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Over at the Home Theater Forum tv board, a lady just posted that apparently John Gilbert (Herschel's son) has all of his father's recordings and "has been meaning to produce something ( a CD) for quite a while but hasn't found the time"
Maybe this is something FSM or La La Land should look into....I'd be thrilled to hear all those Chuck Connors drama cues on a nice new CD!!!
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Me too.
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Posted: |
Jul 7, 2008 - 8:01 PM
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By: |
pp312
(Member)
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Yet, for reasons I cannot explain, I LOVED The Rifleman. I love Westerns now but back then this was rather odd; but man is that show a fun watch. I'd love to have some of that music on disc.
I think the essence of The Rifleman, and what set it apart from other shows of the time, was the warmth of the father/son relationship, which the writers (many of whom gained fame in later years) made the centerpiece of the show. I've heard Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford were quite close, and that certainly comes through--that and the essentially honest nature of their acting (yes, even Crawford, perhaps because he felt comfortable on set). It was one of those rare shows where everything clicked, but it will always hold a special place in my affections for that central relationship which took precedence over all else, even over traditional western gunplay. Indeed I can remember episodes where there was hardly any action in the conventional sense, just the Lucas/Mark interaction or, occasionally, conflict. It's a pity there are no shows around today with that kind of warmth and heart.
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There was one string cue used repeatedly, usually at the end of the show when Lucas and Mark were reunited after some crisis...Mark comes running yelling.."Pa! Pa!" into Lucas' arms and the orchestra swells...
Then there were the tympani and brass dominated suspense cues...
I've got a few of the shows on DVD I got in a used book store...I'll have to pull 'em out for a new viewing.
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Count me in, too. All I have to listen to from the show is a very fine rendition of the main theme on an LP transfer of "Dick Powell Presents Themes From the Original Sound Track of Four Star Television Productions (Exactly As Played on Television)." Hell of a title but a great early theme album, with very faithful recordings of "Black Saddle" (Goldsmith/Morton), "Law of the Plainsman" (Rosenman), "Wanted Dead or Alive" (Schrager) and others besides "The Rifleman." The album itself was produced by Herschel Burke Gilbert so maybe there's a chance the tapes are hanging around in his collection. Definitely an album that deserves a quality CD release.
In case anyone is wondering whatever became of Johnny Crawford, check this out:
http://www.crawfordmusic.com/
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http://www.amazon.com/Songs-West-Vol-Television-Themes/dp/B0000033AC
I've got this on cassette...but it's around as used on CD. Gilbert conducts the theme on here.As a matter of fact I seem to recall reading on the cassette J card that the version of the RIFLEMAN theme on the album was from the same LP you mention Dana. (I'm not at home to check it)
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http://www.amazon.com/Songs-West-Vol-Television-Themes/dp/B0000033AC
I've got this on cassette...but it's around as used on CD. Gilbert conducts the theme on here.As a matter of fact I seem to recall reading on the cassette J card that the version of the RIFLEMAN theme on the album was from the same LP you mention Dana. (I'm not at home to check it)
Very similar, Charles. It may have a bit of added reverb I don't hear on the Dick Powell Presents LP (which has surprisingly good, "punchy" sound that worked well for the western themes especially). Does sound like the same recording, though. (I'm expecting to hear from vinylscrubber here any minute.)
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maybe Rhino had the track remixed and added some verb. The cues on the show always had a lot of reverb anyway....one thing I liked a lot (especially on those French horns)
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Would love to get a CD of THE RIFLEMAN themes. There were several memorable cues that were used in almost every show.
I, too, have the "Dick Powell Presents... etc." LP, in fact burned it to CD not all that long ago. I think I talked about in the "LP to CD" thread a couple of months back. Good album with the best rendition of Goldsmith's BLACK SADDLE I've heard. Also, "Nervous," which did duty both for Dick Powell's show and NBC SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES.
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I'd buy a Herschel Burke Gilbert or Rifleman CD in a flash.
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just received an email from Herschel Burke Gilbert's son John:
Dear Mr. Thaxton,
Being 58, I grew up with this music both as my father composed it and
as a fan of THE RIFLEMAN series. When my father died 4 years ago, I
took possession of his tape library, which included his record
company masters, his film scores and much of the work he and his
colleagues wrote while at FOUR STAR TELEVISION. I have long been
interested in releasing a CD of music from THE RIFLEMAN. There are
both some technical and licensing issues that must be resolved before
I begin this project but I'm hoping sometime in the next 12 months to
begin work on it. No promises but I will soon begin actively
pursuing some of the issues. I'll let you (and of course Margie)
know how things turn out.
Best regards,
John Gilbert
Laurel Records
1018 Euclid Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94708
www.laurelrecords.com
sales@laurelrecords.com
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Charles Thaxton......
It strikes me that Mr. Gilbert should get in touch with Mr. Lukas Kendall.
Even though Gilbert presumably has a record label of his own, a joint-cooperation co-production with FSM would get these things before the proper audience and Lukas, of course, knows the ropes on licensing and clearing and packaging at least some of the material.
Why don't you eMail Lukas and put them both in touch?
I'm sure everyone involved, including all of us as consumers, would be the beneficiaries of such a project.
already done, Manderly
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It's ten discs plus an actual replica of Lucas McCain's rifle to hang over your fireplace.
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