Ghostbusters Soundtrack CD

Ghostbusters
1984, Columbia
Elmer Bernstein/Various
Arista, Remastered CD, 2006, 828767 59852
Rating:

Ivan Reitman’s comedy monster movie starring Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver, about a stooge-like team of ghost hunters, was a big hit on release in 1984. Its appealing, screwball mix of state-of-the-art special effects, action, comedy and spirited performances from Murray and Weaver in particular, made an enjoyable popcorn movie. The accompanying soundtrack also did a brisk trade, largely thanks to Ray Parker, Jr’s catchy theme tune (‘Ghostbusters’) that topped the singles charts. While master composer Elmer Bernstein wrote the score for the film, creating an atmospheric series of suitably spooky motifs, there is little evidence of this on the soundtrack album (though a special, limited edition of the score was later released by Verese Sarabande and is now out of print) which was obviously released to capitalise on the films popular success; Bernstein’s cues ‘Main Title Theme – Ghostbusters’ (see YouTube clip below) and ‘Dana’s Theme’ peak your interest but they seem out of place among the predominantly second-rate pop songs, many by little known artists, that populate the rest of the album. The additional tracks do little to improve things. Disappointing.
Ghostbusters Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.

Track Listing:
1. Ghostbusters (Ray Parker, Jr).
2. Cleanin’ Up The Town (The Bus Boys).
3. Savin’ The Day (Alessi).
4. In The Name Of Love (Thompson Twins).
5. I Can Wait Forever (air Supply).
6. Hot Night (Laura Brannigan).
7. Magic (Mick Smiley).
8. Main Title Theme – Ghostbusters (Elmer Bernstein).
9. Dana’s Theme (Elmer Bernstein).
10. Ghostbusters – Instrumental Version (Ray Parker, Jr).
11. Disco Inferno (The Trampps).
12. Ghostbusters 12″ Remix (Ray Parker, Jr.

Other Versions Available:

Arista, LP, 1984, 206 559
Rating:
Track Listing:
Side One:
1. Ghostbusters (Ray Parker, Jr).
2. Cleanin’ Up The Town (The Bus Boys).
3. Savin’ The Day (Alessi).
4. In The Name Of Love (Thompson Twins).
5. I Can Wait Forever (air Supply).

Side Two:
1. Hot Night (Laura Brannigan).
2. Magic (Mick Smiley).
3. Main Title Theme – Ghostbusters (Elmer Bernstein).
4. Dana’s Theme (Elmer Bernstein).
5. Ghostbusters – Instrumental Version (Ray Parker, Jr).

The Man With The Golden Arm Soundtrack CD

The Man With The Golden Arm.
1956, Sanctuary.
Elmer Bernstein.
MCA/Spectrum, 2001, 544 627-2
Rating:

Elmer Bernstein’s effective jazz score to Otto Preminger’s movie and Nelson Algren’s book about dope addict and gambler Johnny Machine (Frank Sinatra) is a wonderful mix of swagger and swing. From the opening notes (’Clarke Street’), sounding uncannily like Willie Dixon’s ‘I Just Want To Make Love To You’, it is evident that Bernstein wrote this as a character study, almost a musical biography, charting the highs and lows of Machine’s downfall. Given a tremendous boost thanks to Shorty Rogers and His Giants with drum legend Shelly Manne, particularly on ‘Desperation’ and ‘Audition’, Machine’s desire to one day play drums in a big time band makes Bernstein’s intelligent scoring integral to the film’s story. ‘Molly’ and ‘Sunday Morning’ introduce a more sombre aspect to the score but, as reflected in the up-and-down nature of Machine’s character, these are interspersed with shrill passages that define the psychological and physical tensions, brought about through addiction, underpinning the entire film. Combining symphony and jazz orchestra, Bernstein has created a score that works on two distinct levels, managing to combine them beautifully; it is a shame that the compilers of this release did not follow through with some decent liner notes and complete the package as Bernstein would undoubtedly have hoped.
The Man With The Golden Arm Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.

Track Listing:
1. Clarke Street/The Top/Homecoming.
2. Zosh.
3. Frankie Machine.
4. The Fix.
5. Molly.
6. Breakup/Flight/Louie’s/Burlesque.
7. Sunday Morning.
8. Desperation.
9. Audition.
10. The Cure/Withdraw/Cold Morning.
11. Finale.

Great Escape Soundtrack CD

The Great Escape.
1963, MGM.
Elmer Bernstein.
Intrada, 1992, MAF 7025D.
Rating:

Released in 1963, The Great Escape, about a group of American POW’s busting out through a tunnel beneath the camp, was a big hit. At three hours long, it relied heavily on strong characterisation, a stellar cast, including Steve McQueen, James Garner and Richard Attenborough and a score that could go the distance. Bernstein has pulled out all the stops here; not only is TGE highly listenable but it manages to retain a freshness and originality while holding true to its now infamous main title march that resurfaces throughout. ‘Blythe’ written for Donald Pleasance’s short-sighted photographer is particularly moving, developed further during the first part of ‘Hendley’s Risk’, while ‘More Action’ and ‘The Chase’ are some of Bernstein’s best action cues. Despite the serious subject matter, both director John Sturges’ film and Bernstein’s score are fairly upbeat with moments of high tension interspersed with plenty of humour and likeable characterisation. The darker aspects of the story are primarily incorporated in the opening chords of ‘On The Road’ and ‘Betrayal’, though Bernstein’s ability to pack huge, varied amounts of emotional content into cues running on average two and a half minutes is astonishing, making this almost as impressive, though entirely different from, his work on ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’. Fantastic stuff.
The Great Escape Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.

Track Listing:
1. Main Title.
2. Premature Plans.
3. Cooler And Mole.
4. Blythe.
5. Discovery.
6. Various Troubles.
7. On The Road.
8. Betrayal.
9. Hendley’s Risk.
10. Road’s End.
11. More Action.
12. The Chase.
13. Finale.