I'm confused. If the tapes are lost where did the original recordings without dialog come from? I was only aware of the OST with dialog. So I was thrilled when the re-recording came out. Which I happen to love.
At the time of ROMEO AND JULIET's release, Capitol Records released both the LP with dialogue highlights [ST-2993, U.S.] and a score-only LP [ST-400, U.S.] (the latter was a smaller seller). It is that Capitol album master that is being reissued by Quartet. The original tracks from which that album master was compiled are gone.
For the record, Capitol also released a 4-LP set [SWDR 289, U.S.] with pretty much the entire mixed soundtrack of the film.
I suspect that one reason that the TAMING OF THE SHREW score album was not released was because it would have been a mono LP in what was rapidly becoming an all-stereo era. Mono sound is more forgivable on a dialogue-heavy release. (Also, maybe RCA felt that Shakespeare would be a bigger seller than Rota to U.S. audiences.)
I'm confused. If the tapes are lost where did the original recordings without dialog come from? I was only aware of the OST with dialog. So I was thrilled when the re-recording came out. Which I happen to love.
At the time of ROMEO AND JULIET's release, Capitol Records released both the LP with dialogue highlights [ST-2993, U.S.] and a score-only LP [ST-400, U.S.] (the latter was a smaller seller). It is that Capitol album master that is being reissued by Quartet. The original tracks from which that album master was compiled are gone.
For the record, Capitol also released a 4-LP set [SWDR 289, U.S.] with pretty much the entire mixed soundtrack of the film.
The all music LP came out much later and did not appear to be widely distributed. The 4 LP dialog set contained all the dialog but was edited down to about 2 hours. This was also issued much later than the original dialog/music LP.
I suspect that one reason that the TAMING OF THE SHREW score album was not released was because it would have been a mono LP in what was rapidly becoming an all-stereo era. Mono sound is more forgivable on a dialogue-heavy release. (Also, maybe RCA felt that Shakespeare would be a bigger seller than Rota to U.S. audiences.)
RCA issued an all dialog MAN FOR ALL SEASONS and HAMLET (TV, Richard Chamberlain) LP sets about the same time. Also, CROMWELL on Capitol was dialog heavy
I suspect that one reason that the TAMING OF THE SHREW score album was not released was because it would have been a mono LP in what was rapidly becoming an all-stereo era. Mono sound is more forgivable on a dialogue-heavy release. (Also, maybe RCA felt that Shakespeare would be a bigger seller than Rota to U.S. audiences.)
RCA issued an all dialog MAN FOR ALL SEASONS and HAMLET (TV, Richard Chamberlain) LP sets about the same time. Also, CROMWELL on Capitol was dialog heavy
Pre-home video, LPs were just about the only way to re-live these films at home. Lots of people saw it as a great boon to have dialogue available, the next best thing to watching the film. The impossibility of being able to see entire recent movies at home made the availability of the dialogue something of a rare treasure.
The all music LP [of 1968's ROMEO AND JULIET] came out much later and did not appear to be widely distributed. The 4 LP dialog set contained all the dialog but was edited down to about 2 hours. This was also issued much later than the original dialog/music LP.
The all music LP [of 1968's ROMEO AND JULIET] came out much later and did not appear to be widely distributed. The 4 LP dialog set contained all the dialog but was edited down to about 2 hours. This was also issued much later than the original dialog/music LP.
How come the Silva release (not the re-recording, the OST) has a almost 8 minute epilogue when all the other releases of the OST, including the new Quartet, have a 2 minute one?
How come the Silva release (not the re-recording, the OST) has a almost 8 minute epilogue when all the other releases of the OST, including the new Quartet, have a 2 minute one?
The Silva epilogue :
The version I have is the Cloud 9 one.
That "Silva Epilogue" is NOT from the OST. That's from a re-recording. You can tell by the sound the recording and the size of the orchestra. The re-recording used a much larger orchestra.
The so-called "Epilogue" with 7:42 minutes on the Silva CD of ROMEO AND JULIET came from the compilation CD "Cinema´s Classic Romances" which was also released by Silva Screen in 1998, although they did not indicate this in the booklet or on the back cover. The City of Prague Orchestra was conducted by Kenneth Alwyn in this suite recording:
Wow, great releases for Rota Quartet.. count me in for both, i've never really owned either, well i had Taming once 2nd hand but really unplayable.. Many thanks, great-work guys. I'm pleased.
Enjoying both after a wonderful Chinese feast at Yank Sing downtown and a brisk walk a few hours later with Flor and Samantha .Glad to have these new editions. They sound great.
Quick question for those familiar with the film. Was Taming ever presented as a Roadshow (this is based on the presence of the overture on the album)?
It depends upon the location and how you define "roadshow." In the U.S., it was definitely shown as a reserved seat attraction, even in smaller cities such as Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. As to whether it was in 70mm or had a intermission, I've found no evidence of either. The film only runs 122 minutes (126 with the Overture).
Overseas, the film originally played in the U.K. in 35mm, but had a 70mm blow-up showing in 6-track stereo in 1973. Elsewhere, there is a report of a 1967 70mm blowup in Mexico City.
The so-called "Epilogue" with 7:42 minutes on the Silva CD of ROMEO AND JULIET came from the compilation CD "Cinema´s Classic Romances" which was also released by Silva Screen in 1998, although they did not indicate this in the booklet or on the back cover. The City of Prague Orchestra was conducted by Kenneth Alwyn in this suite recording:
The actual "Epilogue" of the original Rota recording with about 2 minutes therefore appears on the CD as the second half of track 18 "O Happy Dagger".
What a strange way to name the tracks in a soundtrack album reissue Why would Silva Screen add to its edition a re-recording bonus track by pretending to be the expanded last track from the Capitol album?
