ron grainer

[phil]

Is there any reason why there is so little Ron Grainer music available. He must be the most unrepresented soundtrack composer out there.

I'm sure he has many fans who feel the same.

[batman]

I used to have this on cassette ....

[Geoffers]

name='batman']I used to have this on cassette ....

I produced that album a good few years ago! It was a very difficult compilation because there were so many companies involved, all of whom wanted to negotiate licensing deals.



That's probably why there has not been one since then - Ron did not record a great amount of music with one particular company.



A couple of years ago someone told me he had the rights to release an album of Grainer's music from 'Tales of the Unexpected' but he was having a problem getting a record label interested.



It's ironic that he composed the themes to some of the best-known TV series, such as Maigret, Steptoe & Son, Doctor Who, The Prisoner, yet little is known about him or his music. Hopefully one day someone will take a chance and try doing the definitive box-set.

[batman]

name='Geoffers'] Hopefully one day someone will take a chance and try doing the definitive box-set.

Hear hear ... I'd buy it!



I wish I still had the cassette. Whenever I see a pile of old LPs or cassettes at boot sales or in charity shops I always hope that will be the pile I find that album in.



Well done Geoffers, it's a great album.

[mariocki]

The CD of that goes for a fair few quid on Ebay. There is another one that has the worst cover I've ever seen:



Dr Doctor Who Man in a Suitcase Prisoner Ron Grainer CD on eBay, also, CDs, Music (end time 06-Jul-08 22:30:26 BST)

[phil]

Seconded Batman, it's one of my favourite albums and I never tire of it. I have an old LP of incidental music from Maigret as well but thats about it.

Would love The Moonspinners and Mousey to become available.

[batman]

I love his music for the ITC series and also for Night Must Fall and The Caretaker. Both very evocative and moody scores.

[Geoffers]

name='mariocki']The CD of that goes for a fair few quid on Ebay. There is another one that has the worst cover I've ever seen:



Dr Doctor Who Man in a Suitcase Prisoner Ron Grainer CD on eBay, also, CDs, Music (end time 06-Jul-08 22:30:26 BST)

No, I won't have that! Although, maybe you never saw the original cover of the A to Z of British TV Themes Volume 2? That was in a class of its own - drawn by the same artist. Who, incidentally, was quite offended when both covers were replaced!

[earlb]

[ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/British-TV-Themes-Grainer-Years/dp/B0000271X6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1215295737&sr=8-3]Amazon.co.uk: The A To Z Of British TV Themes - The Ron Grainer Years: Ron Grainer: Music[/ame]

[batman]

name='earlb']Amazon.co.uk: The A To Z Of British TV Themes - The Ron Grainer Years: Ron Grainer: Music

Cheers Earl ... that's where I uploaded the picture from, but I am not paying £50 for it. Mrs Bat would cut my wings off!

[earlb]

name='batman']Cheers Earl ... that's where I uploaded the picture from, but I am not paying £50 for it. Mrs Bat would cut my wings off!

I have to agree Bats. I would say someone was 'Robin' someone.

[Stephen Laws]

Just thought I'd add a contribution here - singing the praises of Grainer's score for the Charlton Heston movie THE OMEGA MAN (actually a loose adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel I AM LEGEND). After many years, a superb CD of the complete soundtrack was eventually released (much to the delight of Grainer fans, of whom I'm one) - and now fetches a fortune on Ebay. Although his work for television series is often cited, for a short period in the early 1970's, Grainer composed some very fine scores to American movies and TV movies which are rarely picked up on - and it's a damn shame that they've never been released. MOUSEY has already been mentioned in a previous posting (released as CAT AND MOUSE in the UK), but there was also THIEF (starring Richard Crenna) which has a lot in common stylistically with THE OMEGA MAN and a crime thriller starring Robert Hardy called YELLOW DOG (which played once on television many, many years ago prior to the video age, and the theme music of which I taped using a reel-to-reel tape recorder and hand held microphone!).



Other Grainer fans should keep their eyes open for a 1969 LP entitled 'Themes Like ...' which, as well as television themes, includes his rare main title music for movies such as THE ASSASSINATION BUREAU, ONLY WHEN I LARF, BEFORE WINTER COMES (and a weird 'novelty' song called '

[Stephen Laws]

- -- (message continued): ... "Wild Daffoldil' - sung by Mr Grainer himself!!!



Stephen Laws

The Midnight Man: The Official Website of the author Stephen Laws

[Stephen Laws]

- And just to mention to a previous poster that the soundtrack music for THE MOONSPINNERS was released on an LP, so keep your eye open in the second-hand stores. (I have a copy - it's on Vista BV-3323).



Stephen Laws

The Midnight Man: The Official Website of the author Stephen Laws

[phil]

name='Stephen Laws']- And just to mention to a previous poster that the soundtrack music for THE MOONSPINNERS was released on an LP, so keep your eye open in the second-hand stores. (I have a copy - it's on Vista BV-3323).



Stephen Laws

The Midnight Man: The Official Website of the author Stephen Laws

Thanks Stephen I'll keep a look out for that.

[Midwich cuckoo]

Twenty or so years ago, Six of One sold an album of music from the Prisoner which included an alternative theme track by Grainer. McGoohan apparently whistled what he wanted and that became the actual theme we know. The LP was on the Bam Caruso label. Wish I still had it!

[Lord Brett]

name='Stephen Laws']. MOUSEY has already been mentioned in a previous posting (released as CAT AND MOUSE in the UK), but there was also THIEF (starring Richard Crenna) which has a lot in common stylistically with THE OMEGA MAN and a crime thriller starring Robert Hardy called YELLOW DOG (which played once on television many, many years ago prior to the video age, and the theme music of which I taped using a reel-to-reel tape recorder and hand held microphone!).

'

You are the only person I've ever come across who has actually seen and remembers Yellow Dog! I'd love to see that again.

[mariocki]

name='Midwich cuckoo']Twenty or so years ago, Six of One sold an album of music from the Prisoner which included an alternative theme track by Grainer. McGoohan apparently whistled what he wanted and that became the actual theme we know. The LP was on the Bam Caruso label. Wish I still had it!

I've still got mine somewhere, great Checkmate cover IIRC.

[Lord Brett]

At last, Ron Grainer's score for the Charlton Heston movie Omega Man is being rereleased. A cult classic score in its own right, this draws on and reworks Grainer's themes from The Prisoner, but is a lovely piece of work in its own right.



The Omega Man soundtrack (2008 reissue CD: The Omega Man 2.0 Unlimited) - Ron Grainer