Some kind of switched-on seagull, once he grew up. He had a tough time. Why he considered himself to be different from the other seagulls I'll never know. How they managed to make a motion picture out of it I'll never know either! (Oh, yes, I read the book...)
I think some nice music from NEIL DIAMOND and LEE HOLDRIGE?
Correct.
Lee Holdridge and I have spoken many times about the unprecedented madness which transpired during the production of the music for JLS, during the summer/autumn of 1973.
Recently I was hired to record the exclusive audio commentary track for Imprint's brand new Blu-Ray release of JLS.
On the commentary track, you can hear me speak at-length about:
A) How director Hall Bartlett convinced Neil Diamond to do the music for JLS and sign a lucrative contract. B) Where Diamond got his inspiration for the songs. C) How Lee Holdridge improved the music with his own original contributions. D) The full extent of Diamond's subsequent lawsuit against Hall Bartlett (which almost prevented the film from being released in theaters), how Holdridge got dragged into the lawsuit -- and what finally led to Holdridge parting company with Diamond.
Thanks Adam. I've actually never seen this film. I know the Neil Diamond album very well and the suite of score from the Holdridge collection CD, but I really should seek out the film to hear everything in its proper context. The blu-ray you speak of sounds fascinating and I would enjoy hearing the Holdridge insights regarding the law suits and Neil Diamond break-up. Does all the trouble and law suit issues render any chance of the Holdridge score, or an expanded album being released, a complete non-starter? I'll add it to my Christmas wish list
Does all the trouble and law suit issues render any chance of the Holdridge score, or an expanded album being released, a complete non-starter?
Lee told me that he'd still like to see his original "Other World" for JLS music get released, but that there's a problem with the rights group. I suspect it may have to do with the film itself having been bogged down in a copyright nightmare which persists to this day. I explain this in fuller detail on the commentary track on the Imprint Blu-Ray.
If anyone would like a quick glimpse into the research that I conducted, check out my 15-minute video essay defense of the film, which is what convinced Imprint to reach out to me about recording the commentary:
