Today, I listened to my second favourite Poledouris score and I was reminded on why it's one of my very favourite scores by Basil. Very rich harmonic themes (especially the love theme, no doubt inspired by the works of John Barry of the same period) meets exotic/ethnic instrumentation and rhythms. The love theme is one of my favourite themes written by a composer, period.
FTTK was the first 'expensive' score I bought back in the 90's, before its rerelease. I particularly like the "Battle Montage" track, beautiful and quite snappy in its cadence.
I've been revisiting my Poledouris CD's lately... probably the only Basil score I've listened to more than FTTK is "Lonesome Dove" which I think captured his Kansas roots quite well.
Today, I listened to my second favourite Poledouris score and I was reminded on why it's one of my very favourite scores by Basil. Very rich harmonic themes (especially the love theme, no doubt inspired by the works of John Barry of the same period) meets exotic/ethnic instrumentation and rhythms. The love theme is one of my favourite themes written by a composer, period.
Funny you should mention John Barry. Here's an interesting story...
It was Poledouris' work on FAREWELL TO THE KING that got him the job to score DANCES WITH WOLVES. Unfortunately, post production on FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER ran long and Poledouris was committed to John Milius first so he had to drop out of DANCES which ended up being scored by John Barry and won him another Oscar.
Meaning no disrespect (I am a huge fan of Poledouris), I always get this theme and Out of Africa jumbled up in my head. They go well together as an A - B - A arrangement.
no doubt inspired by the works of John Barry of the same period
I've been listening this afternoon to FAREWELL TO THE KING (just to have a rest in between too many horror scores) and it came to my mind "Hey but this sounds like written by John Barry, gonna post MY new discovery on the board!".
Nice to see a platoon of fans realized that before.
"It was Poledouris' work on FAREWELL TO THE KING that got him the job to score DANCES WITH WOLVES. Unfortunately, post production on FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER ran long and Poledouris was committed to John Milius first so he had to drop out of DANCES which ended up being scored by John Barry and won him another Oscar." ------------------------------------ I remember Poledouris having to bow out of Dances With Wolves due to some schedule conflict, but couldn't remember what film it was. It's fascinating to think how Basil's career trajectory might have gone if he'd stayed on board the film. Would the film still have been as big a hit as it was? How much of it's success was down to John Barry's iconic music? Alternate universes and all that. I also wonder similar things about Bruce Broughton and Home Alone. Are there any other 'missed opportunities' people can think of like the two above?
"It was Poledouris' work on FAREWELL TO THE KING that got him the job to score DANCES WITH WOLVES. Unfortunately, post production on FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER ran long and Poledouris was committed to John Milius first so he had to drop out of DANCES which ended up being scored by John Barry and won him another Oscar." ------------------------------------ I remember Poledouris having to bow out of Dances With Wolves due to some schedule conflict, but couldn't remember what film it was. It's fascinating to think how Basil's career trajectory might have gone if he'd stayed on board the film. Would the film still have been as big a hit as it was? How much of it's success was down to John Barry's iconic music?
Would have loved a Poledouris score for DANCES... or any additional film in a 'western' genre. As my brother put it when he heard Lonesome Dove... "makes a cowboy want to lean on a fence post and have a good cry!"... that with respect to the beautiful nostalgia it evokes.
A Poledouris Dances With Wolves sure would have been interesting. I am only glad he did not do it because John Barry did. Poledouris was definately one of the greatest film composers ever ! Farewell To The King being of my personal favorites.
Interestingly three tracks from Farewell to the king, together with some Robocop tracks were included in the Milan 2011 re-issue of Conan the Barbarian (you can find it around as Conan le Barbare. (yes it's fully legit, in case you wonder)
I love Basil. Love him. I don't have that many of his scores but will continue to get more. Conan, Robocop, Wind, and of course the FTTK, are all amazing musical experiences.
I can't stand the expanded version, but that's what's available. How do I arrange it back to the original album program? The tracks aren't called the same.
