For many, Adam West will always be the one, true Batman. The self-described “Bright Knight” passed away yesterday at the age of 88 following a brief battle with leukemia. Yet he will always remain in the hearts of his fans not just for his indelible portrayal of the Caped Crusader, but for his eternally tongue-in-cheek good humor and considerable talent. West survived being typecast in Hollywood to establish himself to a new generation with his numerous voiceover performances on the big and small screens, while never turning his back on the role…
Neal, Meet Neil: Varese Premieres Hefti’s Scores to Simon’s “Barefoot,” “Odd Couple”
If there’s a sound associated with playwright Neil Simon, it’s that of laughter. And if it’s a musical sound, it’s the sound of Neal Hefti. The late composer (1922-2008) created the memorable theme that introduced The Odd Couple to the big screen in 1968, and has been subsequently heard on television in 1970, and once again today in a small-screen revival. Varese Sarabande’s We Hear You series has recently offered a tale of two Neil/Neals with the world premiere releases on CD of the original soundtrack recordings by Hefti to Simon’s The…
To The Batcave! La-La Land Reissues Nelson Riddle’s “Batman” For 50th Anniversary
Today, La-La Land announced a new reissue of Nelson Riddle’s score to 1966’s Batman: The Movie, just in time to celebrate the film’s 50th anniversary. The label premiered its expanded edition of Batman in 2010 (itself an expansion of a prior Film Score Monthly CD) and it proved to be a sold-out success. Though the same master will be utilized for the upcoming reissue, the 2016 edition features colorful new artwork by Jim Titus, as well as all-new liner notes by John Takis. The Second Disc reviewed the original release in 2010, and…
More Powerful Than A Locomotive: DC Celebrates Musical Legacy with New Collection
Superheroes and comic book characters have become a larger force in pop culture over recent years with many comic-book based properties racing to the top of list box-office winners each year, and over ten comic book-related television shows scheduled to air this fall on various networks. DC Comics, home to Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and dozens of others, has been a big part of that. Next week also sees the annual San Diego Comic Con taking place, the largest comic and pop culture gathering in the U.S. To tie in with that…
Say, Say, Say! The Second Disc’s Essential RSD Black Friday 2015 Release Guide
From all of us here at Second Disc HQ to all of you, we hope you’re enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving in the company of family and friends. Of course, from this day which conjures nostalgic and warm feelings comes a celebration of a different kind with this year’s annual Black Friday – the day for consumers to start off the holiday shopping season on a mad, frenetic note. But 2015 is just in the latest year in which numerous retailers in the U.S. have made headlines by blackening Thursday, or Thanksgiving Day…
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Release Round-Up: Week of January 13
The Legacy Collection – Fantasia Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Walt Disney Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) This 4-CD presentation of Walt Disney’s animated masterwork features both the Leopold Stokowski and Irwin Kostal recordings of the complete score, plus bonus material, in a deluxe hardbound format. Johnny Winter, Remembrance – Volume One (Friday Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. ) Friday Music celebrates the late, great Johnny Winter with this new set licensed from his estate. Disc One culls tracks from the artist’s Live Bootleg Series, and Disc 2 presents the first-time CD release of…
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Kritzerland Celebrates “Summer” With Jerome Kern and Alfred Newman, Goes “Hollywood” With Neal Hefti
At first blush, Kritzerland’s two new releases don’t have much in common – though one celebrates the Golden Age of Hollywood and one is actually from The Golden Age of Hollywood. But both titles hail from celebrated and influential composers, and both of these scores are making their first-ever appearances on soundtrack albums. The composers are the legendary Jerome Kern and the big band great-turned-swinging sixties theme titan Neal Hefti, and the films are Centennial Summer and Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood, respectively. And since two Heftis are better…
Q Applause For Mr. Jones and Mr. Hefti: “Enter Laughing” and “Synanon” Come to CD
If you don’t know the name Neal Hefti, you undoubtedly know the man’s music…whether it’s the indelible, insinuating, harpsichord-and-brass theme to The Odd Couple, or the frenetic, groovy Batman theme from the Caped Crusader’s campy television show. And Quincy Jones, the man known as Q, needs no introduction. Like Hefti a veteran of jazz and big band, Jones’ trailblazing productions on landmark albums such as Michael Jackson’s Thriller (to name just one) ensured his place in the pantheon. Today, the Kritzerland label announced the CD debut of two rare soundtrack recordings on…
Review: “Batman – The Movie: Original Motion Picture Score”
It’s somewhat ironic that a man so closely associated with the lush, timeless music of Frank Sinatra would find such great fame (or notoriety?) as a composer scoring one of the most over-the-top television series ever. Yet such was the case of Nelson Riddle, who as arranger and conductor was a chief sonic architect of Sinatra’s unprecedented run of Capitol concept albums and beyond. His television credits included such groundbreaking programs as The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Naked City and Route 66. In 1966, the esteemed Mr. Riddle picked up the baton from Neal Hefti (another…
