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GIL MELLE, FRED KARLIN, ERNIE FREEMAN and DON COSTA
Totally under represented on disc...while there are plenty of good, ambitious avant-garde although melodic scores to consider...
Most obvious:
FUTUR SHOCK by Gil Melle 1972 documentary host by Orson Welles, on basis of Alvin Toffler book of anticipation
https://youtu.be/fkUwXenBokU
The finale is one of the most beautiful theme I have ever heard...
Absolutely terrific too is
SAMURAI by Fred Karlin 1876 unsold TV pilot
https://youtu.be/KuN15yUElas
And what a gorgeous theme here in PINK JUNGLE by Ernie Freeman....
https://youtu.be/shVMyxrdA3Y
And what about MADIGAN? Don Costa rules...
https://youtu.be/cSXOre-15_A
Yes, yes and yes! And yes again just to make four.
FUTURE SHOCK is terrific. The finale you mention is wonderful in conjunction with the images of the young kids playing and then the old man's face. Mellé is/was mostly known for his experimentation with jazz and electronics, but his string writing is often overlooked. Beautiful and unique.
I always loved Don Costa's MADIGAN. I think he's "underrated" as a film composer, as is Ernie Freeman (THE PINK JUNGLE is great), but that's probably because they both did relatively few films. Outside their film works they were (I think) highly respected and successful. Didn't they both do arrangements for Sinatra amongst other lucrative things?
Coming soon from La-La Land - Gil Mellé's THE SENTINEL! Like it or be forever a nutmeg!
And don't forget Basil freakin' Kirchin. He was absolutely freakin' fantastic, his film scores and his non-film work. A bit like Mellé there.
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David Shire
I wouldn't count David "the Sire" Shire as underrated. Nor would I say Pino Donaggio is either.
Mine are a few:
Michael Small, John Scott, J. Peter Robinson, John Cacavas, Wojiech Kilar are more underrated, and I do profess to loving all of the above mentioned, effortlessly.
Actually make that Michael Small, Michael J. Lewis, Stanley Myers. and Christopher Gordon
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Who's you favorite UNDERRATED film composer?
Without further thinking and no particular order
J.A.C REDFORD
FREDERIC TALGORN
JOEL MCNEELY
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I agree with many mentioned here, but especially Roy Webb and Paul J. Smith. I’m aware of 2 CD’s released with suites of Webb’s scores, but there is so much still unavailable, including on of my favorites, I REMEMBER MAMA.
Smith, on the other hand, spent almost his entire career working for Disney, from the 30’s on into the 60’s, and helped create the orchestral “sound” for Disney scores. Despite released CD’s of music from scores he collaborated on, SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO, and CINDERELLA, practically nothing else is available, except a brief release of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. Though excerpts from a number of his Disney nature scores were released on lp, they have never come out on CD. Wonderful composer, but his work is mostly unavailable.
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Kevin Kaska.
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Just the other day I listened to the score to the Intrada release of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and I find it just as infectious and entertaining as it was back in the day when I got the original vinyl as a teenager (still have that). Stravinsky like rhythms, seductive sleaze music, Bond like action music... what's not to like? That is just very fun film music in the best sense. Great album.
I think Stu Phillips is an underrated composer whose music I enjoyed since my teenager days and he's got too few soundtrack releases out there, probably because he mostly scored TV shows, which tend to have less "theatrical" film scores. But scores like Buck Rogers and of course especially Battlestar Galactica play out like feature film scores. Good stuff.
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Just the other day I listened to the score to the Intrada release of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and I find it just as infectious and entertaining as it was back in the day when I got the original vinyl as a teenager (still have that). Stravinsky like rhythms, seductive sleaze music, Bond like action music... what's not to like? That is just very fun film music in the best sense. Great album.
I think Stu Phillips is an underrated composer whose music I enjoyed since my teenager days and he's got too few soundtrack releases out there, probably because he mostly scored TV shows, which tend to have less "theatrical" film scores. But scores like Buck Rogers and of course especially Battlestar Galactica play out like feature film scores. Good stuff.
Yes! Absolutely agreed!
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Just the other day I listened to the score to the Intrada release of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and I find it just as infectious and entertaining as it was back in the day when I got the original vinyl as a teenager (still have that). Stravinsky like rhythms, seductive sleaze music, Bond like action music... what's not to like? That is just very fun film music in the best sense. Great album.
I think Stu Phillips is an underrated composer whose music I enjoyed since my teenager days and he's got too few soundtrack releases out there, probably because he mostly scored TV shows, which tend to have less "theatrical" film scores. But scores like Buck Rogers and of course especially Battlestar Galactica play out like feature film scores. Good stuff.
I think Stu was quite celebrated in his day but sadly he's fallen off the map for most modern film score fans. Pity because I agree with your sentiments- Phillips has a terrific sense of musicality in his work. The lovely harmonies of BSG compounded with the amazing sense of orchestral colour just amazes. And these scores were done with small orchestras and crazy time lines.
his Spider-man theme is my favourite music of any composer who tried their hand at scoring the webslinger.
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RIGHT ON!
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Yes, John Scott certainly too.
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