Omen II 1,235 Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 Does anyone else here like Roy Budd's film music? When I first heard anything by him I thought his music was a bit cheesy and too 70's for my taste way back when. However, that changed a few years ago when I was browsing in the soundtrack section of Tower Records and they were playing the car chase music from the movie Fear Is the Key; it is the first and only time I have ever bought a CD on the spot after hearing something played in a shop. Since then his music has really grown on me and I have read that some of his best scores will be remastered and re-released by Silva Screen this year. His best scores are typified by a heavy bass line, very 'fat' brass arrangements, funky rhythms and fiendish piano riffs (Budd was a magnificent jazz pianist). He died tragically young after suffering a brain haemorrhage in 1993. For the uninitiated, here are a few YouTube videos showcasing some of his best stuff: The first clip features Budd himself playing. I know it's the sort of music that probably isn't to everyone's taste (I think you have to like jazz / funk at least a bit), but I wondered what other John Williams fans thought about him. A24 and Sharkissimo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melange 446 Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 My only score of his is for (1978).It's a decent film itself,starring big names like Richard Burton,Roger Moore and Richard Harris who were all great together.Roger Moore in particular, was suave as F*** in that movie and Richard Burton was (true to form) terrifyingly intense at times.I got the soundtrack not long after seeing the film. It's a fun soundtrack which reflects the film's various mixed ingredients. It is famous for this by uniquely voiced Joan Armatrading which really grows on you once you've watched the film. They used a piece by Borodin throughout the film too, to good effect. Just had a look and on the Amazons it is out of print and idiotic prices are being asked by sellers. But this site has it for £24.99 (about US$35.00 or so?) if you want to snap it up. Like you say, much of his work is a product of the era in terms of style. But then again, so is Lalo Schifrin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omen II 1,235 Posted May 29, 2017 Author Share Posted May 29, 2017 Roy Budd's score for the silent film The Phantom of the Opera will be performed live to picture at the London Coliseum in October! I hope this is a precursor to some of Roy Budd's other film music being programmed in concert. The Phantom of the Opera Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,490 Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 I haven't heard as much Budd as I want to, but GET CARTER is one of my favourite films. And what a score it is! It's become somewhat of a crossover hit, even. I also like FEAR IS THE KEY and MAMA DRACULA. Naïve Old Fart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,511 Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Whoa! That's nice. I really like Budd's scores. GET CARTER has Northern disconnection, and loneliness, all the way through it. I even like (ssshh!) The Human League's version (oh, the humanity!). FEAR IS THE KEY, and THE WILD GEESE, are great, as is PAPER TIGER, and SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER. THE INTERNECINE PROJECT, is a nifty score, from an unusual film. WHO DARES WINS is a very silly film, but it shows us what could have been, if Eon went with Lewis Collins, as Bond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,490 Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Here's an article I wrote on GET CARTER awhile back: http://montages.no/2012/08/get-carter-1971/ I really wish it could be translated easily into English (better than Google Translate, anyway), but oh well.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fancyarcher 350 Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 In terms of Roy Budd scores I've listened to Get Carter, The Stone Killer, The Black Windmill, Fear is The Key, The Wild Geese. I listened to these five in a row when I first discovered his name, and went on a binge listening to his work. I've also listened to Kidnapped and Sinbad and The Eye of The Tiger (I know a lot of people who don't care for it), which are good examples of him doing more symphonic traditional orchestrated work as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omen II 1,235 Posted October 8, 2017 Author Share Posted October 8, 2017 This evening I attended the world premiere performance of Roy Budd's score for the 1925 silent film The Phantom of the Opera at the London Coliseum, home of English National Opera. It was arguably the perfect venue for the premiere - I could just imagine Lon Chaney as the Phantom watching on from one of the boxes. I had a nice surprise on arriving when we were upgraded from our balcony seats to seats in the dress circle, much closer to the screen and with a view of the orchestra (which you do not get to see at all from most seats in the balcony). Obviously therefore it was not a sell out, perhaps partly because the tickets in the best seats were rather pricey. Before the film started there was an introduction from Roy Budd's widow Sylvia, who described how the score had come about. It had been scheduled to be premiered at the Barbican in September 1993 with the composer conducting, but tragically he died from a brain haemorrhage just a few weeks before the premiere, so it was never performed. The music is fantastic, very operatic and gothic in places, but with plenty of stylistic touches that anyone familiar with Roy Budd's music would recognise straight away. The score was played by the Docklands Sinfonia, an orchestra formed as recently as 2009 by their conductor Spencer Down. They had a lot of young players and were excellent. I also very much enjoyed the film itself, which I don't think I had ever seen before with the exception of the scary mask removal scene. As I mentioned a few posts above, I hope to hear more of Roy Budd's film music performed in concert. This was the first time I had heard any of his music played live and it is baffling why his music is not played more often. Naïve Old Fart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omen II 1,235 Posted October 14, 2017 Author Share Posted October 14, 2017 There was a report about this on BBC London News during the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 On 10/8/2017 at 10:13 PM, Omen II said: This evening I attended the world premiere performance of Roy Budd's score for the 1925 silent film The Phantom of the Opera at the London Coliseum, home of English National Opera. It was arguably the perfect venue for the premiere - I could just imagine Lon Chaney as the Phantom watching on from one of the boxes. I had a nice surprise on arriving when we were upgraded from our balcony seats to seats in the dress circle, much closer to the screen and with a view of the orchestra (which you do not get to see at all from most seats in the balcony). Obviously therefore it was not a sell out, perhaps partly because the tickets in the best seats were rather pricey. Before the film started there was an introduction from Roy Budd's widow Sylvia, who described how the score had come about. It had been scheduled to be premiered at the Barbican in September 1993 with the composer conducting, but tragically he died from a brain haemorrhage just a few weeks before the premiere, so it was never performed. The music is fantastic, very operatic and gothic in places, but with plenty of stylistic touches that anyone familiar with Roy Budd's music would recognise straight away. The score was played by the Docklands Sinfonia, an orchestra formed as recently as 2009 by their conductor Spencer Down. They had a lot of young players and were excellent. I also very much enjoyed the film itself, which I don't think I had ever seen before with the exception of the scary mask removal scene. As I mentioned a few posts above, I hope to hear more of Roy Budd's film music performed in concert. This was the first time I had heard any of his music played live and it is baffling why his music is not played more often. How good is this score? Enough to warrant a CD purchase? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omen II 1,235 Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 33 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: How good is this score? Enough to warrant a CD purchase? I have never got round to buying it myself but it is certainly very good music and not typical of the sound I would associate with Roy Budd. It sounded quite Wagnerian at times. The trailer for the 2017 premiere gives you an idea of what to expect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 36 minutes ago, Omen II said: I have never got round to buying it myself but it is certainly very good music and not typical of the sound I would associate with Roy Budd. It sounded quite Wagnerian at times. The trailer for the 2017 premiere gives you an idea of what to expect. I've seen that one, but although it's nice, it's quite short. Btw, the recurring motif in this excerpt reminds me of some other film music or classical music, but I'm not sure what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omen II 1,235 Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 20 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: Btw, the recurring motif in this excerpt reminds me of some other film music or classical music, but I'm not sure what. Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 1 minute ago, Omen II said: Yeah, that's it, by that up-and-coming composer John Williams! Aparently it's a while since I listened to it. Way to go linking to the demaster, btw! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,511 Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Yeah, but...THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is from 1925, and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is from 1980, so... RIP-OFF!!! Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,191 Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 More like this (starting at 1:17, in case the embed doesn't): I didn't make the connection myself before your post though. At first, before the theme becomes more prominent, I thought of this (2:13): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 35 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said: Yeah, but...THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is from 1925, and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is from 1980, so... RIP-OFF!!! Actually, The Empire Strikes Back was released without a score, so John Williams had to create one in retrospect. Marian Schedenig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,191 Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 2 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said: Yeah, but...THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is from 1925, and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is from 1980, so... RIP-OFF!!! Roy Budd was born in 1947. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,511 Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Details. Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omen II 1,235 Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 28 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said: Details. Mr and Mrs Budd had a special kind of hug in 1946, then nine months later the stork delivered little Roy. Edmilson and Naïve Old Fart 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 42 minutes ago, Omen II said: Mr and Mrs Budd had a special kind of hug in 1946, then nine months later the stork delivered little Roy. It this how reproduction is taught in the UK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,490 Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Not familiar with PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (at least not the Budd version), but I like Budd in general. GET CARTER is one of my alltime favourite soundtracks (and films). Also love stuff like MAMA DRACULA, FEAR IS THE KEY etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 13 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said: I didn't make the connection myself before your post though. That could be because the motif and its alternating harmony, although quite effective to set a mood, is really quite generic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 On 5/29/2017 at 8:27 AM, Thor said: I haven't heard as much Budd as I want to, but GET CARTER is one of my favourite films. And what a score it is! It's become somewhat of a crossover hit, even. I also like FEAR IS THE KEY and MAMA DRACULA. 12 hours ago, Thor said: Not familiar with PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (at least not the Budd version), but I like Budd in general. GET CARTER is one of my alltime favourite soundtracks (and films). Also love stuff like MAMA DRACULA, FEAR IS THE KEY etc. So nice, we see it twice! Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,490 Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 Ha, ha. Well, there's consistency, at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,191 Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 7 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said: That could be because the motif and its alternating harmony, although quite effective to set a mood, is really quite generic. It definitely ran the Carbon Freeze bell in my mind, I just couldn't place it on my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 It turns out CS Radio covered Budd's Phantom score in 2017! The generous excerpt starts about 1h 20mins in. http://www.cinematicsound.net/the-archive-with-jason-drury-episode-two/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,426 Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 23 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said: It this how reproduction is taught in the UK? We have to keep JWFan family friendly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 I just ordered both the CD album and the DVD release from panamint.co.uk, where they're currently on sale. I placed the order at nine in the evening, and about three hours later I got an email saying it had been dispatched! Talk about fast service. Use the discount code SAVE10 to get an additional 10% discount. https://www.panamint.co.uk/roy-budd Paging @Omen II. Omen II 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 I'm so looking forward to checking out both the score and the film! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 I just got these. I've listened to the album, and while it may be accused of being somewhat generic or derivative in its melodic ideas, and over-reliant on the phantom's theme, it all comes together as a very satisfying listen. The atmosphere of the recording, with exactly the right amount of reverb, really adds to the experience. I highly recommended purchasing the album to all film music aficionados who like to dig into the less mainstream scores - support the independent label by following my link two posts above. Next: watching the film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Both the CD album and the DVD of The Phantom of the Opera are now available on SAE! https://www1.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/41032/THE-PHANTOM-OF-THE-OPERA-SILENT-FILM-SCORE-LIMITED-CD/ https://www1.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/41104/THE-PHANTOM-OF-THE-OPERA-DVD*-SILENT-FILM-WITH-ROY-BUDD-SCORE/ Naïve Old Fart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 This is such a great score. @Smeltington can confirm it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smeltington 1,436 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 I confirm it! And have I ever led you wrong? This is me we're talking about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Exactly! Smeltington 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 New release from Caldera Records, Man at the Top: https://www.intermezzomedia.com/man-at-the-top-c6037.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,490 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 I've had that for a few weeks. It's pretty good; not on GET CARTER's level, but in the same style, more or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 A review, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 I wonder how a Budd Bond score would sound. Pretty groovy, I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 On 9/10/2020 at 8:14 PM, Jurassic Shark said: Both the CD album and the DVD of The Phantom of the Opera are now available on SAE! https://www1.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/41032/THE-PHANTOM-OF-THE-OPERA-SILENT-FILM-SCORE-LIMITED-CD/ https://www1.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/41104/THE-PHANTOM-OF-THE-OPERA-DVD*-SILENT-FILM-WITH-ROY-BUDD-SCORE/ Now you get a 19% discount by using the code covid19. And no, this is not a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smeltington 1,436 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Jurassic Shark and Edmilson 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,511 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Roy Budd doesn't have to happen. Roy Budd is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,051 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Roy Budd is life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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