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Continuing "SEASON 3":
"Swan Song" By: Dick DeBenedictis https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S03E07.1974.Swan.Song.720p.BluRay.mkv Highlights: 0:34 in.^ 6:49 in.^ 15:39 in Just over seven minutes long. 1:15:52 in. 1:27:08 in.^ 1:31:48 in.^ 1:37:38 in.^ That's nearly the entire score except for a few short cues and source music. The episode had long stretches of no score and some songs. (NtM: 1:37:51 in -- use this composer credit) Airline Crash Investigator: "We're all pilots." Columbo: "Oh, no, not for me -- thank you very much. I wouldn't qualify for that." Airline Crash Investigator: "Why? We'd teach ya." Columbo: "I appreciate it, sir, but, eh, my ears pop in an elevator. As a matter-of-fact, I don't even like being this tall." Columbo: "Any man who can sing like that, can't be all bad.
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Finishing "SEASON 3":
"A Friend in Deed" By: Billy Goldenberg and Dick DeBenedictis (yes, they're both credited, and in that order) https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S03E08.1974.A.Friend.in.Deed.720p.BluRay.mkv Fish Man suite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpqouWYVNvs This is the final effort by Goldenberg for the "series". Highlights: 0:31 in.^ 6:31 in. The cue continues after being interrupted by two cuts to a bar scenes.^ 11:27 in. 18:46 in.^ 21:13 in. The source music.^(21:54) 28:36 in.^ 32:02 in.^ 36:22 in.^ 38:40 in.^ 42:52 in.^ 50:55 in.^ 1:27:25 in. 1:37:00 in.^ I think some of this is tracked. And on a set of "season three" scoring, I'm not sure how much of this really needs to be released. And we see what kind if place Columbo lives in. (so, where is the dog? I guess Mrs. Columbo is off with it) Columbo actually takes his coat off and has a dress shirt and tie hiding under there. (NtM: 1:24:10)
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Maybe some original music was written for that episode, but with both composers credited like that I have little doubt it was substantially tracked. I guess the percentage of music from each of them in the finished episode must have been fairly substantial for them to both get screen credit. Hmmm… with all the tracked scores (seemingly in season 3 in particular) I wonder if a complete box set of Columbo (original series) scores might manage to fit on a much smaller box set than one might think… possibly 6-8 discs even? Yavar
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"SEASON 4":
"An Exercise in Fatality" By: Dick DeBenedictis https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S04E01.1974.An.Exercise.in.Fatality.720p.BluRay.mkv Highlights: 2:06 in.^ 8:31 in.^ 12:15 in.^ 21:26 in.^ 27:52 in. And the cue after the commercial break.^ * 39:36 in.^ 42:42 in.^ 52:14 in.^ 59:26 in.^ 1:02:32 in.^ 1:27:05 in.^ 1:28:07 in.^ 1:36:52 in. This time, not the end credits -- it's the song heard in the opening at the gym.^ This season does not have stills from the episode for the end credits. Can a girl -- any girl -- that looks like that, open up any doors for me? Ever? No? Well, fuck. "You know something, Columbo? You're a devious man." Columbo: "That's what they tell me."
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Posted: |
Feb 3, 2023 - 10:48 PM
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By: |
darthbrett
(Member)
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Maybe some original music was written for that episode, but with both composers credited like that I have little doubt it was substantially tracked. I guess the percentage of music from each of them in the finished episode must have been fairly substantial for them to both get screen credit. Hmmm… with all the tracked scores (seemingly in season 3 in particular) I wonder if a complete box set of Columbo (original series) scores might manage to fit on a much smaller box set than one might think… possibly 6-8 discs even? Yavar A Friend in Deed was indeed 100% completely all tracked and featured zero new score. I mentioned this earlier in this thread, but season 3 is the last season that featured tracked music. Beginning with season 4, every single episode for the remainder of the '70s run had unique and 100% new scores written for them. Here is the list of every Columbo that did not have any new music written for them: Blueprint for Murder (season 1) Requiem for a Falling Star (season 2) A Most Dangerous Match (season 2) Double Shock (season 2) Mind Over Mayhem (season 3) A Friend in Deed (season 3) Funny, season 2 actually had more tracked music than even season 3. Another thing that may also make it a smaller set is the fact that one episode, "By Dawn's Early Light", only has 1 or 2 short ambient cues totaling maybe 2 minutes. And then if they included source music, maybe an additional 4 minutes of military band music. Also, the later seasons had a lot of episodes where music was even more sparse and used less. I timed it out years ago, but I think all 7 seasons of Columbo music is about 8 discs worth if the discs all contained about 74-77 minutes of music. If source music or alt or unused music is also included in a set, a 9th disc would be necessary. The avg episode's score length is about 15 and a half minutes for 39 episodes with new music.
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Continuing "SEASON 4":
"Negative Reaction" By: Bernardo Segall (as "Bernardo Segal") https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S04E02.1974.Negative.Reaction.720p.BluRay.mkv Highlights: 3:35 in.^ 7:57 in.^ 12:27 in.^ 15:41 in.^ 16:29 in.^ 28:29 in.^ 45:35 in.^ 51:07 in. And the cue after the commercial break.^ 1:03:32 in. Short outtro cue.^ 1:07:20 in.^ 1:33:37 in.^ While I used to watch "Airwolf" on TV back in the day, I can't recall any of the scoring, so this essentially my "first" time hearing a score by Segall. The result: I liked the score, I appreciated the more experimental approaches. However, in comparison to what was done before, it sounds cheaper and more like a film production from Mexico. The sound quality of the score isn't very good in many parts, and since this was ripped from the BluRay, I can only assume the tapes are in poor shape. Maybe one of the mastering wizards employed by La La Land Records can work their magic here, but who knows. Dick Van Dyke stars as the killer. Some of the acting in this episode leaves a lot to be desired. Examples: sexy legs girl answering the phone and not looking like she's answering a phone, but posing for a photo shoot. The cop at about 21:00 in. (NtM: 1:13:43, 1:25:24 / 1:34:59 in -- composer credit)
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Continuing "SEASON 4":
"By Dawn's Early Light" By: Bernardo Segall https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S04E03.1974.By.Dawn's.Early.Light.720p.BluRay.mkv Highlights: 1:37:33 in.^ Patrick McGoohan plays the killer. Even though Segall is credited with "Music Score" like usual, best I can tell, there are only two original cues, which are just snare drum and timpani pieces, with the rest of the music being comprised of source music cues of pre-existing pieces. On a set of season four scoring, I don't think anything from this score needs to be released. And that would free up room for more cues from scores deserving more room. "Troubled Waters" By: Dick DeBenedictis https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S04E04.1975.Troubled.Waters.720p.BluRay.mkv Highlights: 0:31 in. The Happy Days Are Here instrumental source cue.^ 3:24/4:50 in. 23:46 in. Yummy, yummy, yummy. You know what I am talking about. And the cue after the commercial break.^ * 26:24 in.^ 34:14 in.^ 47:12 in. Boat/ship porn.^ 1:07:42 in.^ 1:28:20 in.^ 1:30:01 in.^ 1:35:27 in. 1975 starts off with DeBenedictis. And there's not much scoring in the episode, and more source cues that normal. First episode to have Columbo be in place before the murder. And a wife that somehow, for the full feature-length episode, can never be found. Kate loves a mystery, so maybe she was off solving one... ;-) (And no -- so far none of the things he has said about his wife, lined up with Mulgrew's character in the unofficial dis-owned series) * = Oh, one of those bloodless gunshots. (NtM: 9:47, 42:25, 28:09)
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By chance I re-watched a couple of Columbo episodes recently. Boy, do they hold up well, I never tire of Columbo asking just one more question. Back in the late 80s and early 90s I watched every single Columbo episode. I recently re-visited a couple of episodes by chance (they started and I did not even intend to watch them) and could not stop watching them. It's like eating Chips... I couldn't stop, even though I already knew them. In one, Jack Cassidy was the murderer (he actually played a murderer several times on Columbo), and created an airtight alibi for himself by being arrested for drunk driving. Terrific. Oh, and it had none other than Hammer author Mickey Spillane as murder victim and a great Billy Goldenberg score. Vintage television.
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SEASON 5:
"Forgotten Lady" By: Jeff Alexander https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S05E01.1975.Forgotten.Lady.720p.BluRay.mkv This is the only effort by Alexander for the "series". Highlights: 9:35 in.^ 34:11 in. And the cue after the commercial break.^ 1:21:48 in. Assuming this isn't tracked pre-existing music. 1:37:02 in.^ Another very sparsely-scored episode. There were some source pieces which I can't say for certain were recorded, rather maybe played live. And one cue I wasn't certain was an original piece of tracked. A sad kind of beautiful twist ending for this episode.
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One of the best episodes of the series, IMO, and I remember really liking Jeff Alexander’s score even though I recall it sounding much more old-fashioned than most of the series’ scoring. Yavar
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Continuing SEASON 5:
"A Case of Immunity" By: Bernardo Segall https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S05E02.1975.A.Case.Of.Immunity.720p.BluRay.mkv Highlights: 2:34 in.^ 10:42 in.^ 26:11 in. Short outtro cue. And the cue after the commercial break.^ About 43:18 in. The Arabic-flavored source piece.^ 1:12:33 in.^ Also featuring one of Columbo's rare appearances without the coat on. I got to say, I love the ending; from Columbo's idea of an "apology" to the close. "Identity Crisis" By: Bernardo Segall https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S05E03.1976.Identity.Crisis.720p.BluRay.mkv Highlights: 0:34 in.^ 8:12 in. The Arabian source music for the dancers.^ 16:45 in. Another one.^ 21:42/24:27 in.^ 41:17 in.^ 44:32 in.^ 53:47 in.^ 57:42 in.^ 1:04:35 in.^ 1:07:11 in.^ 1:12:11 in. And the cue after the commercial break.^ 1:26:44 in.^ 1:37:11 in.^ This episode score by Segall is a far cry from his first effort; this one is much more refined, more like something that should accompany Columbo, and more in line with the stylings of Goldenberg and DeBenedictis. This one spoils us not only with yet again Patrick McGoohan, but also Leslie Nielsen. And Patrick says "Be seeing you..." ... and plays a double agent. True to his style, yet again Patrick's character is unapologetic even at the end. I love all the time Columbo had to spend with Joyce, and the perfect camera angle for her ... awesome ... you know what I mean. Is the source piece 1:19:00 pre-existing? Columbo: "What strikes you about that picture?" Patrick McGoohan character: "I was younger and more beautiful then."
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Continuing SEASON 5:
"A Matter of Honor" By: Bernardo Segall https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S05E04.1976.A.Matter.Of.Honor.720p.BluRay.mkv Highlights: 0:32 in.^ 3:54 in.^ 7:26 in.^ 15:09 in.^ 36:05 in. Pleasant solo acoustic guitar and solo flute cue.^ 37:06 in.^ 45:49 in.^ 53:54 in. And the cue after the commercial break.^ 1:02:00 in. 1:03:36 in.^ 1:07:54 in. Including ... "Jaws" shark motif for the bull. Didn't see that coming.^ 1:13:16 in.^ Aside from some source cues, I think I cited the entire score. But really, the source cues are enjoyable and I would not be opposed to all of those being released. I even think the opening thirty seconds showing what the episode is about, might be original scoring, too. Ricardo Montalban guest stars. I think this is the first "episode" that refers back to a previous "episode".
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Finishing "SEASON 5":
"Now You See Him..." By: Bernardo Segall https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S05E05.1976.Now.You.See.Him.720p.BluRay.mkv Highlights: 0:30 in. Very well done; I would have sworn this was Goldenberg or DeBenedictis.^ 1:01:19 in.^ 1:22:07 in. And the cue after the commercial break.^(second) 1:24:03 in.^ 1:28:06 in.^ Another sparse score, with the rest being source pieces (mainly a drum kit for the magic shows). This is the third and final appearance of Jack Cassidy in any of the "Columbo" TV movies. This episode has particular significance because in real life not only were both of Peter Falk's parents Jewish (one from Poland, no less), but Peter was also Jewish himself. Luckily for him, he was born in New York and never had to go through what Jews did under the National Socialists party in Germany. (NtM: 15:44, 45:07) Columbo: "Perfect murder, sir? Oh, I'm sorry, there is no such thing as a perfect murder; that's just an illusion." "Last Salute to the Commodore" By: Bernardo Segall https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S05E06.1976.Last.Salute.To.The.Commodore.720p.BluRay.mkv Highlights: 7:28 in.^ 12:27 in. 21:49 in.^ 48:59 in. And the cue after the commercial break.^ 54:10 in.^ 1:24:17 in.^ 1:31:50 in.^(1:32:19) This episode was directed by Patrick McGoohan. (NtM: 1:01:10, 1:13:08)
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Continuing "SEASON 6":
"Old Fashioned Murder" By: Dick DeBenedictis https://archive.org/embed/columbo/Columbo.S06E02.1976.Old.Fashioned.Murder.720p.BluRay.mkv Highlights: 0:00 in.^ 2:33 in.^ 9:53 in. 13:06 in.^ 15:23 in.^ 20:18 in.^ 24:27 in.^ 33:42 in.^ 42:56 in. 47:41 in.^ 51:20 in. 53:28 in. 1:01:15 in.^ 1:10:53 in.^ 1:14:08 in.^ Dick is going to disappear for a good while here, but he'll be back. This is the only weak episode I have scene. The motive was weak, the acting from three characters is weak, the score is uninspired at times and just serviceable. It is not, however, a bad score, though I question how much of this should released. I'll never be watching this episode again, and I can't recommend it to anybody else. (NtM: 20:12, 1:01:07)
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Yeah, DeBenedictis and Williams are the only two composers who worked on the original 70s run as well as the new incarnation that ran from 1989-2003… and they contributed some of the better work for the latter IIRC. I’ve seen all of the original run but only a handful of the rest, so I’m looking forward to you going through those and pointing out which episode scores are truly worthy. The show itself gets a lot more hit-or-miss (still some strong eps though). Of course Peter Falk is always terrific. Yavar
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