SOUNDTRACKS
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Soundtracks are a lot more than movie music...
...or so I'm ready to argue as a 30 year devotee of this sorely under appreciated genre. So, in an effort to do my part, each week
I'll be making recommendations of soundtracks current and vintage, make a fuss over long awaited soundtrack scores finally getting
a well deserved release, and in general, make some noise about this often overlooked category. Beyond my long experience as a
listener and as a pianist and songwriter, both of which I've put to use in writing a quarterly soundtrack column for the Chicago
Tribune, I can only offer my recommendations. You'll discern my taste soon enough and upfront I'd like to make it clear that I'll
focus most heavily on SCORE soundtracks. In the end, all criticism is subjective but if I can point a listener toward a little heard
soundtrack or strongly advise you to either ORDER IMMEDIATELY or SKIP ALTOGETHER, all the better.
...or so I'm ready to argue as a 30 year devotee of this sorely under appreciated genre. So, in an effort to do my part, each week
I'll be making recommendations of soundtracks current and vintage, make a fuss over long awaited soundtrack scores finally getting
a well deserved release, and in general, make some noise about this often overlooked category. Beyond my long experience as a
listener and as a pianist and songwriter, both of which I've put to use in writing a quarterly soundtrack column for the Chicago
Tribune, I can only offer my recommendations. You'll discern my taste soon enough and upfront I'd like to make it clear that I'll
focus most heavily on SCORE soundtracks. In the end, all criticism is subjective but if I can point a listener toward a little heard
soundtrack or strongly advise you to either ORDER IMMEDIATELY or SKIP ALTOGETHER, all the better.
This week's soundtrack recommendation is an easy, why didn't I think of that
earlier? kind. Especially with a new, special edition DVD hitting the stores.
Knowing how much I love the pop sugar of the 1960s, is it any surprise that one of
the period's brightest lights, Burt Bacharach, scores big time for me with his two high
profile scores from the period? Probably not.
The best known, of course, is Bacharach's unforgettable -- though brief -- music
score for 1969's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Bacharach and lyricist
Hal David were Oscar winners for their song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
which they wrote for the picture and BJ Thomas' heartfelt delivery has ensured its
place in the Have You Never Been Mellow? Pantheon. But it is Bacharach's other
music for the film -- "South American Getaway," "Come Touch the Sun," and the
jaunty "The Old Fun City" -- that put me in blissville. The first track, especially,
which underscores a series of daring robberies by the "banditos" that Newman and
Redford pull off in Bolivia, shows off Bacharach's gift for melody. The driving cue is
powered by the Anita Kerr like singers harmonizing throughout. At one point, the
music pulls back to just the singers doing their thing in beautiful five part harmony.
That and the achingly beautiful and melancholy "Come Touch the Sun," the film's
love theme, are worth picking up the disc for.
Two years earlier, Bacharach a/k/a Mr. Melodic Genius wrote the quintessential 60s
spy spoof score for Casino Royale. Why didn't I think of this when I wrote my
column about Austin Powers you might ask? Well -- better late than never. This
includes highlight after highlight -- including the title track (an instrumental hit for
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass), an instrumental version of "The Look of Love" (the
Dusty Springfield version, alas, isn't included), and my personal favorite, "Sir James'
Trip to Find Mata." This soundtrack purchase is an absolute no brainer for 60s music
lovin' types.
I'm also a fan of Bacharach's score for the notorious flop musical, 1973's Lost
Horizon. This last teaming of Bacharach-David has been overshadowed by the
movie's dreadful, camp reputation but the score is rich with Bacharach's typical lush
melodies (though David's work isn't quite up to par). Highlights include "The Things
I Will Not Miss," "Share the Joy," "The World is a Circle," and "Living Together,
Growing Together." This last was a nice pop hit for the Fifth Dimension. I'd go so
far as to say that this would be a good bet for Broadway -- though I'd much rather
see the Bacharach-David Promises, Promises revived first. FYI: this is a musical
soundtrack without the backing score.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't forget to check out previous soundtrack recommendations by visiting the
ARCHIVES
Next Week: TBD
earlier? kind. Especially with a new, special edition DVD hitting the stores.
Knowing how much I love the pop sugar of the 1960s, is it any surprise that one of
the period's brightest lights, Burt Bacharach, scores big time for me with his two high
profile scores from the period? Probably not.
The best known, of course, is Bacharach's unforgettable -- though brief -- music
score for 1969's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Bacharach and lyricist
Hal David were Oscar winners for their song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
which they wrote for the picture and BJ Thomas' heartfelt delivery has ensured its
place in the Have You Never Been Mellow? Pantheon. But it is Bacharach's other
music for the film -- "South American Getaway," "Come Touch the Sun," and the
jaunty "The Old Fun City" -- that put me in blissville. The first track, especially,
which underscores a series of daring robberies by the "banditos" that Newman and
Redford pull off in Bolivia, shows off Bacharach's gift for melody. The driving cue is
powered by the Anita Kerr like singers harmonizing throughout. At one point, the
music pulls back to just the singers doing their thing in beautiful five part harmony.
That and the achingly beautiful and melancholy "Come Touch the Sun," the film's
love theme, are worth picking up the disc for.
Two years earlier, Bacharach a/k/a Mr. Melodic Genius wrote the quintessential 60s
spy spoof score for Casino Royale. Why didn't I think of this when I wrote my
column about Austin Powers you might ask? Well -- better late than never. This
includes highlight after highlight -- including the title track (an instrumental hit for
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass), an instrumental version of "The Look of Love" (the
Dusty Springfield version, alas, isn't included), and my personal favorite, "Sir James'
Trip to Find Mata." This soundtrack purchase is an absolute no brainer for 60s music
lovin' types.
I'm also a fan of Bacharach's score for the notorious flop musical, 1973's Lost
Horizon. This last teaming of Bacharach-David has been overshadowed by the
movie's dreadful, camp reputation but the score is rich with Bacharach's typical lush
melodies (though David's work isn't quite up to par). Highlights include "The Things
I Will Not Miss," "Share the Joy," "The World is a Circle," and "Living Together,
Growing Together." This last was a nice pop hit for the Fifth Dimension. I'd go so
far as to say that this would be a good bet for Broadway -- though I'd much rather
see the Bacharach-David Promises, Promises revived first. FYI: this is a musical
soundtrack without the backing score.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't forget to check out previous soundtrack recommendations by visiting the
ARCHIVES
Next Week: TBD
Pop songwriting genius Burt
Bacharach won an Oscar for
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My
Head," the song from his 1969
Butch Cassidy score. Casino Royale
and Lost Horizon were other
notable -- and very different --
Bacharach projects worth picking
up.
Bacharach won an Oscar for
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My
Head," the song from his 1969
Butch Cassidy score. Casino Royale
and Lost Horizon were other
notable -- and very different --
Bacharach projects worth picking
up.
