When it comes to spy music from the classic era - which I would consider roughly mid- to late-1960s - it seems like many of the major U.S. and U.K. titles, both TV and film, have been released on CD in some form or other.
So I'm trying to think of gaps in the catalog. The Matt Helm films come to mind. There must be others, right?
I also have a number of European spy soundtracks, but I don't know what percentage of European spy music from this period has come out on CD. When it comes to spy music beyond Europe and the U.S., I'm sadly at a loss.
So what are some titles, major or obscure, from any country, that deserve a release? Feel free to discuss titles that came out in a less-than-ideal representation also. Again, I'm really focusing on the classic mid- to late-60s period.
Considering Elmer Bernstein and Lalo Schifrin's popularity in these circles (never mind the underrated Montenegro efforts) I fear the absence of the Helm scores on CD may be due to insoluble rights or missing tapes issues, but... fingers crossed. However, two unavailable scores are Deadlier Than the Male & Some Girls Do, from 1966-7, a two-film series starring Richard Johnson. Sorry I can't remember the composers involved but the scores are entertaining.
In that same style, maybe not a spy film and well out of the 60s but intrigue and action nonetheless and hey it's Alistair Stuart MacLean : The golden rendezvous by Jeff Wayne, which goes nicely with his "War of the worlds". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTvIsC0W5_Y
On maclean thrillers Caravan to vaccares is another. His heros werent usually spies as such but more agents or capable people roped into an investigation.
There were dozens of italian spy films, another bandwagon they jumped after Bond, and m any have been released. I dont think they sell very well - not like the italian westerns. But probably more than italian comedies, which are the kiss of death.
There were also the Charles Vine films, which i dont believe have had any release.
When it comes to spy music from the classic era - which I would consider roughly mid- to late-1960s - it seems like many of the major U.S. and U.K. titles, both TV and film, have been released on CD in some form or other.
So I'm trying to think of gaps in the catalog. The Matt Helm films come to mind. There must be others, right?
I also have a number of European spy soundtracks, but I don't know what percentage of European spy music from this period has come out on CD. When it comes to spy music beyond Europe and the U.S., I'm sadly at a loss.
So what are some titles, major or obscure, from any country, that deserve a release? Feel free to discuss titles that came out in a less-than-ideal representation also. Again, I'm really focusing on the classic mid- to late-60s period.
I LOVE the Bond/spy knockoff albums from the 1960s! Some of them feature unique reads of the existing themes, and some feature original tunes that are right up there with the score themes.
1964's HOT ENOUGH FOR JUNE had its title changed to AGENT 8 3/4 for its 1965 U.S. release by Continental Distributing. The unreleased score was by Angelo Lavagnino, conducted by Muir Mathieson.
The producer of HOT ENOUGH FOR JUNE, Betty E. Box, also produced the Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond adventures DEADLIER THAN THE MALE and SOME GIRLS DO, mentioned above. These were scored by Malcolm Lockyer and Charles Blackwell, respectively.
The title song for DEADLIER THAN THE MALE was by John Franz and Scott Engel and was sung by The Walker Brothers. It was released on a 45:
The title song for SOME GIRLS DO had music by Charles Blackwell, lyrics by Don Black, and was sung by Lee Vanderbilt (sounding at moments like Johnny Mathis) over the opening credits here:
