Black Rain - 2 CD Limited Edition Set - La La Land Records Review

So after about 23 years, it was La La Land Records who finally released Hans Zimmer's superb score for Ridley Scott's Black Rain.

This is one of Zimmer's finest scores, and one of his earliest efforts, and still considered one of his best.  The sound quality on this release is pristine, and has been very well mastered. Considering the only other sources for the score have been lower quality bootlegs, its fantastic to finally hear all the individual instruments so clearly.

Shirley Walker's orchestrations combined with Zimmer's synth work is pulsating, and laid the groundwork for most of his mid 90s efforts.

While Harold Faltermeyer seemingly left Hollywood at the start of the 90s, it seems Zimmer took over the role as the main guy for synth heavy scores.

This release contains the full complete score unaltered, and also includes additional versions of cues, including the movie version of the title song by Gregg Allman. All in all, this is a great buy and well worth it.

You may remember that this score contains a theme which was eventually reused for Zimmer's Batman Begins. The original version here is still superior, retaining the same strong percussion and urgent theme desired by the movies tokyo visuals and cinematography.

Definitely a great addition to any soundtrack score collection.  La La Land always deliver great quality releases, and seemed to have listened to many fan requests for these classic scores.
 

TRACK LISTING:
DISC 1

1. Sato Pt. 1/One-Way Glass (6:34)
   
2. Osaka/Phony Cops** (1:46)
   
3. You Gonna Be Nice?*/Sato Pt. 2** (5:21)
   
4. Sato Watching/Circling Motorbikes (1:59)
   
5. Sugai's Photo/Sato Pt. 3 (3:58)
   
6. Sato Pt. 4 (2:05)
   
7. Charlie Loses His Head** (8:22)
   
8. Sequins (2:42)
   
9. Masa's Reprimand / Sugai Pt. 1 (5:33)
   
10. The Steel Mill (2:45)
    
11. Steel Mill Chase/Airplane/Escape***(6:18)
    
12. Sugai Pt. 2 (8:50)
    
13. Arrival of Oyabuns/Sato's Arrival/Meeting (7:55)
    
14. Bikes**/Fight**/Nick and Masa** (9:29)
    TOTAL DISC TIME: 74:09
    
    DISC 2
    ORIGINAL EMI ALBUM

1. Livin' on the Edge of the Night -Iggy Pop (3:38)
   
2. The Way You Do the Things You Do -UB 40 (3:15)
   
3. Back to Life (Jam on the Groove Mix) -Soul II Soul (5:07)
   
4. Laserman -Ryuichi Sakamoto(4:48)
   
5. Singing in the Shower -Les Rita Mitsouko and Sparks (4:22)
   
6. I'll Be Holding On -Gregg Allman (5:38)
   BLACK RAIN SUITE
   
7. Sato (4:45)
   
8. Charlie Loses His Head***(7:03)
   
9. Sugai (6:55)
   
10. Nick and Masa***(2:52)
    
    BONUS TRACKS
11. Airplane Muzak (source) -Shirley Walker (2:05)
    
12. Charlie Loses His Head Pt. 1 (alternate percussion) (2:32)
    
13. Charlie Loses His Head Pt. 2
          (alternate with koto and oboe) (2:47)
    
14. Masa's Reprimand***(alternate) (1:49)
    
15. Bikes / Fight (alternate) (3:18)
    
16. Bikes (percussion only) (1:35)
    
17. Charlie Loses His Head (monks wild) (2:12)
    
18. I'll Be Holding On (main title version) -Gregg Allman (2:36)
    TOTAL DISC TIME: 67:48
    TOTAL ALBUM TIME: 141:57
    * not used in film
    ** contains material unused in film
    ***contains instrumental melody of "I'll Be Holding On"

You can get your copy direct from La La Land here:

http://www.lalalandrecords.com/BlackRain.html

Don Peake - Knight Rider scores still available

If you love your Knight Rider, then you can still get Don Peake's complete episode scores for his work on Knight Rider.

Released on Hitchcock Records, there are 3 volumes available, which come with complete scores for several of the most popular episodes.

These are high quality and are a great mix of orchestral and synthesizer themes. I have all three and they are well worth it, and even managed to get one personally signed by Mr Don Peake himself.


Volume 1

Vol.1 is the original 2004 Knight Con Limited Edition from composer Don Peake (re-packaged).
Main Title written by Stu Phillips and Glenn Larson, not included in this volume.
HMR-9101 Now Shipping.
Episodes
1. Let It Be Me  (5Q's)
2. Scent Of Roses  (8 Q's)
3. White Bird  (6 Q's)
4. Junk Yard Dog  (14 Q's)
5. Halloween Knight  (10 Q's)
6. Mouth Of The Snake  (13 Q's)
(Running time 70+ minutes)
This pressed CD is licensed by NBC/Universal

http://www.hitchcock-media.com/soundtracks/knight-rider-best-of-don-peake-vol-1/prod_20.html

Volume 2

Vol.2 is a brand new Original Television Soundtrack from composer Don Peake
HMR-9104 Now Shipping.
Episodes
1. Knight Rider Theme (a rockin' new treatment)
Main Title written by Stu Phillips and Glenn Larson.
2. Topaz (12 Q's)
3. Hearts of Stone (14 Q's)
4. Bonus Songs (4 Tracks)
(Running time 47+ minutes)
This pressed CD is licensed by NBC/Universal

http://www.hitchcock-media.com/soundtracks/knight-rider-best-of-don-peake-vol-2/prod_53.html

Volume 3

Vol. 3 is a re-issue of a short lived unauthorized 2000 release on Hi-Tech Records.
It contains 65 tracks or scene Q's by composer Don Peake.
Main Title written by Stu Phillips and Glenn Larson, not included in this volume.
HMR-9105 Now Shipping.
Episodes
1. Knight of The Chameleon
2. Lost Knight
3. K.I.T.T. vs K.A.R.R.
4. Knight In Retreat
This pressed CD is licensed by NBC/Universal.

http://www.hitchcock-media.com/soundtracks/knight-rider-best-of-don-peake-vol-3/prod_54.html

Hans Zimmer's Black Rain Score to be released by La La Land Records

Good news for 80s soundtrack score collectors. La La Land Records will be releasing the full expanded score for Hans Zimmer's Black Rain sometime in 2012 or 2013.

Ridley Scott's Japan based cop thriller was an explosive action movie featuring a fantastic oriental based synthesized and heavy percussion score, along with orchestrations by Shirley Walker.

Until now, a bootleg has been the only way to hear this score, so this should be a good quality release.

Those with good ears will also recognise that Zimmer based his Batman theme on one of his Black Rain themes, with the theme virtually identical. Zimmer is not one to waste a great track, and reused it in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

La La Land Records Release STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE: LIMITED EDITION (3-CD SET)

La-La Land Records, Sony Music Entertainment and Paramount Pictures boldly go where no soundtrack reissue has gone before with a deluxe 3-CD set of 1979's STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, composed and conducted by Jerry Goldsmith.

You can find it here: http://www.lalalandrecords.com/STM.html

The first big screen voyage of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock was a high budget and ambitious undertaking that introduced Goldsmith's famous and enduring Star Trek march (later used as the main theme for Star Trek: The Next Generation) as the cornerstone of an epic science fiction musical odyssey. Like the film's refit starship Enterprise, La-La Land's lavish presentation presents the score anew: fully restored, remixed and mastered from the first generation multi-track masters by Bruce Botnick, the original album co-producer and Goldsmith's long time scoring engineer.

"To put together the score the decision was to go back to the original Analogue 16-track 2-inch 30 i.p.s. masters," Botnick explains. "John Davis at Precision Audiosonics baked each of the 37 rolls in a convection oven at 110 degrees for eight hours so that they were playable, then rolled out a marvelous 3M 56 IsoLoop 16-track machine with brand new heads. The tapes were resolved at 60Hz to maintain the original orchestral pitch and sync. The Analogue-to-Digital transfer was done from the 16-track through the latest Black Lion A/D convertors and recorded to Pro Tools X at 192kHz 24-bit."

This 3-CD set presents the score for the 1979 theatrical release (filling disc 1 and part of disc 2) and also premieres the legendary early "rejected" cues that Goldsmith recorded prior to composing his famous main theme. The 1979 album program (much of which is performed and edited differently as compared to the film) completes disc 2, with disc 3 offering additional alternates (including those heard on the previous Sony expanded release) along with a wealth of bonus material. Among the highlights are a collection of early takes of the "Main Title" (including extensive stage chatter), isolated segments featuring Craig Huxley's famous "blaster beam" and assorted synthesizer excerpts, the domestic CD debut of Bob James' disco cover version of Goldsmith's theme and Shaun Cassidy's vocal version of the love theme, "A Star Beyond Time."

Reissue co-producer Mike Matessino (who handled restoration and editorial efforts) collaborates with Jeff Bond on the thoroughly researched album notes which feature interview excerpts by Goldsmith, Botnick and performers Huxley and David Newman. The clamshell packaging and 40-page full color booklet are designed by Jim Titus. This special release was produced by Bruce Botnick and Mike Matessino, produced for Sony Music Entertainment by Didier C. Deutsch, mixed and mastered by Bruce Botnick, and restored, edited and assembled by Mike Matessino.

"It has been an honor to be able to work with the original recordings of this music and to document its production," Matessino says. "This is one of the greatest scores of all time and everyone involved took the responsibility very seriously and happily devoted months to see it come together. The clarity and quality we now have is truly amazing. Thanks to the efforts of La-La Land Records, Sony Music and Paramount Pictures, the end product is an embarrassment of riches and a 'must-have' for every film music and Star Trek collection."

TRACK LISTING:
DISC 1
THE FILM SCORE
1 Overture 1:43
2 Main Title/Klingon Battle 7:01
3 Total Logic 3:54
4 Floating Office 1:08
5 The Enterprise 6:02
6 Malfunction 1:30
7 Goodbye Klingon/Goodbye Epsilon Nine/Pre-Launch 2:10
8 Leaving Drydock 3:32
9 TV Theme/Warp Point Eight :50
10 No Goodbyes :53
11 Spock's Arrival 2:03
12 TV Theme/Warp Point Nine 1:49
13 Meet V'Ger  3:06
14 The Cloud 5:05
15 V'Ger Flyover 5:01
16 The Force Field  5:07
17 Micro Exam  1:13
18 Games/Spock Walk 9:51
19 System Inoperative  2:03
20 Hidden Information 3:58
21 Inner Workings 4:04
(Disc 1 72:06)

DISC 2
THE FILM SCORE (cont'd)
1 V'Ger Speaks 4:04
2 The Meld/A Good Start 5:37
3 End Title 3:16
THE UNUSED EARLY SCORE
4 The Enterprise [early version] 6:05
5 Leaving Drydock [early version] 2:39
6 No Goodbyes [early version] :55
7 Spock's Arrival [early version] 2:00
8 Micro Exam [early version] 1:15
9 Games [early version] 3:49
10 Inner Workings [early version] 4:43

THE 1979 ALBUM
11 Main Title/Klingon Battle 6:50
12 Leaving Drydock 3:29
13 The Cloud 5:00
14 The Enterprise 5:59
15 Ilia's Theme 3:00
16 Vejur Flyover  4:56
17 The Meld  3:15
18 Spock Walk 4:17
19 End Title 3:16
(Disc 2 74:31)

DISC 3
     
ALTERNATES
1 Overture [long version] 2:50
2 Main Title [alternate take] 1:44
3 Total Logic [alternate take] 3:49
4 Malfunction [early take]  1:28
5 Goodbye Klingon [alternate take] :35
6 No Goodbyes [alternate take] :53
7 Spock's Arrival [alternate take] 2:01
8 The Force Field [alternate take] 5:04
9 Micro Exam [alternate take] 1:14
10 Games [early synthesizer version] 3:48
11 Games [alternate take] 3:48
12 Inner Workings [alternate take] 4:05
13 V'Ger Speaks [alternate take] 4:03
14 The Meld [film version] 3:16
15 A Good Start [discrete] 2:27
16 Main Title [album take] 1:44
ADDITIONALMUSIC
17 Main Title [first raw takes] 7:21
18 The Force Field/ The Cloud [excerpts] 2:33
19 Beams and Synthesizer for V'Ger  4:04
20 Beams and Synthesizer for Ilia  :59
21 Synthesizer for Main Theme  1:44
22 Main Theme From Star Trek: The Motion Picture [Bob James] 5:24
23 A Star Beyond Time [Shaun Cassidy] 2:43
24 Ilia's Theme [alternate] 3:33
25 Theme From Star Trek: The Motion Picture [concert edit] 3:25

(Disc 3 74:37)

Total 3CD Time: 3:41:13

Retro Score Review - Teen Wolf (1985) - Miles Goodman

For the first retro review, it is Teen Wolf from 1985. This movie was originally filmed before Back To The Future, and was released shortly after that to capitalise on the success of Michael J Fox as the lead actor.

The plot is ridiculous, a high school basketball player turns into a wolf and nobody bats an eyelid, but that is the charm of the 80s. Its funny, ridiculous, hillarious and has great moments throughout.

Miles Goodman composed the music for the movie and all of the songs. They have a distinctive sound throughout, with guitars, synths and gated drums.

The soundtrack however only consists of 9 tracks, with lots of score being absent. It was released on CD and Vinyl in 1985 on the Metronome label in Japan, and in Germany. Since then, there has been no re release or expanded version, which is surprising given the movie has a cult following.

Some of the key tracks missing are as follows:

Miles Goodman's instrumental rendition of "Staying Alive" composed in the synth fashion of the rest of the soundtrack.

Interlude score pieces, such as Beer Keg scenes.



The Wolf Dance opening score at the high school dance. This funky jam is a percussive heavy track making use of the Linndrum and some groovy bass.

The alternate "Big Bad Wolf" song. On the CD and Vinyl releases, this song sounds different due to the drums and vocals being used. In the movie version, different vocals and drums are used and it sounds sufficiently different.

Given that the songs only take up around half an hour, it would be easy to include everything on an expanded release. It may be likely that Intrada, La La Land or Perseverance Records may do a release.

1. Flesh On Fire James House



This is a fantastic song, great galloping guitar, synths and a vintage 80s melody. Linndrum percussion throughout this track. One of the best of the decade.

2. Big Bad Wolf The Wolf Sisters



This is a funky track, with vocoder and again percussion heavy with the Linndrum.
The movie version is slightly different with an unreleased intro and alternate drums and vocals.

3. Win In The End Mark Safan



The iconic theme from the end basketball game. Not much is known about Mark Safan, but the track is a perfect end to a satisfying 80s movie.

4. Shootin' For The Moon Amy Holland

A great theme, making use of the DX7 and Miles Goodman's talents for orchestral themes.

5. Silhouette David Palmer

This is the track played during the house party, and is visuallised perfectly on screen through Scott Howard slashing his way into his female friend Boof!

6. Way To Go Mark Vieha

Another classic played during the halfway point of the movie showcasing how Scott Howard as the Wolf is helping win all their games. The music matches the hilarity of the onscreen action.

7. Good News David Morgan

A great song, buried in the background before the wolf dance.

8. Transformation Miles Goodman (instrumental)



Probably the most recognised song in the movie, this is the key instrumental music for Scott Howard's first transformation at home. Absolute perfection.

9. Boof Miles Goodman (instrumental)

A great interlude, and uses the melody from Shooting from the moon to great effect.

Superman IV - The Quest For Peace - Paul Fishman's Rare Music

If you've ever watched Superman IV, you might recall the funky gym workout music that plays with the immortal "no pain, no gain" uttered by Christopher Reeve.  This music forms part of several music tracks composed by Paul Fishman specifically for the movie, some of which ended up completely removed when the final film was released.

None of this music was available for more than 20 odd years until Film Score Monthly released the 8 Disc complete score set for the Christopher Reeve Superman series.

There are several great tracks, about eight in total, and include some great instrumental music, including the song "Life's Too Dangerous" which was supposed to appear during a deleted scene.  The only way to get this music is to buy the complete eight disc set, but it is worth every penny, as you not only get this music, you get the complete scores and songs for all four Superman movies.


This is great rare synthesizer music which any vintage fan will enjoy.  It is too bad some of these were cut from the final film, but at least the music is finally available.

  
The Paul Fishman songs are on Disc 6 of the set.

Superfly Guy 4:11
Headphone Heaven 3:23
Revolution Now 4:26
Saxy Sadie 4:47
Krypton Nights 4:44
Life's Too Dangerous 3:14
Workout 2:27 
Lois Love 4:56

http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/cds/detail.cfm/cdID/390/

Star Trek IV The Voyage Home Expanded Edition Release

If you love your Star Trek scores, then the expanded release of Star Trek IV The Voyage Home by Leonard Rosenman on Intrada Records is one to get to complete the collection.  Several of the other movie scores by James Horner have already been re released in expanded form, and this one is another great edition.

This was the only Trek score by Rosenman, but it suited the movie rather well, what with it taking place in 1986 in San Fransisco and was rather more comedic than other adventures before or after. It also includes the infamous song " I Hate You" by Kirk Thatcher, played on the boombox by the hilarious punk on the bus!

Overall, this is a great score, in the days of when an orchestral score was actually fit for purpose to describe the action on the big screen.

http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7334/.f

Intrada Release Brad Fiedel's Fright Night Score

If you were left unfulfilled by Djawadi's Fright Night score this year, then you can at least ease your pain a little by getting the music for the superior original movie.


After almost 26 years comes the first official release of Brad Fiedel's Fright Night score.  After being bootlegged to death, its quite surprising that its taken this long, but better late than never.

Also check out a new interview with Brad Fiedel here:

http://rejectedfilmscores.125mb.com/bradfiedelinterview.html 

FRIGHT NIGHT
Music by BRAD FIEDEL
INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 183

The score from Columbia Pictures' darkly humorous horror film Fright Night (1985) proved challenging to release: the master elements were initially missing. Now, 26 years after its initial release, Intrada presents Brad Fiedel's long-awaited score. After much additional searching, Sony was able to locate a single ¼” 15 ips two-track scoring session master containing approximately 16 minutes of music. Further search led to a DAT transfer of the ¼” 7 ½ ips two-track stereo safeties of the remaining cues. With these two finds, Intrada was able to proceed on a release of Brad Fiedel's score.

Fright Night tells the tale of a Charlie, a teenage boy who enlists the help of TV host Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowlel) in a real-life battle with the undead, featuring a horror homage that would become its own trendsetter -- pitting the duo against a ladykilling, Yuppie bloodsucker who just moved in next-door. Fiedel responded with a score that was both state-of-the-art and old school -- imbuing the hip villain with the stuff of supernatural legend. But while Fiedel tracked the story from a humorous beginning to an unexpectedly shocking climax, Fright Night’s experimental jolts were also firmly bound by the same melodic laws of a classic Hammer film, filled with themes and motifs that paint The Vampire as an eternal creature of seduction.The main theme introduces Jerry Dandridge with a swaying, hypnotic rhythm, enticing Charlie to peep on his neighbor, and the beautiful call girl he’s undressing. It’s a sensual build worthy of a rock god and his conquest.

Because of differences between the above-mentioned master reel and 1/4" safeties, Intrada presents all 16 minutes of the score from the high quality session master as a single track to start the CD. All of the individual tracks that make up that track also appear in the subsequent score presentation, allowing listeners to finally enjoy Brad Fidel's long overdue score.


INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 183
Retail Price: $19.99
SHIPS OCT 18th
For track listing and sound samples, please visit
http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7292/.f

Zack Hemsey - A brief insight into the way he works

One of the reasons why Inception was such a big hit was partly because of the music used during one of the trailers.  Many thought the music had been created by Hans Zimmer, but in actual fact, it was done completely by one man, Zack Hemsey.  Titled "Mind Heist", its an epic track, used to great effect. Even today, people think Hans Zimmer created it, but its all done by Zack Hemsey.

His music is so good, it has even been plagiarised by Steve Jablonsky during a key scene in Transformers Dark of The Moon, something which Hemsey addressed on his blog here.


SoundWorks Collection: Composer Zack Hemsey from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.


Zack Hemsey is actually a Hip Hop MC and composer extraordinaire.  He started off composing for hip hop group called Nine Leaves where he is also an MC.  His unique blend of electronic and orchestral gave Nine Leaves a very distinct sound.

http://nineleaves.org/album/peace-in-death

 
Hemsey's first album contains Mind Heist and many other tracks which have been used in several more movie trailers.  He doesn't actually compose for film, its actually Hollywood that has actively persued his music to be used.