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Posted: |
Oct 3, 2009 - 6:23 PM
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By: |
MMM
(Member)
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I should add that it's one of my favorite horror scores of all-time, and we actually considered recording it many years ago, but just didn't think there was enough of a market for it. I was representing Frank Skinner's music company, and that would have made certain aspects of things even easier, but still, the only requests for the score seemed to come from the same rabid dozen people. It's like the ultra-right wing conservatives in this country. They yell, scream, and protest, but they keep losing elections because there aren't enough of them. Vocal does not equal profitable. I'd much rather have 3,000 quiet people purchasing one of our soundtracks than 300 screaming people purchasing another one.
I want this recording to happen as much as anyone, and have helped John and Bill get music to possibly accompany it on the disc, but that still doesn't mean enough people will buy it to make it profitable.
And to answer the previous question, I believe the great recording of "Moby Dick" outsold "Titanic "by a three-to-one margin. And I believe that "Skeffington" was so profitable that the label is considering a "More Music From Skeffington" album in the future.
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LOL, as usual -- thanks, David.
Rabidly yours,
PNJ
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I can't imagine ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN selling much differently from the earlier Universal Monster rallys John and Bill produced for Marco Polo. My impression has always been that they did fairly well, hence the fact that they kept turning them out after the first one, for all its faults, was so well received. If I'm wrong about this, then John or Bill will correct me, I'm sure.
I've never timed the score to A&CMF, but I'm guessing there might be room on the CD for a short Salter horror score suite -- my vote goes to MAN MADE MONSTER -- to add to the disc's appeal for monster kids everywhere.
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It's like the ultra-right wing conservatives in this country. They yell, scream, and protest, but they keep losing elections because there aren't enough of them. Vocal does not equal profitable. I'd much rather have 3,000 quiet people purchasing one of our soundtracks than 300 screaming people purchasing another one.
Good grief, can we make a better example then to bring in politics. I could say the same for the ultra left-wing looney tune liberals. They yell, scream and protest too, and they lose elections as well. Bottom line, the United States is pretty much center with their political viewpoints.
What I am saying, don't alienate any potential customers with a silly example. I may be interested in buying your next CD but may relent because of your political stance.
This is not to say I am an ultra right wing conservative, in fact I am more libertarian, but please enough with politics, it can be very divisive. I bring this up because years ago I was buying a bedroom set from Montgomery Wards. The salesperson was anti-Japanese because of what they did in WWII. He asked me if I drove an American car or a Japanese import. Before I could say that I was driving a Pontiac Grand Am, he verbally abused me for driving anything Japanese. After hearing his angry rhetoric, I cancelled my order and went to another store.
I feel very confident that A&CMF will be a best seller among the classic horror fans. However, the only way TRIBUTE will ever know is to produce the album. I can say my own kids, 16 and 18 would love to have it. I reared them up on these films and they watch them constantly and love the music too.
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I've never timed the score to A&CMF, but I'm guessing there might be room on the CD for a short Salter horror score suite -- my vote goes to MAN MADE MONSTER -- to add to the disc's appeal for monster kids everywhere.
I think John suggested at one point they were going to include some other A & C music; I'd like to get the wacky chase/Main Title music from A & C MEET THE KEYSTONE KOPS.
In regards to more Uni monster music, my top priority--moreso than A & C MEET FRANKENSTEIN--would be music from Laemmle-era films like WEREWOLF OF LONDON, DRACULA'S DAUGHTER and THE INVISIBLE MAN. But I understand David's point. Although monster kids may be loud and passionate, they aren't huge in numbers, and it just might not make financial sense to do any of these.
Hmm, I have to disagree. Lately Monster Kids have been enjoying a reissue of older 1950s and 60s model making kits, games and cards. At the Pittsburgh Monster Bash, the kits were selling out within a 3 day weekend. I was trying to find some music that I saw there a year ago, but it was sold out. So, I still feel that there is a vast crowd of fans who will welcome classic horror music such as A&CMF, The Invisible Man, et al. Providing that the music is close to the original. I don't own it but I was told by Bob Burns one year to avoid a certain Max Steiner King Kong rendition. But I do own House of Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein/Invisible Ray, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. all very good in their own rights.
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I certainly would welcome Laemmle-era music, too. I don't know if there would be room to do justice to the other titles mentioned, such as DRACULA'S DAUGHTER or WEREWOLF OF LONDON, but I'll bet it wouldn't be hard to get all the significant music from THE INVISIBLE MAN into a fairly short suite.
I'm not familiar with the KEYSTONE COPS score, but I'll assume it's worthy. My own preference for A & C music would be BUCK PRIVATES COME HOME, composed by Walter (THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER) Schumann -- whose birthday, incidentally, gang, is this Thursday.
(He also wrote delightful music for two other A&C epics, THE NOOSE HANGS HIGH and AFRICA SCREAMS.)
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My own preference for A & C music would be BUCK PRIVATES COME HOME, composed by Walter (THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER) Schumann -- whose birthday, incidentally, gang, is this Thursday.
(He also wrote delightful music for two other A&C epics, THE NOOSE HANGS HIGH and AFRICA SCREAMS.)
Cool info - we're playing "Night of the Hunter" this Saturday and will have to mention his birthday to the audience.
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People who buy monster kits are a completely different subset from people who listen to soundtrack music, even from their favorite monster movies. There is a HUGE percentage of Monster Kids who don't even know there's music in the movies they've watched a hundred times. As for "Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops," Herman Stein's chase music is BRILLIANT. It was one of his favorite pieces (a three-part composition). William Lava also contributed some great music to the picture.
"I" buy monster kits- and I listen to film music. Sniff.
Pardon me while I go dust off my Martian War machine....
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Peter,
Do you have a home theater? I tried linking to your "bigscreen" website in your profile but without success.
So you're screening HUNTER Saturday. Wonderful! I do trust that you're going to not only mention Schumann's birthday but also brandish your beloved copy of my award-winning book, "Heaven and Hell to Play With: The Filming of THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER," available wherever better books are sold... What's that? You never got your copy? Act fast, man, Saturday is only five days away!
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Preston - Pete is the program director at the most drop-dead, deliciously restored movie palace on the cusp of New York and New Jersey. They have a weekly classics program and do a VERY nice business. The manager, Nelson Page, is an impresario of the old school and really does it up right with live organ music etc. Many an east coast film fan make the Lafayette their home-away-from-home. It makes NYC's Film Forum look like the shoebox/snickerbox that it is.
Here's the Lafayette's schedule including HUNTER:
http://www.bigscreenclassics.com/lafayetteclassics.html
Thanks, Ray. We appreciate the kind words.
Preston - I know of your book, but have not read it. One of my regular customers is supposed to be bringing by a copy on Saturday for me to check out.
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Thanks, Ray and Pete --
Sounds like a beautiful place. This gives me something more to live for -- and to look forward to when I finally make it back east again.
(When that customer shows up with my book, please kiss him for me.)
PNJ
PS: FYI, there's another swell new book out on my favorite topic by Jeffrey Couchman, called, "THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER: A Biography of a Film," from Northwestern University Press.
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