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.
Up At The Villa.
1999, Columbia/Tristar.
Pino Donaggio.
Verese Sarabande CD, 2000, VSD-6128 Rating:
This enchanting orchestral score is one of Donaggio’s best and demonstrates that his work with Director Brian DePalma (Carrie, Blow Out) was just the tip of the iceberg musically. Set in pre-war Italy, during the rise of the fascist regime, the film centres on the love affair between an English woman who is soon to be married to a safe, secure and successful man and the brash American who sweeps her off her feet. The score, ranging from sweeping orchestral landscapes to more particular cues such as ‘The Fascist Office’ and ‘Tennis Plot-Flowers’, is melodic and appealing. ‘Party at Peppinos’ and ‘Florence Two Step’ evoke the era well and provide a fun element to the proceedings. The lack of liner notes is disappointing considering the quality of the score but the recording is clean and crisp making this well worth a listen. Up At The Villa Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Up At The Villa.
2. Chat With The Princess
3. A Pistol In Florence
4. Party At Peppino’s
5. Olive Branch
6. The Kiss
7. Shortcut
8. Back To The Villa
9. The Fascist Office
10. Tennis Plot-Flowers
11. Florence Two Step
12. Stay With Me
13. Telephone Call
14. Drive Away
15. Intriguing Picnic
16. Tete A Tete
17. Martini
18. Not Just A Pretty Face
19. The Princess’ Goodbye
20. Arrivederci
21. No Set Plans
Brian DePalma’s stylish horror flick based on a novel by Stephen King, sees Sissy Spacek’s black sheep take on the school bullies in bloody, melodramatic fashion. Pino Donaggio - who went on to work extensively with De Palma - uses his Hermanesque flexing strings to powerful effect, without losing sight of De Palma’s obvious empathy for Carrie’s situation, with a score that accentuates her dreams of experiencing romantic love for the first time and her emotional instability and rage when they come to nothing. Many of the quieter pieces also serve as cues for moments of high terror, such as ‘Contest Winners’, in which Carrie becomes Queen of the Prom only to have it snatched away in ‘Bucket of Blood’. Two songs written for the film and performed by Katy Irving ‘Born To Have It All’ and ‘I Never Dreamed Someone Like You Could Love Someone Like Me’ are 1970’s MOR but fit in quite well. This soundtrack was also re-issued by Ryko with an amended track list, expanded liner notes and dialogue from the film. Carrie Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Theme From Carrie
2. I Never Dreamed Someone Like You Could
Love Someone Like Me (Vocal by Katy Irving)
3. And God Made Eve
4. At The Prom
5. Contest Winners
6. Born To Have It All (Vocal by Katy Irving)
7. Bucket Of Blood
8. School In Flames
9. Mother At The Top Of The Stairs
10. For The Last Time We’ll Pray
11. Collapse Of Carrie’s Home
12. Sue’s Dream
13. Theme From Carrie
Ryko RCD 10701
Track Listing:
1. Theme From Carrie
2. I Never Dreamed Someone Like You Could Love Someone
3. Telekinesis (Dialogue)
4. And God Made Eve
5. The Raven Was Called Sin (Dialogue)
6. At The Prom
7. Contest Winners
8. Born To Have It All (Vocal by Katy Irving)
9. Bucket Of Blood
10. They’re All Going To Laugh At You (Dialogue)
11. School In Flames
12. Mother At The Top Of The Stairs
13. For The Last Time We’ll Pray
14. The Devil Has Come Home (Dialogue)
15. Collpase OF Carrie’s Home
16. Sue’s Dream
17. Powers (Dialogue)
18. Theme From Carrie
