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Which episodes of LOST IN SPACE got their own scores, especially in the first season whose music had the greatest sense of magic and wonder?
First seasons episodes on CD:
- The Reluctant Stowaway
- The Derelict
- Island in the Sky
- There Were Giants in the Earth
- The Hungry Sea
- My Friend, Mr. Nobody
- Welcome Stranger
Are there any others?
I just watched "The Sky is Falling," on MeTV, the one where an alien couple and their son, all mute, arrive and feel threatened by the Robinsons. There's a gorgeous, melancholy theme played every time the little alien boy is on (five times). The episode makes extensive use of cues from other LIS scores and does not list its own composer, so it plays like a tracked show.
At first I thought the little alien boy theme was a partial score for "Falling," or maybe it was library music written for the first season. It's not on the 40th Anniversary CD. But I found the cue in the full-length version of "My Friend, Mr. Nobody" (GNP, Lost in Space Volume 3, track 15).
"Mr. Nobody" is so jam-packed with unique magical moments, I'd forgotten that part for spending so much time with the 40th Anniversary CD. This is a theme that any other series would have been lucky to build an episode around, but with John Williams it was just a few moments in "Mr. Nobody," lost among other riches. You really need the full score to appreciate what an achievement it is.
I was glad to discover that I had the theme I wanted on CD, clean and complete-- after wasting two hours editing the sound clips I'd patch-corded off my DVR. It wasn't great: I had to take a wicked hiss, plus Will Robinson loudly plinking away at rock formations with his geology hammer, and lots of talking.
But the question remains, what notable LIS scores are we missing?
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Posted: |
Aug 17, 2013 - 8:25 AM
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By: |
OnyaBirri
(Member)
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It's been so, so, so long since I watched that show, but all that music was indelibly stamped onto my subconscious. When I first got the three volume series, most of the music came right back to me. I didn't care for the season 2 album, but I liked discs 1 & 3, with the first season music, very much. Virtually all the music that I remembered was on them. The rest of the music that I'd really remembered was spread over a few Bernard Herrmann scores.
I thought the 40th anniversary set was a missed opportunity. Most of disc 1 was already on the earlier series; disc 2 had too much goofy music for my taste.
So the short of it is, for me, most of the memorable music is available. I would still buy more volumes, though, if they concentrated on better scores that were not previously available.
I should add that I think the Lost in Space music is among the best of John Williams's career.
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It's been so, so, so long since I watched that show, but all that music was indelibly stamped onto my subconscious. When I first got the three volume series, most of the music came right back to me. I didn't care for the season 2 album, but I liked discs 1 & 3, with the first season music, very much. Virtually all the music that I remembered was on them. The rest of the music that I'd really remembered was spread over a few Bernard Herrmann scores.
I thought the 40th anniversary set was a missed opportunity. Most of disc 1 was already on the earlier series; disc 2 had too much goofy music for my taste.
So the short of it is, for me, most of the memorable music is available. I would still buy more volumes, though, if they concentrated on better scores that were not previously available.
I should add that I think the Lost in Space music is among the best of John Williams's career.
Our taste and experience match up pretty well.
I just searched for Lost in Space music on eBay and found that GNP Vol 1 and 2 are very affordable, but there's only one Volume 3 at present, and the buy it now button is $95. The 40th Anniversary set is $70. I'm very glad I got them when the getting was good. At these prices, I'd have to bide my time and wait for better offers.
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The episode where Will goes back to earth was tracked from an earlier Fox movie score by Cyril Mockridge I believe--and I'm blanking on the film unfortunately. But I'm sure there is more LIS music that hasn't been put out--the "Space Junk Man" score for the last episode by Mullendore for one. And I'm pretty sure the straight, mock classical-style theme for Dr. Smith hasn't been on any of the releases.
So Jeff, you'd agree that we've already got the gold from Year 1, excepting the cues borrowed from movies (most notably the Herrmann material)?
If possible, can you recall a specific scene scored with the Smith theme you're thinking of?
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Posted: |
Aug 17, 2013 - 9:58 AM
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By: |
OnyaBirri
(Member)
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Thanks for the reply Mr. Bond.  BTW, Lost In Space Main TItle - Season Three is perhaps my all time favorite television theme. (and there are many great themes) Seems it's style was mimicked quite a bit in other television themes from the 70's, though I can't name any at the moment.
I like the season 3 theme on its own terms, but as an outer space theme, I don't like it at all. The first theme sounds like outer space, and combined with the visuals, it is perfect. Probably the best thing about the show, next to the robot. 
The third season theme could have just as easily been used for a cop show, a spy show, or virtually any TV drama. So I consider it a bad move.
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Posted: |
Aug 17, 2013 - 9:58 AM
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By: |
OnyaBirri
(Member)
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Thanks for the reply Mr. Bond. BTW, Lost In Space Main TItle - Season Three is perhaps my all time favorite television theme. (and there are many great themes) Seems it's style was mimicked quite a bit in other television themes from the 70's, though I can't name any at the moment.
I like the season 3 theme on its own terms, but as an outer space theme, I don't like it at all. The first theme sounds like outer space, and combined with the visuals, it is perfect. Probably the best thing about the show, next to the robot.
The third season theme could have just as easily been used for a cop show, a spy show, or virtually any TV drama. So I consider it a bad move.
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Posted: |
Aug 17, 2013 - 10:08 AM
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By: |
Solium
(Member)
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Thanks for the reply Mr. Bond. BTW, Lost In Space Main TItle - Season Three is perhaps my all time favorite television theme. (and there are many great themes) Seems it's style was mimicked quite a bit in other television themes from the 70's, though I can't name any at the moment.
I like the season 3 theme on its own terms, but as an outer space theme, I don't like it at all. The first theme sounds like outer space, and combined with the visuals, it is perfect. Probably the best thing about the show, next to the robot.
The third season theme could have just as easily been used for a cop show, a spy show, or virtually any TV drama. So I consider it a bad move.
I always loved the countdown! And the theme is so incredibly energetic. But I do agree with you it's not necessarily a good "Sci Fi" theme. It does sound like a cop or drama theme which is why I believe it was mimicked in the 70's.
OT: Regarding the first themes visuals I always loved the subtle bit of humor where the animated Penny shoves Will down and out of sight when Angela Cartwright's credits pop on the screen.
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