 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Let's celebrate our 50th CD release with Lalo Schifrin!
GOLDEN NEEDLES (1974)
Music Composed and Conducted by Lalo Schifrin
Limited Edition of 1000 copies. World Premiere Release.
70 minutes of music never released before.
8-page CD booklet with liner notes by Gergely Hubai.
Ref: MBR-050
Release Date: June 2, 2014
In order to celebrate its 50th CD release, Music Box Records is very proud to present the original soundtrack from Golden Needles (1974) by Lalo Schifrin. Capitalizing on the early ‘70s kung-fu craze, the film tells the story of a mysterious statue which contains the secret location of acupuncture points that may cure many illnesses – or lead to instant death if they are applied in the wrong order. When rival gangs start a fierce hunt after the statue, it’s up to Dan (Joe Don Baker) to get the statue for the mysterious girl who had hired him. Briefly teaming up with blaxploitation icon Jim Kelly, Baker is ready to deliver swift punches, escape death traps and throw people across panes until he gets what he wants…
Golden Needles was directed by Robert Clouse, who brought along composer Lalo Schifrin from their last successful collaboration, Enter the Dragon. The music is the perfect accompaniment for the east-meets-west scenario and in many ways, it can be viewed as the close cousin of Schifrin’s incredibly influential soundtrack for Bruce Lee’s last film. Featuring cool percussion, infectious jazz licks, epic action set pieces and even a tender love theme for the unlikely romance of Dan and token femme fatale Felicity, Schifrin’s music for Golden Needles is as great as it is largely forgotten in the shadow of its more esteemed peer – at least until now.
This CD by Music Box Records marks the premiere release of Golden Needles; The only piece of music that has been released from the film was a re-recording on Schifrin’s 2000 compilation album Jazz Goes to Hollywood. This soundtrack presents all the music in mostly chronological order and is accompanied by an 8-page booklet with liner notes by Gergely Hubai who discusses the film and the score. Golden Needles may lack the name recognition of Bullitt or the cult factor of Enter the Dragon, but the score definitely delivers everything you’d expect from the composer at the top of his game – and it certainly doesn’t disappoint fans of Schifrin or martial arts movies in general.
TRACKLISTING:
1. The Golden Statue (00:46)
2. Golden Needles (Main Title) (03:03)
3. Acupuncture #1 (04:12)
4. Flames / Lin Toa (02:18)
5. Love Theme (01:25)
6. Fortune Teller / Snake Shop / Snakes (04:21)
7. Felicity (02:59)
8. Mongolian Supper (00:56)
9. Chinese Paintings (01:20)
10. Empty Hangers / Attack on Kwan / Chinese Cemetery (03:23)
11. Airports / Street Fight (02:16)
12. Winters' Mansion / Winters / It's Time (02:01)
13. Taxi (02:02)
14. Antique Shop / Health Club (02:27)
15. Health Club Fight (01:44)
16. Acupuncture #2 (04:11)
17. Menace / Hong Kong Street (01:43)
18. Heavies Approach / Harbor Sequence (01:54)
19. Harbor Chase / Crowds / Conclusion (09:34)
20. Golden Needles (End Titles) (02:48)
21. Finzie's Piano #1 (02:29)
22. Chinese Street Source (00:58)
23. Finzie's Piano #2 (04:12)
24. Golden Needles of Love (05:46)
Total Time • 69:50
For sound clips and available for order, please visit: http://www.musicbox-records.com/en/cd-catalog/372-golden-needles.html
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordered, thanks 
The samples really do sound great. Probably the only CD this year that I've felt I should order straight away. Pure Lalo fun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Money is as tight as a gnat's arse, I've almost stopped buying soundtracks unless I'm fairly familiar with the music and it's something I've wanted for years, my interest is kind of waning in general...
But then along comes something very obscure which my instinct tells me just has to be great, and I'm like a kid again in 58 Dean Street.
Indeed Graham - my thoughts exactly.
Lalo is obviously channelling his Enter the Dragon sensibilities into the score, although I hear hints of Dirty Harry as well. Quintessential 70's stuff, and there seems to be a bit of a dearth of that coming from the labels at present.
I wonder how long before Enter the Dragon gets done properly, with proper notes and all? It's a classic score after all...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By the way Simon, did you ever get to feel the love for COOGAN's BLUFF?
Oddly enough, I didn't. Whether it was because I never liked the film that much. or because it felt a bit too 'source music-y' to me, I really don't know.
I shall probably come back to it one day and it will just 'click' with me, as a few scores have done in the past. But at the moment, I just don't get that feeling...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I just ordered it because the music reminds me Charley Varrick (also starring Joe Don Baker) and Skyriders.
Really Thomas?
That's interesting because I wouldn't have drawn many parallels between Golden Needles and Sky Riders. The latter score is more symphonic in nature whereas the former is definitely far more funky 
As for Charlie Varrick....never seen it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We'll skip the masterpiece Charley Varrick that you don't know.
Listen closely to the lowkey/suspenseful parts of Skyriders to catch my meaning.
Schifrin is the master of the lowkey atmospheres.
Golden Needles has a lot of atmospheric and Eastern Europe cimbalom sides to it.
Yes, they do seem to have that in common.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mmmm. Charlie Varrick looks good. I'll pick up the DVD soon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Golden Needles arrived today from Music Box.
While it's from the same sort of stable as Enter the Dragon, I'd say it was more jazzy than the latter, with more string work and presence of double bass. A bit less emphasis on funk with plenty of ethnic touches and lots of percussion. To my ears, one or two tracks are mono(?) But the sound quality is very good indeed. And there's tablas
As Thomas surmises, there is some quite edgy suspense music on the CD. I always imagine that it can be difficult to write effective suspense music which is also interesting to listen to as an isolated experience on CD, but I think Schifrin manages it well here.
Some nice notes too from Gergely Hubai. Overall a very nice job for us fans of 70's scores, especially as we aren't seeing so many of them being released at the moment.
A fitting 50th release, Music Box. Congratulations!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
While it's from the same sort of stable as Enter the Dragon
Or Dirty Harry.
Yes indeed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
