Beat Records is finally releasing the orginal soundtrack to Enzo G. Castellari's 1981 Italian Jaws rip-off "L'Ultimo Squalo" (aka "Great White", "The Last Shark") staring James Franciscus and Vic Morrow.
This movie was scored by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis but their original score was replaced by a new one composed by Morton Stevens for the USA release of the movie (that was quickly taken out of USA theaters after Universal sued for plagiarism). Supposedly the attention this movie was attracting was the reason Universal decided to proceed with its own Jaws 3.
Morton Stevens score has been released (although the version of the movie with his score is MIA following Universal’s suit) and he also composed and recorded an orchestral suite based on his score.
The original Italian score of the movie composed by brothers Guido & Maurizio De Angelis was never released until now. Beat Records is relasing the score both on LP and CD (the CD including more music than the LP) with the score plus the songs from the movie.
With the original Italian score being released this week by Beat Records I did a short compare of both scores, starting with the italian score - the main titles uses a song (Hollywood Big Time) and the first attack the "shark theme" used during the movie.
For the US release I restored the orchestral "main titles" and "first attack" music composed by Morton Stevens - the version scored by Stevens was never released on any vídeo format.
Beat Records is finally releasing the orginal soundtrack to Enzo G. Castellari's 1981 Italian Jaws rip-off "L'Ultimo Squalo" (aka "Great White", "The Last Shark") staring James Franciscus and Vic Morrow.
This movie was scored by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis but their original score was replaced by a new one composed by Morton Stevens for the USA release of the movie (that was quickly taken out of USA theaters after Universal sued for plagiarism). Supposedly the attention this movie was attracting was the reason Universal decided to proceed with its own Jaws 3.
Morton Stevens score has been released (although the version of the movie with his score is MIA following Universal’s suit) and he also composed and recorded an orchestral suite based on his score.
The original Italian score of the movie composed by brothers Guido & Maurizio De Angelis was never released until now. Beat Records is relasing the score both on LP and CD (the CD including more music than the LP) with the score plus the songs from the movie.
I don't know this film rubber sharks lost-me after Jaws II, i do have a "sound feeling" for this title the De Angelis Bros picture great colours so effortlessly, i haven't heard an average-score from them yet.. their daring guys most part that bring a great balance of fun.. Thanks too Beat.
As the music in the CD is mostly titled "seq. 1", "seq. 2"... I've renamed the tracks to my iTunes version.
1. Hollywood Big Time (Yvonne Wilkins) 4:43 2. Ballad (Maurizio De Angelis) 3:34 3. You've Changed The World For Me (Yvonne Wilkins) 4:05 4. The First Attack 1:05 5. Chewed Windsurf Board 0:49 6. Shark Bumps Jenny 1:32 7. The Empty Boat* 1:14 8. Great White Slide Show* 1:12 9. We'll Fly Away (Yvonne Wilkins)* 4:01 10. Shark Breaks Through The Nets 2:32 11. Source: Country Beach Music (exerpt) 2:21 12. Regatta Mayhem 2:55 13. The Melody Plays (Yvonne Wilkins)* 5:07 14. Diving Into Danger* 1:20 15. Shark Attacks Underwater Cave* 2:05 16. Divers Trapped 1:35 17. Shark Attacks Jenny 2:18 18. Source: Jazz (exerpt)* Wells Leaves Hospital 0:30 19. Peter with Jenny at Hospital 2:14 20. Farewell Wells* 2:25 21. Helicopter Wreckage and Shark Attack 2:55 22. Shark Takes The Pier 2:58 23. Finale 1:39 24. End Credits 2:00
Bonus tracks: 25. Source: Jazz (complete)* 2:36 26. Helicopter Wreckage and Shark Attack (alternate)* 2:14 27. Source: Country Beach Music (complete)* 3:35 28. Shark Theme* 3:42 29. End Credits (extended version)* 4:00
(*) tracks exclusive to the CD version (not included in the LP version)
The movie is scored only when the shark is attacking (exeptions being a couple of suspense tracks, the source cues and the sad music for the hospital scene, the finale and end credits) therefore most of the music are variations on the shark theme which can make for a bit repetitive listen.
Also interesting that some of the source music is included in the main program in the shorter lenth as it plays in the film (Country Beach Music, Jazz) and included in their full versions in the bonus section of the CD.
