There's one thing I'm curious about: Since most of M.C.A.'s tapes were destroyed in that great fire, was the "Sometimes A Great Notion" C.D. taken off a mint album?
From the webpage (and updated above): "Sadly, no master tapes have surfaced from any previous source, including the MCA vaults. Audio was carefully restored and mastered by Chris Malone from virgin copies of the vinyl release, courtesy UMG..."
This CD premiere presents the same music contained on the Japanese LP—practically the complete score—plus a bonus track, but the cues have been re-sequenced for a more cohesive listening experience.
Oh Quartet, you touch my heart!
But Thor, that means they are modifying Mancini's own original album sequence!
Actually, no it doesn't. That quote refers to the Lalo Schifrin BIG BRAWL. Mancini's original album sequence will be intact, especially since the new CD is taken right off vinyl.
I very nearly went ahead and purchased THE BIG BRAWL. You know how much I love Lalo's music. But that whistling in the Main Titles is incredibly irritating.
Wonderful news, thank you very much, the 3 releases look outstanding, I'm not known to Reyes that well, but I like what I'm reading, hearing, well-done Quartet, I'm purchasing all 3.
I very nearly went ahead and purchased THE BIG BRAWL. You know how much I love Lalo's music. But that whistling in the Main Titles is incredibly irritating.
Graham, are you NOT purchasing this album merely on the basis of a single cue containing whistling?
I'd never heard of this Mancini score before, so I was tempted to buy it as it would have been new to me. Listening to the samples has put me off as well. I really can't have that Country & Western sound, the song is awful and the faster cue is really annoying. Pity.
THE BIG BRAWL (aka BATTLE CREEK BRAWL) Music Composed and Conducted by Lalo Schifrin Mastered by Chris Malone Liner notes by Gergely Hubai Limited edition of 1000 units
Quartet Records and Towa Music presents the premiere CD release of super-cool Lalo Schifrin's high-octane jazz action score for The Big Brawl (aka Battle Creek Brawl) The film was directed by Robert Clouse, who previously helmed Enter the Dragon, the film that cemented Bruce Lee as a legend of cinematic martial arts. This 1980s effort was meant to do the same thing for Jackie Chan, giving him an American debut vehicle that could make him a household name outside Hong Kong. The story is set in Prohibition-era America where Jerry Kwan (played by Chan) works at a shop and dreams of marrying his fiancée, Nancy (Kristine DeBell). When his crazy fighting skills get noticed by a crime syndicate, Jerry is forced to enter a fighting tournament where he must beat the muscle-bound champion if he wants to see his girlfriend again...
The film reunited Clouse with composer Lalo Schifrin who had worked with the director on Enter the Dragon as well as its spiritual sequel, Golden Needles. The Big Brawl rounds out this trilogy of sorts with music that builds upon Schifrin's jazz recordings rather than his Oriental-flavored scores. The music is largely constructed around an infectiously whistled main theme and individual set pieces that focus on Chan's seemingly improvisational method of fighting—in addition to other action sequences (such as a skating derby). A beautiful love theme for Jerry and Nancy rounds out the score.
This CD premiere presents the same music contained on the Japanese LP—practically the complete score—plus a bonus track, but the cues have been re-sequenced for a more cohesive listening experience. Mastered by Chris Malone, the album features a 16-page full-color booklet with liner notes by Gergely Hubai discussing the film and featuring a track-by-track breakdown of the score.
Track list: 01. Training Montage (Main Title) (3:23) 02. Fast Moves (4:01) 03. Jerry’s Rag (1:12) 04. Uncle Herbert (2:44) 05. Roller Derby (2:30) 06. Razor Cuts (1:24) 07. Oriental Drama (2:11) 08. Miss Wong (1:04) 09. The Trap (4:20) 10. Training Montage (2:42) 11. The Kiss of Death (4:54) 12. Victory Fanfare and Training Montage (3:53)
Bonus tracks
13. Playing Nurse (Source) (2:19) 14. Training Montage (With F/X) (2:28)
Total Disc Time: 39:43
YEP!! This is SOLD OUT at QUARTET & SAE!!! So get it while u can at INTRADA & other retailers !!!!
THE BIG BRAWL (aka BATTLE CREEK BRAWL) Music Composed and Conducted by Lalo Schifrin Mastered by Chris Malone Liner notes by Gergely Hubai Limited edition of 1000 units
YEP!! This is SOLD OUT at QUARTET & SAE!!! So get it while u can at INTRADA & other retailers !!!!
That was fast. I don't see it at Intrada. Anywhere else there still might be copies?
YEP!! This is SOLD OUT at QUARTET & SAE!!! So get it while u can at INTRADA & other retailers !!!!
It's a nice jazzy score which - once you get past the whistling, which probably wasn't one of Lalo's brighter ideas - has some typically Schifrinian action and suspense cues. Glad I got my copy early on then!
It's a nice jazzy score which - once you get past the whistling, which probably wasn't one of Lalo's brighter ideas - has some typically Schifrinian action and suspense cues. Glad I got my copy early on then!
Hmmm... Do you feel this way about all scores with whistling or is it just this one? Do Herrmann and Morricone get a pass? Is the whistling in BRAWL overdone? I only heard it in one of the clips.
I'm not being snarky. I've never heard this score before and your comment made me curious as I wait patiently for it to arrive.
Hmmm... Do you feel this way about all scores with whistling or is it just this one? Do Herrmann and Morricone get a pass? Is the whistling in BRAWL overdone? I only heard it in one of the clips.
I'm not being snarky. I've never heard this score before and your comment made me curious as I wait patiently for it to arrive.
It's not present throughout. I just don't find it an especially appropriate 'sound' for this particular score.
I just don't find it an especially appropriate 'sound' for this particular score.
Thanks, Simon. Based on your preferences in your profile my guess is that I'll agree with you on the score overall. I just hope I disagree on the whistling!
Thanks, Simon. Based on your preferences in your profile my guess is that I'll agree with you on the score overall. I just hope I disagree on the whistling!
I think a lot of people will expect a funky 'Enter The Dragon'-type score, whereas it's probably a lot 'jazzier'. I love the double bass sound in the music.
Also, I'm not sure what source Quartet used for the CD, but whatever it was I think Chris Malone did a great job because it sounds really good!
