SOUNDTRACKS
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Soundtracks are a lot more than movie music...
...or so I'm ready to argue as a 30 year devotee of this sorely under appreciated genre. So, in an effort to do my part, each week
I'll be making recommendations of soundtracks current and vintage, make a fuss over long awaited soundtrack scores finally getting
a well deserved release, and in general, make some noise about this often overlooked category. Beyond my long experience as a
listener and as a pianist and songwriter, both of which I've put to use in writing a quarterly soundtrack column for the Chicago
Tribune, I can only offer my recommendations. You'll discern my taste soon enough and upfront I'd like to make it clear that I'll
focus most heavily on SCORE soundtracks. In the end, all criticism is subjective but if I can point a listener toward a little heard
soundtrack or strongly advise you to either ORDER IMMEDIATELY or SKIP ALTOGETHER, all the better.
...or so I'm ready to argue as a 30 year devotee of this sorely under appreciated genre. So, in an effort to do my part, each week
I'll be making recommendations of soundtracks current and vintage, make a fuss over long awaited soundtrack scores finally getting
a well deserved release, and in general, make some noise about this often overlooked category. Beyond my long experience as a
listener and as a pianist and songwriter, both of which I've put to use in writing a quarterly soundtrack column for the Chicago
Tribune, I can only offer my recommendations. You'll discern my taste soon enough and upfront I'd like to make it clear that I'll
focus most heavily on SCORE soundtracks. In the end, all criticism is subjective but if I can point a listener toward a little heard
soundtrack or strongly advise you to either ORDER IMMEDIATELY or SKIP ALTOGETHER, all the better.
The past couple of weeks has been incredibly hectic. In addition to my usual weekly
film review duties, I've had an abundance of extra work connected with the yearly
observance of Gay Pride by Our People. Plus, I've been preparing for the return of
my signature character, Dick O'Day, in his signature show, Dick O'Day's Big, Lovely
Bingo at the Annoyance Theatre. No staging of this theatrical hybrid (part game
show, part improv, part trial by fire) would be complete without a backing soundtrack
of some of Hollywood's greatest, campiest, tongue-in-cheek musical compositions.
Which brings us to The Graduate and more specifically Dave Grusin's hilarious
"Sun Porch Cha-Cha-Cha." It may surely be one of the sunniest, perkiest, most
nauseatingly fabu-lush pieces of ear candy ever recorded. The instrumental is used
in the film as background music when Mrs. Robinson first attempts to seduce college
graduate Benjamin. The hilarity of the scene is augmented by "Sun Porch
Cha-Cha-Cha" and the contrast of its sunny bonhomie with the overt, less than
innocent attempted seduction.
40 years ago hip audiences must have immediately caught the contrast and it's no
less effective today. The music is just as fabu-lush devoid of the film or any
associations with it. As is another cut from the soundtrack, "The Folks," yet another
candidate for the Space Age Bachelor Pad archives. Both these tracks and the rest
of the movie's score was composed by the overlooked Dave Grusin. Grusin's
contributions add an ironic and perfect counterpoint to the wistful, justly famed tunes
of Simon & Garfunkel that the movie's soaked with.
Yes, the hugely famous hits "The Sound of Silence," "Mrs. Robinson," "Scarborough
Fair," form the basis of The Graduate soundtrack but here's a shout out - 40 years on
- for the funny, sunny, expert contributions of longtime Hollywood composer/jazz
pianist, Dave Grusin. Both these elements make The Graduate a wonderful
soundtrack addition to your collection.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't forget to check out previous soundtrack recommendations by visiting the
ARCHIVES
Next Recommendation: TBA
film review duties, I've had an abundance of extra work connected with the yearly
observance of Gay Pride by Our People. Plus, I've been preparing for the return of
my signature character, Dick O'Day, in his signature show, Dick O'Day's Big, Lovely
Bingo at the Annoyance Theatre. No staging of this theatrical hybrid (part game
show, part improv, part trial by fire) would be complete without a backing soundtrack
of some of Hollywood's greatest, campiest, tongue-in-cheek musical compositions.
Which brings us to The Graduate and more specifically Dave Grusin's hilarious
"Sun Porch Cha-Cha-Cha." It may surely be one of the sunniest, perkiest, most
nauseatingly fabu-lush pieces of ear candy ever recorded. The instrumental is used
in the film as background music when Mrs. Robinson first attempts to seduce college
graduate Benjamin. The hilarity of the scene is augmented by "Sun Porch
Cha-Cha-Cha" and the contrast of its sunny bonhomie with the overt, less than
innocent attempted seduction.
40 years ago hip audiences must have immediately caught the contrast and it's no
less effective today. The music is just as fabu-lush devoid of the film or any
associations with it. As is another cut from the soundtrack, "The Folks," yet another
candidate for the Space Age Bachelor Pad archives. Both these tracks and the rest
of the movie's score was composed by the overlooked Dave Grusin. Grusin's
contributions add an ironic and perfect counterpoint to the wistful, justly famed tunes
of Simon & Garfunkel that the movie's soaked with.
Yes, the hugely famous hits "The Sound of Silence," "Mrs. Robinson," "Scarborough
Fair," form the basis of The Graduate soundtrack but here's a shout out - 40 years on
- for the funny, sunny, expert contributions of longtime Hollywood composer/jazz
pianist, Dave Grusin. Both these elements make The Graduate a wonderful
soundtrack addition to your collection.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't forget to check out previous soundtrack recommendations by visiting the
ARCHIVES
Next Recommendation: TBA
| Simon & Garfunkel got all the raves for their contributions to The Graduate soundtrack but composer Dave Grusin (seen around the time of the film's release in 1967) added some witty and wistful contributions of his own |
