The original recording of Psycho has got to be THE Holy Grail among the majority of film score aficionados right?
Be careful with those rhetorical questions. I think that PSYCHO is a brilliantly effective film score, a true landmark, by perhaps the greatest composer in films. But I've no particular need to hear it often on discs, and the existing versions are quite enough for me. Each to his own!
The Bootleg is from the Laserdisc isolated dubbing stem or whatever is the exact phrase. This was also the source of the new blue ray music mix.
Yes it might be that the original masters are out there somewhere... but apparently not held by Universal or Paramount.
Please keep in mind... Psycho was
-produced by Hitchcocks Shamley Productions -shot on the Universal lots -originally released by Paramount -later sold to Universal -music sessions maybe recorded at Sam Goldwyn studios (Stephen Pickard thinks so) -music publishing rights originally held by Famous Music (now Sony/ATV)
I accept the argument made above that studios might not advertise their vault holdings to fans.
On the other hand, I find it difficult to believe that the recent Hi-Def, surround sound reconstruction wouldn't have used the masters if they existed.
This to me, seems like a strong corroboration to the "missing" status of definitive masters.
After reading this thread, I went ahead and purchased the two CD Soundtrack Factory compilation of the original Vertigo recording conducted by Herrmann, coupled with the Vertigo soundtrack conducted by Muir Mathieson. It's available on both EBay and Amazon for about $20 with shipping. I think the original is breathtaking with its incredibly powerful strings and forceful conducting by Herrmann. Nothing really wrong with the Joel McNeely re-recording, but it does not have the dark brooding intensity of this original recording. Sure, the original does sound a little old, it reminds me of Stokowski's conducting in Fantasia, and it's immensely pleasurable to listen to.
...the original Vertigo recording conducted by Herrmann...
What is this?
Re-read his post, he really means "original Psycho" (not "original Vertigo") since "Psycho" is what this thread is about.
"After reading this thread, I went ahead and purchased the two CD Soundtrack Factory compilation of the original Vertigo recording conducted by Herrmann, coupled with the Vertigo soundtrack conducted by Muir Mathieson."
That there would be one of tha them there thingees we ain't supposed to be discussing here.
Are you sure about that? They may fall under the EU public domain rule.
Its illegal & what this label is doing to other scores. I think the Unicorn cd of Psycho is the best representation till this day, Mcneely effort is ok but its some-what off to BH recording.
