I'm sure this has been brought up before, but what scores are available by this composer? I think he's great. I'm only familiar with Mad Max, Road Warrior, Thirst, Death Before Dishonor and the Freddy one. What else is out there? Is his Missing in Action score available? Speaking of which, I seem to remember some Road Warrior being tracked into that film...
The real question is what has been released that is still available... eDel released a CD of music from all the Missing In Action movies and that included Brian May's score for the second picture. 1M1 has released a bunch of Brian May scores and you can still find copies of some of their out of print titles at their website.
I highly recommend their releases of Road Games, Race For The Yankee Zephyr and Sky Pirates. The latter two scores have some great action writing ala Road Warrior. Released on vinyl but still not on CD is music for an Australian soap opera, Return To Eden. This is really good and a pleasant surprise for people that only know him for the action and horror scores.
I agree with BMikeJ about his recommendations. Road Games is particularly strong. I'd like to add Harlequin, Patrick, The Day After Halloween, The Survivor, and Frog Dreaming (also known as "The Quest" with Henry Thomas). All great scores that get much play in these parts.
What I wouldn't give for a complete Road Warrior score...
Bloodmoon Death Before Hishonor Dr Giggles Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare Frog Dreaming (Also: The Wild Duck - Simon Walker) Harlequin/The Day After Mad Max Missing In Action II (Also I, III - Jay Chattaway) Race For The Yankee Zephyr/The Survivor Return To Eden (LP) Road Games/Patrick The Road Warrior Sky Pirates Thirst The True Story Of Eskimo Nell/The Great Macarthy
A brilliant composer, sadly missed. I read many years ago that Jerry Goldsmith himself had expressed his admiration for the original Mad Max score. One of my all-time favourites!
3 of Brian May's late-'70s soundtracks are scheduled for reissue onto vinyl LPs for Record Store Day (April 19 2015).
May's 1978 PATRICK was initially released on LP in the U.S.A. via Varese Sarabande, and SNAPSHOT was subsequently issued on vinyl around 1981 as THE DAY AFTER HALLOWEEN by Citadel Records.
My favorite of all Brian May soundtracks is THIRST. THIRST did not receive any LP incarnation that I'm aware of. I remember desiring the soundtrack album for THIRST throughout the 1980s to no avail until I had gotten the Australian CD during the early 1990s.
So ... THIRST will finally get its LP!
and ... actress Chantal Contouri will finally have her images on two LP album covers.
I like May. His score for FROG DREAMING is terrific, fun, exuberant music - I love the playful melodic theme that forms its backbone and the many variations he gives us on it. Especially the end title.
Though it's dated in spots, I like PATRICK too and his oft-rapturous score to RETURN TO EDEN is a delight. ICE PIRATES has a really nice love theme and fun action/adventure music.
His orchestrations are distinct too - The use of flourishing harp and triangle especially is nearly ubiquitous in his works in a way that spells out his touch immediately.
I recently bought THIRST on CD and like it. I don't buy vinyl so I hope the label that put out his TURKEY SHOOT will reissue some of his oop scores (Bloodmoon, The Day after Halloween).
I don't buy vinyl so I hope the label that put out his TURKEY SHOOT will reissue some of his oop scores (Bloodmoon, The Day after Halloween).
Don't count on that! I asked them the same question and this is what they replied:
"Unfortunately we will no longer be issuing our releases on CD. The sad reality is that the limited demand for this type of music on CD does not justify the costs involved. Even more unfortunate is that Chain Reaction is where we've stopped."
I don't buy vinyl so I hope the label that put out his TURKEY SHOOT will reissue some of his oop scores (Bloodmoon, The Day after Halloween).
Don't count on that! I asked them the same question and this is what they replied:
"Unfortunately we will no longer be issuing our releases on CD. The sad reality is that the limited demand for this type of music on CD does not justify the costs involved. Even more unfortunate is that Chain Reaction is where we've stopped."
That sucks. Thanks for asking. It's a shame these 70s/80s genre titles aren't a sure sell anymore on CD. A sad reality indeed. I was just thinking with Intrada's expanded Warlock release how if it hadn't been a Goldsmith, it would never have happened. And there are many great 70s/80s scores that deserve a similar treatment. And yes, there are lots of vinyl releases happening for cult titles, but few of them are premiere releases.
