This site was conceived as a side project by a "tekkie" friend of mine who suggested I use my journalistic experience to write about something I love. We bandied about some ideas before settling on this one - largely because I had collected movie soundtracks for much of my life and thought I could write about them. We wanted the site to be user friendly, well-written and reliable.
Over time, I hope to attract other writers keen to contribute to the site, who don't mind foregoing the financial benefits they may be used to in the short-term for something that may, or may not, be profitable further down the line.
The gradual demise of the cd format, re-emergence of vinyl, along with the expansion of blu-ray dvd and downloads translate to an ever-changing market place; despite this, most of us still buy cd's and dvd's and I hope that you will use the Amazon links on this site to buy online.
We have also included mini YouTube video links that accompany the reviews, so that you can listen to your favourite theme music while watching a related trailer or clip from the movie; because film is a visual medium, there seems no better way of presenting it.
Finally, a note on the type of soundtracks featured. Though purists generally view albums such as "Top Gun", "Flashdance" and others like them, as unworthy of coverage on a film soundtrack site, preferring instead to focus on orchestral scores, we have taken the view that these albums have earned their place based on their continued saleability and affection with a large section of cinema-goers. We wanted to reach as broad an audience as possible and have developed the site with this in mind, without forgetting those fans for whom composers such as Bernard Herrmann and Jerry Goldsmith, among many others, are considered on a par with the master composers. We hope you can find your best movie soundtracks on this site.
Goldfinger.
1964, United Artists.
John Barry.
Capitol, CD, 2003, 72435-80891-2-7. Rating:
Considered to be John Barry’s best contribution to the Bond series and written for one of the best Bond adventures, Goldfinger is packed full of strong melodies, enthusiastically realised with creative percussion, brass and electric guitar. The Jazz-influenced buzz of ‘Into Miami’, offers a highly evocative reflection of the swinging 60s, while ‘Oddjobs Pressing Engagement’ and ‘Bond Back In Action Again’ highlight Barry’s strength for action cues. There is a freshness and creative zeal to this score that Barry never really managed to recapture with many of his later Bond efforts; could it be that Goldfinger was one of Barry’s favourite movies? The main title performed by Shirley Bassey is amazing, used throughout in various forms to bind the score, but it is far from the only highlight; ‘Dawn Raid On Fort Knox’ almost manages to steal Bassey’s thunder as the stand-out track of the album. Re-mastered, this release includes four bonus tracks omitted from earlier issues and substantial liner notes. Goldfinger Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Goldfinger (main title feat. Shirley Bassey)
2. Into Miami
3. Alpine Drive - Auric’s Factory
4. Oddjob’s Pressing Engagement
5. Bond Back In Action Again
6. Teasing The Korean
7. Gassing The Gangsters
8. Goldfinger (instrumental version)
9. Dawn Raid On Fort Knox
11. The Arrival Of The Bomb And Count Down
12. The Death Of Goldfinger - End Titles
13. Golden Girl
14. Death Of Tilley
15. The Laser Beam
16. Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus
Irma La Douce.
1963, United Artists.
Andre Previn.
Rykodisc, CD, 1998, RCD 10729. Rating:
The songs in Billy Wilder’s stage musical comedy were removed for this screen version starring Shirley Maclaine as a Parisian poule (hooker) and Jack Lemmon as the flic (policeman) who falls for her. Andre Previn scored the movie, which incorporates elements of the musical’s score with new material, playing up the comedic element - as Nestor (Lemmon) attempts to stop Irma from sleeping with other men - with a definite French feel; put simply: lots of accordion and strings.
The most effective cues accentuate both the femininity of Irma’s character (’Meet Irma’, that resurfaces throughout the score), and the joyful exuberance and humour of the situations that the characters find themselves in. Previn’s ability to move from bawdy and colourful (’Main Title’, ‘Easy Living The Hard Way‘) to romantic and restrained (‘Don’t Take All Night’) so seamlessly also makes this something special. This deluxe edition includes full liner notes and web links. Irma La Douce Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Main Title.
2. Meet Irma.
3. This Is The Story.
4. Nestor, The Honest Policeman.
5. Our Language of Love.
6. Don’t Take All Night.
7. The Market.
8. East Living The Hard Way.
9. Escape.
10. Wedding Ring.
11. The return of Lord X.
12. In The Tub with Fieldglasses.
13. Goodbye Lord X.
14. I’m Sorry Irma.
15. Juke Box: Let’s Pretend Love.
16. Juke Box: Look Again.
17. But That’s Another Story.
