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 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 5:26 PM   
 By:   David-R.   (Member)






Label: Intrada Special Collection Volume ISC 284
Date: 1972 / 1953
Time: 1:15:55
Tracks: 28
Treat for Alex North fans! Two previously unreleased gems, one, in fact, never-before-heard!


Treat for Alex North fans! Two previously unreleased gems, one, in fact, never-before-heard! First on CD is rare early documentary soundtrack for Decision For Chemistry, scored by North in 1953. Industrial film from Monsanto Chemical Company was designed to illustrate wonders of chemistry and science to college-age youth contemplating career paths. North gets incredible opportunity to write full symphonic score, rich with animated ideas, colorful nuances, complex material underscoring numerous chemical discoveries. Moments of brisk activity meld with reflective music, then segue into excitement. Terrific film score! Second work on CD is never-used score for critically acclaimed 1972 drama Sounder, helmed by Martin Ritt, starring Paul Winfield, Cicely Tyson, Kevin Hooks. Score was ultimately dropped in favor of authentic blues-style music from Taj Mahal. North anchors his work with specific colors representing weary life of sharecropping family and "Sounder" the dog. Harmonica over strings, lazy trumpet, rich harmonies from brass, jazzy solos of all manner, heartfelt orchestral passages… and always that Southern flavor North excelled at in music for numerous films with similar locales: A Streetcar Named Desire, Sound And The Fury, Long Hot Summer, many others. Striking idea worthy of mention: though much of score plays to burdens of family in tale, including incarceration of father, North often uses major keys, not minor, to underscore drama! Combination of mournful ideas underscoring impoverished family set against optimistic educational aspirations of young David Lee make for emotional listening indeed! Both scores presented in excellent mono sound from composer's personal master tapes, courtesy the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. and the North Music Group. Two decidedly different voices from one magnificent composer! Alex North conducts. Intrada Special Collection release available while quantities and interest remain!




Decision for Chemistry
01. Main Title/A Boy’s Choice/Places to See/Back in the Twenties (4:01)
02. Odd Jobs/Frontier Science/Chemists of the Future 2:20)
03. Zero Minus Thirty/Stirring With Life/Industrial Skyline/Research (3:33)
04. Phosphorus Plant/Scientific Supermarket (3:35)
05. Wood Pulp Mill/Vanillin (1:29)
06. Dirty Clothes (3:36)
07. The Silkworm/Spin Dope/Synthetic Fibers (5:36)
08. The Soil Demonstration/Decision for Chemistry (6:10)
Total Time: 30:34


Sounder
09. Main Title (1:33)
10. Father and Son (3:40)
11. Rebecca/David to School (1:46)
12. To the Ball Game (0:49)
13. Sounder/Goodbye, Mama (3:40)
14. Work in the Cane Field/Family Work (2:49)
15. Sounder Returns/Act Like One (2:42)
16. Thanks/Disclosure (2:12)
17. Dream (1:01)
18. Odyssey, Version A (3:27)
19. Odyssey, Version B (3:40)
20. Dejected (1:19)
21. Where’s Daddy (2:46)
22. Work (1:08)
23. Nathan Returns, Version A (1:42)
24. Nathan Returns, Version B (1:46)
25. Home (1:25)
26. Search for David (2:06)
27. Departure (2:36)
28. Source Music (2:24)
Total Time: 45:15


http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.8873/.f?sc=13&category=22848

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 5:31 PM   
 By:   Zooba   (Member)

Wow, never knew he had even scored SOUNDER.

When that Harmonica comes in, in the Main Title it's like totally Jerry Goldsmith.

The DECISION FOR CHEMISTRY music is awesome. PURE Alex North! Really love that Alex North music that makes me wanna get up and dance!

Looks like an awesome release INTRADA!

Now back to listen to more of the samples!

SOUNDER sounds a lot like much of the music in North's WISE BLOOD score.

 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 5:36 PM   
 By:   Shaun Rutherford   (Member)

Wow, Intrada's gettin' political!

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 5:36 PM   
 By:   OnyaBirri   (Member)

I love that "Decision for Chemistry" music, but it would seal the deal for me if the artwork was film-appropriate. A nice image of 1950s atomic progress would have been perfect. But as it is, I'm not sure if I want to spend $20 for 30-minutes worth of music with nondescript cover art.

 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 6:08 PM   
 By:   Wedge   (Member)

Having written the notes for this one, I can promise you that the music is simply amazing! North fans in particular are going to be over the moon. I'm very excited to see it released at last!

When that Harmonica comes in, in the Main Title it's like totally Jerry Goldsmith.

It's no coincidence. The performer is harmonica virtuoso Tommy Morgan, who was good enough to share a few recollections with me for this release. He was, of course, a favorite soloist of Goldsmith's -- as well as countless other composers!

 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 6:16 PM   
 By:   SchiffyM   (Member)

Wow! Two scores I have to have that I never until this moment knew existed! I never yearned, I just got! Great release!

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 6:19 PM   
 By:   Niall from Ireland   (Member)

An absolute gem from the archives, ordered immediately along with the Friedhofer!

 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 6:39 PM   
 By:   JohnnyG   (Member)

This is cause for celebration - a totally unexpected Alex North twofer!!

Chapeau, Intrada!

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 6:43 PM   
 By:   Zooba   (Member)

Not to poo poo on this great release, but who made the decision on that cover, if that actually is the Front of the CD cover? The great photo alone of North would be fine, but the fonts are lousy. The quality of the release, just to me seems to deserve a tad better. What do I know?

The music is Awesome. Great job INTRADA!

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 6:54 PM   
 By:   jonathan_little   (Member)

We need more releases with the composer's picture on the cover!

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 7:13 PM   
 By:   Niall from Ireland   (Member)

We need more releases with the composer's picture on the cover!

It's a good idea!

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 7:13 PM   
 By:   Niall from Ireland   (Member)

We need more releases with the composer's picture on the cover!

It's a good idea! So good I said it twice, lol, sorry about that folks!

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 7:22 PM   
 By:   OnyaBirri   (Member)

We need more releases with the composer's picture on the cover!

Sorry, I want to see stunning period graphics and images, not photos of aging goofy looking guys who wrote the music.

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 7:41 PM   
 By:   ScottDS   (Member)

Just something I whipped up using a real vintage Monsanto ad:

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 7:43 PM   
 By:   OnyaBirri   (Member)

Just something I whipped up using a real vintage Monsanto ad:



GORGEOUS!

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 8:10 PM   
 By:   ScottDS   (Member)

Just something done in 15 minutes. (I should be doing homework!) It's still a little low-rezzy in spots. smile

 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 8:37 PM   
 By:   Wedge   (Member)

The title of the film is "Decision for Chemistry," not "Design..." And it bears pointing out that fans making custom covers don't have to deal with studios and licensing restrictions. Joe does, and he did a fine and tasteful job in my opinion.

Returning to the MUSIC, these two scores represent a fantastic slice of Americana -- from the big, brash swagger of industry to the soulful intimacy of America's rural communities. A very appropriately timed release, coming so close to the Fourth of July holiday weekend!

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 8:44 PM   
 By:   ScottDS   (Member)

The title of the film is "Decision for Chemistry," not "Design..." And it bears pointing out that fans making custom covers don't have to deal with studios and licensing restrictions. Joe does, and he did a fine and tasteful job in my opinion.

D'oh! I fixed it in my initial post.

And you are, of course, correct. I don't do it to disparage Intrada or Mr. Sikoryak - it's just an exercise for this graphic design student. smile

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 8:47 PM   
 By:   OnyaBirri   (Member)

The title of the film is "Decision for Chemistry," not "Design..."


An incorrect title is less offensive than ugly cover art.

And it bears pointing out that fans making custom covers don't have to deal with studios and licensing restrictions.


They could include an alternate panel in the foldout so buyers could decide which panel to place on the outside.

Joe does, and he did a fine and tasteful job in my opinion.


Sorry, but the cover art looks like a budget 70s reissue LP.

I'm passing. At $20 a throw, I expect better.

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 7, 2014 - 8:54 PM   
 By:   ScottDS   (Member)

They could include an alternate panel in the foldout so buyers could decide which panel to place on the outside.

To be fair, they couldn't include an alternate panel if they were unable to license any artwork for it. I imagine they did the best they could with the licensing restrictions they had to deal with. And when it comes to rejected scores, it probably gets even murkier.

As for the music, I'm not very experienced with Alex North (aside from his Kubrick work) but I like what I hear.

 
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