More than 20 years have passed since the death of the talented and not afraid to say genius composer Jack Nitzsche.
His music had a great influence on me. I often watch movies to which he composed music, trying to somehow enjoy his beautiful music, which, God knows why, has not yet been released!
My first acquaintance with Nitzsche's music was with The Jewel of the Nile (1985). Subsequently there were Revenge (1990), 9 1/2 weeks (1986), etc. I immediately fell in love with his music! Since then and to this day, Nitzsche is on my personal list of favorites. Like many other composers from the early 80's, he skillfully used the opportunity to work in the genre of electronic music, which of course I was very pleased! For example, I liked his ability to compose beautiful love themes and energetic driving-action music composed by mostly synthsysers that perfectly complements the plot of the film.
During his 30-year career as a film composer, Jack worked hard, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Having gone into detail about his filmography, namely since the 80's, I can say that there are enough of his scores, which were either not released at all, or need to be expanded (in my opinion). In the last 20 years, there have been only a few releases of his scores: Cutter's Way (1981), Revenge (1990) and The Jewel of the Nile (1985). It is very unfortunate that so little attention is paid to his work. Perhaps this is due to the fact that today his music was in not demand or a problem with the rights (or what could be the WORST TRAGEDY - the original recordings are lost or not found!). Again ... it's very sad. I would even say that Jack Nitzsche is perhaps one of the most underrated composers in Hollywood! I especially wanted to note his wonderful collaboration with Michael Hoenig, namely 9 1/2 weeks and the all-forgotten film The Last of the Finest (1990).
I would write a lot more about Nitzsche's work, but I won't bore of you ... (because I suspect there aren't many of his fans here). Be that as it may, I WOULD LIKE his scores to come out more actively! For me, this is an instant purchase !! By the way, I have repeatedly asked some labels about a possible release of 9 1/2 weeks (1986) but they obviously were not interested, or just ignored ... sorry ...
Although I love and am essentially interested in all of his scores, I would like to share my favorite Jack Nitzsche scores:
Did you know that he almost scored Memoirs Of An Invisible Man. He was director John Carpenter`s choice of composer (after they worked on Starman together). But because of star/producer Chevy Chase he did not end up scoring that movie. The reason is because Chase had visited Angelo Badalamenti`s scoring of Christmas Vacation and was apparently very impressed with the conductor that Badalamenti had hired: Namely a certain Shirley Walker. So he made sure that Ms. Walker got hired to score Memoirs Of An Invisible Man.
Even though Shirley Walker did a great job on Memoirs Of An Invisible Man I always thought about how would Jack Nitzsche have approached it and how would his score sound like if he had gotten the assignment after all. And if he had maybe he had scored even more for Carpenter, who knows?
I'd like to see a release, on CD, of his score to HEROES (1977), the Henry Winkler post-Vietnam road movie drama. I think Richard Hazard also collaborated on some tracks. Plus it has some songs that might cause rights issues. It was released on LP (MCA, I think). I do have the LP but don't play LPs much these days. An expanded edition would be nice, but I know it's never happening. I have everything else by him. Do you have his St Giles Cripplegate, an orchestral album that he recorded while doing lots of arrangement work for various bands, many decades ago? That's pretty cool.
His score for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is so indelible. Not just the haunting main theme, but even the "muzak" was perfectly done. A well-deserved Oscar nomination came his way in 1975 (but no way was it going to beat "Jaws").
I believe his only other Oscar nomination for original score was for "An Officer and a Gentleman." I'm not sure there was a whole lot to it, but it was memorable enough (especially since the song version of the main theme was a mega-hit). I think there were only two score cuts on the soundtrack, which surprisingly isn't available on iTunes. So I wouldn't mind seeing that music re-released and expanded.
Another theme I love is the one from the 1984 Bill Murray film "The Razor's Edge." I think that was a Southern Cross Records release, looooooong out of print.
It was always worth perking up your ears when a new movie with a Nitzsche score came out.
I don't know the musical term, but I find it fascinating how many of his themes seem to collapse into themselves and begin and end into a permanent circle.
Did you know that he almost scored Memoirs Of An Invisible Man. He was director John Carpenter`s choice of composer (after they worked on Starman together). But because of star/producer Chevy Chase he did not end up scoring that movie. The reason is because Chase had visited Angelo Badalamenti`s scoring of Christmas Vacation and was apparently very impressed with the conductor that Badalamenti had hired: Namely a certain Shirley Walker. So he made sure that Ms. Walker got hired to score Memoirs Of An Invisible Man.
Even though Shirley Walker did a great job on Memoirs Of An Invisible Man I always thought about how would Jack Nitzsche have approached it and how would his score sound like if he had gotten the assignment after all. And if he had maybe he had scored even more for Carpenter, who knows?
Wow! I didn't know that, Tobias ... It would be really interesting to see what kind of music he would compose for Invisible.
I'd like to see a release, on CD, of his score to HEROES (1977), the Henry Winkler post-Vietnam road movie drama. I think Richard Hazard also collaborated on some tracks. Plus it has some songs that might cause rights issues. It was released on LP (MCA, I think). I do have the LP but don't play LPs much these days. An expanded edition would be nice, but I know it's never happening. I have everything else by him. Do you have his St Giles Cripplegate, an orchestral album that he recorded while doing lots of arrangement work for various bands, many decades ago? That's pretty cool.
I don't have one. I'll try to find. Thanks, KeV McG!
The interesting thing to me about Nitzsche is after all the orchestral arrangements he did for those artists in the 60s and 70s, when he transitioned more fully into film scoring, his scores were mainly electronic. Yes, some of his scores were orchestral (HEROES, RAZOR'S EDGE) but the large majority were either completely synth or very small ensemble. I wonder why he eschewed the symphonic for the electronic, in the main?
Have mentioned Cuckoo's Nest and Starman several times over the years. Couldn't give a damn if the CDs are not anyone's cup of tea, the scores for the films were excellent and that's what matters. But sometimes soundtracks are purchased for but a single track or two. They make for a nice isolated listening experience, as in 45s in the (ahem) older days.
The interesting thing to me about Nitzsche is after all the orchestral arrangements he did for those artists in the 60s and 70s, when he transitioned more fully into film scoring, his scores were mainly electronic. Yes, some of his scores were orchestral (HEROES, RAZOR'S EDGE) but the large majority were either completely synth or very small ensemble. I wonder why he eschewed the symphonic for the electronic, in the main?
Good question. Not that I complain about it...
I guess things changed when he started working with electronic master Michael Hoenig in the mid 80s. And I guess that was what many filmmakers wanted at the time.
Yes, most probably FB. Having played with and utilised the orchestra during the 60s and 70s, with his band arrangements, I imagine he was all orchestrated out by the time he concentrated on film scores during the 80s and 90s and possibly found the evolving synth world far more interesting and textured. His music was always interesting and fascinating to me.
I mainly know Nitzsche from "Starman" and "Cuckoo's Nest" but recently happened to catch Friedkin's thriller "Cruising," now streaming on Criterion Channel. Jack's score was imaginative, creepy and effective. Kind of a synthy giallo sound, with jagged jazz lines from bassist Barre Phillips.
There's a three-disc vinyl release of "Cruising" on Waxwork Records, which claims to contain the complete score but mostly lists a couple of dozen songs from nightclub scenes. Short clip of Jack's score ('Cat & Mouse' with Barre Phillips) here:
Never got into Jack Nietzsche.Only have his Cokcoos Nest in my collection.A good score for a fantastic movie...but not of any listening value to me apart from the movie.I must confess that I'm not very fond of his work.What's his "magnus opus"? His biggest in terms of orchestra.. just curious...
Yeah, my first was also Cuckoo - I had the album though never saw the movie for no real reason. I was fascinated with the idea of highlighting a musical saw and glass harmonica, though I have to say it was more of a novelty for me. But fun to listen again on Spotify.
Starman was a nice change of pace from the typical Williams-inspired orchestral music for 80's close encounters flicks, though the circular main theme goes on a bit too long. Also enjoyed Revenge.
But the one that has gotten the most spins from me is his collage-like score for The Seventh Sign. Which in many ways felt a bit more successful as an end-times pic than The Omen series (though the first movie is still a mini-favorite). I've always been quite taken with the score.
A new Nitzsche wouldn't be a blind buy for me - I never picked up Jewel on the Nile for example - but always an interesting counter to typical soundtracks, and gives the films individuality - a rare and vital quality film music can provide.
I'm only really familiar with Starman. I've seen a number of Nitzche scored movies such as An Officer and a Gentleman and One Flew Over A Cuckoo's nest but not recently but what an interesting thread,
Some great YT video samples of his scores included and clearly some wonderful stuff not released.
Many thanks to Ray for raising my awareness of Jack Nitzche's work....
