Fave b'way/ movie score/ soundtrack?

Nathrad Sheare · Post by **Nathrad Sheare** » 24 Jan 2014, 14:31

I hate it when I find a recording I've been looking for and the only available copy is priced at $200, $600, or, in those rare and MOST disconcerting cases, $1200 and up! I said, "What? Why?" In Howie Mandel's Gizmo voice...

You know, two other scores I really liked from Hollywood's days of glamour were the ones to the Bette Davis movies, Now, Voyager! and Jezebel. Bette Davis is my favorite actress EVER, and I was really glad when I saw those to hear some great music while watching her. The previous score won an Oscar, quite rightfully.

As for new score composers, Danny Elfman, Hanz Zimmer, Harry Gregson-Williams, Philip Glass, and Thomas Newman have written some of my favorite soundtracks, and there are actually quite a few others that I've been impressed by. Soundtrack music has evolved a bit, but for no worse in some cases and, in a select few, for the better entirely. Of course, most of the composers who are any good have been around for quite awhile. I don't know what we're going to do when they're gone!

Bighuey · Post by **Bighuey** » 24 Jan 2014, 21:35

True, the good ones have been around a long time. John Williams. Ennio Morricone. Jerry Goldsmith and a few more.

Im not 100 percent sure, but I think the first soundtrack for a talkie was King Kong. It was a pretty good one.

One thing I could never understand is The Jazz Singer. It was billed as the first talkie, but the only sound it had was where Al Jolson sang. I mentioned on here somewhere that it should have been billed as a singie.

Some of those old B+W flicks had great soundtracks. The only one I can think of right now is I Bury The Living, a 1957 thriller with Richard Boone. It had an eerie soundtrack by Gerald Fried. It had more of a modern flavor than most from that era. He did the music for a lot of TV shows.

It seems the newer movies put more meaning into the music than they did years ago. Ive heard some very good ones in the newer movies.

Nathrad Sheare · Post by **Nathrad Sheare** » 25 Jan 2014, 00:59

I always thought the Wagnerian style was a bit cold. I've heard it manipulated in many film scores, operas, and even musicals, but there are only a few composers who've done anything good with it. I loved some of Richard Strauss' songs for soprano and orchestra, for instance, particularly the "Four Last Songs" cycle, and Benjamin Britten and Bela Bartok were all around amazing. That's about it, though... I've heard a few movie scores of early and mid- twentieth century cinema that I've enjoyed in addition, and I think I've posted on them all here. Still, I'm glad most have gone back to standard tonality, using Wagner's innovation only when ABSOLUTELY necessary, though even when employing it, making a discernible pattern, something that makes their music both memorable and truly beautiful. I don't know... I guess I'm just venting...

Ennio Morricone. Now THAT'S another great name! Jerry Goldsmith is quite an artist, too, and Alan Sylvestri has some great moments of his own.

-- 25 Jan 2014, 01:01 --

I have not seen the original "Jazz Singer." It was recommended to me by one of my great grandmothers, but I haven't gotten to it...

Bighuey · Post by **Bighuey** » 25 Jan 2014, 09:57

The Jazz Singer isnt a bad show. Corny by todays standards, except where Jolson sang. He was one of a kind, the Elvis of yesteryear.

There was the remake with Neil Diamond. That had some great songs too including America. Ive got that album also.

suzy1124 · Post by **suzy1124** » 25 Jan 2014, 11:58

Bighuey wrote:A couple more good ones are the original 1926 orchestral score from Fritz Lang's Metropolis, and also the modern version by Georgio Moroder. Theres another version on one of those cheap Goodtimes video tapes, really stupid. Its 1930's dance music.

Another I just thought of, is the original score from Birth of a Nation. Ive got the movie, but it has some stupid soundtrack that dosent go with the movie. Ive got the original 1915 score on CD, Ive been trying to figure a way to kick off the stupid stuff and put the original on it. No luck so far.

The same Giorgio Moroder of flick " Cat ppl?"................one of my all time faves...

Nathrad, are you a teacher ?................if you're not you should be...Sooo knowledgable...

Bighuey · Post by **Bighuey** » 25 Jan 2014, 19:47

Hes the one. He also did the some of the soundtrack for Top Gun. When that first came out, my wife was working in a discount store, and she said it was the biggest selling album for a couple of weeks.

Nathrad Sheare · Post by **Nathrad Sheare** » 25 Jan 2014, 23:38

Actually, Suzy, I'm not a teacher... But I thank you.

I have a real passion for what I write about. Music and books have been loves of my life since I was a little guy.

-- 26 Jan 2014, 01:37 --

oh, and old movies.

suzy1124 · Post by **suzy1124** » 26 Jan 2014, 04:24

what about Art?...........i think along w/the music, and poetry here, ART would be a very important addition...

what do you think?...

Nathrad Sheare · Post by **Nathrad Sheare** » 26 Jan 2014, 05:21

I think art is poetry in shades on a canvas... There's also the old saying (You know which one) that REALLY makes me wonder if we shouldn't have one here... Anything's worth a try, I think. Have any favorite artists? Post some links to images of their work. One can't expect a bite without bait. I'll support it... I know quite a bit of unusual stuff about certain ones of the more famous paintings and artists that I could contribute, and there are several art styles we can showcase... You have more knowledge on the subject than I have, I presume, considering the fact that you're the one who has suggested that we do this... I'm sure there are plenty of artists here, too, who would love to post about their own work and show some of it off. Let's try it, and if Scott or Fran or Stephenkingman get on our cases, we'll know we went wrong.

-- 26 Jan 2014, 05:25 --

Oh, and I have a quick question... I just selected a book to review, but after I completed the little confirmation form, I was left without a book to download... Am I required to wait until it pops up on my email account page? How do I access the book?

suzy1124 · Post by **suzy1124** » 27 Jan 2014, 06:53

Wish i could help you Nathrad, but my only experience w/ " book-reviewing " has been on Amazon...

Tista · Post by **Tista** » 28 Jan 2014, 12:45

My favourite movie score is from "The Chronicles of Narnia".

suzy1124 · Post by **suzy1124** » 28 Jan 2014, 12:54

Welcome here Tista!

I don't know that one, i'll check it out...

FNAWrite · Post by **FNAWrite** » 28 Jan 2014, 13:22

bighuey

"One I would like to get is Ferde Grofe's Rocketship XM but the only one I can find is on a record album for 150 dollars"

Look much? The way I see it is $15.00 all day at amazon

Bfrisco · Post by **Bfrisco** » 28 Jan 2014, 14:32

Wicked
Aida
Pirates of the Caribbean used to be one of my favorites to do homework to

Bighuey · Post by **Bighuey** » 28 Jan 2014, 19:59

FNAWrite wrote:bighuey

"One I would like to get is Ferde Grofe's Rocketship XM but the only one I can find is on a record album for 150 dollars"

Look much? The way I see it is $15.00 all day at amazon

Record or CD? I dont want a record.