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SEPTEMBER 2010 FOR THESE  I HOPE   its been a long wait  but the music will be excellent

Hi Daniele  these are truly great releases, the Micalizzi and Fidenco inparticular are just iconic  and I know collectors will love them...john m.

THE HILLS RUN RED
MUSIC BY ENNIO MORRICONE
CONDUCTED BY BRUNO NICOLAI
QUARTET RECORDS (SPAIN)
RUNNING TIME 
RATING *****
REVIEW JOHN MANSELL © 2010



Often a neglected or overlooked score even by hardened Morricone fans, THE HILLS RUN RED is in every sense of the word a classic and key work within the genre of the Italian or spaghetti western. Originally released on a bootleg LP record on the POO label at the same time as THE HORNETS NEST, the soundtrack was crying out for an official release, at last some thirty years after the release of the unofficial recording, came a compact disc issue on the film score monthly label, this was released as part of a box set of MGM scores that also included a wide range of scores from the 1960,s through to the 1970,s and coincidently  THE HORNETS NEST. Why then release the score again on a single compact disc so soon after the FSM release. Well, there were a number of collectors who missed out on the box set because of its limited production run and being a Morricone score and also a western it would be remiss not to issue this as stand alone disc as well. The score is essentially constructed around two principal themes. The central core of the work being made up of various versions of a driving and energetic piece that includes infectious trumpet flourishes which are like mini fanfares heralding the onset of the remainder of the cue which includes racing snares, choir and urgent sounding strings that segue into the main body of the theme which is performed in the main by brass supported by choir. Gianna Spagnola features prominently within the score and her distinct vocalising brings a certain earthiness and raw ambience to the work. There is no doubt that this is a classic work from the Maestro and anyone watching the movie for the first time would be aware that it was his unmistakable and individual style from the opening strains of the music in the pre credits sequence. The other theme that is present is  lighter and more melancholy in its sound and style, and is performed in vocal and instrumental versions. The vocal version HOME TO MY LOVE opens the compact disc, and is for me anyway an entertaining and uncomplicated cue, which has many affiliations with Morricones vocal themes for  A PISTOL FOR RINGO,RETURN OF RINGO and also other western ditty’s such as LONESOME BILLY etc.

This theme is utilised within the film at moments of sadness and also when the central character is returning home or has returned to his home finding it derelict and that his wife is dead and his child is missing. The composer provides us with a particularly touching music box version of the theme where he embellishes and supports the central music box feature with light and poignant strings. The vocal version also makes more than one appearance throughout the running time of the compact disc, and is heard in Italian as well as English, with a full instrumental of the cue also being included. If you were fortunate enough to get the MGM box set from FSM then maybe you are thinking I wont bother with this release, as it is the same in content and also sound quality, ok that is fair comment. But, where this release comes into its own is in the presentation department, it contains a number of rare and colourful stills from the movie, striking front cover art work and a great back cover illustration plus alternative notes to the FSM release. This is an essential purchase for all devotees of Morricone and for all fans of the Italian western genre, this is a limited edition for collectors of 1,000 discs. Highly recommended

Dear maestro, May i ask if you played Harmonica on A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS ?  and maybe you could tell us the story about when you played for leonard Bernstein ?

FLYING THROUGH THE AIR  by Oliver onions  is a fun song,,, from follow me boys as it was called in the UK  Pui forte ragazza I think,  the LP was on RCA....

i am always amazed when a score turns up by the maestro that has not been released, maestro morricone's out put was so prolific, will we ever get every score of his released   this is an excellent score by the way, and it is packaged and produced wonderfully

DE STEFANO is indeed a great composer, I listened to some of his themes that I have on singles (45rpm) I cannot understand why he is not represented on CD    Claudio  Help us....

I would reccomend this release, and not because I wrote the notes, its a great score, sadly overlooked and even forgotten at times, Gianna spagnola adds a certain raw and earthy sound to the proceedings as she did in Morricone's score for NAVAJO JOE....... Sound is pretty god, but as you rightly say the original release was a bootleg, and this version like the film score monthly release is taken from LP source  but still sounds very good   .JOHN M

My first LP was IL SOGNI DELLA MUSICA  which was a compilation  which had a blue cover, it contained music by Morricone, Trovaioli, Ortolani and also De Masi...after this I think I purchased SEPOLTA VIVO by Morricone a wonderful score, and then many others followed  I was ver fortunate to be friends with Michael jones in the UK who used to import lps into the country from Italy.. john m..

Dear MAESTRO,  Pleas would it be possible to ask you some questions  as in a full interview, and then maybe we can publish it here on the BEAT forum  many thanks  John Mansell

Hi Eda, just seen your post and questions and observations, give me a few hours and i will see if i can answer some of them, as for Russian scores, these i think are so good, Russian composers seem to be able to infuse real emotion into their music, i love most of the works I have heard.  And was fortunate enough to obtain some compilations of russian film music,,,,  john m.

sorry that should have been     http://italianwestern.ning.com/

new group  at www.italianwestern.com

is there any news on the release date of the Francesco de Masi box set, and will this set be available as just a set or maybe as individual cds, many thanks...john M.

this is certainly wonderful news, john m.