My all-time favorite score & one of the most poorly produced (and sounding in most parts) albums there is. Grateful for what is here, but a shame on album. The one I'd make a beeline to re-record if I win the lottery. Hire me John Scott to conduct this mutha....
Sadly at last report the written scores were water damaged and pretty much are lost.
The original masters were erased by the the recording studio and reused for another project.
What about the film stems? Surely something can be done with those and incorporated into the existing album. If today’s technology can isolate the score and sound effects in Psycho, I’m sure a clean up of the best elements available for MM2 is at least feasible. Trying to maintain a little optimism here
Big problem if there WAS another version in mono its PROBABLY still missing the big set piece, a near 7min. long piece for Max driving the big rig into the compound. One of the best action setpieces & cues ever IMHO. Yeah it would probably not been on such a thing....
For anyone interested here's a breakdown of the somewhat confusing and sometimes erroneous Varese album.
1 Montage/Main Title Montage - Actually an exciting action cue from near the end of the film after Max has turned the rig around and heads back in the same direction. It was called The Chase Continues on the Japanese LP. Main Title - I presume is what they mean by 'Montage' as it's really the dirge like main theme presented with 4:3 movietone style images with a recap of the previous film The prologue if you like? 2 Confrontation 3 Marauders Massacre As Ive said earlier in the thread this seems to be an edit excising the build up but I've listened to this track in the film many times and can't really find where or how they made the edit cleanly. 4 Max Enters Compound 5 Gyro Saves max 6 Breakout 7 Finale and Largo Finale - this is actually 'Largo' which is the Main Title. Largo - this music is the head on collision between the rig and Humungous' vehicle. The ending is cut off and edits rather awkwardly into the actual finale. 8 End title - This a repeat of the Montage music which is the end titles as in the film. 9 SFX Suite Boomerang Attack - Gyro Flight - The Big Rig Starts - Breakout - The Refinery Explodes - Reprise After the Boomerang attack sound effect we get two short musical stingers. The first is as the body of the truck driver falls out as Max opens the door. The second as the boomerang hits Wez' partner in the skull and Wez return throws. Gyro Flight, The Big Rig Starts, Breakout and The Refinery Explodes all play out with sound effects. Reprise is just a repeat of the Rig/Humongous head on collision/truck roll cue from earlier.
The Japanese LP did resequence and correct a lot of the cue titles but the content remained the same. Like i said, a bit of a head scratcher?
Thanks for the breakdown Steve. One of my favorite action scores.
We're lucky Varese gave us a North American release at all.
Agreed but it's a bit of a mystery in itself. The Jap LP had different sequencing and presented it as a better cohesive listen. It also included an extra sequence of sfx for Confrontation. So we're did the original master come from? What was it comprised of? Where is it now? Since Varese have never reissued it I figure they no longer have it or the rights either.
This score is a prime candidate for some kind of Nic Raine/City of Prague Phil standalone or package re-record.
That would be great however I'm not so sure if that snarley, raw sound May was able to get out of his orchestra could be replicated. Hopefully.
It's pretty ok, creative graphics, zero notes, minimal credits, postage stamp replications of the original covers within the tri fold package.
Max sounds fine, as does Road Warrior (fine as it can....) but to my ears Thunderdome lacked the firepower of the Capitol CD & certainly the amazing Tadlow set.
It's been my go to playing 2 out of 3 lately but probably more out of bring suckered back into vinyl than audiophile joy. For uber-fans only.
I'm guessing that Varese just has the same album master that is always released, like the same film print Warners trots out every few years. I think that's all there is, Peggy Lee....
I recall hearing the montage music in one of the Missing In Action films. The one that May actually scored. Can't be sure though it's been a long time since I've seen it. Maybe the tapes are with those sessions. But I guess Intrada would have found them when they released thier album.
I recall hearing the montage music in one of the Missing In Action films. The one that May actually scored. Can't be sure though it's been a long time since I've seen it. Maybe the tapes are with those sessions. But I guess Intrada would have found them when they released thier album.
The actual "Montage" cue was tracked into one scene in MIA 2.
I'd hazard a guess a miserly operation like Canon Films would not have spent the time and effort to have May's master tapes shipped over from Australia. They probably just took the track off the Varese LP or cassette.
I recall hearing the montage music in one of the Missing In Action films. The one that May actually scored. Can't be sure though it's been a long time since I've seen it. Maybe the tapes are with those sessions. But I guess Intrada would have found them when they released thier album.
The actual "Montage" cue was tracked into one scene in MIA 2.
I'd hazard a guess a miserly operation like Canon Films would not have spent the time and effort to have May's master tapes shipped over from Australia. They probably just took the track off the Varese LP or cassette.
That is true. Unless it was originally temped with The MM2 score.
