Really hoping there is a second volume to this classic music. Its somewhat what got me into scores in the first place. I grew up with T& J and Looney Tunes cartoons, that is where I got my love for orchestral music and an appreciation for music that augments the visuals.
After dilly dallying around it for at least a couple of years, I finally ordered my copy tonight. I'm really not sure why I didn't get to it sooner, as I grew up with Tom & Jerry, and these cartoons have a very nostalgic place in my heart. Soon I'll finally be able to hear some of its music.
I truly, honestly hope that Volume 2 is in the pipeline. I didn't even know that this existed until 2008 or so, two years after its release... it's been four and a half now.
Lukas, you're guaranteed a sale from me if you're working on a second volume, despite my procrastination in buying the first. I am sure that hearing Vol. 1 will get my craving for more going!
I too have fond memories of these cartoons as well as this album (was my first FSM purchase). I'd love to pick up future volumes.
Basil, I think you will enjoy these discs. Great selections and the sound quality is, in general, superb. The stereo tracks are especially outstanding - you'll never hear that famous T&J theme any better than on "Pet Peeve!"
V2 will be great bc we (likely) get "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby," the golden age western-swing classic "If You're Ever Down in Texas..." Tom at the Hollywood Bowl. Too cool.
Maybe If You're Ever Down in Texas was Roy Rogers - need to check that. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby was a Louis Jourdan song.
But, we need the first one to go. It's better that some of the release vols are being reduced; this puts the pressure in the collector aftermarket, as opposed to being the sole burden of producers - their inv levels are probably pretty scary anyway. So v1 needs to go for sure.
GB's magazine GRAMOPHONE recently published a film music issue which in turn prompted a reader to write a letter, published in a subsequent issue, about Bradley's music for Tom and Jerry. Have alerted Lukas to this opportunity to promote the FSM album, though it will remain to be seen how friendly or cooperative the GRAMOPHONE editors prove to be in this instance. I, personally, have in the past found them reluctant to confront anything which might make it appear that they fell down on the job....
Here are some notes from another post I made recently regarding this fine FSM 2CD set.
From the "Golden Age New York Film Music" thread: Scott Bradley definitely pays tribute to NYC music in a couple of different Tom and Jerry cartoons. Specifically, if you have the FSM 2CD set, tracks 3-4-5 on CD1 and track 13 on CD2 are relevant w/r/t the OP. On track 5 (T.V. of Tomorrow - 1953), he is varying the theme from Broadway Melody in a clever way.
It's on my wish list but its in line behind a lot of other releases in my priority list. I don't know if I can take two disks of "Mickey Mousing" or shoud that be "Jerry mousing".
The following is from another thread, but rightly belongs here.
Sigerson Holmes: You said you're not interested in cartoon music, but I firmly believe Alter's "Manhattan Serenade" was given its greatest, most colorful, enthusiastic orchestral rendition as Scott Bradley's magnificent underscore for one of the most inspired MGM Tom and Jerry cartoons: "Mouse in Manhattan" (1945).
I was sad not to see it on FSM's Tom and Jerry Volume One CD, and always hoped it would be on Volume Two someday. Along with some of his other T&J motifs throughout, Bradley weaves in a couple of sly references to Brown and Freed's "Broadway Rhythm" between 6:50 and 7:25 . . .
lexedo: Spot-on Holmes! I didn't want folks to just lob random "busy city music" examples, that's all I meant about the cartoons initially in the OP.
I do cite your examples a page or two back; even the Broadway Rhythm one, which is outstanding at around 0:20. Almost every T&J cartoon has a quoted song just after the titles. The Manhattan one you mention, and another one I've been looking at to try to identify 12-tone rows - the one where Jerry wears the fake dog head - I can only analyze musically by watching the Spotlight 3DVD.
I really like the T&J FSM 2CD. I was hoping for FSM V2 also, but FSM V1 just never landed w the folks I guess. Very sad tbh.
I would say the Bradley material in general surely represents some of the most complex music ever written for the screen. And some of the most difficult to play too. That's saying something when you consider things like Rozsa's Last Embrace violin solos, Waxman's Carmen Fantasy, Perlman doing Korngold's Violin Concerto, and even good 'ol Harry James doing the Flight of the Bumblebee on his trumpet.
Con mucho respecto, Senor Gary S... The Bradley T&J music far exceeds that by Stalling, which mostly depicted on-screen action w songs from the WB catalog. David Raksin considered Bradley a musical genius, and a peer; this could have never have been the case for Stalling. The Broughton Cartoon Concerto is excellent, but the first thing you should recognize is that the orchestra players do not play the material as well as the MGM SO would have in the "gold" days.
But either way, I am very glad you like the T&J FSM 2CD. Senor Gary S es mucho intelligente con la musica de la cinema. :-D
Just been listening to this beauty again. Its sad to think we won't get a volume 2 of this now that FSM is done (yes I secretly hoped #250 would be this), and while I'd love to see it happen, I don't imagine any other labels picking up the baton on this.
There is so much classic untapped cartoon music by Bradley and others that should see the light of day :/
(Hell I'm also hoping that Giacchino's T&J score and Christopher Lennertz's "Wile E. Coyote & Roadrunner" scores will get a release from someone, even if its iTunes / Amazon only)
Does anyone here know who handles the rental of Mr. Bradley's sheet music for orchestra? I am the music librarian for an orchestra that would like to perform it. Thanks. eknorr@daytonperformingarts.org
