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Posted: |
Oct 4, 2016 - 10:34 AM
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By: |
OnyaBirri
(Member)
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I have found in general that compilations tend to offer reasonably good gateways into artists, but that as I get more deeply into the artists, the compilations are not always satisfying.
Not so with Ennio Morricone. He is probably my favorite composer - I have more recordings of his music than anyone - and there are a number of compilations that I love. I found over the years, in talking to fellow Morricone fanatics, that certain comps are adored as much as individual film scores. Maybe compilations help to make approaching such a vast catalog less daunting. Unlike some other artists, I feel that Morricone is particularly well served by thoughtful compilations.
Anyway, here are some of my favorite Morricone compilations, some of which I got early on, others more recently.
The Mondo Morricone Trilogy - If I had to give up all of my Morricone albums and keep three discs, these are the three I would choose, focusing on groovy and introspective tracks primarily from the early 70s. I already had probably 80%-90% of these tracks by the time I acquired these comps, but I could not believe how well conceived they were. It was as if I'd secretly compiled them in my sleep, or someone had read my mind and compiled them for me.
Crime and Dissonance - A great two-disc companion to the Mondo comps, the title says it all. When I put all five in the five-disc changer and hit shuffle, I'm set.
Chase Morricone - This collection of mostly 70s action and oddball tracks contains some things that typically don't show up on other comps.
The Argento Trilogy - I have all three of the individual albums, but more often than not, I reach for this one-disc collection of Morricone's scores for Argento's giallos.
Morricone 2000, Morricone 2001 - Cool comps from Dagored that were in constant rotation at my pad when they first came out.
So I ask the Morricone enthusiasts, what do you think of these and other Morricone comps? Have comps helped you over the years in processing Morricone's huge output? How do you feel about compilations of Morricone's music vs. compilations of other artists you love?
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Posted: |
Oct 4, 2016 - 11:34 AM
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By: |
MusicMad
(Member)
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In the 1970s and 80s, on vinyl, I had more compilations of the Maestro's works than OSTs and, yes, this was certainly my way into this body of work. But I found a problem as time and again I would buy, often to find I'd then have duplicate/triplicate copies of particular tracks.
When CDs became the norm, it was a couple of compilations I bought, mainly to get those wonderful themes crackle-free but significantly because they were the only releases - here in the UK - available. Slowly some OSTs got released (the US released films took the lead, of course) and I was still buying CD compilations into the 21st century. I bought Morricone 2000 and the Mondo Morricone triple CD release mentioned by Onya ... but found that the weird mix of tracks on the former and the largely lounge style mix on the latter not great listening experiences.
I suppose it was because the internet then provided me with a vast and relatively cheap source of OSTs that i started to collect his scores and generally found that the wonderful track I knew from either of these compilations or from my vinyl days sounded better when heard as part of the OST. Yes, many of his scores do include dissonance and can be a challenge ... but, if anything, those less than attractive tracks make the beautiful themes even more gorgeous.
It doesn't work in every case but as a positive example I'll quote the main theme from L'Uccello Dalle Piume di Cristallo (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage) (1970) ... it takes on a new face and body when heard in the full score, with some subtle variations, so much better than the single track on several compilations.
As a youngster I bought ,,,'s Greatest Hits and The (Very) Best of ... albums ... these days when I buy any such compilation I seek to break these down into the original albums and usually find this works better. Perhaps there are some misses within Morricone's vast output but generally I still prefer the OSTs.
Mitch
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I've got a relatively broad range of cpompilations, from the excellent Mondo trio Onya led with, to the Yo-Yo Ma suite recording on Sony. My single favorite is the DRG Thriller Collection 2-cd set (I do like Morricone's dissonant takes from time to time).
I've got the Argento trilogy but haven't ever really gotten into it for some reason. Also have the DRG With Love first CD (there are two volumes), the early RCA legendary westerns collection, a couple other more recent concert compilations. (Going from memory here.) I've also had my eye on the main titles and singles collections, but never picked them up.
So yes, I guess I do enjoy the compilations - often more than full scores. Mondo has become my favorite go-to for me. Can't remember if I have Crime and Dissonance, though I know I know of it.
EDIT: What do you know, many of these are available digitally! Crime and Dissonance, for example: https://open.spotify.com/album/7EZoSIhrgcBJYanQWVnTFr
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Posted: |
Oct 4, 2016 - 3:11 PM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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So I ask the Morricone enthusiasts, what do you think of these and other Morricone comps? Have comps helped you over the years in processing Morricone's huge output?
There are many Morricone compilations, both original tracks and other people's interpretations, and I find it hard to think of one that I've heard that isn't worthwhile, from John Zorn's avant garde, to Geoff Love's fairly faithful Morricone/Legrand double LP, to "We All Love..." to Yo Yo Ma, to pan pipe versions, to Mireille Mathieu, Dulce Pontes and many others. But there's one which for me towers above all the others - "I Film Della Violenza".
I chose this one almost at random, from a catalogue that offered several single and double LPs (all with Italian titles that by and large meant nothing to me) at a time when the only Morricone I had was the Camden Fistful of Dollars/Few Dollars More LP. This was either late 1975 or early 1976. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The aggressive Citta Violenta, the unearthly choirs of L'Ucello Della Piume di Cristallo and Grazie Zia, the quirky and lopsided Storia di Vita e Malavita and the beautifully orchestrated and performed Un Amico from Revolver - and that was just the first side.
Altogether, 24 absolutely sublime tracks from films that mostly seemed impossibly exotic, and to this day, 40 years later, I've only seen eight or nine of the films featured despite always keeping half an eye out for them. And as well as the discs, there's a large booklet with photos and details of the films, all in Italian of course - the kind of booklet that would just appear skimpy and mean if it were shrunk into a CD case.
About 20 years ago I sold my LP collection but I kept this one (and a handful that had belonged to my dad) and I haven't got anything to play the discs on. I have reproduced the tracklist on my iPod, as far as is possible - some versions aren't exactly the same, but it's 98% there. Maybe it's all in my head, but it doesn't sound the same on CD as it did on LP.
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What TG said. The violenza double LP Foldout.
And what Brofax said.un film una musica double LP foldout.
and the italian western double LP foldout from the same set.
My first was a uk cheapy LP called Film Favourites. I Think most tracks came from Un film una musica.
On Cd later, the love themes collections were also great.
Without doubt, Morricone is one of worlds most compiled artists, let alone film composers.
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Posted: |
Oct 4, 2016 - 10:59 PM
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By: |
Laurent78
(Member)
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It's a very vast topic to say the least! I remember I wrote a lengthy 3-part article in MSV about it a couple of years ago, trying to sort out all kinds of compilations dedicated to the Maestro, which meant a huge work! You guys already mentioned important ones such as I FILM DELLA VIOLENZA and L'ORCHESTRA LA VOCE. There's one in particular I'd like to emphasize because it must have been the very first one back in 1968:
http://www.ebay.es/itm/BO-OST-ENNIO-MORRICONE-LA-MUSICA-NEL-CINEMA-DET-soundtrack-/201679221842?hash=item2ef504b452:g:zKoAAOSwMNxXat4d
I don't buy LP's any longer but got that one lately because I like very much the black and white pictures of EM reproduced inside the booklet. A truly beautiful and unique document.
I feel the same as Henry: when I started discovering EM's work in the early 80's, several compilations have been essential for me, such as a triple GM LP containing gems such as LE SECRET, LEONOR, etc, etc, then the 5 volumes LES PLUS BELLES MUSIQUES D'EM (featuring IL PENTITO on the 5th one) or the RCA Lineatre series (3LP's).
Regarding its important side in EM's career, another one that could easily be mentioned is Virgin's double LP/CD FILM MUSIC, with EM's glasses on it, published around 1987 or 1988.
Laurent
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credit where it is due, it was Laurent who first observed and pointed out to us just how many times - both in LP and CD - that Morricone has so many compilations released - in different countries, different labels, it is a phenomenal amount over the years.
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Bill, those three double LP fold out's were the first I bought from Soundtrack & General in London in the seventies.
Come to think of it, three of the best I ever bought.
i was probably in the shop in Brockley at same time!!
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