That's what's on my old tape, taken from the film via TV (about 11-12 minutes IIRC). There's the Main and End Titles (sombre theme with boy soprano) and 2 or 3 cues within the film (one I remember when the actor is having his stage make-up applied by his assistant and things are quite tetchy between them). Those cues remind me of the build up music in Michael's Gift To Karen from BRAINSTORM, before the lovely stuff starts.
I started watching the movie on YT the other day but was going to try to resume it this evening. I'll be certain to listen out for the other cues.
I'm curious if Horner originally composed anything for the scene where Sir calls out to stop the train. Still remember that scene after all of these years.
That's what's on my old tape, taken from the film via TV (about 11-12 minutes IIRC). There's the Main and End Titles (sombre theme with boy soprano) and 2 or 3 cues within the film (one I remember when the actor is having his stage make-up applied by his assistant and things are quite tetchy between them). Those cues remind me of the build up music in Michael's Gift To Karen from BRAINSTORM, before the lovely stuff starts.
Yes, "The Dresser" is short in duration, but quite nice.
Based on the fantastic LSO Discography ( http://images.cch.kcl.ac.uk/charm/liv/pubs/LSO.pdf ), the album version of "Brainstorm" and "The Dresser" were recorded a few days apart; September 13-14, 1983 and September 22, 1983 respectively. The fact "The Dresser" was done in one day is consistent with the low volume of music (and not at Abbey Road):
I vaguely recall BARBARIAN QUEEN (like SPACE RAIDERS) using tracked music from previous Horner/Corman efforts. One of them used Chris Young cues as well as Horner (I think).
Yes. I believe it was Ford Thaxton who once remarked that Christopher Young had a framed still from the opening credits of "Barbarian Queen" hanging in his office - because he got "top billing" over Horner and found it quite funny. Good sense of humor.
I vaguely recall BARBARIAN QUEEN (like SPACE RAIDERS) using tracked music from previous Horner/Corman efforts. One of them used Chris Young cues as well as Horner (I think).
Yes. I believe it was Ford Thaxton who once remarked that Christopher Young had a framed still from the opening credits of "Barbarian Queen" hanging in his office - because he got "top billing" over Horner and found it quite funny. Good sense of humor.
Haha! Good story.
Dose anyone know where the tracked music comes from?
The Horner cues are from HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP & BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS (IIRC). Not sure on the Young, but I would guess they're from the likes of DEF-CON, THE POWER and PRANKS.
The Horner cues are from HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP & BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS (IIRC). Not sure on the Young, but I would guess they're from the likes of DEF-CON, THE POWER and PRANKS.
Cool, thx. I was only familiar with the BBTS music. I know HFTD was just released but I don’t have that yet.
Hurdy, if you are some how able to make a wma or mp4 file of "The Dresser", I'll make a suite of the score with a screen grab of his credit. Unless somebody here has it and can help out.
I think his taking small, intimate projects early in his career (such as "Testament," "The Dresser") helped mightily in his not being typecast as a composer of "big scores." Of course, it didn't hurt matters the aforementioned films were also well-respected productions (e.g., "The Dresser," five Academy noms including Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Director, two for Best Actor - Wow!). Next to John Barry in 1965, no composer (at least of which I'm aware) enjoyed such a smorgasbord of projects in so compressed a time frame as did Horner in 1983 from "Krull (which he began in late October 1982) to the recording of "Uncommon Valor" (about a year later):
1982-1983:
Krull (started October 1982, completed early January 1983) Something Wicked This Way Comes (rec. February 1983) Between Friends (HBO TV film, rec. unknown) Testament (Early May) Brainstorm (MGM, late June?) Gorky Park (recordings August, September, October) The Dresser/Brainstorm re-recorded selections for VS (September, both in London) Uncommon Valor (November)
(that's probably working nearly year-round)
1984
Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock (February, 1984)
Compare to John Barry (Jan to mid-April 1965):
The Knack...and How To Get It The Ipcress File Mister Moses Four in the Morning (like "Testament," "The Dresser," low budget drama, scored with 9-10 players) King Rat (first LA session, rec. 12-13 April, Columbia Pictures scoring stage) King Rat re-record (London, Barry composing extended settings of cues heard in film)
And Passion Flower Hotel (music for original musical, likely composed following Goldfinger, completed a month or so before JB starting Thunderball scoring)
Recently watched The Stone Boy on youtube and it's a haunting, gentle and sparse score. It's very much of the same cloth as Testament and The Dresser, with a solo voice and just a few instruments.
Recently watched The Stone Boy on youtube and it's a haunting, gentle and sparse score. It's very much of the same cloth as Testament and The Dresser, with a solo voice and just a few instruments.
Yes, very nice score and a seemingly forgotten-today but underrated movie with Robert Duvall, Glenn Close and Wilford Brimley earlier in their careers. That solo voice is Sally Stevens (who has been on a few podcasts over the last couple years, promoting her memoir book). From https://fmrev.com/an-interview-with-sally-stevens/ :
"There was another early film – 1983 – a James Horner score that was quite unusual for James – it was basically just myself and the wonderful guitar player Tommy Tedesco – who was part of the Wrecking Crew and could just play anything and everything – classical, latin, country, jazz — the score was very sparce throughout the movie, mostly gentle underscore guitar, but I did the opening music for the film, a very haunting, high solo soprano obligato – then Tommy joined in, and at the end of the film for the end credits we did the underscore together.
Only a few weeks ago I was able to find it on Youtube. THE STONE BOY was the title of the film, and I was told that it had never been released. But I learned that it was released in NYC theaters, and pulled out after about a week. It was a painful subject, a little 12-year old kid accidentally shoots his older brother with a hunting rifle, and the drama goes through years of the family’s lives."
Of the unleased Horner scores The Hand is the score I want the most. However I would not mind buy Young Guns if that ever gets released. I know that I have said that the cue/track that was released on the Tony Hinnegan CD is one of the worst Horner music I have heard but I have to confess that I am still curious about the rest of the score because who says that the rest of the score is sounding exactly as this cue/track. The rest could be better as in a whole, the score might be good just because I don`t like one particular piece.
You know what I just realized? This thread has unwittingly made me a James Horner completist. I've never had any intention to be that, but that's how it went. I now have every Horner title available, as well as a playlist of tracks from these unreleased gems (from YouTube, primarily). Mostly as files, though, my physical Horner CD collection is so embarassingly small compared to you guys, I'm not even going to say how many I have.
Does anyone know why Brainstorm (the complete original recording) has never been released? Also, about what amount of the score is represented on the LSO re-recording?
Of the unleased Horner scores The Hand is the score I want the most. However I would not mind buy Young Guns if that ever gets released. I know that I have said that the cue/track that was released on the Tony Hinnegan CD is one of the worst Horner music I have heard but I have to confess that I am still curious about the rest of the score because who says that the rest of the score is sounding exactly as this cue/track. The rest could be better as in a whole, the score might be good just because I don`t like one particular piece.
I'd be interested to hear Young Guns. I've read rumors there's strong elements of Braveheart in it. The Hinnigan track features a theme that would go on to become "The Ride" in the Zorro scores. So who knows what is in there. Tony Hinnigan wrote on his blog:
You won't have heard this score, as it was binned. This happens to all film composers at some point and is, simply, a production decision and an occupational hazard. In this case, however, I think the producers made (especially considering the replacement score - in my humble opinion, a pile of ****!) a huge mistake. We recorded it in the old Air studios at Oxford Circus, London, and it was our introduction to the "Panpipe Olympics" (see "Patriot Games"). James asked us to find a piper to play a slow air at the top and bottom of the movie so we got Tommy McCarthy (RIP), a very, very fine piper from Co. Clare, then living in London. Tommy played so beautifully that James said " Lads, I don't know what we're paying Tommy, but double it!".
Based on that probably (maybe explicitly stated) a huge dose of Patriot Games to go along with it all. Patriot Games is one of my favorite Horners but I am in a minority there. I'd be anxious to hear it but for a lot of people I wouldn't hold my breath it being a hidden masterpiece. Volunteers on the other hand...
