Things I Like (apart from Cindy, obviously)

This is the almost autobiographical area of this site, a guide to the stuff that also make me tick.

MOVIE AND TV MUSIC

Like policemen, the lot of a soundtrack fan is not a happy one; for a start, this is probably the only genre that's looked down on by both highbrows and more mainstream types. Then you've got your album rackets (your song albums, your music-from-and-inspired-by con jobs, your sets with one token score cut etc), the stunning ignorance of the subject by many film critics, the fact that there's always something you want released but never is...

But I love the stuff dammit! My very first tape, which I made when I was around 16, has a track listing that looks like this:

*=Particular favourite

Side One:

  • Missing in Action 2: The Beginning End Credits - Brian May (not the one from Queen, but the now deceased Australian composer)
  • The Aviator End Credits - Dominic Frontiere
  • Six Thorn EMI Video Trailers
  • My voice
  • Two Columbia Pictures Trailers
  • Silverado Main and End Titles* - Bruce Broughton
  • No Secrets(Theme from Secret Admirer) - Van Stephenson
  • Warning Sign End Credits - Craig Safan
  • The Star Chamber End Credits* - Michael Small
  • Ladyhawke End and Main Titles - Andrew Powell
  • Charade Main Title* - Henry Mancini
  • Suppose They Gave A War And Nobody Came Main Titles/Mama Two March(End Titles) - Jerry Fielding
  • Two Embassy Home Entertainment Trailers

    Side Two

  • Sudden Impact Main Title - Lalo Schifrin
  • My voice
  • Thunderbirds End Title Theme* - Barry Gray
  • My voice
  • Sorry! (most of main theme and part of the end) - Gaynor Colbourn and Hugh Wisdom
  • Shoestring (a similar blend)* - George Fenton
  • The Cosby Show First Season Theme - Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby
  • Moving Violations* - Nona Hendryx
  • Stripes End Credits* - Elmer Bernstein
  • The Pink Panther Strikes Again Main Titles - Henry Mancini (again)
  • Hunter First Season Theme* - Mike Post and Pete Carpenter
  • East Bound and Down(from Smokey and the Bandit) - Jerry Reed
  • Double Trouble - Tom Snow
  • Otherworld - Sylvester Levay
  • The Last Starfighter End and Main Titles* - Craig Safan (again)
  • I Wanna Be Somebody - Jack Mack and the Heart Attack
  • Police Academy Main Theme - Robert Folk
  • Lifeforce End Credits - Henry Mancini (again)
  • The Heavenly Kid (Out On The Edge) - Jon Fiore
  • Carolco Trailer As you can see, not the usual stuff for a 16-year-old. I did expand somewhat, I suppose (the fastest time I ever filled up a tape was one night when Debbie Gibson was hosting American Top 40 and I got a lot of songs, plus lots of her filling in for Shadoe Stevens), but ultimately I found that the popular stuff is fine in small doses... and smaller ones nowadays. As well as having the majority of my stuff taped off videos and TV shows or downloaded off theme sites, I've also found a lot of my favourite composers have websites: here are a few of my faves, along with the albums of theirs that I have (compilations are included provided it's all their stuff, which is why Filmworks is included but not Summon the Heroes), and links for people who "want to know more" as the fellow in Starship Troopers put it (not a good film, but liked the music). Anyhoo...

    Some of my favourite tunesmiths (click on their names for more info):

    Danny Elfman

    Why I like him: He's a perfect match for Tim Burton (apologies to Howard Shore); he's written some of the most exciting music of recent years; his band used to be called the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • Anywhere But Here (7:35 suite conducted by Steve Bartek + songs; Atlantic/20th Century Fox 59:35)
  • Army of Darkness (March of the Dead only - music by Joseph LoDuca; Varese Sarabande 50:38)
  • Batman (the Sinfonia of London conducted by Shirley Walker; Warner Bros 56:27)
  • Batman Returns (conducted by Jonathan Sheffer; includes a song by Siouxsie and the Banshees; Warner Bros 69:55)
  • Beetlejuice (conducted by Bill Ross; 30 mins score + songs; Geffen 37:02)
  • Big Top Pee-wee (conducted by Bill Ross; includes songs and dialogue; PEG 48:08)
  • Black Beauty (conducted by J.A.C. Redford; Giant 46:43)
  • A Civil Action (conducted by Artie Kane, Daniel Carlin Jr. and (choir) Steve Bartek; edel-Hollywood 47:03)
  • Darkman (conducted by Shirley Walker; additional music in the film by Jonathan Sheffer, not on album; MCA 40:09)
  • Dick Tracy (conducted by Shirley Walker; one of three albums released - the other two all songs; Reprise 34:17)
  • Dolores Claiborne (conducted by Richard Stone; Varese Sarabande 30:06)
  • Edward Scissorhands (conducted by Shirley Walker; includes a song by Tom Jones; MCA 49:20)
  • Flubber (conducted by Artie Kane and Mark McKenzie; includes KC and the Sunshine Band; Walt Disney 47:11)
  • Forbidden Zone (24 minutes score + songs; Varese Sarabande 38:59)
  • The Frighteners (conducted by Artie Kane; includes the Mutton Birds' version of "Don't Fear The Reaper" - MCA Soundtracks 41:16)
  • Go Simpsonic With The Simpsons (theme only; songs, score and dialogue by various - Fox Music/Rhino 59:21)
  • Heartbreakers (theme only; score by John Debney, two suites totalling 14:39; RCA Victor 53:17)
  • Instinct (conducted by Pete Anthony; Varese Sarabande 38:36)
  • Men In Black (conducted by Artie Kane and Mark McKenzie; Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax 42:44)
  • Midnight Run (MCA 42:14)
  • Mission: Impossible (theme by Lalo Schifrin; conducted by Artie Kane) Point Music 52:30
  • Music For A Darkened Theatre: Film and Television Music Vol. 1 (cond. Steve Bartek, John Coleman, Bill Ross and Shirley Walker; MCA 72:44)
  • Music For A Darkened Theatre: Film and Television Music Vol. 2 (cond. Steve Bartek, Chris Boardman, Artie Kane, J.A.C. Redford, Jonathan Sheffer, Richard Stone and Shirley Walker; MCA - album 1: 71:35, album 2: 74:18)
  • Nightbreed (conducted by Shirley Walker; CD includes a bonus song; MCA 46:46)
  • Planet of the Apes (conducted by Pete Anthony; includes some very nice pictures of Estella Warren in the booklet and that crappy Paul Oakenfold mix on the CD; Sony Classical 58:21)
  • Pure Luck (theme only - score by Jonathan Sheffer; Varese Sarabande 29:59)
  • The Simpsons: Songs in the Key of Springfield (theme only; songs, score and dialogue -Rhino 55:57)
  • Sommersby (conducted by Jonathan Sheffer and Thomas Pasatieri; Elektra 50:59) Note: The main title music (or at least part of it) has now been adopted for the Regency logo.
  • Spy Kids ("Floop Song" theme - music by John Debney, Chris Boardman, Gavin Greenaway, Harry Gregson-Williams, Heitor Pereira, Robert Rodriguez, Marcel Rodriguez and Los Lobos...phew!; Chapter III 31:36)
  • Tales From The Crypt (theme only; Big Screen 46:45)
  • Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (score conducted by J.A.C. Redford, songs conducted by Chris Boardman; Pickwick/Walt Disney 61:16) W.G. Snuffy Walden

    Why I like him: Produces consistently affecting music for a variety of TV projects from comedy to drama (thirtysomething, The West Wing, Once and Again).

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • thirtysomething (with Stewart Levin and Jay Gruska - 45 mins. score + songs; Geffen 58:03)

    Bruce Broughton

    Why I like him: He was one of the people who got me into this. Long underrated in Hollywood (movies, that is - television has been far more appreciative of his talent, in terms of both themes and scores).

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • All I Want For Christmas (16 mins. + songs; Curb 34:16)
  • The Boy Who Could Fly (with The Sinfonia of London; a rerecording - Varese Sarabande 34:41)
  • Carried Away (Intrada 36:22)
  • For Love Or Money (30 mins. + songs; Big Screen 37:53)
  • Harry and the Hendersons (31 mins. + songs; MCA 38:23)
  • Honey, I Blew Up The Kid (Intrada 41:06)
  • O Pioneers! (Intrada 43:15)
  • One Tough Cop (Intrada 32:54 - not to be confused with the Jellybean-supervised song album)
  • The Rescuers Down Under (Walt Disney 34:40)
  • Silverado (Intrada 46:25 - more music than the original Geffen release)
  • Stay Tuned (3:22 score + crap; Morgan Creek 35:29)
  • True Women (with the Sinfonia of London; Intrada 73:58)
  • Young Sherlock Holmes (with the Sinfonia of London; MCA 36:38) Note: Intrada pressed a limited edition release with much more music. As this is one of his Broughton's most popular scores with fans, all copies of the new release were snapped up almost at once and now you can't get one for love nor money. Jerry Goldsmith

    Why I like him: Because he is, quite simply, The Man. And a survivor. He's one of the legends.

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE: :

  • Air Force One (additional music by Joel McNeely not on the album; Varese Sarabande 34:37)
  • Bad Girls (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; Fox 38:46)
  • Basic Instinct (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; Varese Sarabande 44:06)
  • Congo (Epic 33:39)
  • Criminal Law (Varese Sarabande 30:24)
  • Deep Rising (Hollywood 32:23)
  • Dennis The Menace (Big Screen 41:24)
  • Executive Decision (Varese Sarabande 29:37)
  • Explorers (30 mins + songs; MCA 40:22)
  • Extreme Prejudice (with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra: Intrada/Silva Screen 49:49)
  • First Blood (30 mins + "It's A Long Road" from Dan "Sometimes When We Touch" Hill; TER 34:36) Note: Also available on Intrada with one extra track (unlike the expanded versions for the sequels released by Intrada and Silva America).
  • Gremlins (15 mins + songs; Geffen 30:53)
  • Gremlins 2: The New Batch (Varese Sarabande 39:21)
  • Hoosiers (Polydor/PolyGram 39:42)
  • Innerspace (26 mins + songs; Geffen 46:40)
  • King Solomon's Mines (with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; Milan 38:56)
  • King Solomon's Mines (with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; Intrada 60:09)
  • Legend (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; includes song; Silva Screen 70:54)
  • Leviathan (with the Orchestra di Santa Cecilia di Roma; Varese Sarabande 39:46)
  • Lionheart (with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; Varese Sarabande/Masters Film Series - album 1: 42:51, album 2: 40:45)
  • Love Field (Varese Sarabande 28:54)
  • MacArthur (Varese Sarabande 33:18)
  • Masada (MCA 36:58)
  • Matinee (Varese Sarabande 37:44)
  • Medicine Man (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; Varese Sarabande 49:29)
  • Mom and Dad Save the World (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; Varese Sarabande 40:04)
  • Mr. Baseball (includes a song from Fairchild; Varese Sarabande 33:07)
  • Mulan (26 mins + songs; Walt Disney 56:25)
  • Not Without My Daughter (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; Silva Screen 32:12)
  • Our Man Flint/In Like Flint (25 mins/27 mins + song; Silva Screen 54:16)
  • Outland (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; Warner Bros 38:55)
  • Papillon (Silva Screen 36:17)
  • A Patch Of Blue (23:41 + Mark Lawrence's David & Lisa - Mainstream 49:24)Intrada has since released the complete score.
  • Patton (30 mins + George C. Scott's voice; 20th Century-Fox [they still had the hyphen back then] 34:46)
  • Planet of the Apes (includes 16:27 from Escape from the Planet of the Apes; Varese Sarabande/Fox Classics 69:57)
  • Poltergeist (Turner Classic Movies 68:14)
  • Powder (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; Hollywood 35:41)
  • Rambo: First Blood Part II (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; includes a song from Frank Stallone - Varese Sarabande/That's Entertainment 43:10)
  • Rambo: First Blood Part II (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; includes a song from Frank Stallone - Silva America 60:34)
  • Rambo III (with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; 25 minutes + 3 songs, two of which aren't in the movie - CBS/Scotti Bros 37:31)
  • Rambo III (with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; Intrada 76:16)
  • Rent-a-Cop (with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; Silva Screen 34:44)
  • Rudy (Varese Sarabande 36:50)
  • The Russia House (includes a song from Patti Austin; MCA 61:37) Warning: Just about everyone who's heard this thinks this is too long, including me... and Jerry Goldsmith.
  • The Sand Pebbles (conducted by Lionel Newman; PolyGram/Silva Screen 33:53)
  • The Secret of NIMH (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; 42 mins + songs - TER 48:05)
  • The Shadow (30 minutes + voice cuts and 3 songs, including 2 versions of Taylor Dayne's end title song - Arista 46:17)
  • Six Degrees of Separation (with the Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra; 14:30 score + songs and dialogue - Elektra 34:15)
  • Sleeping With The Enemy (includes Van Morrison's "Brown-Eyed Girl" - Columbia 41:01)
  • Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Columbia 40:04)
  • Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (includes a song from Hiroshima; Epic 41:45)
  • Star Trek: Insurrection (GNP Crescendo 41:29)
  • Star Trek: Voyager (theme only; pilot score by Jay Chattaway - GNP Crescendo 45:59)
  • Supergirl (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; Silva Screen 77:52)
  • Total Recall (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; Varese Sarabande 40:43)
  • Total Recall: The Deluxe Edition (with the National Philharmonic Orchestra; Varese Sarabande 74 minutes)
  • Under Fire (Warner Bros 44:48)
  • Warlock (with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra; Silva Screen 54:38) PS: I've also got a taped copy of The 'burbs, but that doesn't count.

    Alan Silvestri

    Why I like him: Four words: Back to the Future.

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • The Abyss (Varese Sarabande 46:32)
  • Back to the Future Part II (MCA 43:47)
  • Back to the Future Part III (Varese Sarabande 44:52)
  • Cast Away: The Silvestri/Zemeckis Collection (Varese Sarabande 59:05)
  • The Clan Of The Cave Bear (Varese Sarabande 45:33)
  • Contact (Warner Bros 44:21)
  • Death Becomes Her (includes a song from Meryl Streep(!) - Varese Sarabande 34:45)
  • Eraser (Atlantic Classics 43:31)
  • Father of the Bride (17 mins + songs; Varese Sarabande 28:17)
  • Father of the Bride Part II (23 mins + songs; Hollywood 39:12)
  • Forrest Gump (Epic Soundtrax 38:35)
  • Grumpier Old Men (4:43 score + songs; TVT/London 35:20) Note:Silvestri also scored Grumpy Old Men, which didn't have a soundtrack album.
  • Judge Dredd (with the Sinfonia of London - 40 mins + songs, most of which aren't in the movie; Epic 72:56)
  • My Stepmother Is An Alien (13 mins + songs - Polydor/PolyGram 42:46)
  • No Mercy (Silva Screen/TVT 33:02)
  • Practical Magic (6:30 score + songs - Warner Sunset-Reprise 51:46)
  • Predator 2 (with the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra; Varese Sarabande 45:15)
  • The Quick And The Dead (Varese Sarabande 33:46)
  • Richie Rich (Varese Sarabande 32:46)
  • Ricochet (with the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra - includes Ice-T's end title rap; Varese Sarabande 33:40)
  • Shattered (includes the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin" - Milan 34:40)
  • Soapdish (with the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra - 28 mins, three cues different to ones in the movie + a song from Ludar in sung and instrumental versions; Varese Sarabande 34 minutes)
  • Stuart Little (9:56 score + songs "from and inspired by" the movie; Motown/Universal 55:59)
  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit (with the London Symphony Orchestra - 39 minutes + songs; CBS 45:33) NOTE: Silvestri very probably holds the record for the least amount of score on a soundtrack album; the disc of "Music From And Inspired By Young Guns II" contains one Silvestri cut lasting all of 59 seconds - the rest of the album is Bon Jovi songs, of which only two are in the film (and not even in complete form). Ripoff or WHAT?

    John Williams

    Why I like him: Unlike everyone else on this page, no explanation is necessary for most people.

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • 1941 (Bay Cities 38:07)
  • The Accidental Tourist (Warner Bros 40:48)
  • Always (46 mins + songs - yes, not even Spielberg films are immune from this; MCA 68:01)
  • Amistad (DreamWorks 55:53)
  • Born on the Fourth of July (25 mins + songs; MCA 56:54)
  • Earthquake (Varese Sarabande 34:04)
  • Empire Of The Sun (45 mins + choral stuff; Warner Bros 54:05)
  • The Empire Strikes Back (with the London Symphony Orchestra - Polydor/PolyGram 73:55)
  • E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (MCA 39:41)
  • E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (MCA 71:18) Note: In 2002 it was reissued in a slightly longer version of this already expanded version (three extra tracks) in the wake of its 20th anniversary rerelease.
  • Far and Away (includes Enya's song; MCA 66:03)
  • The Fury (with the London Symphony Orchestra; Arista 40:03)
  • Home Alone (43 minutes + songs; CBS 56:09)
  • Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (40 mins score + songs... er, yes this is the score album; Fox 61:45)
  • Hook (includes 3 songs, one of which isn't in the movie - but not the end title music dammit; Epic Soundtrax 76:17)
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Warner Bros 57:52)
  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (includes a Cantonese version of "Anything Goes" - Polydor/PolyGram 40:02)
  • JFK (38 mins score + songs etc; woe unto ye, Oliver Stone...Elektra 63:51)
  • John Williams Filmworks (collection of scores for Universal movies; MCA 55:57)
  • Jurassic Park (with the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra; co-conducted by uncredited Artie Kane - MCA 70:22)
  • The Lost World: Jurassic Park (MCA Soundtracks 69 mins)
  • The Patriot (Centropolis/Hollywood 72:38)
  • Presumed Innocent (Varese Sarabande 44:08)
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark (with the London Symphony Orchestra - CBS 41:35)
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark (with the London Symphony Orchestra; Silva Screen-DCC 73:35)
  • Return of the Jedi (with the London Symphony Orchestra; RSO 45:50)
  • Schindler's List (with Itzhak Perlman and the Boston Symphony Orchestra; 59 mins + choral work - MCA 62:26)
  • Sleepers (Phillips 55:37)
  • The Spielberg/Williams Collaboration (with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the American Boychoir, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and Toots Thielemans; Sony Classical 65:20)
  • Stanley & Iris (Varese Sarabande 27:11)
  • Star Wars (with the London Symphony Orchestra - Polydor/PolyGram 74:56)
  • Superman (with the London Symphony Orchestra; includes Margot Kidder's song(sic) - Warner Bros 76:15)
  • The Towering Inferno (includes a Maureen McGovern song - Warner Bros 35:59)
  • The Witches Of Eastwick (Warner Bros 51:31) Randy Edelman

    Why I like him: In spite of his excessive love of laying synths on everything (even Dragonheart), he is a good tunesmith (witness his themes for MacGyver and The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.) - and he can rise to the occasion from time to time. Plus his chart success in the UK in the '70s ("Uptown Uptempo Woman, Downtown Downbeat Guy" etc) makes him the only composer around here to have been on Top of the Pops.

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • Angels In The Outfield (Hollywood 33:45)
  • Beethoven (includes Paul Shaffer and The World's Most Dangerous Band doing "Roll Over Beethoven"; MCA 38:58)
  • Beethoven's 2nd (incudes Dolly Parton and James Ingram in a duet; Columbia 42:14)
  • The Chipmunk Adventure (one score track 1:42 + songs; Buena Vista 27:20)
  • Come See The Paradise (14 mins. plus 4 mins. composed by Jake and Alex Parker and conducted by Edelman + songs; Milan 33:14)
  • Daylight (40 mins score + 2 songs; Universal 47:57)
  • The Distinguished Gentleman (Varese Sarabande 28:41)
  • Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (includes song; MCA 29:54)
  • Feds (22:12 score + songs; GNP Crescendo 37:44)
  • Gettysburg (includes 2 trad; Milan 56:52)
  • Kindergarten Cop (Varese Sarabande 38:16)
  • The Last Of The Mohicans (21 mins (with Trevor Jones' 31 mins); includes a song from Clannad - Morgan Creek/Polydor 54:26)
  • My Cousin Vinny (Varese Sarabande 33:38) Twins (with Georges Delerue; 1 track 2:09 + Delerue's 3:00 + songs; WTG 39:18)
  • While You Were Sleeping (Varese Sarabande 37:31) James Newton Howard

    Why I like him: He has a good dramatic sense. He's come along amazingly since the days of Head Office (his first score in 1986) and working with the likes of Elton John. Plus he was once married to Rosanna Arquette!

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • Alive (conducted by Marty Paich; Hollywood 29:57)
  • Dante's Peak (theme only; music by John Frizzell, conducted by Artie Kane - Varese Sarabande 30:27)Note: Howard and Frizzell also collaborated on The Rich Man's Wife.
  • Diggstown (Varese Sarabande 29:53)
  • Dying Young (w/Kenny G and the Greater Los Angeles Orchestra conducted by Marty Paich; 27 mins score + two versions of "All The Way" - Arista 36:17)
  • ER (theme only; scores by Martin Davich + songs - Atlantic 44:57)
  • The Fugitive (conducted by Marty Paich; Elektra 41:41)
  • Guilty by Suspicion (13 minutes [end titles co-composed with Alan and Marilyn Bergman] + songs - Varese Sarabande 28:08)
  • Grand Canyon (conducted by Marty Paich; includes a Warren Zevon song - Milan 42:43)
  • Liar Liar (theme only; score by John Debney - MCA 29:28)
  • Major League (one 4:00 cut + songs; Curb)
  • The Man In The Moon (conducted by Marty Paich; Reprise 31:04)
  • The Postman (conducted by Artie Kane; 50 mins + songs - Warner Sunset 73:43)
  • The Prince of Tides (conducted by Marty Paich; 43 mins + two songs from Barbra Streisand not in the movie - Columbia 53:27)
  • Space Jam (conducted by Artie Kane; Atlantic 45:57)
  • Three Men And A Little Lady (conducted by Marty Paich; 20 mins + songs - Hollywood 40:57)
  • Waterworld (conducted by Artie Kane; MCA 68:24)
  • Wyatt Earp (the Hollywood Recording Musicians Orchestra conducted by Marty Paich; Warner Bros 60:35) Elmer Bernstein

    Why I like him: Another veteran who's as adaptable and great as ever - you have to respect a guy who can do a decent score for Wild Wild West.

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE::

  • The Deep End Of The Ocean (Milan 30:07)
  • The Great Escape (Intrada 32:36)
  • The Grifters (47 mins + two cues by Cynthia Millar, also songs; Varese Sarabande 54:47) Legal Eagles (with the United Kingdom Symphony Orchestra; 23 minutes + songs - MCA 34:22)
  • The Magnificent Seven (reconstructed by Bernstein and Christopher Palmer, performed by the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Sedares with the Arizona State University Concert Choir directed by Dr. Gregory K. Lyne; includes the overture from The Hallelujah Trail - Koch International 64:28) Note: Rykodisc finally released the actual movie soundtrack in 2000.
  • My Left Foot/Da (30 mins + 16 mins. - Varese Sarabande 46:01)
  • National Lampoon's Animal House (2:19 + songs - MCA)
  • Rambling Rose (38 mins + songs - Virgin 46:51)
  • The Ten Commandments (Decca-Trax 59:29)
  • Three Amigos! (25 mins + songs, trad. and dialogue - Warner Bros 38:58)
  • The Trial Of Billy Jack (21 mins + songs - ABC 38:11)
  • Wild Wild West (includes two cues by Peter Bernstein - Varese Sarabande 30:09) Marc Shaiman

    Why I like him: He's adept at both comedy and drama, and also blessed with a great sense of humour.

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • The Addams Family (conducted by Hummie Mann; 33 mins + songs, thankfully not the ones over the credits! Capitol 40:39)
  • Addams Family Values (conducted by Artie Kane; includes two songs from the camp scenes, one of which isn't in the movie - Varese Sarabande)
  • City Slickers (conducted by Hummie Mann and Mark McKenzie; 30 mins + two songs - Varese Sarabande 37:01)
  • City Slickers II:The Legend of Curly's Gold (conducted by Artie Kane - Columbia 49:40)
  • A Few Good Men (conducted by Artie Kane; 21 mins + songs and stuff - Columbia 26:46)
  • George of the Jungle (6:46 conducted by Artie Kane + songs and source stuff - Walt Disney 30:55)
  • Misery (conducted by Dennis Dreith - Bay Cities 30:01)
  • Mr. Saturday Night (conducted by Artie Kane; 19 mins + songs - Big Screen 34:05)
  • North (conducted by Artie Kane; 35 mins original score + songs - Epic Soundtrax 43:25) David Newman

    Why I like him: Though less renowned than his father (Alfred, legendary composer and writer of the most famous piece of movie music ever - the Twentieth Century Fox logo), cousin (Randy, acclaimed singer-songwriter and scoremeister from The Natural to Monsters, Inc.) or brother (Thomas, praised for years but really put on the map by American Beauty), this is more because of the projects he's been given than of any failings on his part. Plus he's frequently screwed when the albums come out...

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • The Air Up There (with J. Peter Robinson; 3:39 score + songs - Interscope 43:24)
  • Anastacia (23 mins + songs - Atlantic/eastWest 57:13)
  • Critters (Intrada 47:33)
  • The Flintstones (one 5:48 suite + songs - MCA 49:59)
  • Heathers (Varese Sarabande 40:16)
  • Hoffa (20th Century Fox 42:28)
  • I Love Trouble (includes a song - Varese Sarabande 36:27)
  • Mr. Destiny (Varese Sarabande 30:16)
  • Operation Dumbo Drop (with the Sinfonia of London; 23 mins + songs - Hollywood 37:01)
  • Rover Dangerfield (19 mins + songs - Warner Bros 30:42)
  • Too Hot To Handle(aka The Marrying Man) (10 mins + songs - Hollywood 41:03) James Horner

    Why I like him: He can be pompous, and no working composer is a more notorious self-plagiarist, but when he tries he can really deliver (The Mask Of Zorro is much better, musically, than Titanic).

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • Aliens (w/London Symphony Orchestra; TER 39:57)
  • An American Tail (w/LSO; 34 mins + songs - MCA 49:04)
  • An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (45 mins + songs - MCA 55:22)
  • Apollo 13 (all-score promo on CD-R; MCA 58:30)
  • *batteries not included (MCA 45:10)
  • Brainstorm (w/LSO and Ambrosian Singers & boys from the Choir of New College, Oxford - Milan 30:21)
  • Braveheart (w/LSO - Icon/London 77:56)
  • Class Action (inc. instrumental version of "The More I See You" - Varese Sarabande 32:18)
  • Clear And Present Danger (Milan 50:41)
  • Cocoon: The Return (Varese Sarabande 54:28)
  • Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (38 mins + songs and dialogue - Interscope 76:51)
  • Field of Dreams (RCA Novus 50:31)
  • Glory (with the Boys Choir of Harlem - Virgin 42:55)
  • The Name of the Rose (33 mins + choral music - First Night 41:30)
  • Once Upon A Forest (w/LSO; 50 mins + songs - Fox 66:45)
  • The Pagemaster (w/LSO and Universal Voices London; 55 mins + songs - Fox 63:18)
  • Patriot Games (includes "Harry's Game" by Clannad - Milan 45:07)
  • The Pelican Brief (Big Screen 52:16)
  • The Pursuit Of D.B. Cooper (6 mins + songs - Polydor 30:27)
  • Red Heat (Virgin 44:37)
  • The Rocketeer (49 mins + songs - Hollywood 56:31)
  • Searching For Bobby Fischer (Big Screen 49:29)
  • Sneakers (Columbia 50:47)
  • Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (GNP Crescendo 44:35)
  • Swing Kids (25 mins + swing tracks - Hollywood/Milan 56:11)
  • Willow (w/LSO and the King's College Choir, Wimbledon - Virgin 73:17) Basil Poledouris

    Why I like him: He's another craftsman who's been consistently effective on the big and small screen for years.

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • The Blue Lagoon (T.K. 33:30)
  • Cherry 2000 (w/the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra - Varese Sarabande 39:47)
  • Conan the Barbarian (w/members of the Orchestra and Chorus of Santa Cecilia & The Radio Symphony of Rome; one track by Basil and Zoe Poledouris - Milan/MCA 48:48)
  • Conan the Destroyer (w/the Unione Musicisti di Roma Orchestra; Varese Sarabande 33:12)
  • For Love Of The Game (one cue not in film; Varese Sarabande 33:31)
  • Free Willy (30 mins + songs; MJJ/Epic 59:22)
  • Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (10:21 conducted by Poledouris and Shirley Walker + songs; MJJ/550/Epic 46:56)
  • Hot Shots! Part Deux (Varese Sarabande 29:51)
  • The Hunt For Red October (MCA 32:19)
  • Lassie (the London Metropolitan Orchestra conducted by Allan Wilson; Sony Wonder 38 minutes)
  • On Deadly Ground (Varese Sarabande 29:29)
  • Quigley Down Under (Intrada 40:35)
  • Robocop (the Sinfonia of London Orchestra conducted by Howard Blake and Tony Britton; TER 38:05)
  • Serial Mom (30 mins + songs and dialogue; MCA 39:09)
  • Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (includes song - Varese Sarabande 27:47) Rachel Portman

    Why I like her: She writes music that's delicate and appealing, she's a natural for fantasy and comedy, and she has a real gift for melody (witness her wonderful score for The Cider House Rules).

    ALBUMS OF HERS THAT I HAVE:

  • Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (conducted by Michael Starobin; 3 mins score + songs - Walt Disney 46:49)
  • Benny & Joon (conducted by J.A.C. Redford; includes the Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" - Milan 38:29)
  • Emma (conducted by David Snell - Miramax/Hollywood 42:55)NOTE: Rachel Portman became the first woman to win an Oscar for scoring a movie with this.
  • Only You (conducted by David Snell; 22 mins + songs - Columbia 45:47)
  • A Pyromaniac's Love Story (plus music from Great Moments In Aviation, Smoke and Ethan Frome; conducted by J.A.C. Redford, Jonathan Sheffer and David Snell - Varese Sarabande 60:23)
  • Where Angels Fear To Tread (the Hungarian Film & TV Orchestra conducted by David Snell; 33 mins + opera - Virgin 45:07) Mike Post

    Why I like him: In the field of television themes, he is the King.

    ALBUMS OF HIS THAT I HAVE:

  • The A-Team (with Pete Carpenter, Stephen James Taylor, Walter Murphy and Ron Grant; re-recordings conducted by Daniel Caine - Silva Screen 35 minutes)
  • Inventions From The Blue Line (American Gramaphon 37 minutes)
  • The Television Music of Mike Post and Pete Carpenter (conducted by Daniel Caine - Primetime/Silva Screen 46:52)
  • Television Theme Songs (Elektra 19 minutes)
  • Quantum Leap (theme only; scores by Velton Ray Bunch + songs and interview with Scott Bakula - GNP Crescendo 65:46)
  • Music From L.A., Law and Otherwise (Polydor) Filmtracks.com is a good starting point for more info; and you must go to Film Score Monthly - it is the magazine for film music fans...

    For what I like to watch, go here.

    For what I like to read, go here.

    To go back to the start, go here.

    Email: cindylover1969@yahoo.co.uk