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I cannot believe that someone just asked what is the Bernstein Collection. I mean, honestly.
The Ava, though having less music, is the best recording of this score in every way. How ANYONE could prefer the later rerecording on Varese is something I will never understand - it sounds lousy and nothing like film music should sound. The second one Elmer did for his own label is better but nowhere near the Ava. And why is that? Because the Ava was recorded like film music, was recorded right after the soundtrack was recorded, and used almost all the same players. And with the Intrada release of the Ava it's also the best-sounding version.
Anyone who does not have the Ava collection from Intrada, IMO, is no fan of film music. It is one of the most essential releases of Bernstein music EVER.
Your "Summer and Smoke" is right up there close to the Ava scores, but yes, I have to agree with you about the Ava "Mockingbird." Simple, subtle, and so true to the material! The release of the Intrada Bernstein/Ava set was for me something of a miracle, as I was sure these gems, 50+ years old and on an unheard-of label, must have been thrown into a dumpster or allowed to deteriorate in some back room somewhere. I am in full agreement with your assessments of each of the TKAM releases. I'm still counting on you to get a hold of those Wolper/EB tv documentary scores for us!
You know I'd love to. And Summer and Smoke remains one of the high water marks of Kritzerland - what a score. When I was a teen and that movie came out, I bought a 45 of the theme played by Peter Nero - I played that record to death - over and over - I was completely obsessed with it and I still have it. If you ever find a copy on eBay (it was only an RCA single, never on an album) get it. Then I bought the RCA soundtrack and played THAT to death. When it became a possibility I couldn't believe it - and when I knew the sound quality was going to be amazing that was the icing on the cake. And to have that be our 100th release was the whipped cream on the icing of the cake.
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Anyone who does not have the Ava collection from Intrada, IMO, is no fan of film music. It is one of the most essential releases of Bernstein music EVER.
I really disagree with this. Now don't get me wrong -- the LOVE the collection, but a large percentage of the music is jazz and pop influenced (hell there's even two pieces of orchestral pop not from a film). To say "all fans of film music" should get it just because of TKAM is really short-sighted.
I don't agree - that's what makes horse racing. The Caretakers is brilliant, Mockingbird is brilliant, The Carpetbaggers is brilliant and everything in the box sounds 1000% better than any previous release. For me personally, this is essential for any fan of Elmer's or film music. Just the way I feel and, again, for ME, not short-sighted at all.
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Posted: |
Sep 22, 2016 - 7:18 PM
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By: |
Dana Wilcox
(Member)
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Anyone who does not have the Ava collection from Intrada, IMO, is no fan of film music. It is one of the most essential releases of Bernstein music EVER.
I really disagree with this. Now don't get me wrong -- the LOVE the collection, but a large percentage of the music is jazz and pop influenced (hell there's even two pieces of orchestral pop not from a film). To say "all fans of film music" should get it just because of TKAM is really short-sighted.
I don't agree - that's what makes horse racing. The Caretakers is brilliant, Mockingbird is brilliant, The Carpetbaggers is brilliant and everything in the box sounds 1000% better than any previous release. For me personally, this is essential for any fan of Elmer's or film music. Just the way I feel and, again, for ME, not short-sighted at all.
I would add that Walk on the Wild Side, known for its bounce and jazz influence, nevertheless contains (a) some of the loveliest melody and (b) most effective melancholic scoring ever -- it depresses me to listen to it, but I love it the whole time. Ditto Bruce's cudos to the others, btw. These are terrific scores, besides being terrific to listen to. My 2 cents.
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Anyone who does not have the Ava collection from Intrada, IMO, is no fan of film music. It is one of the most essential releases of Bernstein music EVER.
I really disagree with this. Now don't get me wrong -- the LOVE the collection, but a large percentage of the music is jazz and pop influenced (hell there's even two pieces of orchestral pop not from a film). To say "all fans of film music" should get it just because of TKAM is really short-sighted.
I don't agree - that's what makes horse racing. The Caretakers is brilliant, Mockingbird is brilliant, The Carpetbaggers is brilliant and everything in the box sounds 1000% better than any previous release. For me personally, this is essential for any fan of Elmer's or film music. Just the way I feel and, again, for ME, not short-sighted at all.
I would add that Walk on the Wild Side, known for its bounce and jazz influence, nevertheless contains (a) some of the loveliest melody and (b) most effective melancholic scoring ever -- it depresses me to listen to it, but I love it the whole time. Ditto Bruce's cudos to the others, btw. These are terrific scores, besides being terrific to listen to. My 2 cents.
Yes, forgot Walk on the Wild Side - it's fantastic and oh that sound.
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I may have missed this mentioned earlier - does everyone know that the Ava set is available right now on Intrada for $24.99? It's on sale right now because of the big 10cc collection or whatever it's called. 
Along with "Themes from General Electric Theater" and "See No Evil" - both priced at $15.99 right now.
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Posted: |
Sep 30, 2016 - 12:32 AM
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By: |
Dana Wilcox
(Member)
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Well, Hainesy and Dana, was going to put on my Ava LP for another listen but this little discussion on top of all the other threads just sent me to Intrada. Have come back here after ordering the CD.
And now I come back here after having sat back in the recliner and listened to the whole thing. Within moments I thought tears were coming. You guys, if anything, have a talent for understatement. Even the TKAM "song" sounded great and I say that after sneering at it for a long time. Loved the wordless chorus. Did it ever have any words? ANYWAY, all the stuff we've opined through the years about the Ava recording vs. the rest is ultra-confirmed. Gonna go to the big TKAM thread of old for another re-read.
For some reason as I was reading your post I had a vision of Bill Murray, as the sleazy lounge singer singing his own words to STAR WARS in the SNL skit, warbling away at some hideous lyrics set to the music of the TKAM "song". Sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned that, but it's your fault, after all, and from now on every time I hear that cue, there will be Bill Murray, microphone in hand...
But seriously. If Bruce's and my waxing enthusiastic drove you to purchase the Ava/Bernstein set, then we've done something worthwhile (at last) in these waning years of our existence.
P. S. And now, Howard, about SUMMER AND SMOKE... For reasons incomprehensible to higher intelligence, there are still copies of this masterpiece available from Kritzerland. Don't argue, just order the damn thing. Have I ever lied to you??? (Let's just keep that question to the topic of "with regard to wonderful Elmer Bernstein scores, okay?)
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Posted: |
Sep 30, 2016 - 7:33 AM
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By: |
Scotty Boy
(Member)
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I cannot believe that someone just asked what is the Bernstein Collection. I mean, honestly.
The Ava, though having less music, is the best recording of this score in every way. How ANYONE could prefer the later rerecording on Varese is something I will never understand - it sounds lousy and nothing like film music should sound. The second one Elmer did for his own label is better but nowhere near the Ava. And why is that? Because the Ava was recorded like film music, was recorded right after the soundtrack was recorded, and used almost all the same players. And with the Intrada release of the Ava it's also the best-sounding version.
Anyone who does not have the Ava collection from Intrada, IMO, is no fan of film music. It is one of the most essential releases of Bernstein music EVER.
Your "Summer and Smoke" is right up there close to the Ava scores, but yes, I have to agree with you about the Ava "Mockingbird." Simple, subtle, and so true to the material! The release of the Intrada Bernstein/Ava set was for me something of a miracle, as I was sure these gems, 50+ years old and on an unheard-of label, must have been thrown into a dumpster or allowed to deteriorate in some back room somewhere. I am in full agreement with your assessments of each of the TKAM releases. I'm still counting on you to get a hold of those Wolper/EB tv documentary scores for us!
You know I'd love to. And Summer and Smoke remains one of the high water marks of Kritzerland - what a score. When I was a teen and that movie came out, I bought a 45 of the theme played by Peter Nero - I played that record to death - over and over - I was completely obsessed with it and I still have it. If you ever find a copy on eBay (it was only an RCA single, never on an album) get it. Then I bought the RCA soundtrack and played THAT to death. When it became a possibility I couldn't believe it - and when I knew the sound quality was going to be amazing that was the icing on the cake. And to have that be our 100th release was the whipped cream on the icing of the cake.
Well, thanks ever so much for getting me to spend even more money this month. Somehow, Summer and Smoke slipped through my radar, but after reading your comments and listening to the samples, I HAD to order it while it's still available. Looking forward to getting it and letting Elmer's magic wash over me.
And, for what my opinion is worth, I agree that the Ava collection belongs in any serious film score collection. The whole collection is brilliant, but this version of To Kill a Mockingbird is probably the closest thing to the actual soundtrack that we'll ever get. And it sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Seriously, if you don't have the Ava collection, get while you can.
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