A nice topic.

My first suggestion would be Michel Colombier's LE HASARD ET LA VIOLENCE on the triple feature CD L'Héritier / L'Alpagueur in Universal Music France's series of soundtracks for vintage French movies.

The score is a highly melodic blend of funk and jazz, featuring a song whose 'catchiness' reminds me of the perfect integration of songs in John Barry's Bond scores.

Details at http://soundtrackcollector.com/catalog/soundtrackdetail.php?movieid=23633

In the same mould: Konrad Elfer's music for the second Harry Palmer movie, FUNERAL IN BERLIN. The jazzy score captures 1960's spy movies' atmosphere perfectly and is on the same quality level as Barry's Ipcress File and the equally marvellous Billion Dollar Brain by Richard Rodney Bennett.

http://soundtrackcollector.com/catalog/soundtrackdetail.php?movieid=36722

Eventually, probably more fit for 'symphonic-prone' ears ;-) would be Don Davis' THE UNSAID:

http://soundtrackcollector.com/catalog/soundtrackdetail.php?movieid=35745

Regards,

Urs

handstand, December 11, 2006; 6:58 AM

And you did, David ?

To my mind comes my recent purchase of Michel Korb's VODKA LEMON. This is not a score to everyone's taste --it's not an large orchestra score but a small ensemble of I think 10 musicians-- but I'm so glad I bought it. The composer wrote wonderful themes which help to locate the setting of the story. It has a bit of world music touch with oud, accordion and piano solos. Sadly, just like it often happens, there's a quite disturbing song at the end.

- Dorian

42zaphod, December 11, 2006; 8:44 AM

"Happy Birthday, Türke!" by Peer Raben is a really great score to a great movie, but it's pretty unknown, and pretty upbeat sometimes and of course very melancholic like all of Peer Raben's scores. And it also has a song sung Günther Kaufmann. I love it! I Bought it about a year ago.

philkws, December 11, 2006; 10:23 AM

In comparison, these might be better known then the ones mentioned above, but they're great nonetheless and deserve a wider audience...

JEUX D'ENFANTS - Philippe Rombi
Charming, melodious, just wonderful.

WARRIORS OF VIRTUE - Don Davis
Big and bold in all aspects.

COSMIC VOYAGE - David Michael Frank
Incredible use of the colours of the orchestra.

thb8, December 11, 2006; 5:15 PM

Hello,

Thank you to all who have answered my post so far, Yes Dorian, I have a score in mind for my own question. I bought a Spanish film score about 10 days ago called "Arroz y Tartana" and I have listened to it everyday since. I wrote a little review about it on the database, Thats how happy I am with my surprise purchase.


Best Regards,
David Phoenix, AZ.

deg63iami, December 11, 2006; 5:52 PM

The Unsaid - Don Davis
All The Pretty Horses - Marty Stuart
Oldest Living Confederate Widow - Mark Snow
The Hunley - Randy Edelman

You can usually pickup OL Conf. Widow for 1-2 dollars and its definately worth a listen for that. Glad I picked it up.

The Unsaid is outstanding and All the Pretty Horses can be picked up cheap and is also a real gem.

dspin24358, December 13, 2006; 4:28 AM

Forgot to add

L'Enfant des Loups - Serge Franklin

If I had never read a review on it and went to the site to give it a listen, would never have known how great it was

dspin24358, December 13, 2006; 4:30 AM