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©2000 Monstrous Movie Music
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Track Listings
The MGM Tarzan films (1934 -1942) Herbert
Stothart, Sol Levy, William Axt,
David Snell, Daniele Amfitheatrof
- Fanfare / A Cannibal Carnival
- In the Woodland
- Tarzan Montage
- End Title
- New End Cast
- My Tender One
Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954)
Herman Stein, Henry Mancini, Milton Rosen,
Hans Salter, Robert Emmett Dolan
- Main Title
- Prologue
- The Webbed hand
- The Dive
- Marine Life
- Almost Caught
- Digger’s Failure
- Unknown River
- Tale of the Mermaid
- Salvage of the Lady Luck
- Duke’s Little Helper
- Kay and the Monster, Part 1
- Kay and the Monster, Part 2
- Tony Visits Port Royale, Part 1
- Brad Rescues Tony, Part 2
- Henry’s Trap
- Clay Meets a Badman
- That Hand Again
- Monster Caught
- Minyora’s Plan
- Monster Gets Mark, Part 1
- Monster gets Mark, Part 2
- End Title
- End Cast
The Alligator People (1959)
Irving Gertz
- Main Title
- Truth Serum
- Shocker (Part 2)
- Dark Memories
- The Swamp
- Cobalt Bomb
- His Mother
- Shocker (Part 1)
- Get That Gator
- Alligator Head
- Paul’s Death, Part 1
- Paul’s Death, Part 2
- The End
- Alligator Piano
45-49 Bonus Tracks
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Five
years ago David Schecter of Monstrous Movie Music fame released two delectable
CDs. These were re-recordings of some of our favorite music. One CD contained
music from Them, It Came From Outer Space and the other had music from
Tarantula, The Beast From Twenty Thousand Fathoms and Gorgo. The music
was reconstructed by the female counterpart to John Morgan, Kathleen Mayne
(only a lot prettier). The music was very faithful to the originals. Close
miking techniques were used to emulate that wonderful studio sound from
these pictures. Not only did the CDs contain great music from these films,
but David Schecter’s liner notes read like miniature books on the subject
of the films and their music. Never in all my life did I find out so much
about not only the original music from the pictures in question, but the
music that was tracked into these films from other films; many not even
from the genre. David found this information and so much more.
Well
I am happy to announce that the tradition continues for the latest CD; Creature
From the Black Lagoon and Other Jungle Pictures. The most fascinating thing
about this CD is the amount of information David has culled from the annals
of history about the Tarzan music alone. It is hard to believe that only a
mere five minutes of original music was written for the MGM Tarzan films.
Well the music is here and there is loads of information about this scant
but very rewarding short suite of music.
Around
1960, a record (you know those 12 inch vinyl things) was released; Themes
From Horror Films adapted and conducted by Dick Jacobs. For may years, this
was the only main album of horror and fantasy film music. Well between David
Schecter and Marco Polo’s John Morgan I think it is time to throw that album
or its CD predecessor away. The original Jacobs record had the main title
and another piece from Creature From the Black Lagoon, plus the main title
from Revenge of the Creature. These weren’t bad renditions; but they don’t
hold a candle to this new recording. A few years ago Intrada releases a 14
minute suite of original tracks from CFTBL said to be composed by Hans Salter.
Now, by reading David’s liner notes . . . I mean miniature treatise, we find
that it was Herman Stein who composed the famous Bah Bah Baaaaah! theme. About
ten years ago, Henry Mancini released a CD which contained some of his music
from Tarantula and CFTBL. This music (Monster Gets Mark) is included on this
CD. But most of the 35 minute suite has never been released before. I find
it astonishing that no less than 5 composers contributed to this film and
the score has a very cohesive sound; not the hodgepodge one would think. Some
of the music dealing with the Rita (the explorer’s boat) going up the river
(or is it down the river) is beautiful. Kay and the Monster is another beautiful
piece; but of course that ever present Bah Bah Baaaaah swells when the Gillman
is near. This may not be the most famous of 50s genre scores (The Thing, Day
the Earth Stood Still and 7th Voyage of Sinbad would take honors for that)
but this is still a wonderful fantasy film score and we are indebted to David
for presenting this to us. CFTBL was a throwback to the monsters of the 30s
and 40s and like those pictures continued the tradition with a powerful score.
The
Alligator People has always had the distinction of being a bit schlocky. I
mean this was really a clinker. But the Irving Gertz score is another matter.
You would never think a film like this would have such a great score. The
electric violin is really neat. I have heard of Theramins and Novachords,
but I don’t think I ever heard an electric violin before. I mean I probably
have, but didn’t know it. This CD is a must have for any fan of fantasy films
and really good top notch film music. These pictures may have had slim budgets,
but the music was absolutely superb. I might add that conductor, Masatoshi
Mitsumoto knows the music very well and adds the right nuances. He does a
great job, just as he did with the first two CDs in this marvelous series.
David has two more CDs planned to come out soon. One will have music from
Mighty Joe Young (1949) and the other will contain music from This Island
Earth. David is not selling these through the chain stores. You can only buy
them through mail order from Monstrous Movie Music. I would think wide distribution
would be the best thing, but evidently David has other plans. Please do pick
this and the next CDs up. If we don’t support this project, many horror and
sci-fi film music will be lost forever. Besides . . .I mean you have liner
notes that will take you at least 2 weeks to read and The Alligator People
. . . what more could a fan of film music want! Please check out our links
page to order this gem.
Marc Harwood
CINEMA CONCERTO
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