New FSM CDs:

George Duning in film and Jerry Goldsmith in TV!

Jerry Goldsmith is one of the greatest feature film composers of all time, but he has often returned to his roots in television. This CD features three of his projects for M-G-M Television from the 1970s, complete and in stereo, with liner notes by Jon Burlingame.

Hawkins on Murder (1973) was the 90-minute pilot film for a short-lived series starring Jimmy Stewart as Billy Jim Hawkins, a canny West Virginia defense attorney. Goldsmith wrote an energetic theme featuring twangy Minimoog synthesizer, emphasizing Hawkins' country roots and the authority of the law, and sensitive scoring for Hawkins' client (Bonnie Bedelia).

Winter Kill (1974) was a two-hour intended pilot movie starring Andy Griffith as a small-town sheriff confronted with a vicious string of murders. Goldsmith wrote an exciting theme for ARP synthesizer, strumming guitars and orchestra, foreshadowing his popular score to Breakheart Pass (1976), along with moody, ambient suspense and action cues.

Babe (1975) was a stellar TV movie about Babe Didrikson Zaharias, the greatest woman athlete of the 20th century. The score is a sensitive gem of melody and Americana, with a heartfelt main theme often played by acoustic guitar, and lively accompaniment for Babe's achievements. Goldsmith won a well-deserved Emmy for one of his best scores for television. $19.95

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Toys in the Attic is an outstanding score by George Duning (From Here to Eternity, Picnic, The Eddy Duchin Story), a splendid composer virtually ignored on CD. The film (based on a play by Lillian Hellman and directed by George Roy Hill) stars Dean Martin as a perennial failure who retreats to his spinster sisters (Geraldine Page and Wendy Hiller) when times get rough; Yvette Mimieux co-stars as Martin's childlike bride.

Duning's score for Toys in the Attic is melodic and memorable, with a bluesy main theme and sweetly nostalgic Americana for the character relationships. The "Southern family" genre led to exceptionally fine scores from composers such as Alex North (A Streetcar Named Desire) and Elmer Bernstein (Summer and Smoke), and Duning matches their sensitivity (using his own style) with rich and melancholy music.

This premiere CD of Toys in the Attic has been mastered from the original 1/2" stereo masters, and features the chronological assembly of the promotional Citadel LP, followed by jazzy source cues; a brief suite of additional and alternate underscore; and a rare single (vocal and instrumental) of the main theme. Liner notes are by Jeff Bond and Lukas Kendall. $19.95

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--Lukas Kendall

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