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Messages - john mansell

on: May 26, 2012, 05:14:33 pm 1 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / quella sporca storia nel west...review...

QUELLA SPORCA STORIA NEL WEST.
(THE DIRTIEST STORY OF THE WEST)
MUSIC COMPOSED AND CONDUCTED BY FRANCESCO DE MASI
BEAT RECORDS (ITALIA) CDCR97.
RUNNING TIME 51 MINS 18 SECS
RATING *****
REVIEW JOHN MANSELL © 2012.
 
Now here is a real gem of a spaghetti western soundtrack, it features a great title song performed by Maurizio Graf, the artistry of Alessandro Alessandroni as a choral director co-composer and guitarist, the distinct sound of il Cantori Moderni, the unmistakable talent of Franco D Gemini and of course the originality and the musical prowess of Maestro Francesco De Masi. Released in 1968 this is one of the many spaghetti westerns that were popular with audiences around the world during the 1960,s thru to the mid to late 1980,s.Francesco De Masi had a unique style and sound when working on any type of movie, but for me it was the western genre in particular where the composer excelled. His scores for westerns such as ARIZONA COLT, 7 DOLLARI SUL ROSSO, KILL THEM ALL AND COME BACK ALONE,SARTANA NON PERDONA and QUELLA SPORCA STORIA NEL WEST to name but a few all contain musical elements that are essentially akin to the Italian western sound but also have alongside them and fused within them a style that evokes the Hollywood produced western recalling scores such as, HIGH NOON, THE BRAVADOS,THE TIN STAR etc etc, De Masi not only utilized the typical  expansive Americana sound of the western as envisaged by composers such as Toimkin, Newman and Bernstein but he also stamped upon each project the inimitable sound of the Spaghetti western and further embellished this sound with a style and inventiveness that was all his own. The compact disc opens with FIND A MAN, (tema di Johnny) performed by vocalist Maurizio Graf, this performers distinct vocalising was utilized by many composers in Italy and he worked on numerous western soundtracks. Maybe I am being a little over the top here, when I say I think that this is possibly the best song written for an Italian western as it no only has great lyrics by Audrey Stanton and A.Alessandroni and an outstanding performance by Graf, but it also contains a fantastic jangling guitar riff courtesy of Alessandroni and a melodic and infectious musical backing, that consists of organ, percussion, piano and lavish sounding strings.  FIND A MAN WHO NEVER KILLED NOT EVEN FOR THE LOVE OF GOLD, FIND A MAN WHO NEVER LIED AND OFFER HIM YOUR SOUL, FIND A MAN WHO NEVER  STOLE FROM ANY MAN A WOMANS LOVE, FIND A MAN WHO NEVER LIED AND NEVER LET HIM GO. How can this not be a winning formula for a western song.
 
 
 
I think more than any other De Masi western score this one include some wonderful choral work which can be heard in cues such as IN MEMORIA (track 3) and JOHNNY SULLA CROCE (track 16), it also a score that has a number of stand out track, the composer crating secondary themes that in truth because of their strength and quality would easily act as main titles for other assignments. Track 11 for example IL VILLAGGIO DI SANTANA is a great action piece that contains driving percussion uplifting and forthright Mexican flavoured strings, strumming guitars, proud sounding horns, whips and xylophone. All of these elements combine to create something that is anthem like and stirring in its overall sound, again the composer fuses both Italian styles with that of a more conventional western sound, the end result is something that is not only original but pleasing and rewarding for the listener. The soundtrack was issued previously on a CAM LP back in 1968, then CAM re-issued the score in 1995 paired with 7 DOLLARI SUL ROSSO but there were no extra cues included and it was a re-issue of the LP tracks. This edition contains all of those tracks  1-19 on the disc, plus we are treated to a further 8 cues, which are alternate takes on a handful of the previous tracks. Sound quality is outstanding and the presentation is handled nicely with many stills from the movie and informative notes by Filippo De Masi the composers son. This is the 7th compact disc to be issued by BEAT records in the Francesco de Masi western score series and as I write this review an eighth is due to be announced. It shows us just how many great scores were penned by this Maestro of many talents and also how underrated he was outside of his native Italy.  This is a score that should be in any self respecting film music connoisseurs collection.   

on: April 01, 2012, 10:24:11 pm 2 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / Re: Arizona Colt

they have waited a long time to speak up about this, is the music rights not the same as in England after a certain amount of time  the rights are what we call public domain and no one gets any royalties etc....and surely if they are music lovers they will not proceed with any legal action.   we want arizona colt  please  lol  Daniele  send me there address I will make them an offer that they cant refuse   lol :D

on: April 01, 2012, 10:16:45 pm 3 Beat Records community - English message boards / Main board / BEAT

 want to just say, that in my opinion BEAT records have always been and will I hope always bee straight with people, and also are one of the most open record labels that releases film music. Why am I saying this  because I saw a post on another board that was less than nice about BEAT  it was from an idiot to be honest and I wanted to say if you have seen this I hope that you are as disgusted as I am,  have had dealings with the individual who dared to utter these remarks before and thank god i am no longer any thing to do with HIM. BEAT have been brilliant as far as I am concerned  and yes Daniele admits he doe not go on forums etc   that often  but if he spent all his time on boards and  forums  we would not get all these wonderful scores released, Daniele  the label is awesome and you and your family are magnificent... sorry if i am going on   but i needed to say something.  long live BEAT..... :D ;) :) ;D

on: September 24, 2011, 11:13:43 pm 4 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / beat soundtracks licensed to chris's soundtrack corner...

IL CONSIGLIORI
MUSIC BY RIZ ORTOLANI
CHRIS’S SOUNDTRACK CORNER.CSC009.
RUNNING TIME 44 mins 41 secs.
RATING ****
REVIEW BY JOHN MANSELL.

Composer Riz Ortolani has been associated with numerous European/Italian and also American made movies. His style of composition lends itself well particularly to the genre of the romantic variety, but also he has penned a number of films scores that are certainly hard hitting for movies such as THE VALACHI PAPERS, DAY OF ANGER, THE GLORY GUYS, DAYS OF FURY, THE 7TH DAWN, THE Mc KENZIE BREAK,BATTLE FOR ANZIO and THE HUNTING PARTY to name a handful of examples. The composers career began in 1954 with LA VACANZE DEL SOR CLEMENTE but it was not until 1962 that Ortolani was thrust into the limelight with his score and also the haunting and popular theme for MONDO CANE entitled MORE. Ortolani was one of the very few Italian or European composers from the silver age of film music that managed to work outside of his native Italy and become successful.  He was called upon by numerous directors and filmmakers to enhance their films with his beguiling and attractive themes and although at times his scores were a little sparing in quantity the composer made up for this in the quality department. IL CONSIGLIORI (1973) aka COUNSELOR AT CRIME was directed by Alberto de Martino (Blazing Magnum) and starred Heavy weight American actor Martin Balsam  who played a ruthless San Francisco mob boss Don Maggadino and popular Italian actor Tomas Milian who is Maggadino‘s lawyer or Consigliori. The movie is a prime example of Italy’s Poliziotti genre and contains a couple of terrific car chases and some great visuals of San Francisco and also Sicily. Ortolani fashioned a score that works on a number of levels and includes a particularly relaxing and haunting central theme (Tomas Theme) which is in many ways similar to his main theme for THE VALACHI PAPERS, the composer utilising to great effect the string section of the orchestra to create a simple yet enduring and bittersweet sound that has now become associated with the Maestro. The theme can be heard throughout the score, but it surfaces in varying arrangements or as part of another cue creating a continuity to the work. The composer also employs a more laid back lounge or jazz influenced style within the work which for the most part is low key and basically could be used as a background to a dinner party but none the less these interludes are pleasant and also welcomed. Then there is the more dramatic and slightly atonal style that the composer adds to the mix as in Track number 2, THE ADVISOR which begins in an almost sinister style but then launches into an upbeat pop led piece. Again this is a composition that is repeated at various stages of the score. 
One particular cue that I think stands out is track number 11,PUPI SICILIANI, and although it is downbeat and even mournful to a degree it also posses an lilting and near romantic attraction to it. This is an interesting release and one that I know will be welcomed by Euro Score collectors, packaged well with informative notes.  :D

on: January 23, 2011, 06:06:38 pm 5 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / coming soon titles

Wow, some really nice scores coming from BEAT soon, Marchetti and Micalizzi too, the Marchetti is excellent, and the Micalizzi,s are also brilliant,   looking forward to them all.... :D

on: September 13, 2010, 04:50:37 pm 6 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / Re: latest releases or coming soon

lionel e mailed me the details when i was in barcelona last week, these are great scores, the fidenco is superb  and the savina has been on my wish list for years,,,,, its a great time for collectors of Italian and european film music     john m.

on: July 17, 2010, 07:39:26 pm 8 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / Re: giuliano sorgini

found this looks like he has done some other horrors and also an erotic western





# Maldoror  (1997)

# L'Italia viva (1983)
# Holocaust parte seconda: i ricordi, i deliri, la vendetta (1980)
... aka "Subliminal: A Splendid Day to Die In" - Europe (English title) (video box title)
... aka "The Experiment" - Europe (English title) (video box title)

# Porno-Erotic Western (1979)
... aka "Porno erotico western" - Italy (original title)
# Comincerà tutto un mattino: io donna tu donna (1978)
# Horrifying Experiments of S.S. Last Days (1977)
... aka "La bestia in calore" - Italy (original title)
... aka "Horrifying Experiments of the S.S. Last Days" - USA (dubbed version)
... aka "S.S. Experiment Camp 2" - USA (video box title)
... aka "SS Experiment Part 2" - USA
... aka "SS Hell Camp" - USA
# Naked Exorcism (1975)
... aka "Un urlo nelle tenebre" - Italy (original title)
... aka "The Return of the Exorcist" - USA
# La missione del mandrillo (1975)
# Diabolicamente... Letizia (1975)
# The Living Dead (1974)
... aka "Non si deve profanare il sonno dei morti" - Spain (original title)
... aka "The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue" - UK, USA
... aka "Do Not Speak Ill of the Dead" - International (English title) (literal title)
... aka "Don't Open the Window" - USA
... aka "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie" - USA

on: July 11, 2010, 07:00:25 pm 9 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / latest releases or coming soon

BEAT are certainly standing out as a record company with the announcement of De Masi and Alessandronis  LESBO a good score  should all have a copy asap,,, also the marchetti release is simply a MUST HAVE guys,  go and place your order NOW  the themes are hard hitting and highly infectious   order it   get a copy  i urge you    :o

on: July 04, 2010, 08:40:00 am 11 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / Re: getting to know each other

i remember those dollar scores on 1 lp great front cover of eastwood from fafdm my first lp was lawrence of arabia  then zulu followed  after this is was a james bond score  from russia with love   then i found morricone  and that was it i was bitten or maybe smitten by european film music  now i got   3000 lps   and   6,550 cds all film music, plus i dj so my work collection as i call it is pretty big too, i also like 60s music  of the instrumental kind    soul coaxing   love is blue and things like albatross by fleetwood mac   and also tracks by the beatles, love affair, deep purple, the who  the monkees   etc etc   plus there are some great funk and soul tracks out there from the 1970s, which is when i began to dj in the clubs and bars in my home town of  brighton,  :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

on: June 26, 2010, 06:06:03 pm 12 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / giuliano sorgini

any one know anything about this composer i have living dead at manchester morgue on lp and also a lp transfer,  were any of his other scores issued at all  ???????????  maybe daniele might have some masters lying around somewhere ??????

on: June 26, 2010, 09:24:59 am 13 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / getting to know each other

thought it might be an idea for anyone who wants to  to post details of when they started collecting   what their first soundtrack was etc etc   

on: June 26, 2010, 09:23:02 am 14 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / Re: Unreleased italian scores [La Piovra, etc]

a man called sledge by ferrio would be good, and again anything by felice de stefano pleeeeeeeeeeeeeaaasssssssssseeee :o

on: June 21, 2010, 10:02:35 pm 15 Beat Records community - English message boards / Original Soundtracks / felice de stefano

watched a movie the other night on sky tv  the movies for men channel   it was DONT WAIT DJANGO SHOOT,,,, the movie was ok, but the score by felice de stefano was excellent, trumpet, guitar, in fact everything a good italian western score should be  music publisher was P.A ?  also   dug out an old cdr compilation which contained a handful of tracks from five for vengeance  at least i think thats the title of the movie, again great stuff from felice de stefano,,, these were issued on a ep record i think,  would be nice to see some of this composers music released commercialy on cd,   john m :o
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