Popular musicians who have written film music

[djdave]

Several popular musicians have written film music over the years.

Here's a short list for people to peruse and add to:

Bob Dylan - Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid
Paul McCartney - The Family Way
Francis Monkman (Sky and Curved Air) - The Long Good Friday
Randy Newman - various
Randy Eidelman - various
Paul Anka - The Longest Day March
Queen - Flash Gordon
John Barry (the John Barry 7) - various
Bert Kaempfert (orchestra leader) - A Man Could Get Killed (from which the music to the song Strangers In The Night comes)
Johnny Dankworth - Modesty Blaise
Duke Ellington - Anatomy Of A Murder

Any other ideas?

[DB7]

Nobody holds a candle to Burt Bacharach - were do you start selecting his compositions tho Raindrops Keep Fallin on my Head would be up there.

[Quiller]

Henry Mancini?

[djdave]

Originally Posted by DB7 Nobody holds a candle to Burt Bacharach - were do you start selecting his compositions tho Raindrops Keep Fallin on my Head would be up there.

Bacharach is certainly a good example of a musician who has had a dual career: a film composer and a popular song writer (with long-time lyricist partner Hal David)

Originally Posted by Quiller Henry Mancini?

Mancini started playing in orchestras/big bands before he began composing his film music. But he also had - like Bacharach - a dual career: in his case, releasing LPs of covers of exisiting orchestral music.

Both brilliant, of course

[bottle07]

Peter Gabriel -

Birdy; The Last Temptation of Christ (his masterpiece IMO), Rabbit Proof Fence

[dylan]

Eric Clapton - various inc Nil By Mouth.

Robbie Robertson - various inc Easy Rider.

Modern Jazz Quartet - Various.

Miles Davis - Various.

D.

[Quiller]

We should all be shot for not mentioning ROY BUDD! He was a musician before he started films. His music for films is much better than his reputation.

[spinalman]

Originally Posted by bottle07 Peter Gabriel - Birdy; The Last Temptation of Christ (his masterpiece IMO), Rabbit Proof Fence

Birdy is an intersting one in that Alan Parker asked to use his favourite tracks but with them remixed without the vocals. i don't think there was any written specifically for Birdy - but it is still a superb soundtrack -a favourite of mine. I'll look out for last Temptation.

Joe Jackson did "Tucker" and 'Mike's Murder"
and Bjork did Dancer in the Dark soundtrack.

[Freddy]

A popular 30 minute film often discussed on here is Les Bicyclettes de Belsize.(1969)
One of the songs featured is 'Gentlemen of the Park' sung by the group Episode Six who comprised of among others Roger Glover (founder member) and Ian Gillan. In July 1969 they both became part of Deep Purple. Episode Six also contributed to the soundtrack of Twisted Nerve.

Later when Gillan formed the Ian Gillan Band he was joined by keyboard player
Colin Towns who was with him from 1976 to 1983 when Gillan went on to join Black Sabbath. Towns was then able to concentrate on tv and film, his many many compositions include Pie in the Sky; Cadfael; Capitol City; Doc Martin and many more.
I urge you to look at his website, it gives great details of the films and tv he has done and it has jogged my memory of some fine tv.

Unofficial Colin Towns Website - Home Page

Interestingly the first keyboard player of the Ian Gillan Band was Mike Moran (75-76) who also went on to film and tv compositions such as New Tricks, Taggart and Time Bandits.

regards

Freddy

[Freddie Freeloader]

Check this out tomorrow afternoon.
Should be interesting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/freakzone/index.shtml

[djdave]

Originally Posted by Quiller We should all be shot for not mentioning ROY BUDD! He was a musician before he started films. His music for films is much better than his reputation.

Yes, indeed. Budd was a respected jazz pianist who - along with his small jazz combo - toured the pubs and clubs of London and the South east in the 60s.

I'm quite a fan of his film music. I got into it via 1971's classic Get Carter. That main theme....how cool is that? Then I saw 1971's Kidnapped - also with Michael Caine - and the beautifully haunting music he wrote for it. And I was hooked.

The way Budd got into film music is interesting...basically, he lied through his teeth. He'd wanted to score films for a while: a film called Soldier Blue was coming up, so he got together some lesser-known film music from existing film composers and passed it off as his own. He got the commission and never looked back......

[Quiller]

Dave, I'd heard that story, too. I think it was the Bernard Herrmann bits that got him the job! lol

Diamonds is one of his scores I've always wanted to hear. I've only heard the title track, and it has an amazing beat to it. Very seventies. Budd died too young I think.

Kidnapped - pity about the film! Good god, it's bad, but the music is great. Donald Pleasence is about the only good think in that film.

[Freddie Freeloader]

Here's the tracklist for this afternoon's Freak Zone.
Some very familiar stuff but new things (to me) from Italy.
The show can be listened to over the next seven days

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/freakzone/index.shtml

MOST RECENT SHOW - SUNDAY*23 JULY
SOUNDTRACK: Space Odyssey 2001
Overture: Atmospheres
Main Title: Also Sprach Zarathustra
The Blue Danube Excerpt
Jupiter & Beyond
Gayane Ballet Suite (Adagio)

UNIVERSITY OF THE STRANGE
Morricone - Matto, Caldo, Soldi, Morto...Girotondo******
I Marc 4 - On The Rain
Berto Pisano - To Jean
Piero Piccioni - Black Flower
Alessandroni - Spiagge Assure

SOUNDTRACK: Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud
Generique
L'Assassinat De Carala
Sur L'Autoroute
Julien Dans L'Ascenseur
Florence Sure Les Champs-Elysees
Diner Au Motel
Evasion De Julien
Visite Du Vigile
Au Bar Du Petit Bac
Chez Le Photographe Du Motel
Nuit Sur Les Champs-Elysees

SOUNDTRACK: Tangerine Dream: The Sorcerer
Main Title
Search
The Call
Creation
Vengeance
The Journey
Grind
Rain Forest
Abyss

SOUNDTRACK: Once Upon A Time In The West
Once Upon A Time In The West
As A Judgement
Farewell To Cheyenne
The Transgression
The First Tavern
The Second Tavern
Once Upon A Time In The West Reprise
Man With A Harmonica
A Dimly Lit Room

SOUNDTRACK: The Wicker Man
The Wicker Man
Corn Rigs 1 & 3
Landlord's Daughter
Festival Photos
Loving Couples
Willow's Song
Maypole Song
Beetle
Ruined Church Sequence
Corn Rigs 4 & Fire Leap
Fireleap & Reprise
Graveyard Sequence - Tinker Of Rye
Tinker Of Rye pt 2
Festival
Masks
Summer Is A Coming In

Fred

[Freddy]

Paul Simon: The Graduate.

The opening with Sounds of Silence memorable.

Freddy

[steereomono]

Good choice Freddy - "The Graduate" used popular music in an effective, cinematic manner,
something that is sadly lacking today when any tune seems to be stuck on at random.

Anyway, before the "Grumpy Old Man" syndrome fully kicks in
here's another Beatley one:
George Harrison: Wonderwall (1968)

Rumblefish (1983) by Stewart Copeland
also from that year is Mark Knopler's co-write with fellow
(uncredited) band member Guy Fletcher on "Local Hero"

All the Right Noises (1971) is by Melanie.
also from 1971 is Ray Davies' "Percy".

And for a good pop-psyche soundtrack there's Mike Hugg/Manfred Mann's "Up the Junction" (1968)