Director Jimmy Sangster was said to have had no part in it and was said to have "sank to the floor" in embarrassment when he first heard it - at the film's premiere!
So, two questions for Hammer experts.
1. Was the song created by Harry Robinson? Was it his idea?
1. Was the song created by Harry Robinson? Was it his idea?
2. Who is 'Tracy', the credited vocalist?
Robinson was asked to write a song for the film by producer Harry Fine, prompted by the success of Butch Cassidy's "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head".
Tracy was a singer contracted to EMI, the record company interested in releasing it as a single.
There's a lengthy interview with Robinson in Little Shoppe of Horrors issue 7:
That's right, Julian. But in the interviews I've read, people's memories are hazy about the actual events leading up to the song's inclusion in the film. Harry Robinson is quoted as having fought the idea, along with Hammer's music director Phil Martell. Robinson goes on to say that Martell spoke to studio head James Carreras about Fine's "terrible" idea, and Carreras said "If it costs me money the song's out, if it doesn't cost me money it's in". Fine stepped in and ordered it to be included ("I'm the film's producer!").
Fine claimed later that Harry Robinson had exaggerated the whole story, and says he wasn't averse to the idea at all, saying that Robinson himself contracted the lyricist for it (Frank Godwin, close friend and associate of the composer). Fine also said that Robinson's story about Carreras saying "If it costs me money, it's out..." is "ludicrous", saying that it was not Sir James' style - although people liked to try to pin Lord Grade jokes on him, unsuccessfully.
There's a lot more to it than that, but I'd better stop before I make any more mistakes regarding names.
And woolston - Did you bloody well sort out or not bloody well sort out the problem you had with the GDI "Vampire Film Music Collection" CD?
Lust For A Vampire. Great score. But that song ...
Hey, I like that song. Corny as it may seem, it has a beautiful melody which is actually the main theme of the score. The vocal makes it kinda "trippy" sounding. I can't really quite nail it down why, but I just like it. Maybe it's because I also like musicals. Who knows?
2. Who is 'Tracy', the credited vocalist?
Maybe Tracy is really actress Yutte Stensgaard? Probably not, but nice thought anyway. The funny thing is Ralph Bates seems to...er..."go down" on Yutte during this song. Ooh la la! LUST FOR A VAMPIRE is one of my fave Hammer films. Beautiful women (as usual with Hammer), beautiful photography, beautiful score. Four stars!
Oh, I love that song too! It's NOT just a pop song plastered over a horror film - it is quite genuinely "haunting" (appropriately). The "pop" version which was going to be released (I don't think it ever was) was more up-beat and "normal".
Harry Robinson did another good song for FRIGHT, in the same kind of eerie otherworldly way. It's like a dreamy take on the old "Ladybird, Ladybird" traditional song, and really quite marvelous!
Oh, I love that song too! It's NOT just a pop song plastered over a horror film - it is quite genuinely "haunting" (appropriately). The "pop" version which was going to be released (I don't think it ever was) was more up-beat and "normal".
Harry Robinson did another good song for FRIGHT, in the same kind of eerie otherworldly way. It's like a dreamy take on the old "Ladybird, Ladybird" traditional song, and really quite marvelous!
There was a 45 single released of Strange Love and it had much more of a rock feel to it (someone sent it to me on a tape years ago...now since, long lost).
I agree on the Fright song. Strangely fitting, sung almost out-of-tune as I recall.
Truly sad that GDI release of "Hammer Vampire Film Music' didn't contain the 'meat' from 'Vampire Circus' & "Lust for a Vampire' (but I imagine, that's all there was in existence).
The post main title sequence of "Lust" (Carmilla's resurrection) was a wonderfully long piece including the use of an organ.
BTW the GDI credits stating the track "Castle Karnstein in Flames/Finale" is incorrect. I only wish that cue was included (it used a choir)...alas the proper ending is apparently lost.
Many a night she was floating outside in a see-through night dress, scratching on my window, humming strange love and begging to be allowed in.
I would have let her in on lots of occasions but Ingrid was always feeding on my wrist and wouldn't let me off the bed!!
I did hear Yutte went a bit "religious", spurned her career, returned to Sweden, was ashamed of her hammer/vampire/rude history and became a nun or joined a sect or something. Dunno where I read that.
I did hear Yutte went a bit "religious", spurned her career, returned to Sweden, was ashamed of her hammer/vampire/rude history and became a nun or joined a sect or something. Dunno where I read that.
Not sure about that, however I did see a short interview clip of Yutte (circa 1970) saying that she hoped that one day she'd win an Oscar (!).
No chance of that honey. You're nice to look at, but thespian you're not.
Ah, MusicUnite - so the rock version of "Strange Love" was released after all? I think I recall reading in another interview that Harry Robinson was involved quite heavily in that. Let's not forget that Harry Robinson was Harry Robertson, also known as the feared Lord Rockingham, the most evil of men, who perpetrated the horrendous crime of "Hoots Mon!" on an unsuspecting, innocent public.
Pathetic infantile joke for MusicUnite - I wonder what organ was used for some scenes in LUST FOR A VAMPIRE... (Gerroff, boo, hiss)
woolston seems unwilling to answer my question. Hmm, sorry if there's a problem between us matey. That would be news to me.
Thanks for that, Julian. As luck would have it, my speakers seem to have disappeared, yet they were here this morning. This house is absolute chaos! Will listen to that track when I can. By the way, I see it's credited to "Godwin" (Frank Godwin, Harry Robinson's friend and associate).
What's interesting is that on the amazon.com listing you've linked to, it's credited to "Godwin".
On the amazon.co.uk listing, it's credited to "Tracy".
Anyway, I believe this is the commercial single version.
And here it is on Youtube too.
P.S. I like the song too, it's just it was wrong for the film.
P.P.S. Graham, sorry chap, not ignoring you, just distracted. Yes, thanks, my good pal Jon's going to help me out. Thanks for replying yourself. Much appreciated.
Ah, good old woolly! And I was just going to click on the YouTube link, but it was very silent due to my being inexplicably speakerless. Oh, and I think it DOES work in the film, so there!
woolston, I think it was Harry Fine who said that the pop single version of "Strange Love" was Harry Robinson's creation from start to finish (I believe he used the term "Robinson's baby..)" (?)
Glad I found this old thread. not only is it a beautiful song but I felt it did work within the context of the film itself. I am sure the modern day TWILIGHT FANS might agree.Also the song from FRIGHT was also a lovely enchanting song as well. I felt the 45 version of strange love by TRACY was inferior and just didn't have the emotion of the film version. But then that has been a common trend when it comes to the history of film music to pop charts over the decades.
