Midnight Theme

Midnight Theme

ASIN: B0002XOZNS

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Manzel—Midnight Theme (Dopebrother Records)

The term ‘holy grail' is frequently used in record digging circles when it comes to those elusive slabs of vinyl that have attained legendary status. And at the top of the stack when it comes to these holiest hunks of funk is Manzel's "Midnight Theme" (recorded in 1975 and originally released by Fraternity Records in 1979), one of the most collectible funk and breakbeat 45s ever. Though "Midnight Theme's" infectiously laid back synth lines percolate within a seamlessly smooth groove, the song's claim to fame is its booming opening drum break—eight bars of crispy snares and hi-hats that have become the stuff of hip hop lore. "Midnight Theme's" beats have not only graced old school compilations like the pre-Ultimate Breaks & Beats "Octopus" series, but they've been immortalized in the digital age as the sampled rhythm behind rap classics by De La Soul, Cypress Hill, and many others.

World-class record collectors and purveyors of quality funk, soul, hip hop and dance grooves, renowned producer/DJ/remixer Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez of Masters at Work & Victor "The Undercover Brother" Piagneri recognized that the power of Manzel's music still resonates some 25 years after its initial release. Tracking down the group's bandleader/ keyboardist Manzel Bush, now a Lieutenant-Colonel in the U.S. Army, Kenny & Victor reissued "Midnight Theme"—along with the group's other masterpiece, 1978's disco-break fueled "Space Funk"—on there Dopebrother imprint in early 2003. During the process of recovering the original masters of Manzel's holy grail, they discovered the breakbeat equivalent of the Lost Ark of the Covenant—an entire album's worth of Manzel material that had been languishing in the vaults for years. Thus, we have a gift from the rare groove gods, Manzel's Midnight Theme, the album.

More than merely a showcase for Manzel's elusive original 45 sides (the B-sides for which, the Blackbyrds-esque "Sugar Dreams" and the kinetic, break-heavy "Jump Street" are also included here), Midnight Theme introduces a group that surely would have taken its place amongst the top jazz-funk instrumental combos of its time had its music reached a wider audience. With band-mates Larry Van Dyke on guitar and Steve Garner on drums, Manzel Bush's knack for timeless keyboard melodies and succinct arrangements are in evidence throughout. Opening with a four-on-the-floor equivalent of "Midnight Theme's" drum break, "It's Over Now" is a disco burner easily compatible with contemporary dance tracks. Similarly, up-tempo gems like "The Party" and "Just For You" fuse the crew's trademark lush string lines, plaintive Moog melodies, and pumping club rhythms to perfection. A mid-tempo number in the tradition of "Midnight Theme," "Evil, Wicked, Mean & Nasty" rides wicked hip hop-friendly beats before giving way to a grand groove of a bridge. Meanwhile, "Long Way Home" and the original ballad take on "It's Over Now" show the band to be just as attuned to the subtleties of more meditative material.

With Kenny Dope & The Undercover Brother on the mix re-tuning Manzel's masterworks in the form of additional, exclusive 12 Inch remixes of the title cut and "Space Funk," Midnight Theme is nothing short of an event. As is only appropriate for such an important release, the album is packaged in a striking eight-page fold-out CD booklet that lovingly documents the original recording sessions. Brace yourselves, rare groove fanatics. Your Theme music has finally arrived.

Product Description
The never-before released full album from keyboardist Manzel Bush -- the legendary 70s funk figure well-remembered for his classic break tracks! As a whole, the album's a masterpiece of spacey keyboards and funky drums -- funkier than just about any other record we can think of from the late 70s! Songs from Manzel's Midnight Theme, (Midnight Theme, Space Funk & Jump Street), have been sampled by some of the top rap groups such as De La Soul, Eric B. & Rakim, Cypress Hill, Ultramagnetic M.C.'s, Capadonna (Wu Tang Clan), Everlast & Wrecks-N-Effect.

Tracks:

Excerpts From: Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Excerpts From: Batman
Excerpts From: Dick Tracy
Excerpts From: Beetlejuice
Excerpts From: Nightbreed
Excerpts From: Darkman
Excerpts From: Back To School
Excerpts From: Midnight Run
Excerpts From: Wisdom
Excerpts From: Hot To Trot
Excerpts From: Big Top Pee Wee
Excerpts From: The Simpsons
Excerpts From: Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Jar
Excerpts From: Tales From The Crypt
Excerpts From: Face Like A Frog
Excerpts From: Forbidden Zone
Excerpts From: Scrooged

Customer Reviews:

Great compilation - and that's just the first half........2005-09-14

I first got this on cassette in the summer of '94 and listened to it every day, drawn by its thematic range and compositional depth. And that was just side-one.

Elfman pioneered the sound that drives today's movie adaptations of comic-books and darker-themed children's stories. Side-One kicks things off with a rollicking, hyper-cartoonish theme from the first Pee-Wee movie - the one where Pee-Wee searches for his beloved bike. Elfman's theme contains layers of different rides - on tightropes, highways, in the middle of a NASCAR rally - which rudely yet melodically crash into each other.

The Batman entry actually contains several pieces - the opening credits, the extended sequence in the cathedral and the climax - which show Batman's darkened extreme at its "Frank Miller" best. (Dir. Tim Burton couldn't sustain the mood in the next sequel, and the franchise took a turn towards the camp of the TV series with the next 2 movies.)

The theme for "Dick Tracy" is perhaps the most romantic on this disc, a quality that surpasses the theme's comic-book origins, but ends on an ironic note that's pure Elfman.

"Beetlejuice" (opening & closing credits) gives Elfman's childish ID a chance to stretch its legs, or in this case, slam-dance.

"Nightbreed" is an enigma wrapped in a dark mystery, and that's just Elfman's score. Elfman's work on this movie is as good as the movie wasn't, having a more powerful narrative than the script - easily the best track on the entire disc, one likely to exceed the movie in its dose of chills.

"Darkman" doesn't quite rise to the occasion, though the score may be hobbled by the movie itself, which seldom surpassed one of the many "Batman" clones of the early 1990's. "Darkman" (the movie, I mean) excelled as a parody of many comicbook staples (the wronged hero, the relentless villain, the scientific breakthrough with just one flaw), but not enough to escape being largely anonymous. Within those constraints, it's still a moving if scary piece.

When is Elfman not like Elfman? When he was in the mid-late `80's and scored "Back to School" (A Rodney Dangerfield vehicle) and "Midnight Run". Horns in "School" bring it closer to Elfman's over-the-top style, while "Run" sounds like a love-theme for the run-down, out-of-the-way parts of America that seldom appear in Elfman-movies. "Run" is a fun score for a fun movie - it's nothing like Elfman's previous work but it perfectly captures the on-the-road-without-a-map craziness of the movie.

To this day, I don't know why I never ventured to Side-two, but it's irrelevant. Even half this disc is worth it

The best of Elfman!!!.......2005-09-05

I was obsessed about getting this CD right from when I heard about it. I found it at the library and was so excited about it, and it didn't let me down. In fact, it was a lot better than I expected. It's a fun and creepy (strange mix, but it really works!) collection of Danny Elfman's film and television soundtracks. The first track, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, is probably my favorite. Also, I really like Batman and Wisdom. Batman is creepy and dark, and Wisdom is just weird, in the best possible way.
I'd recommend this to anyone who likes film music, or everyone who is even the tiniest bit an Elfman fan. It's amazing!

Great Collection, A LIttle Too Eclectic.......2003-08-19

You should be able to tell from the movies and TV shows listed here whether or not you'd be interested in this collection. It's a little too eclectic for my tastes (hence only 4 stars) but better than volume 2. I think thatthe miscellaneous collected ites here along with the previously unreleased stuff should make this worth buying. Especially if you're a fan of Elfman's movie soundtrack work.

What Great Music.......2003-05-11

I fell in love with the music of Danny Elfman when Beetlejuice came out. There was something different about the music that he made. When Edward Scissorhands, and then Nightmare Before Christmas - I knew this man was a musical master. Its the verbal form of surrealism.

super.......2003-04-17

What a great CD. Danny's music is so original and inventive. this CD contains his pre 90's quirky, gothic music. it's all very well written and beautifully orchestrated. batman and darkman contain some really excellent long, dark, gothic cues that really take u away from reality. in my opinion no one, apart from howard shore, is as inventive and original as danny in the world of filmmusic. he far surpasses the repetitive works of williams or horner. buy this, and volume two, and keep supporting one of the greatest film composers of all time.ohh...and buy fellowship of the ring and two towers by howard shore....amazing work!

Average customer rating:

The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra needs a guitar player!
Persuaders Theme!
A Variety Of Classics!
Incredible Barry Collection
" one of cinema's greatest composers...John Barry"

John Barry: The Collection

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005BADD
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Tracks:

Zulu
From Russia With Love
From Russia With Love - 007
Goldfinger
The Ipcress File
The Knack
Mister Moses
Thunderball
The Wrong Box
Born Free
The Quiller Memorandum
You Only Live Twice
The Girl With The Sun In Her Hair
Deadfall

Tracks:

The Lion In Winter
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy
The Appointment
The Last Valley
Walkabout
Monte Walsh
Diamonds Are Forever
The Persuaders
Mary Queen Of Scots
The Man With The Golden Gun
The Dove

Tracks:

The Tamarind Seed
King Kong
Eleanor And Franklin
Robin And Marian
The Deep
Hanover Street
The Black Hole
Moonraker
Somewhere In Time
Raise The Titanic
Body Heat
Frances
Octopussy
The Cotton Club

Tracks:

High Road To China
A View To A Kill
Out Of Africa
The Living Daylights
Dances With Wolves
Dances With Wolves
Chaplin
Moviola
Indecent Proposal
The Specialist
The Scarlet Letter
Cry The Beloved Country
Mercury Rising
The James Bond Theme

Customer Reviews:

The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra needs a guitar player!.......2006-11-09

Granted, they only need it for one composition (the last one, "The James Bond Theme") but still, without the guitar it's just not the same. Barry didn't compose this one so I suppose it was a bonus and I shouldn't complain, really. The rest of the music on all the CDs is fantastic. Some of the stuff I had heard before without realizing who had composed it. Very enjoyable, to say the least.

Persuaders Theme!.......2006-03-02

Buy it for the Persuaders theme, probably the best TV theme song ever written.

A Variety Of Classics!.......2005-12-06

John Barry has been composing film scores for over forty years and this is only scratching the surface of his productions. Never mind that the entire set is recorded by the Prague Philharmonic; it's pure to Barry's themes. While John Williams compositions ("Star Wars", etc.) are wild and flamboyant and Jerry Goldsmith's (Hoosier's, etc.) are mood pieces, John Barry crosses over all barriers and is amazingly diverse. Barry has recorded most of the exciting James Bond themes, melodramatic classics like "The Lion In Winter' and moody theme hits like "Midnight Cowboy". He also tugs at the heartstrings with compositions from, "Somewhere In Time", "Frances" and "Out Of Africa". He varies his themes for all types of films and few composers capture it so well.

There is over four hours of music in this set with a colorful and informative booklet.

Incredible Barry Collection.......2004-03-11

Any fan of movies will absolutley love this collection. Being a movie buff I couldn't wait to get this boxed set. Knowing Barry from all the James Bond movies, I did not realize his involvement with so many others. The orchestra is magnificent in all these themes. I'm listening to "High Road to China" right now and I'm drifting in the clouds in a Tiger Moth with Tom Selleck and Bess Armstrong. If you are familiar with a movie it will definitely have you seeing it again, if not the scores are still beautiful. Any fan of classical music will be pleased as well. Travellers will defintitely enjoy it for a long drive. I know from when I use to travel that music like this made the miles float by faster. I highly recommend these four CDs even if you just know a handful of the songs.

" one of cinema's greatest composers...John Barry".......2001-07-06

This collection of four compact discs...are worth their weight in GOLD! Barry creates visual moods for each film he scores...romantic, sentimental, action, adventure, suspense and mystery...the list could go on. Strings, brass and lush-velvet arrangements overlay each cue in his distinctive style of legendary scoring...we have ~ "John Barry:The Collection", Silva Screen's release traces 40 years of film music, featuring "The City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra" ~ conducted by Mr. Nic Raine (outstanding)..."Crouch End Festival Chorus" ~ David Temple, Choir Master...perform 56 selections, over four hours of symphonic suites with a full orchestra sound...all individually wrapped-up into one neat package...just the way "film-score-buffs" like 'em!

Must ask the following to take a bow ~ James Fitzpatrick (compilation producer), always in their pitching, Reynold da Silva (executive producer), Nic Raine (conductor, arranger, orchestrator & associate producer), a tremen!dous asset to every project he undertakes...and the man who made it all possible...a legendary icon always leading the way in film scoring ~ JOHN BARRY!

Total Time: 258:76 on 56 Tracks ~ SSD-1128 ~ (2001)

You might try other albums from Silva Screen, all worthy of a good listen ~ "The Essential James Bond" (SSD-1034)..."Bond:Back In Action" (SSD-1100)..."Bond:Back In Action 2" (SSD-1119)..."Zulu" (SSD-1095)..."Raise The Titanic" (SSD-1102)..."Walkabout" (SSD-1120)...check out my reviews on amazon.com/music.

Average customer rating:

Eh, It's Okay
Better than the First Volume
An Interesting and Gratifying Volume 2
Sheila from Savannah, Georgia
A great album

Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
Simply the Best Movie Themes
Beautiful Hollywood
Paramount 90th Anniversary Collection: Scores
Classic Movie Themes

ASIN: B000003CYV
Release Date: 1993-06-29

Tracks:

2001: A Space Odyssey: Fanfare
Ben-Hur: Prelude
The Ten Commandments: Prelude
Friendly Persuasion: Thee I Love
Picnic: Moonglow And Theme
Around The World In 80 Days: Theme
Mutiny On The Bounty: Main Title
Spartacus: Love Theme
Zorba The Greek: Theme
The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg: I Will Wait For You
Valley Of The Dolls: Theme
Midnight Cowboy: Theme
The Godfather: Theme
Modern Times: Smile
Dances With Wolves: Themes
Far And Away: Book Of Days
Grand Canyon: Theme

Customer Reviews:

Eh, It's Okay.......2007-04-24

For those that purchase soundtrack collages to have a variety of songs and themes, then this is good for you. Unfortunately, these tracks didn't have the signature Erich Kunzel version of the songs as he had on other soundtrack mix CDs. It was more like just that, a mix CD of different soundtracks and scores. However, it was a good buy in the fact that the tracks chosen had excellent sound quality and a sense of harmony.

Better than the First Volume.......2005-08-04

There is a great collection of music to be found here. There are many great renditions. The "2001, a Space Odyssey Fanfare" was outstanding. "Book of Days" from "Far and Away" had a very unique approach. I recommend this one deeply, oh yes I do, by far and away!

An Interesting and Gratifying Volume 2.......2005-06-17

Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops' treatment of film scores on this second tribute to Hollywood are somewhat more pleasing than Volume I. The selections are more intriguing and demonstrate a more positive approach to film scores and their value as true musical art forms. There is quite a diverse representation of music here. The incredibly powerful main title to MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (Bronislaw Kaper) juxtaposed with the bittersweet and romantic love theme to SPARTACUS (Alex North) and the intimately tender love theme to FRIENDLY PERSUASION (Dimitri Tiomkin) are masterfully achieved. I have never been that enamored with this CD's 20-bit digital recording but it has grown on me. Still, I highly recommend and enjoy this CD.

Sheila from Savannah, Georgia.......2005-01-15

I love this cd. It is the greatest. Moonglow and Midnight Cowboy are my favorites.

A great album.......2001-01-28

Erich Kunzel, once again comes through with another terrific album of movie music. On this album you will find preludes, themes and main title music from some of Hollywood's most loved movies. Films from as early as 1936's "Modern Times", through to 1992's "Far and Away", are represented here. The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra are as wonderful as ever, and the 20-bit digital sound system makes for unequalled sound quality. A pleasing highlight for me, is the wonderful "Moonglow" which starts off track 5. The jazz trio of piano, bass and drums eventually is joined by the orchestra for the theme from "Picnic". Then we have the beautiful waltz from "Around the world in eighty days". With the wonderful accordion solo, you can imagine being on a merry-go-round. This is truly a beautiful album...a must for lovers of orcestral music.

Average customer rating:

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FILM PIANO MUSIC
Warsaw Concerto
Classic Movie Pieces
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful

Warsaw Concerto

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000060DC
Release Date: 1998-05-12

Tracks:

Dangerous Moonlight: Warsaw Concerto
The Case Of The Frightened Lady: Portrait Of Isla
Spellbound: Spellbound Con
The Glass Mountain: The Legend Of The Glass Mountain
Murder On The Orient Express: Theme And Waltz
Love Story: Cornish Rhap
Hangover Square: Con Macabre
While I Live: The Dream Of Olwen
Midnight On The Cliffs: Midnight On The Cliffs

Customer Reviews:

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FILM PIANO MUSIC.......2007-04-11

MOST OF THE FILMS FOR WHICH THESE PIANO PIECES WERE WRITTEN ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE, SO WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THIS WONDERFUL RECORDING. FORGET ABOUT MORE EXPENSIVE VERSIONS. THIS IS THE BEST INTERPRETATION OF THE WARSAW CONCERTO ON THE MARKET!

Warsaw Concerto.......2005-10-09

The version of the toon was not what I expected. I wanted more the "popular" version.

Classic Movie Pieces.......2003-10-04

I am a pinaist, and several of thses pieces find themselve in my repertoire, and by hearing them on this cd, one is able to truly appreciate the composition and performance of these songs, which are not very popular nowadays. A great collection that I highly recommend to all musicians and music lovers.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.......2003-02-07

If you like light works for piano and orchestra, this is the BEST I have heard. With the popularity of movie themes in this genre, this CD will not disappoint you. There are some great undiscovered gems on this CD. Every pianist should have this to 'expand their horizons'. Simply the best!

Average customer rating:

Six Decades of Film Music
Excellent collection with fine performances
"essential film scores from 1939 to 2004 ~ Incredible Music"

The Incredible Film Music Box

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0007S687Y
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

Gone With The Wind: Overture
Citizen Kane: Overture
Casablanca: As Time Goes By
It's A Wonderful Life: It's A Wonderful Life
The Third Man: The Harry Lime Theme
The Searchers: Suite
The Bridge On The River Kwai: Colonel Bogey March
Vertigo: Prelude
Touch Of Evil: Main Title
Ben-Hur: Parade Of The Charioteers
North By Northwest: Prelude
Psycho: Suite
The Magnificent Seven: The Magnificent Seven
Lawrence Of Arabia: Overture

Tracks:

To Kill A Mockingbird: Suite
The Great Escape: Main Title
Doctor Zhivago: Main Title & Lara's Theme
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Once Upon A Time In The West: Jill's Theme
2001: A Space Odyssey: Also Sprach Zarathustra
Midnight Cowboy: Midnight Cowboy
Get Carter: Main Title
A Clockwork Orange: Ode To Joy
The Godfather: Waltz & Love Theme
Jaws: Jaws
Rocky: Gonna Fly Now
Taxi Driver: Suite
Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope

Tracks:

Superman: Main Theme
Alien: End Title
Raging Bull: Intermezzo From Cavalleria Rusticana
Raiders Of The Lost Ark: Raiders March
Blade Runner: End Titles
E.T.: The Extraterrestrial: Adventures On Earth
Once Upon A Time In America: Deborah's Theme
Back To The Future: Main Theme
Witness: Building The Barn
Aliens: Main Title
Cinema Paradiso: Cinema Paradiso
Glory: Charging Frot Wagner
Dances With Wolves: The John Dunbar Theme
Unforgiven: Claudia's Theme

Tracks:

The Piano: The Heart Asks Pleasure First
Schindler's List: Main Theme
Braveheart: End Credits
Titanic: My Heart Will Go On
Saving Private Ryan: Hymn To The Fallen
American Beauty: Any Other Name
Gladiator: Now We Are Free
Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring: The Fellowship
The Girl With The Pearl Earring: Griet's Theme
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl: Suite
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban: Suite
Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Letter That Never Came
Finding Neverland: Impossible Opening
The Incredibles: Overture

Customer Reviews:

Six Decades of Film Music.......2007-05-13

This is film music for the classical music lover. The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra presents excellent arrangements of a number of classic film themes (although several pieces of the 56 film classics selected for this 4 CD set are not orchestral arrangements, but rather specialty arrangements). Besides great film composers such as John Williams, Elmer Bernstein, Ennio Morricone, and James Horner, classical composers such as Richard Strauss and Pietro Mascagni make an appearance. On several of the numbers the Crouch End Festival Chorus adds the human voice to the power of the full symphonic orchestra to create true movie magic. If you like the sound of a full symphony orchestra playing some of the most recognized themes ever written, you'll love these CDs.

Excellent collection with fine performances.......2007-03-28

Silva Screen Records, based in England, has been issuing some fine collections of film scores, more in one box than we have the right to expect. This four-CD box contains scores by many of the best writers, including Max Steiner, Bernard Herrmann, Dimitri Tomkin, Kenneth J. Alford (The Bridge on the River Kwai), Elmer Bernstein, Maurice Jarre, Ennio Marricone, John Barry, Nino Rota, John Williams, James Horner, and more. We can all think of additional film scores we wished were included, but then there's no way this collection could be all-inclusive. The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, supplemented by Crouch End Festival Chorus on some numbers, does a very competent job...The liner notes give the basic information without any commentary, and as far as I can see, contain only one error. Am I wrong or are tracks 9 and 10 on the fourth CD mislabeled? Track 9, which runs 7:33, seems to have the excitement of "Pirates of the Caribbean" (which I did not see) and track 10, which runs 4:22, the more sedate "The Girl with the Pearl Earring (which I also did not see). Listings seem to have them reversed.

"essential film scores from 1939 to 2004 ~ Incredible Music".......2005-05-16

When I think of the "Golden Age" of Hollywood, many composers come to mind...you gave the usher your ticket in the theater and sat down, knowingly you were going to get your moneys worth...when the curtain opened and you heard those first few notes...you sat back, watched and listened as the film score and orchestra worked their magic...now we have the ultimate from Silva Screen Classics "The Incredible Film Music Box", featuring a four disc set of the essential film scores of the past 60 years...covering several decades from 1939 through and up to the present 2004

There are compilations and then there are "Compilations" beginning with a classic that even the youngsters today recognize "GONE WITH THE WIND" (1939) (Max Steiner), sweeping score that captures the tragic history of the South during the Civil War, one great cue after another, it doesn't get any better than this, nominated by the Academy for Best Original Score...and closing on Disc 4 with "THE INCREDIBLES" (2004) (Michael Giacchino), the big hit in computer animation from Walt Disney & Pixar that once again pit Super-Heroes against the forces of evil...our family of five Supers prove crime doesn't pay, but box-office receipts do...gotta love it!

Silva Screen Classics as usual, has put quality into this 4-CD-Set featuring The City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus conducted by Kenneth Alwyn, Bill Ashton, Paul Bateman, James Fitzpatrick, Mario Klemens, Derek Wadsworth, and Nic Raine. Recorded in "Dolby Surround" with the new technology of "HDCD", this is a "film-score-buffs" dream, one to treasure now and years to come.

Some selections are missing, but when you think of what Silva has included, it is impossible to please everyone...was happy to see "TOUCH OF EVIL" (1958) from composer Henry Mancini, as I feel this composer deserves all the recognition that has been overlooked recently in the music world...This collection is aimed directly at the "Serious Film Score" music fans and collectors...Silva is as always, perfect in every way...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 4-CD-Set ~ Silva America 1181 ~ (5/10/2005)

Kreisler: Original Compositions & Arrangements

Average customer rating:

Kreisler: Original Compositions & Arrangements

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Caprice Viennois
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La Gitana
Liebesleid
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Nice music but...
Great CD
A Noble and Festive Christmas
Meat and Potatoes
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A Festival of Carols in Brass

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Similar Items:

A Christmas Festival
Joy to the World - Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale
Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols
O Come All Ye Faithful: Christmas Carols at King's College, Cambridge

ASIN: B0000024Q6
Release Date: 1991-07-16

Tracks:

Deck The Halls With Broughs Of Holly
Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming
Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
The First Nowell
Angels We Have Hard On High
We Three Kings Of Oreint Are
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O Sanctissima
O Tannenbaum
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Good King Weceslas
Silent Night, Holy Night
Joy To the World
The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Conventry Carol
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Good Christian Men Rejoice
O Holy Night
What Child Is This?
Wassial Song
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Away In A Manger
We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Customer Reviews:

Nice music but..........2007-03-08

I liked the music and the performances a lot, but there is no booklet to depict the performers, nor analyse the music or the arrangements, which are superb

Great CD.......2007-02-16

This is a great holiday CD. We used it for several holiday dinners this year.

A Noble and Festive Christmas.......2007-01-21

This is the best Christmas album you could ever get. It is the most stable as you do not have to think about it. This is the album you really sing along to. Brass makes everything festive, grand and noble; so will your Christmas! A gem for every year!

Meat and Potatoes.......2007-01-18

Since the release of this fine recording in 1967 there have been many fine
brass groups:The Canadian Brass, the Empire Brass, just to name a few.
Whereas these latter groups have all resorted to "gimmicks" such as unique arrangements to sell their albums this group of brass players from the Philadelphia Orchestra give us an album of good old "meat and potatoes" playing spiced with fine tone,good ensemble playing, and good tempos.

Totally Awesome.......2007-01-12

I love listening to this cd at christmas. The brass is so crisp, almost like being right there. You have to add this to your holiday collection, and for those of you who like brass, you will love it. I play the french horn and I esp. love hearing the french horn in it.

Reel Chill: The Cinematic Chillout Album

Average customer rating:

"cinema's main stay themes prevail ~ City of Prague"

Reel Chill: The Cinematic Chillout Album

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Reel Love: The Cinematic Romance Album
Classical Chillout
Classic Chillout, Vol. 2
Ultimate Movie Album
Cinema Choral Classics

ASIN: B0002IQGT4
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Tracks:

Sarabande [From Barry Lyndon]
Main Theme [From Midnight Cowboy]
Promenade Sentimentale [From Dive] - Mark Ayres
May It Be [From the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the]
Women of Ireland [From Barry Lyndon]
Adagio for Strings & Organ [From Gallipoli [
Romeo/Love Theme [From Romeo & Juliet)
Balcony Scene [From Romeo + Juliet]
Main Theme [From Chariots of Fire] - Mark Ayres
Main Theme [From Bilitis] - Mark Ayres
Main Theme [From Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence] - Mark Ayres
Main Theme [From Cinema Paradiso]
Main Theme [From Once Upon A Time in the West]
Deborah's Theme [From Once Upon A Time in America]
Suite: The Mission/Gabriel's Oboe/On Earth as It Is in Heaven ... - City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Crouch End Festival Chorus

Tracks:

Suite: Mountains and Sunsets/The Wedding/You Only Live Twice [From You
Heart Asks Pleasure First [From The Piano]
Agnus Dei [From Platoon] - Crouch End Festival Chorus
Vide Cor Meum [From Hannibal]
Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 [From DeAth in Venice]
Any Other Name/Dead Already [from American Beauty] - Rick Clark,
Into the West [From the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King]
Where Dreams Are Made [From Artificial Intelligence]
Main Theme [From Somewhere in Time]
We Have All the Time in the World [From on Her Majesty's Secret ...]
Electronic Battlefield [From Patriot Games]
Now We Are Free [From Gladiator]
Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana [From Raging Bull]
Cavatina [From the DeErhunter]
Main Theme [From Out of Africa]

Customer Reviews:

"cinema's main stay themes prevail ~ City of Prague".......2004-08-15

What a crowning achievement to bring "Reel Chill:Cinematic Chillout Album", released by Silva America and featuring The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus ~ conductors are Mark Ayres, Paul Bateman, Rick Clark, James Fitzpatrick, Nic Raine and David Temple director of the chorus ~ one can only expect the highest quality of performances and quench the thirst of all "film-score-buffs".

Sit back and unleash the first disc with composers ~ Albinoni, Craig Armstrong, John Barry, Vladimir Cosma, Enya & Nicky Ryan, Handel, Francis Lai, Ennio Morricone, Sean O'Riorda, Nino Rota, Ryvichi Sakamoto and Vangelis ~ taking each film score cue "BILITIS", "CHARIOTS OF FIRE", "CINEMA PARADISO", "DIVA", "GALLIPOLI", "THE LORD OF THE RINGS:THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING", "BARRY LYNDON", "MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE", "MIDNIGHT COWBOY", "THE MISSION", "ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA", "ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST", "ROMEO & JULIET" and "ROMEO + JULIET", with arrangements that soar and then simmer into pure meditation of grandeur ~ classic film music prevails, as orchestration comes to the surface with pure originality ~ one masterpiece after another is long last presented as it should have been, is cause for celebration ~ each cue is a distinctive gift for striking modernism, touching on the transition of the period in this planets history.

Second disc is waiting in the wings are composers ~ Samuel Barber, John Barry, Patrick Cassidy, James Horner, Mahler, Mascagni, Stanley Myers, Thomas Newman, Michael Nyman, Howard Shore, John Williams and Hans Zimmer/Lisa Gerrard ~ take a musical ride with "AMERICAN BEAUTY", "A.I. ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE", "DEATH IN VENICE", "DEER HUNTER", "GLADIATOR", "HANNIBAL", "THE LORD OF THE RINGS:RETURN OF THE KING", "ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE", "OUT OF AFRICA", "PATRIOT GAMES", "THE PIANO", "PLATOON", "RAGING BULL", "SOMEWHERE IN TIME" and "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE" ~ our composers with passion and skill for exploring human emotions, coupled with a unique gift for striking exotic orchestral colors, make this with all it's splendor unforgettable ~ themes that ring with familiarity as each film comes to mind through music.

Silva America gives the collector a treasure of thirty film cues that any "film-score-buff" would die for ~ in the past James Fitzpatrick (producer), Reynold da Silva (executive producer), mastered by Rick Clark and David Stoner (release co-ordinator) have given us compilation with such expertise and this one is no exception ~ keep up the outstanding limited editions and deluxe package releases, with your signature tidbits for all film music fans that's in all of us...gotta love it!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Silva America 1161 ~ (8/10/2004)

Average customer rating:

A lot of 70's Music
Bond and beyond on an excellent career retrospective.

Themeology: The Best of John Barry

Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Eternal Echoes
Beyondness of Things
John Barry: The Collection
John Barry Moviola (Film Score Re-recording Compilation)
John Barry: Film Music Masterworks

ASIN: B000025OLO
Release Date: 2004-02-23

Tracks:

Persuaders Theme
Midnight Cowboy
Ipcress File
Knack
Wednesday's Child [From the Quiller Memorandum]
Space March (Capsule in Space)
Girl With the Sun in Her Hair
Vendetta
Danny Scipio Theme
James Bond Theme
Goldfinger - John Barry, Shirley Bassey
Diamonds Are Forever - John Barry, Shirley Bassey
From Russia With Love - John Barry, Matt Monro
You Only Live Twice [Instrumental]
Thunderball [Instrumental]
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
007
Walk, Don't Run
Beat for Beatniks
Hit and Miss
Born Free - John Barry, Matt Monro
Main Title (I Had a Farm in Africa) [From Out of Africa]
John Dunbar Theme [From Dances with Wolves]

Album Description

23 track retrospective of the acclaimed soundtrack composer's best for the cinema. Includes 'Midnight Cowboy', 'The James Bond Theme', 'Dances With Wolves', 'Out Of Africa', 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', 'Born Free' (sung by Matt Monro) and Shirley Bassey's vocal performancesof 'Goldfinger' & 'Dimaonds Are Forever'. 1997 Columbia release.

Album Description

Album Details

Best of Package Includes: Goldfinger, from Russia with Love, Midnight Cowboy, Born Free, Diamonds Are Forever and More.

Customer Reviews:

A lot of 70's Music.......2005-09-20

If you really like 70's themes, you should like this CD. It was a little too dated for me.

Bond and beyond on an excellent career retrospective........1998-08-25

Imitation is often considered the greatest form of flattery. John Barry's oeuvre has been sampled by dozens of contemporary musical artists, and he is often credited as being the godfather of "trip hop" (check recent albums by Portishead and Mono to hear the Barry influence). The Academy-award winning composer has been producing music for over forty years, but this collection focuses on the artist's most commercially successful period, the 1960's. The instantly recognizable and inimitable Barry style is well documented throughout 23 varied compositions. Selections range from classic to obscure, and include all the title tracks from the early James Bond soundtracks. Barry's film and television music is the defining sound of that era - lush orchestrations, cool jazzy riffs, pure excitement. "Themeology" is an excellent starting point for the novice collector and equally attractive for the long-time admirer.

Average customer rating:

Superb Christmas Album
Love Mario Lanza
Mario Lanza - fantastic
Christmas Hymns & Carols: You Do Something to Me
Pure hymnal power.

Christmas with Mario Lanza

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Lanza: Greatest Hits
The MARIO LANZA Collection
Mario Lanza Sings Songs From The Student Prince & The Desert Song / Romberg
Mario Lanza: At His Best!
You'll Never Walk Alone

ASIN: B000003EP6
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Deck The Halls
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
Joy To The World
O Christmas Tree
I Saw Three Ships
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
Ave Maria
O Holy Night
The Virgin's Slumber Song
Pieta Signore
The First Nowell
O Come All Ye Faithful
Away In A Manger
We Three Kings
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Silent Night
Guardian Angels
I'll Walk With God
The Lord's Prayer

Customer Reviews:

Superb Christmas Album.......2007-02-19

Mario Lanza infuses his characteristic beautiful vocal intensity into this collection of carols and Christmas songs.
The result is an outstanding album which will bring a lump to your throat and tears to your eye.
The recordings are old, but the Lanza magic makes this album a must-buy

Love Mario Lanza.......2007-01-28

I love Mario Lanza. He is in my top favs. I have wanted this album for ages and it is just as great as I knew it would be. I'll be back to buy more of Mario Lanza.

Mario Lanza - fantastic.......2007-01-15

Fantastic voice, wonderful classic Christmas songs. My all-time favourite version of O Holy Night - spine tingling.

Christmas Hymns & Carols: You Do Something to Me.......2007-01-12

Wonderful songs, great selections of songs sung by the greatest singer, Mario Lanza.

Pure hymnal power........2006-12-20

I have just spent the past six hours listening to snippets of every Christmas CD that I can find on Amazon, and this is the best by far. It's the purest rendition of the best Christmas hymns that are sung in church on Christmas Eve. No inane flourishes, no ignorant alterations, no arrogant amendments, just pure hymnal power. Don't agree? Type "christmas" in the Amazon music search box, listen to all the renditions of all the classic hymns such as "O Come All Ye Faithful" and when you are done you cannot but agree that Mario Lanza is not surpassed.

Update: I am now listening to the full CD and it is better even than I had hoped for. The beauty of Lanza's voice brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

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