WARNING SHOT and other themes composed by
Jerry Goldsmith - SI ZENTNER
Dutton
Vocalion is a company whose soundtracks feature regularly in our printed
version of Cinema Retro. Just missing the deadline on this occasion are two
superb debut releases, one of which includes Jerry Goldsmith’s excellent score
(performed by Si Zentner) for Warning Shot (1967). Originally released on LP
(LST 7498), Vocalion’s new CD (CDLK 4470) has smartly doubled up the release to
include Si Zentner’s 1964 album From Russia With Love (originally released LP
LST 7353). Warning Shot is a relatively short score, but as with the original
album, it includes some great interpretations of Goldsmith favourites such as
the Von Ryan march, The Prize, A Patch of Blue and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Warning Shot is a film that generally tends to slip under the radar. However,
it’s a neat little thriller starring the ever reliable David Janssen and a host
of other great character performers. Made in the 1967, it came to Janssen
during the same year that his enormously successful TV series The Fugitive
entered its final season. Goldsmith’s music plays perfectly as an accompaniment
to this minor action thriller. The composer’s score in its original form has
never been released on any format, but Zentner’s arrangement does a highly
capable job of capturing the essence of Goldsmith’s composition. As always,
Vocalion have dressed this release to replicate the original album, adapting
the LP artwork to also incorporate Zentner’s From Russia with Love sleeve. From
Russia with Love (as with Warning Shot) contains a straight remastered version
of the album content. Its twelve tracks include a superb array of crime jazz themes
from the day including Burkes Law, Mr Lucky, Dragnet, The Third Man, Peter
Gunn, Charade and the aforementioned The Fugitive. Vocalion’s latest CD
provides a cracking stereo mix and again proves that modern day collectors are
only too eager in welcoming these charismatic crime jazz classics from the
past. Keep ‘em coming!
BIG
WAR MOVIE THEMES – GEOFF LOVE and his Orchestra
Last
year Vocalion made the smart move to begin re-releasing the extremely popular
series of MFP albums from the 1970s by Geoff Love and his Orchestra. Recent
releases included Big Terror Movie Themes, Big Suspense Themes and Bond Movies.
Now, Vocalion have released one of the most popular titles in the series, BIG
WAR MOVIE THEMES (CDLK 4468). The original 1971 LP (MFP 5171) has arguably
become an iconic image. Culturally, and perhaps because of its original budget
price, the album found its way into thousands of vinyl collections across the
UK. Making its debut on CD, BIG WAR THEMES has lost none of its power to
thrill. Unlike similar cover compilations (which had a tendency to sound either
weak or tipped in comparison), these beautifully recorded themes retain an epic
and sumptuous edge. Love and his Orchestra are clearly on top of their game and
one can only imagine the brisling atmosphere that immersed Studio 1 at the
Abbey road studios. The album offers a generous collection of the most
memorable war themes including Ron Goodwin’s Where Eagles Dare, Battle of
Britain and 633 Squadron, Dimitri Tiomkin’s The Guns of Navarone and Maurice
Jarre’s enigmatic Lawrence of Arabia. A wonderful remastering job provided by
Michael J Dutton helps propel this vintage recording to a worthy high end,
professional standard. As a bonus, Vocalion have also doubled up on this CD and
included Geoff Love’s 1972 album BIG CONCERTO MOVIE THEMES. Originally released
on LP (MFP 5261), the album concentrates on the cinematic use of classical
themes. As one would expect, there is a more serious edge to this collection of
music. However, it remains a glorious reminder of how the influences of
classical composers and their works have lived on through cinema history.
Vocalion’s continued commitment to these long lost classic albums is certainly
worthy of the highest respect. - Darren Allison, Cinema Retro Soundtrack
Editor
To
order: http://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk
