ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK

 

Here we are again, on the mixtape trail, with one of my favourite genres, the OST, or Original Sound Track (or Soundtrack). One of my favourite things in the world is a good movie. or a bad movie, if it's the good kind of bad.
I LOVE movie sound tracks, or scores. I love the freedom that it gives the composer to go outside of the normal prescribed formats. The fact that mood is the key and in attempting to capture a mood the music creators experiment in wonderful and odd ways to somehow capture the essence of what is happening on film.
One thing I have tried to do here is focus on works that are purely that, mood enhancements, tones and colours, sounds to take your mind to new and fascinating places. I haven't, as one might, included much of what would be considered funky. Don't get me wrong, I love funky and have spent a large portion of my life presenting it, on radio and in clubs and pubs, but to hand you a groovy mix of funked out soundtracks just ain't what I'm trying to put across right now.
So this mix is a more offbeat trip, mostly from the 60's and 70's but also going back to '49 and forward to 1980. This collection focuses mainly on film scores, but I've included scores from cartoon and television mini-series. 
We start the show with a soundtrack I recently purchased that blew my mind! It is the score to the Bikesploitation classic 'Werewolves on Wheels' by Don Gere. This is a 1971 film I had seen at a special screening in San Francisco in early 2007, presented by the collective 'Cosmic Hex'. The event was a heady event, on the screen was the best of underground cult cinema, in the audience the maddest collection of cult cinema freaks, ahootin' an hollerin', calling out the actors names and generally having a freakin' good time. The essence of this movie stayed in my head, I knew it was completely nuts and had a savage sound track, but it wasn't until I went on a biker film OST purchasing frenzy that I came across this beauty on Finders Keepers. I've taken two tracks from this amazing and highly original soundtrack. 

Next off we have that wonderful terror Serge Gainsbourg from the film Cannabis. His work, alongside composer and arranger Jean-Claude Michel Vannier is legendary, totally 'out' gear. I've also included a tune from 'Anna', this time working with another legend, Michel Colombier.

I mentioned the 80's and mini-series, well the next tune is them. One of my favourite soundtracks ever, from one of the strangest shows to ever hit the screen 'The Martian Chronicles', based on the Ray Bradbury novel, Starring Rock Hudson in one of his greatest roles, a million miles from cavorting with Doris Day, though his brilliant work in 'Seconds' is a close runner up. The score by Stanley Myers is brilliant and as odd as fuck, Martian disco meets The Residents.

I think everybody on the planet should see 'Forbidden Planet' once. The roles of Robby the Robot and the Invisible Monster steal the show. As a kid hearing the IM's backwards suction footprints in the space sand, doubled with Louis and Bebe Baron's insane IM synth throb really screwed with my innocent mind.

Who doesn't dig Jack Nitzsche? Huh? He of Phil Spector super sessions, primo Stones madness, Neil Young's honky tonk pianist and creator of some really gone cinema sounds (etc etc). Well I do. This track gets into some pretty pretty disturbing territory, with the Merry Clayton Singers stirring up the menace.

Bruce Langhorne was 'Mr Tambourine Man', he put down some of the best guitar ever recorded on Bob Dylan recordings that never got released, a session guitarist that should have been a star. Peter Fonda got him to do the sound for his 'The Hired Hand' flick, and what strange and awesome sounds they are. When i first heard it, it immediately reminded me of all those minimalist post-rock things that were coming out of Chicago, plus the Palace Brothers and all that crazy shebang. I couldn't believe how familiar this score was to stuff being released 30 years later. It, for it's time it is completely unique and awesome in its sparse glory. 

Meanwhile back in Germany Popol Vuh were busy shifting known realities into alternate dimensions of sonic frippery. Their work with Werner Herzog birthed some of cinema's most glorious marriages of film and music.

One of my favourite Australian bands is Tully. They were one of the finest alternate bands on the circuit. One part Invisible String Band and three parts free rockin' bedlam. They did 'Hair', one Self titled LP and then the sound track to 'Sea of Joy' a gorgeous surf film that probably toured the finest Scout halls and High Schools around the country. The album from the film is a glorious piece of work and a 'must have' for any serious psych folk fan.

Popping over to Italy we have Prog Psyche legends Goblin, from the 1975 Dario Argento film 'Profondo Rosso' (or Deep Red). The slasher genre ain't one of my faves, but I appreciate the art and the weirdness of his films. The track here became a number 1 hit in Italy, weird eh?

Herbie Hancock, who initially snubbed Miles's attempts to play electric keyboards and then went on to being one of the greatest innovators of electronic music in the 70's and onwards. The score to Dino De Laurentis's 1974 revenge classic 'Death Wish' starring Charles Bronson gave Herbie a second chance to expand his musical palette into the world of cinema, the first being his super hip OST for 'Blow Up'.

This next tune is from another film one should see at least once in their lifetimes. La Planete Sauvage, or Fantastic Planet is a dreamscape on film, an animation wonder that can't be described, only witnessed and experienced. A French, Czech production from 1974, with music, of the most extraordinary kind by Alain Goraguer (someone else who worked with Serge Gainsbourg). Track down the album, it's unbelievable.

When I was a kid we used to go to the movies a lot. One train stop away was the 'Padstow Star' which showed all the latest flicks. We saw all the Bond films, Disney fantasies and so much more, with Twisties, Jaffas and Ginger Beer. One of the most exciting things to happen in 1968 was 'Planet of the Apes', with Charlton's fantastic "Damn you God! Goddamn you all to Hell!" ending. Wow, this was the shit, I loved it then and I love it still. Jerry Goldsmith's score is divine, his use of percussion and dynamics tie in so well with this flick.

I've added a piece from 'The Cage' episode of the original Star Trek. I've heard more exciting works from the series, but I don't own them. This LP I bought recently isn't anywhere near the NM the seller on Discogs suggested, which is a drag, so I'm giving this cool tune to you crackles and all.

Going back to 1949 now with a section of the soundtrack from the Friz Freleng directed 'Dough For the Do Do', which is a remake of the 1938 Bob Clampett directed Porky in Whackyland, which was voted no.8 in the 50 greatest cartoons of all time by the Library of Congress. This Warner Brothers Looney Tune feature was one of the most truly surreal (a term that gets thrown around too much) cartoons ever made. With references to Dali and some of the freakiest characters and storylines you've ever seen in a cartoon. The score by Carl Staling is, as usual, completely mad and wonderful.

Next we're back to Germany again for the collective Inner Space, who became Can. The film Agilok and Blubbo has one of the messiest soundtracks ever put to tape up to that time. So bad it's great. A wild free for all. I wouldn't have a clue what the film was like, but revolution and sex gets thrown around a lot in descriptions I've read.

Another haunting film and soundtrack is the Robin Hardy directed film 'The Wicker Man', with its amazing soundtrack by Magnet and Paul Giovanni. Both the film and the soundtrack are worth getting hold of.

You can't do a soundtrack compilation without have Ennio Morricone in the mix, he is one of the Gods of the form. Even though you could fill up 10 mixes with his best tunes I've chosen one here that features the director of the film, Gillo Pontecorvo, who collaborated with Morricone for the soundtrack of one of the greatest films of all time 'The Battle of Algiers'.

This next 1949 film, a British production, set in Vienna and directed by Carol Reed, is one of the finest British film-noir, dialogue driven films of its time. Joseph Cotten, Orson Wells as Harry Lime and Alida Valli brilliantly drive this film, filled with dark cobblestone streets, cigarette smoke and dark intrigue. The score by Anton Karas blends beautifully with the intense black & white imagery.

As mentioned before, I grew up watching every 'Bond' film as it arrived. The music created for the extravagant visual display was thrilling and overwhelming for this young musician. John Barry, who was mostly responsible for this has always held a place in my heart. His work from 'Beat Girl' to 'Stringbeat', 'The Four Corners Theme', his amazing Bond scores, 'Zulu', 'The Knack...' and on and on. Where do you start, where do you stop. I've chosen a piece from the Michael Caine, dark political drama ' The Ipcress File', an amazing film and score.

That leaves Roy Budd's score for 'Fear is the Key' as the last one to chat about. Roy's major legacy is the Main Theme, or 'Carter Takes a Train' from 'Get Carter' one of the ultimate Michael Caine films. Roy was more than prolific in his career, producing a long list of sound scores for film and releasing many albums of his own. A very unique composer and musician.

So there you have it, a tiny snippet of the vast array of musical wonder that is the world of Original Sound tracks, I hope you enjoy this selection.

Here is your Ticket

1. The Devil's Advocates 2 - Don Gere - Werewolves on Wheels - Finders Keepers
 2. Piege - Serge Gainsbourg - Cannabis - Philips
3. Mask Of Conflict - Stanley Myers - The martian Chronicles - Airstrip One
4. Battle With Invisible Monster - Louis and Bebe Barron - Forbidden Planet - Poppy Disc/Rev-Ola
5. Turner's Murder - Jack Nitzsche - Performance - WB
6. Opening - Bruce Langhorne - The Hired Hand - Scissor Tale Records
7. Engel Der Gegenwart - Popol Vuh - Heart of Glass - Egg 
8. Follow Me - Tully - Sea of Joy - EMI
9. Deep Shadows  - Goblin -  Profondo Rosso - DRG
10. Paint Her Mouth - Herbie Hancock - Death Wish - Columbia
11. Deshominisation ll - Alain Goreguer - La Planete Sauvage - Pathe
12. The Search - Jerry Goldsmith  - Planet of the Apes - Project 3
13. The Cage - Alexander Courage - Star Trek - Crescendo / GNP
14. Dough For The Do Do - Carl Stalling - Carl Stalling Project - WB
15. Probleme - The Inner Space - Agilok and Blubbo - Wah Wah
16. Ritual 3 - Don Gere - Werewolves on Wheels - Finders Keepers
17. Masks /Hobby Horse - Magnet / Paul Giovanni - The Wicker Man  - 
18. Windmill - Bruce Langhorne - The Hired Hand - Scissor Tail Records
19. July 1956: Underground Re-Explodes - Ennio Morricone / 

Gillo Pontecorvo - The Battle of Algiers - UA
20. Spender's Anger  / One Of Our Own - Stanley Myers - The Martian Chronicles - Airstrip One
21. Meeting Of Conspirators At The Bridge - Holly And Anna Talk About Harry - Anton Karas - The Third Man - The Soundtrack Factory
22. Main Title Theme - John Barry - The Ipcress File - MCA
23. The Hostage Escapes - Roy Budd - Fear is the Key - Pye / Castle

24. Ballet Des Soupirs - Serge Gansbourg -  Anna - Philips 

Opening dialogue 'Werewolves on Wheels' , closing 'Get Carter'