 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm a big fan of Elmer but the few samples for True Grit aren't really grabbing me. I think I'll wait for The Miracle.
Then you're not a big fan.
And you get to decide who is a big fan and who isn't you sanctimonious twat? Back to your meds son! Allez!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Some thoughts on the new "True Grit" release. I'm not going to compare it to the original release nor to any of the others, such as the one in which Bernstein re-recorded some of this music in Vol. 1 of his music for John Wayne films (with the composer himself conducting the Utah Symphony Orchestra). This will be superficial in that it is merely my initial, perhaps knee-jerk thoughts while playing it for the very first time and not how any of this may compare to or contrast with other releases, so please don't crucify me for such superficiality nor for being ill-informed -- I intentionally chose not to read the wonderful liner notes before doing my scribbling, except once going back to the CD booklet to verify the names of 2 singers and to get a few cue titles. Without identifying most titles, I'll just go track by track:
(1) Forgot how wonderful Campbell's vocal was, and it sounds great here (and the best version of the song)
(2) Interesting different version of the song, and while I'm glad to have it, it only made me appreciate (1) more
(3) A brief, pulsating interlude
(4) Typical of Bernstein's music he composed for a number of other John Wayne westerns
(5) Interesting lyrical reprise of principal theme for violins, typically atmospheric for westerns with brass brought in to conclude it
(6) Now we're going to town, and this is what first drew me to this music in the first place so many years ago
(7) The sort of Bernstein music that captivated me in the late 1950s and beyond, and I love these extended medleys
(8) Bouncy, catchy -- can't wait to listen to this on my long walks
(9) More bounce, with the core thematic elements we associate with "True Grit"
(10) Some thoughtful Bernstein angst, and quite interesting
(11) A nostalgic return to a leisurely treatment of the main theme -- perhaps a bit modern for the period of the film, but still nice
(12) Pulsating angst, and, for me, mainly a bridge
(13) A catchy uptempo theme that morphs into nostalgic reflection and ends with a percussive finality
(14) Wistful, nice woodwinds, but quickly reaches a rather frantic but still effective coda
(15) Interesting connective cue, welcoming the brief return of the main theme until it shifts gears -- nice for a nearly 4 minute cue
(16) Almost 10 1/2 minutes of heart-stopping music -- it's all over the place! -- and quite nice for an extended medley
(17) A quick minute and a half gallop with interesting variations of the principal theme
(18) A brief and wistful reprise of the lovely theme, with touching solo violin and a rousing conclusion
(19) The "End Credits," more nostalgia, Coplandesque, but over too soon
(20) "Alternate Main Theme" instrumental, with lots of horns, and very nice, though it ends too abruptly
(21) John Hartford singing his song "Go Home Girl," which doesn't add much and, for me, is intrusive
(22) Glen Campbell's version of the Hartford song, and still intrusive and I can see why they chose not to use it
(23) Campbell's extended version of the Hartford song, mainly for the sake of fastidious completeness
(24) The title song revised as "The Eyes of the Young" and I found the unfamiliar lyrics a bit unsettling, but still worth hearing
(25) A bouncy and totally different version of the title song, sung sweetly by Elmer Bernstein himself -- and it's endearing
(26) Michael Dee's okay but forgettable version of the title song
(27) The record version of Glen Campbell singing the title song, but Campbell's version in (1) is by far the best on the set
(28) A welcome return to instrumental versions of the song, but too brief and abrupt for me
And for my own listening pleasure I'll tack on a reprise of the brief (6) to complete my own compilation of this great music and set aside some of the extras just to hear should I choose to be fastidiously complete.
It was a delight listening to this terrific new CD and I see exactly why Jeff Bond chided me for thinking that the original soundtrack release was actually the soundtrack. Jeff quite rightly wrote "Well, if you have the 'original soundtrack,' that bears almost no resemblance whatsoever to the music that's actually in the movie apart from the song. I'm not speaking of the Tadlow rerecording but the original soundtrack released on LP in conjunction with the film. That's just a bunch of pop arrangements." Thank you, Jeff, because they're sooooooooo different! And the folks at La-La-Land Records should be very proud of this terrific release and for Jeff's extensive liner notes, which enhance it.
Follow-up: I've now had a few days to play this and like it more each time, and have been so pleased with it that I've now decided to buy La-La's new 3 CD set of James Newton Howard's great "Wyatt Earp" when it is released next week, along with Bill Conti's "I, The Jury." Can't wait.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very odd. I posted the above about 7 hours ago, and I'm surprised that no one else has posted anything else about this great new CD. I had been expecting buyers to burn up this discussion about their own reaction to it! Wish now that I had given it more attention and not been so superficial in what I wrote about it. Well, maybe next time!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very odd. I posted the above about 7 hours ago, and I'm surprised that no one else has posted anything else about this great new CD. I had been expecting buyers to burn up this discussion about their own reaction to it!
Be patient. You're assuming that everybody has received their copy. Not everyone lives in LA.
I ordered my copy on the day of release, and based on past experience, it should arrive in the mail in about two weeks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wow! I ordered mine on Tuesday and received it 2 days later! Must lead a charmed life!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wow! I ordered mine on Tuesday and received it 2 days later! Must lead a charmed life!!!
... and you live in L.A. -- as in La-La Land.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The other one that drives me nuts in the digital era is stretching the images. 
