Since getting Saturn 3 I've been on a real Bernstein binge (both listening to old stuff and buying new stuff), and was curious about A Rage in Harlem.
As I've never seen the film, what do people think of the score? What other Bernstein scores would you liken it too? Devil in a Blue Dress? Man With The Golden Arm?
Hmm, my reply earlier this day didn't show up for some reason... the score is like a cross between Hoodlum and The Grifters, but I don't think it's as good as either. It sounds almost silly at times. It's good, but not great, and the album could do with being shorter for maximum enjoyment.
However, having just found Hoodlum on amazon.com for 29 cents (), I decided to go with that instead!
I haven't really been listeing to Bernstein much over the past few years, but since Ghostbusters and Saturn 3 -- two of my all-time most wanted scores -- I've really been gorging myself on Bernstein's stuff. I've even been giving my old LPs -- like Legal Eagles, Gold and even Meatballs -- a spin on the turntable!
The Man with the Golden Arm experiences a Sweet Smell of Success and takes a Walk on the Wild Side with a Hoodlum in Harlem. I just played Rage in Harlem and Hoodlum and found them nondescript and largely interchangeable. Too bad Elmer, like so many film composers had to plunge into self-parody and irritating self-reference late in their careers. His early jazz-infused stuff is marvelous.
The Man with the Golden Arm experiences a Sweet Smell of Success and takes a Walk on the Wild Side with a Hoodlum in Harlem.
And one of The Chosen ponders the The Ten Commandments to see if Keeping The Faith forbids preparing Meatballs in The Black Cauldron (made of Heavy Metal such as Gold acquired during The Midas Run), thus keeping him Far From Heaven.
I just played Rage in Harlem and Hoodlum and found them nondescript and largely interchangeable. Too bad Elmer, like so many film composers had to plunge into self-parody and irritating self-reference late in their careers. His early jazz-infused stuff is marvelous.
I like "late Elmer" myself. I was not around during his early jazz period, so that may part of the reason. I love Devil in a Blue Dress (I wonder if this will ever get a proper release?).
I see that Varese has labeled this release as the "Original Motion Picture Score". Was this not the original soundtrack, but rather a re-recording for album release?
Holy cow, I JUST played this on the way to work this morning. Only good thing about 90° weather....dig out those 'hot scores'
I'd assume, given the budget, it's the film tracks, uncredited but recorded in Ireland (?!?!). The score note is probably there to differentiate from the companion song album.They used to do that, Blade, Demolition Man are other examples. Great score!
I'd assume, given the budget, it's the film tracks, uncredited but recorded in Ireland (?!?!). The score note is probably there to differentiate from the companion song album.They used to do that, Blade, Demolition Man are other examples.
Could be. The song-track release (on Sire/Warner Bros.) was labeled "Music From the Film".
), I decided to go with that instead!