So...I've finished listening to the entire set now and I'm curious how other folks might rate their favorites...here's my ranking:
1. Barnaby Jones -- any surprise that the lone Goldsmith item is at the top of my list? It's just a superb score, and if you love the theme it gets a LOT of fantastic workout and variation throughout. This is not Winter Kill where the great theme largely gets forgotten about in the score proper. And the early Broughton score is really excellent, too! I reiterate my wish for more of this series' scoring to be released. It was the longest lived (and therefore probably most popular) Quinn Martin production, so I really hope that after these three Quinn Martin volumes come out, the powers that be consider a standalone 2 disc set of additional Barnaby Jones scoring from the likes of Laurence Rosenthal, Jeff Alexander, and Hugo Friedhofer! (And of course that other Broughton score, to boot.) Something along the lines of Intrada's superb 2 disc Then Came Bronson follow up to the TV Omnibus compilation.
2. Bert D'Angelo, Superstar -- this is just a theme by Patrick Williams, but WHAT a badass theme! So addictive I put it on repeat and it sticks in my head for hours afterwards. This is also my #1 disappointment about this set, because if you look at the back of the booklet the musican credits make it clear that Patrick Williams composed a whole pilot score which I would have loved to hear more of...I'm not saying it had to be released complete but that theme just made me hungry to hear MORE (like some development of it!) Totally unexpected since I'd never heard of the show (and the title makes it sounds stupid, to be frank) but definitely my second favorite thing on the set.
3. Dan August -- this is my favorite kind of Dave Grusin...so energetic and engaging. The second score I think I like even better than the first. Really exciting stuff. Not quite on the level of his Assignment: Vienna from the TV Omnibus for me, but then I'm a total sucker for the cimbalom which is used prominently throughout that, making it in fact my #1 favorite Dave Grusin work!
4. Most Wanted -- this isn't *quite* Mission: Impossible, but it is still prime, feature-quality Lalo Schifrin work that will delight even his casual fans!
5. Tales of the Unexpected -- while this is a very cool and catchy David Shire theme, it doesn't have the listen-to-it-on-repeat-and-never-tire-of-it value that the Patrick Williams theme for Bert D'Angelo does. Very glad it was included though, as apparently it was Shire's only work for Quinn Martin.
6. Caribe -- this Nelson Riddle main title was maybe the most...different(?) thing on the set. It took me by surprise and I kinda like it.
7. Cannon -- I listened to this last of all, because I found John Parker's work on the two Assignment: Vienna scores he wrote to pale in comparison to the much more stylish, energetic, and unique work on that series by Dave Grusin. What he wrote wasn't bad, but it was more serviceable that memorable and striking. Well...Cannon is a bit more memorable because of the tuba use I guess, but I'm still not wild about it. There *are* occasional highlight cues throughout both of his scores on this set, but personally I think a 12 minute selection of highlights from both scores would have been sufficient to cover his contribution, and I would have much preferred that space get used up by the Patrick Williams pilot score mentioned above.
8. The Manhunter -- This Duane Tatro main title was fine but I didn't find it memorable. I'm rating it last because at least the highlights of Parker's Cannon work stood out a bit more to me.
Oh I'm sure that this Queen Martin CD will be good and I'll probably even buy it, but pushing back THE SENTINEL until next month, when I've been waiting for it since 1977, is absolutely unforgivable and disgusting and I'm now going to throw all my LaLaLand CDs in the bin or trash can, just as I did with all my Frank Sinatra LPs in about 1994 or something when I already had tickets for his concert in Glasgow but he disgustingly and unforgivably cancelled at the last moment because he died.
I agree with Zavar's general analysis of the merits of this set, and I hope that more are shortly forthcoming. Quinn Martin Productions was the gold standard for LA cops and robbers/detective shows in the 1970's, and this set demonstrates that fact indisputably. So go ahead and buy it, listen to it, and wait for the next installment.
I was listening again to BARNABY JONES today - a ridiculously dynamic main theme. I know Jerry has said that he milked the themes for all they were worth when doing the actual scores so that he could crank out the music in a short time, but I did find the (over) use of the theme a bit tiring. I much preferred Bruce Broughton's rather more 'thoughtful' scoring...
To each his own! Personally I am disappointed in the occasional Goldsmith score that *doesn't* make extensive use/development of the main theme (i.e. Winter Kills). I love the Barnaby Jones main theme so much that I am personally SUPER happy that it's developed in practically every track, and always in a new way (as usual for Goldsmith, of course). There's so much variety still, really. And I'd point out that the Barnaby Jones main title actually features *three* distinct thematic ideas, which all get varied in different ways throughout the score (which also features some other motifs as well). There's the long-lined main theme itself, of course, but the main title also consists of that rising trombone motif (BWAAaa-bum! BWAA-bum! BWAAAAA-BUM! Bwa-bum-bum!" as well as the descending motif that follows it (Buuum, bum-ba-da-BUM!) This score's just chock full of ideas and development.
I do really like the Broughton as well though I wouldn't mind if he did a bit more something with Jerry's theme. As far as I can tell, he only uses it a little in his very last short cue. Still, it's neat that his career seems to be bookended by adapting Jerry Goldsmith themes (this in the 70s, and Soarin' in just the last couple years).
Also, I must profusely thank raferjanders over in the Custom Covers II thread for his incredible HQ work on the four main shows represented on this fine set...these look great next to each other in iTunes don’t you think?
That vintage TV Guide cover of Barnaby Jones is grotesque, like Dorian Gray's portrait. Must have been the LDS people were doing back then.
Yeah, all the LDS... You think those Mormons are just riding their bikes and sharing their faith but then they're messing up pictures of Barnaby Jones.
Got the CD a few days ago and have enjoyed what I've heard so far. Looking at the list of musicians in the CD booklet I see one of the trumpeters is Donald J Ellis. Would that be the composer Don Ellis?
That vintage TV Guide cover of Barnaby Jones is grotesque, like Dorian Gray's portrait. Must have been the LDS people were doing back then.
Yeah, all the LDS... You think those Mormons are just riding their bikes and sharing their faith but then they're messing up pictures of Barnaby Jones.
Every time I listen to the Cannon theme, I say - loudly and in my deepest baritone - "Tonight's Episode: The Salinas Jackpot!" Sometimes I make up my own cast and episode title for these shows...
"with the guest stars...JD Cannon! Burt Convy! Dana Wynter! and special guest star WILLIAM SHATNER!
Tonight's Episode: Testimony of EVIL!" (which was actually an Untouchables...)
The themes on this collection make me smile so wide. I've wanted Barnaby Jones and Cannon without narration for decades. But, man, Dan August is killer! I never saw Burt D'Angelo, although I remember the network promos, but his theme is also great.
Every time I listen to the Cannon theme, I say - loudly and in my deepest baritone - "Tonight's Episode: The Salinas Jackpot!" Sometimes I make up my own cast and episode title for these shows...
"with the guest stars...JD Cannon! Burt Convy! Dana Wynter! and special guest star WILLIAM SHATNER!
Tonight's Episode: Testimony of EVIL!" (which was actually an Untouchables...)
The themes on this collection make me smile so wide. I've wanted Barnaby Jones and Cannon without narration for decades. But, man, Dan August is killer! I never saw Burt D'Angelo, although I remember the network promos, but his theme is also great.
