Monte Walsh CD

News flash by Lukas Kendall

It's time to release our new Silver Age Classics CD -- another "worst kept secret" what this is, but we're very proud of it, and it marks the first of hopefully many CDs from the bountiful CBS archives at the UCLA Music Library.

Two decades before Dances with Wolves, John Barry scored Monte Walsh (1970), a character study of aging cowboys (Lee Marvin and Jack Palance) who face the end of their way of life in the 1880s. Directed by William A. Fraker, for whom Barry later scored The Legend of the Lone Ranger, the film features authentic locations and production design to go with the sterling cast, which also includes Jeanne Moreau in her American debut.

John Barry's score is the bittersweet heart of the film and centers around his title song, "The Good Times Are Comin'," with lyrics by Hal David. "The Good Times" is performed by the late Mama Cass in the opening and closing credits, and also once in the body of the film; in its instrumental form, it becomes the love music for Marvin and Moreau's characters.

For the rest of the score, Barry adopted a European approach (despite the American subject matter) in that he wrote several distinct themes, repeated as appropriate, rather than a great deal of connective tissue. No less than three themes pertain to the movie's cowboy protagonists: a bold, brassy and purposeful theme which shines in a mustang round-up sequence; a goofy theme with harmonica and guitar for the cowboys' lighter moments of tomfoolery; and a haunting, bittersweet theme (often for solo oboe or harmonica) which reflects upon their uncertain future. Additionally, there are two major setpieces: a beautiful, Midnight Cowboy-meets-American folk theme for a poignant exchange between Monte and Chet ("Old Friends") and a 007-styled climax, complete with minor brass chords and clanging marimbas ("Sit Him High").

The first 31 minutes of this hour-long disc features the best selections of the Monte Walsh score as might have been assembled for an LP, had one been released. The back half features source cues (including 15 minutes of Barry honkytonk), two additional renditions of "The Good Times Are Comin'" (an extended version and the 45rpm single recording), and a suite of score outtakes. The disc has been mastered from mono reel-to-reel elements located at the CBS Inc. Collection, courtesy of UCLA Music Library Special Collections, in clean and vibrant sound; track 24 is in stereo. The 16-page booklet features liner notes by Pete Walker & Geoff Leonard and track notes by Lukas Kendall.

$19.95 plus shipping

Monte Walsh

• 1. The Good Times Are Comin' (Main Title) 2:17
• 2. Men Walk 1:55
• 3. Stocking Feet 1:35
• 4. Missionary Ridge 1:29
• 5. Round-Up 1:34
• 6. Outhouse Sprint 0:54
• 7. Candle and Bed 2:46
• 8. Old Friends 2:57
• 9. The Good Times Are Comin' (Monte Alone) 3:03
• 10. Across the Prairie 1:54
• 11. That Old Box 2:57
• 12. Sit Him High 4:44
• 13. Epilogue 1:08
• 14. The Good Times Are Comin' (End Title) 1:21

Bonus Material

• 15-20. The John Barry Saloon 14:48
• 21. Wedding Source 2:36
• 22. The Good Times Are Comin' (Extended Version) 3:19
• 23. Score Outtakes Suite 7:01
• 24. The Good Times Are Comin' (Single Version) 2:54

total time: 61:51

Album Produced by Lukas Kendall

Please use one of these two options:

1) Use our secure-server order form here on the web site for credit cards.

or

2) Print and fax or mail this handy form.

Very important!

We are telling everybody this up front so there's no disappointment or confusion: this CD is still being manufactured and we do not expect it to be ready to ship until early July. If you order this with other CDs, we will probably break up your order and send everything else first, and then Monte when it's ready. When we get closer to the CD being available, we'll wait until it's in stock.

We absolutely encourage people to order right away, because we start a queue and the people who ordered early will get their disc first. Also, it encourages us when there's a great early interest, and will get us motivated to get the next CDs into production. You may, however, want to order Monte Walsh alone, and then whatever other items you're interested in separately.

Additional note, today, 6/10/99: We have been switching servers, and this may cause a "certificate expiration" notice to appear when you go to our secure server page. Do NOT let this dissuade you! The site is totally secure and we hope to have this problem fixed immediately.

Incidentally, for anyone who has ever balked at ordering online, it's probably more dangerous to give your credit card to a waiter at a restaurant than it is to order online. Relax.

Thanks for your understanding, and we look forward to your order!

Subscribers to our "Classics Charter Club" series who have asked for Silver Age Classics -- your disc will be shipped first! Go here for more info on our Club if you want to sign up.

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