as Music Supervisor. (See www.whatisthematrix.com.)

James Newton Howard (SIGNS) will score Lawrence Kasdan's adaptation of Stephen King's DREAMCATCHER.

Dennis McCarthy, music maven behind STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE and big parts of all the previous series since ST: TNG, has completed the score to an independent feature called DIE MOMMIE DIE, written by Charles Busch, author of the play, "The Allergist's Wife."

Thomas Newman is scoring his first animated film, Disney's summer 2003 release, FINDING NEMO.

Prometheus Records of Belgium will release on CD for the first time in any format the Basil Poledouris 1987 miniseries score, AMERIKA.

Graeme Revell is scoring the latest Marvel superhero film, DAREDEVIL, which will also feature a cornucopia of contemporary rock tunes. Revell will also score the PITCH BLACK sequel, CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK.

Mychael Danna is scoring the other Marvel superhero film underway, THE HULK, directed by Ang Lee.

Alan Silvestri (BACK TO THE FUTURE) returns to the action genre with PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, premiering in July.

As reported by Film Score Monthly, the 2003 Grammy nominations pertaining to film music are:

BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR A MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION, OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA

• 
  
  A BEAUTIFUL MIND - James Horner


• 
  
  HARRY POTTER & THE SORCERER'S STONE - John Williams


• 
  
  THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING - Howard Shore


• 
  
  MONSTERS, INC. - Randy Newman


• 
  
  SPIDER-MAN - Danny Elfman

BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION

• 
  
  "Hedwig's Theme" (from HARRY POTTER & THE SORCERER'S STONE) - John Williams


• 
  
  "Inspiration" - Kenny Werner


• 
  
  "The Ride of the Doors" (from Monsters, Inc.) - Randy Newman


• 
  
  "Main Title" (from SIGNS) - James Newton Howard


• 
  
  "Main Title" (from SIX FEET UNDER) - Thomas Newman

BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR A MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION, OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA

• 
  
  DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS


• 
  
  I AM SAM


• 
  
  SIX FEET UNDER


• 
  
  STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN


• 
  
  Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN

Thomas Newman was also nominated for Best Instrumental Arrangement for his Six Feet Under theme, and Marc Shaiman was nominated for Best Musical Show Album for the Hairspray cast album.

FILM MUSIC ON DVD

Touchstone's DVD release of M. Night Shyamalan's atmospheric SIGNS (27899) includes among a cornucopia of behind-the-scenes features a significant conversation with composer James Newton Howard, who describes not only his attitude toward scoring this film but his thoughts on working with sound effects and with director Shyamalan. There is also an example of a climactic scene both with, and without, music to give you an idea of the power extant within the score.

Criterion has released the original 1972 Russian film, SOLARIS (SOL070) not the recent poor-man's remake on a lavish two-disc set that includes a 22-minute discussion from composer Eduard Artemyev on the film's music. The composer describes how he took clues from both the movie and director to fashion the types of sounds needed for various passages.

Soundtrax is our weekly Movie Soundtrack column.