The synth is my least favorite element of the score, but it’s kinda growin’ on me in a way I never would have expected. Does anyone else think it sounds a bit like...an electric Jew’s harp?
Seems the Maestro gave the synth a break on the cue called "The Set-Up". Nice building cue which sounds like some of the dramatic music he would later write for LOGAN'S RUN and COMA. I like it.
Does anyone hear what sounds like it could be a Cuica right at 0:52 seconds in "The Final Meeting" cue. It's real quick but I feel like I heard an Ape Call/Horn sound there.
The synth is my least favorite element of the score, but it’s kinda growin’ on me in a way I never would have expected. Does anyone else think it sounds a bit like...an electric Jew’s harp?
Yavar
Yes, an electronic Jew's Harp perhaps. To me Yavar it is a little like the Goldsmith "Duck Quack" in his "Corky's Retreat" cue from MAGIC. Kind of like if Fats was a Robot or a Synthesized Dummy if you will.
To THE DON's credit, listening to it is actually inspiring me to revisit a lot of other Goldsmith scores. THE DON sounds like a precursor to Goldsmith's excellent CONTRACT ON CHERRY STREET which echos some of the rhythms and ideas from THE DON without the synths and taken to much more developed and exciting levels.
Does anyone else think it sounds a bit like...an electric Jew’s harp?
Yavar
Yes. It also sounds like harmonica at times. A pity he didn't use one of those two real instruments instead of the pathetic-sounding thing he ended up with.
Al Lettieri and Abe Vigoda appear in both THE DON IS DEAD and a year earlier in THE GODFATHER.
Al played Solozzo the Turk who Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) kills along with the corrupt Police Chief in the famous restaurant scene in THE GODFATHER. Abe Vigoda played Tessio who would betray Michael and the Corleone Family in THE GODFATHER. I would say their parts in THE DON were a step down from their more iconic roles in Coppola's Classic. Vigoda is barely in THE DON.
Anthony Quinn plays The Don in THE DON and Marlon Brando plays The Don in THE GODFATHER. They 20 years earlier played brothers on screen together in VIVA ZAPATA! Arnold Moss who played Kodos the Executioner/Anton Keridian in STAR TREK The Original Series played DON Nacio in VIVA ZAPATA!
More STAR TREK tie-ins to THE DON. Vic Tayback and Al Delano played the 2 gangster capos in the TOS Episode A PIECE OF THE ACTION and the actor playing Don Bernardo (Barry Russo) played the Starship Captain that was on the War Game Drills with Capt. Kirk, going up against the M-5 Computer that controlled the Enterprise in THE ULTIMATE COMPUTER. I think he was also in THE DEVIL IN THE DARK "Horta" Episode.
Basil's post seems to have disappeared and so my response didn't make sense. I thus deleted.
Deleted it because I changed changed my mind about the order of the tracks I recommended. I'll re-post it when I've reconsidered :-)
Basil had posted a "Non-Synth" Cue Suite.
I liked your suite. I personally would have just deleted the more darker and in parts intense tracks THE BEATING and FINAL MEETING even though they had no synths. The deletion of those two cues for me would make the listen a tad more pleasant. I would have then added as the final cue a reprise of OUR LAST NIGHT (Instrumental) to bookend the suite.
Do you only listen to Goldsmith for “pleasant”? Those two cues (entirely synth free I’m pretty sure, zoob) are IMO perhaps the most emotional and powerful music in the entire score!
My preferred selections and track order for 21-minute synth-free "suite":
Our Last Night (vocal version) No Trouble #2 The Meeting The Beating Angie's Home The Set-Up Anything She Wants Final Meeting End Title Our Last Night (instrumental version)
Do you only listen to Goldsmith for “pleasant”? Those two cues (entirely synth free I’m pretty sure, zoob) are IMO perhaps the most emotional and powerful music in the entire score!
Yavar
Not always has to be "pleasant" but in this case with the deletion of those cues, it does make the experience a tad brighter. I agree they are good cues and I did like Basil's suite. For me personally I just prefer a lighter if possible more lyrical suite without the "Heart Attack" music. Probably the best scored "Heart Attack" the screen has seen. The one near the end of THE GODFATHER with Brando and the little boy was not scored I believe.
I think I really still want more CAR RADIO SOURCE in my heart of hearts. It kind of reminds me of the old 70's "MATCH GAME" TV Game Show theme. Jerry must have had lunch with Gene Rayburn that day.
Is it time for a "Calliope" free TAKE HER, SHE'S MINE?
"Probably the best scored "Heart Attack" the screen has seen" ------------------ And let's not forget James Horner's momentous heart attack music from BRAINSTORM. That would be my Number One. Music To Die To/For
That's right guys! That one if I remember correctly was rather bombastic.
For a "kinder, gentler" scoring of a heart attack, how bout John Williams' music for Pa Kent's (Glenn Ford) final moments in SUPERMAN THE MOVIE? That worked quite well and was quite emotional and effective leading into the Hilltop Funeral Scene.
No credit for the singer of "Our Last Night"? Isn't she in line for a dollar or two of royalties from this release?
I was wondering about that. Could it possibly, actually be the actress who played the part of the singer Ruby? But interesting that she is not credited. To me it sounds like the same gal that sang on Goldsmith's BABE (Didrikson) TV-Movie Soundtrack CD. Was she credited? Have to locate my BABE CD. Carol "Heather" Goldsmith got a credit for both Lyrics and Vocal on THE OMEN.