The Oscars are almost upon us, and soundtrack label Quartet Records recently announced four archival score titles all tied with winning Academy Awards across the '70s, '80s and '90s.
The oldest title is also the only of the four which actually earned a trophy for Best Original Score: the 1970 drama Love Story. An adaptation of sorts of a bestselling romance novel by Erich Segal (who turned his screenplay into a novel at Paramount Pictures' request to drum up anticipation for the film), Love Story tells the tale of a wealthy college student (Ryan O'Neal) and his working-class paramour (Ali McGraw) whose romance is challenged by an unspeakable tragedy. Known for the oft-quoted line "Love means never having to say you're sorry," Love Story transcended mixed reviews to earn a considerable profit from audiences and earn seven Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. Francis Lai's romantic theme to the film was later given lyrics by Carl Sigman and sung by Andy Williams, who took "Where Do I Begin (Love Story)" to the Top 10 of the pop charts. This expanded presentation of the Love Story score includes Lai's score as heard in the film issued for the first time on CD - restored from mono elements by engineer Chris Malone - along with the newly remastered original soundtrack album. This disc, featuring notes by Jeff Bond, is limited to 1000 units.
Next up is Nino Rota's score to Federico Fellini's semiautobiographical 1973 drama Amarcord, a coming-of-age story set among an eclectic cast of characters in '30s Italy. The Godfather composer Nino Rota recorded a stirring and nostalgic score for this film, an Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film; Amarcord receives definitive presentation on this 2CD set, which features the original film score making its debut on CD along with the 1973 soundtrack album and a host of unreleased alternate takes and bonus tracks. Produced by Claudio Fuiano and Jose M. Benitez and mastered in stereo by Chris Malone, this set features liner notes by Gergely Hubai and is limited to 2000 units.
In 1986, Oliver Stone made history as the first writer-director to make a film about the Vietnam War after serving in the conflict. Platoon replicated the horrors of the war as seen through the eyes of a typical Army platoon, beset not only by enemy combat but the horrors and foibles of the men themselves. Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe led an ensemble cast that included early-career turns by Forest Whitaker and Johnny Depp. Platoon took home four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, and began an informal Vietnam trilogy for Stone, which continued with 1989's Born on the Fourth of July and Heaven and Earth (1993). Georges Delerue's score finally is available in full on this disc, having been excerpted on releases in 1987 and 1995. Neil S. Bulk produces, Doug Schwartz masters from the original two-track stereo elements and Tim Grieving writes liner notes for this package, limited to 1000 units.
Finally, Quartet has a most unusual feast: Howard Shore's score to the iconic Jonathan Demme-directed horror film The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Based on Thomas Harris' novel, Silence is one of only three to win all five "major" Oscars of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. Here, Jodie Foster's novice FBI trainee Clarice Starling tracks down a cold-blooded killer with the help of another murderer, the refined, cannibalistic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter. While 1986's film adaptation of Harris' Manhunter featured Brian Cox as the first portrayer of Lecter onscreen, Sir Anthony Hopkins' performance here became one of cinema's most well-known turns; Hopkins would reprise the role in an additional two films. Shore's score here is expanded to completion under the composer's supervision. Like Platoon, this release is produced by Bulk and mastered by Schwartz, with liner notes by Jeff Bond. Only 1000 units will be available.
All four scores are available to order from the label now; full track lists and links are below.
Howard Shore, The Silence of the Lambs: Expanded Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack (originally released as MCA Records MCAD-10194, 1991 - reissued Quartet, 2018)
- Main Title
- Bulletin Board *
- Visit to Lecter/You Look Like a Rube
- Miggs
- First Flashback/FBI Montage *
- Clarice (Film Version) *
- I'll Help You
- The Abduction
- West Virginia Car Ride *
- Rock of Ages Flashback
- The Bug Cocoon/Washington *
- Death Head Moth *
- Quid Pro Quo, Yes or No
- Lecter in Memphis
- Lambs Screaming
- Lecter Escapes **
- Laundromat *
- Belvedere, Ohio
- To Calumet City *
- The Moth
- The Cellar
- Finale
- Clarice
- Death Head Moth (Alternate) *
- Drops of Blood (Lecter Escapes - Alternate Excerpt) *
* previously unreleased ** contains previously unreleased material
Georges Delerue, Platoon: Expanded Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack (Quartet, 2018. Original film released 1986)
- The Village (Orchestra Only) *
- Main Title
- Rejoice in Thy Youth *
- Grunts in the Rain *
- Maybe I Found It/Ambush *
- Base Camp *
- Bunker to Village (Film Version) **
- Charlie's Sorrow **
- Carrying the Children/Time We Got Ours Kicked/Sun and Rain *
- The Enemy Was in Us *
- Barnes Shoots Elias (Film Version)
- The Soul of An Innocent
- The Turning Point
- Enemy Prep *
- Killing Barnes **
- Mass Grave *
- Finale and End Title
- Adagio for Strings (Orchestra Only) *
- Grunts in the Rain (Alternate Take) *
- Bunker to Village (Alternate Ending)
- The Enemy Was in Us (Alternate Take) *
- The Turning Point (Alternate Take) **
- Killing Barnes (Alternate Take) **
- The Village (Album Version)
- Barnes Shoots Elias (Album Version)
- Adagio for Strings (with Narration by Charlie Sheen)
* previously unreleased ** contains previously unreleased material
Tracks 2, 7-8 (portions), 11-13, 15 (portion), 17, 20 and 22-23 (portions) originally released on Prometheus PCD-136, 1995
Tracks 24-26 originally released on Atlantic 81742, 1987
Nino Rota, Amarcord: Expanded Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Quartet, 2018 - original film released 1973)
Disc 1: The Film Score
- Titoli
- Amarcord (Il Barbiere)
- Siboney
- La Foragaccia (Film Version)
- Le Manine di Primavera
- Amarcord (Scuola pianoforte)
- Lo Struscio Part 1 (Film Version): Quel motivetto che mi piace tanto/Stormy Weather
- Lo Struscio Part 2 (Film Version): La Cucaracha
- Gary Cooper
- Amarcord (March 1)
- Amarcord (March 2)
- Amarcord (Ceremony Hymn and Wedding March)
- Siboney
- Amarcord (Grand Hotel)
- La Gradisca e il principe
- Amarcord (Tenderness)
- L'emiro e le sue Odalische Part 1 (Film Version): Salomé - Abat-Jour
- L'emiro e le sue Odalische Part 2 (Film Version)
- Amarcord (Dancefloor Part 1)
- Amarcord (Dancefloor Part 2)
- Tutti a vedere il Rex
- Amarcord (Guitar and Harmonica)
- La Gradisca si sposa e se ne va
- Amarcord
- Danzando nella nebbia
- Amarcord (Dancing)
- Amarcord (Funeral)
- Siboney
- La Gradisca si sposa e se ne va/Amarcord (Finale)
Disc 2: Original Soundtrack Album (1-12, CAM Records SAG 9055, 1974), Alternates and Bonus Tracks
- Amarcord
- La Foragaccia
- Le manine di primavera
- Lo Struscio
- L'emiro e le sue odalische
- Gary Cooper
- La Gradisca e il príncipe
- Siboney
- Danzando nella nebbia
- Tutti a vedere il Rex
- Quanto mi piace la Gradisca
- La Gradisca si sposa e se ne va
- Amarcord (Theme)
- Siboney (Fisa)
- Amarcord (Grand Hotel) (Alternate)
- Amarcord (Dancefloor Part 1) (Alternate)
- Amarcord (Dancefloor Part 2) (Alternate)
- Siboney (Guitar)
- Amarcord (Funeral) (Alternate)
- Danzando nella nebbia (Alternate Mix)
- Amarcord (Theme)
- L'internazionale (Solo violin)
- Amarcord (Wild Scream)
- Amarcord (Gregorian Chant)
- Amarcord (Fisa - Alternate Takes)
- Amarcord (Fisa and Guitar - Alternate Takes)
- Amarcord (Zio matto a vuoto)
- Lo Struscio (Part 1) (Alternate)
- L'emiro e le sue odalische (Part 1) (Alternate)
- Le manine di primavera
Francis Lai, Love Story: Music from the Motion Picture (Quartet, 2018 - original film released 1970)
- Theme from Love Story
- Snow Frolice
- Mozart Sonata in F Major (Allegro)
- I Love You Phil
- The Christmas Tree
- Search for Jenny (Theme from Love Story)
- Bozo Barrett (Theme from Love Story)
- Skating in Central Park
- The Long Walk Home
- J.S. Bach Concerto Nº 3 in D Major (Allegro)
- Theme from Love Story (Finale)
- Snow Frolic (For Me Alone) (Single Version)
- Theme from Love Story
- I Love You Phil
- Mozart Sonata in F Major (Allegro)
- Lovemaking
- Snow Frolic
- J.S. Bach Concerto Nº 3 in D Major (Allegro)
- Bozo Barrett
- Search for Jenny
- The Christmas Trees
- The Long Walk Home (Part 1)
- The Long Walk Home (Part 2)
- Skating in Central Park
- The Long Walk Home (Part 3)
- Finale
- Snow Frolic (Alternate Mix)
- Theme from Love Story (Guitar Version)
Tracks 1-11 released as Paramount Records PAS-6002, 1970
Track 12 released as Paramount Records single PAA-0086, 1971
Tracks 13-28 previously unreleased film score
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