Thor 7,478 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 This doesn't have a previous thread either, it seems. The film is a forgettable, soapy Chris Columbus melodrama, but the score is great -- especially considering it's a replacement score (not sure how much time he had). Paints wintery landscapes in broad strokes, with gorgeous writing for woodwinds and solo guitar (Chris Parkening is one of our greatest masters). I've become more and more enamoured with this particular sound of Williams in later years (STANLEY & IRIS, PETE'N'TILLIE, THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST etc.). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Sítrónu 494 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 1 hour ago, Thor said: The film is a forgettable, soapy Chris Columbus melodrama disagreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,478 Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share Posted March 25, 2017 That's fine. Don't get me wrong -- I do like it sometimes when he goes all out mushy; when it's kind of a "celebration" of all those aspects, like HOME ALONE or the HARRY POTTERs or MRS. DOUBTFIRE. But it may also result in misfires, like BICENTENNIAL MAN and STEPMOM. Great melodrama is a tricky genre to get right. At least we almost always get great scores out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 906 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 I love this score. Especially the tracks that feature the guitar as well as the sprightly Horse and Buggy cue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,507 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 It's very nice, and I also like the guitar pieces, but...geez, doesn't JW get bored conducting his own music, all the time? Has he ever had the urge to conduct THE RING CYCLE, or the complete works of BRAHMS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,713 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 It is a charming little score with a lovely autumnal feel to it, very much in line with lyrical intimate JW scores like The Accidental Tourist and Stanley & Iris. The Days Between (aka the End Credits) is a particular highlight, both the guitar and oboe versions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,640 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 1 hour ago, Richard said: It's very nice, and I also like the guitar pieces, but...geez, doesn't JW get bored conducting his own music, all the time? Has he ever had the urge to conduct THE RING CYCLE, or the complete works of BRAHMS? Your avatar is Rush. Do their concerts typically feature a lot of music by other bands? Does that irritate you as well? Or are you being sarcastic and I am just not getting it? Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,507 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 Rest assured, Tom, you are getting it, and that's a good point, but even Rush had a FEEDBACK tour (which I saw, btw). I know that JW is, primarily a composer, and that composers - usually - conduct their own music, but I wonder what JW's "spin" on, say, Vaughn Williams' 4th Symphony might be? I'm not sure that he's ever stretched himself, as an interpreter of other people's music. After all, he is influenced by a lot of people. Then again, one could argue "why would he want/need to?". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,640 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 In the heyday of his conducting (BPO years), the ratio of other people's music to his was like 10 to 1. At this point, when he does conduct, he seems like he is on an extended farewell tour, giving the largest segment of the audience what it wants. At the end of the day, I think he sees conducting only as a means to an end. Composing he seems to find his artistic fulfillment. Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 I love this score! Worth mentioning is the recording of "The Days Between" by Keisuke Wakao, accompanied on the piano by the Master himself. Keisuke Wakao plays music of John Williams (1999, Denon, COCQ-83115; Pilot, Maruyama, Williams, Wakao, Borromeo String Qt) Featuring John Williams (p): The Days Between from "Stepmom". Incanus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,478 Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share Posted March 25, 2017 The Keisuke Wakao CD is a must-have for all Williams fans, and not only for the STEPMOM piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,713 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 1 hour ago, Thor said: The Keisuke Wakao CD is a must-have for all Williams fans, and not only for the STEPMOM piece. Absolutely! Among the top re-recordings done of Maestro's work. The arrangements are all top notch. E.g. the rarely performed The Accidental Tourist piece is fantastic and perfect showcase for oboe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,478 Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share Posted March 25, 2017 And while you're at it, get the oboe concerto, which was written specifically for Wakao. It's not as strong as the bassoon concerto ("Five Sacred Trees"), but it's growing on me. Sorry, that was a total detour. Back to STEPMOM, I've always contemplated how cool it would have been if John Williams had employed John Williams instead of Parkening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John 2,032 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,322 Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 On 3/25/2017 at 5:33 AM, Thor said: This doesn't have a previous thread either, it seems. http://www.jwfan.com/forums/index.php?/topic/17434-rate-stepmom/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BrotherSound 2,242 Posted February 28, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 28, 2021 Well, anyone dying to see the complete cue list for Stepmom, today’s your lucky day! Found it in the SESAC repertoire, apparently in film order: 688787458 Stepmom 688787459 Ben’s Antics 688787461 Isabel’s Expertise 688787462 Luke’s Rationale 688787463 She Can Cook Too 688787464 I Trust You 688787465 Feeling Change 688787467 I Killed Her 688787468 Get Out of My House 688787469 Ben Is Lost 688787470 On Horseback 688787471 I’d Do It For You 688787472 Isabel’s Rejection 688787473 Through MRI 688787474 Hung By A Thread 688787475 Art Lesson 688787476 Jackie’s Trick 688787477 I’m Telepathic 688787478 The Soccer Game 688787479 Side Effects 688787480 I Know Your Secret 688787481 Wrong Secret 688787482 It Should Have Been Me 688787483 Snowy Night 688787484 Horseplay 688787485 Career Decision 688787486 Do Something About It 688787487 Airport Meeting 688787488 Picture Gallery 688787489 Luke Brings the Tree 688787490 Are You Scared 688787491 Stepmom End Credits 688787492 You’re a Good Father 688787493 Poster Boy 688787494 Doing the Best I Can 688787497 Ladies Bonding 688787498 Magic Cape Falstaft, MrJosh, Once and 4 others 3 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,429 Posted February 28, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 28, 2021 Would be great if they release that on. Not Williams finest work but it's still a good score that deserve an expansion. #releaseStepmomexpandedscore BrotherSound, Amer, thx99 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerateWohl 4,343 Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 On 3/25/2017 at 6:43 PM, Bespin said: I love this score! Worth mentioning is the recording of "The Days Between" by Keisuke Wakao, accompanied on the piano by the Master himself. http://www.goplanete.com/johnwilliams/images/disco/p_cocq83115.jpg Keisuke Wakao plays music of John Williams (1999, Denon, COCQ-83115; Pilot, Maruyama, Williams, Wakao, Borromeo String Qt) Featuring John Williams (p): The Days Between from "Stepmom". I mentioned it several times. I prefer the piano only version. Unfortunately, no recording exists to my knowledge. So, I had to take piano lessons to play it myself (more badly than well, but betterthan nothing). Together with Theme from Sabrina probably my favourite piano piece from Williams. But I would not need an expansion of the original album unless the piano arrangement is on it. Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 1 hour ago, Raiders of the SoundtrArk said: Not Williams finest work (...) I totally disagree. Raiders of the SoundtrArk and SteveMc 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,429 Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 1 hour ago, Bespin said: I totally disagree. As I said not Williams finest work but as he's THE master it's obviously another masterpiece! [Edit] never heard this piano version before thanks for the sharing. Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 John Williams is playing the piano on that track. Raiders of the SoundtrArk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,429 Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,396 Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 3 hours ago, BrotherSound said: 688787498 What do these codes mean? These aren't reel/part numbers, or are they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrotherSound 2,242 Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 9 minutes ago, Edmilson said: What do these codes mean? These aren't reel/part numbers, or are they? No, they’re just arbitrary codes specific to this particular catalog. However, the codes for other JW scores in this database—The Patriot, The Adventures of Tintin, and Memoirs of a Geisha—precisely match the film order of cues when arranged ascending, and so do these, from what I can tell. Naïve Old Fart and Edmilson 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 19 hours ago, Raiders of the SoundtrArk said: Is that HanZ? 23 hours ago, BrotherSound said: Well, anyone dying to see the complete cue list for Stepmom, today’s your lucky day! Found it in the SESAC repertoire, apparently in film order: Get a hobby! On 3/25/2017 at 10:33 AM, Thor said: The film is a forgettable, soapy Chris Columbus melodrama, but the score is great -- especially considering it's a replacement score (not sure how much time he had). Who wrote the original score? Raiders of the SoundtrArk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,429 Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 1 minute ago, Jurassic Shark said: Is that HanZ? Nop but maybe a distant relative Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,507 Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 20 hours ago, Raiders of the SoundtrArk said: You keep using that word. I don't think it meant what you think it means. Raiders of the SoundtrArk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrotherSound 2,242 Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 1 hour ago, Jurassic Shark said: Get a hobby! Oh, this is my hobby. My day job is trying to sort out the utterly ridiculous editing of the score in The Rise of Skywalker. 😁 crumbs and Jurassic Shark 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Guernsey 2,281 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Any thoughts on the FYC versus OST? I know the contents are the same but I'm sure someone mentioned that it was mastered differently/better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thx99 1,740 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 @Tom Guernsey, the FYC is an HDCD and with a little effort, one can extract the tracks as 20-bit WAVs (actually 24-bit WAVs but the audio data has 20-but resolution). There are slight, relative amplitude differences between them and the commercial CD, given the higher bit depth, but I think that’s about it. I’ll see about posting a waveform comparison later today. Jurassic Shark and Amer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Guernsey 2,281 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 4 minutes ago, thx99 said: @Tom Guernsey, the FYC is an HDCD and with a little effort, one can extract the tracks as 20-bit WAVs (actually 24-bit WAVs but the audio data has 20-but resolution). There are slight, relative amplitude differences between them and the commercial CD, given the higher bit depth, but I think that’s about it. I’ll see about posting a waveform comparison later today. Thanks @thx99. Don't go to too much effort on my account, it was a fairly casual query. Of course, if you want to do it for your own interest and want to share the results, that would be cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amer 2,080 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 On 28/02/2021 at 11:54 PM, May the Force be with You said: Would be great if they release that on. Not Williams finest work but it's still a good score that deserve an expansion. #releaseStepmomexpandedscore Nice. Ive never had the original album and was just thinking of getting the OST off ebay. To know that there is enough music for an expansion makes me to pause and ponder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 6 minutes ago, thx99 said: @Tom Guernsey, the FYC is an HDCD and with a little effort, one can extract the tracks as 20-bit WAVs (actually 24-bit WAVs but the audio data has 20-but resolution). There are slight, relative amplitude differences between them and the commercial CD, given the higher bit depth, but I think that’s about it. I’ll see about posting a waveform comparison later today. Since you know so much about these things, is it possible to rip the high resolution formats of SACD, DVD-A, or blu-ray audio with a USB blu-ray player (I've got a Verbatim blu-ray burner)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thx99 1,740 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Jurassic Shark said: Since you know so much about these things, is it possible to rip the high resolution formats of SACD, DVD-A, or blu-ray audio with a USB blu-ray player (I've got a Verbatim blu-ray burner)? It's been many years now, but I've personally ripped the "Advanced-Resolution" stream from a DVD-A before using "DVD-Audio Explorer". I've never ripped SACDs or Blu-ray audio discs, though. The last time I looked into it, I believe SACDs required a PlayStation that might have been hacked or something. Granted, things may have progressed since then. Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Just now, thx99 said: It's been many years now, but I've personally ripped the "Advanced-Resolution" stream from a DVD-A before using "DVD-Audio Explorer". I've never ripped SACDs or Blu-ray audio discs, though. The last time I looked into it, I believe SACDs required a PlayStation that might have been hacked or something. Granted, things may have progressed since then. Thanks. I was just wondering how I could transfer my high-res physical discs to a high-res portable player. Of course, they rather want us to purchase high-res downloads. thx99 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thx99 1,740 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 This article may be a few years old but it goes into gory detail of all that is (or was back then) required to rip an SACD: Down the Rabbit Hole of SACD Ripping and DSD Extraction https://www.psaudio.com/copper/article/down-the-rabbit-hole-of-sacd-ripping-and-dsd-extraction/ Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toillion 213 Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 First vinyl release limited to 500 numbered copies. https://atthemoviesshop.com/collections/just-announced/products/stepmom-vinyl-soundtrack That_Bloke 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,793 Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 On 01/03/2021 at 6:14 PM, Jurassic Shark said: Who wrote the original score? I saw this was not answered... IRRC, Patrick Doyle's score was rejected. The vinyl release means that there could be an expansion soon? Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJH132 48 Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 On 21/03/2022 at 5:07 AM, thx99 said: This article may be a few years old but it goes into gory detail of all that is (or was back then) required to rip an SACD: Down the Rabbit Hole of SACD Ripping and DSD Extraction https://www.psaudio.com/copper/article/down-the-rabbit-hole-of-sacd-ripping-and-dsd-extraction/ Yes, I went down that particular rabbit hole... I procured a supported blu-ray player, bought an aging MacMini and read thousands of posts until I was able to get my first SACD to rip properly. And it seems to work just fine! Files are saved as .dsf which I convert (losslessly) to .FLAC for storage on my server. I mostly went through all this trouble to get to the multichannel programs on certain SACDs I've taken advantage of the new-ish Vocalion re-releases of the Charles Gerhardt discs to get hi-res and multichannel rips of some of the best film music collections ever released! thx99 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miguel Andrade 1,262 Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 8 hours ago, Luke Skywalker said: The vinyl release means that there could be an expansion soon? Nope. It should be pointed out that the At the Movies/Music on Vinyl label releases mostly back catalogue stuff from the Sony imense list of past recordings. There isn't, sadly, any direct relation between their releases and any upcoming expansion. This aren't newly mounted remasters or reedits like Mondo's Hook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,793 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 Oh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 Where's the relieved smiley? GerateWohl and Richard Penna 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Penna 3,675 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 On 06/04/2024 at 12:42 AM, Luke Skywalker said: IRRC, Patrick Doyle's score was rejected. It's fine, but at least the cues presented here don't really do anything for me... somewhat unfocused orchestral meanderings. I rather liked the film when I saw it a few decades ago, but I always thought it wasn't necessarily the sort of drama that needed that much music. Williams' score more focused with that nice guitar theme and a couple of nice tracks, but in my view if we consider the overall pantheon of scores that are awaiting proper official presentation and are worth Mike and others spending their time on, this isn't near the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Guernsey 2,281 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 1 hour ago, Richard Penna said: It's fine, but at least the cues presented here don't really do anything for me... somewhat unfocused orchestral meanderings. I rather liked the film when I saw it a few decades ago, but I always thought it wasn't necessarily the sort of drama that needed that much music. Williams' score more focused with that nice guitar theme and a couple of nice tracks, but in my view if we consider the overall pantheon of scores that are awaiting proper official presentation and are worth Mike and others spending their time on, this isn't near the top. Have to say that I liked Patrick Doyle's score and I don't imagine the film would have been substantially better or worse with his score. I can't imagine there's much of note missing from the release of JW's score though... it's not one of those albums I listen to and think it needs to go on longer, nice though it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,396 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 Do we know which cues are missing from the OST? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Penna 3,675 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 I guess the cue list posted above might give an indication, but it doesn't tell us whether all the missing bits are 1 minute long, or whether the OST only has half the score. 21 minutes ago, Tom Guernsey said: Have to say that I liked Patrick Doyle's score and I don't imagine the film would have been substantially better or worse with his score. I can't imagine there's much of note missing from the release of JW's score though... it's not one of those albums I listen to and think it needs to go on longer, nice though it is. The reason for the replacement wasn't musical, I don't think - at least there seem to be (in the words of Torn Music) 'conflicting stories' regarding why Doyle was dropped, except for Doyle being unwell and Williams taking over. I didn't sense any suggestions that Columbus was unhappy with Doyle's music so it's unlikely to be a case where Williams saved the day. I never found the full album overly engaging outside of a few highlights - maybe it's just not my style; maybe it's an indication of time constraints to rewrite an entire score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Guernsey 2,281 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 12 minutes ago, Richard Penna said: The reason for the replacement wasn't musical, I don't think - at least there seem to be (in the words of Torn Music) 'conflicting stories' regarding why Doyle was dropped, except for Doyle being unwell and Williams taking over. I didn't sense any suggestions that Columbus was unhappy with Doyle's music so it's unlikely to be a case where Williams saved the day. My understanding is that it was that JW was unexpectedly available/interested so they asked him if he'd do it, and he did. I feel bad for Doyle as I'm sure there's some minor stigma to having a score "rejected" although I guess it didn't substantially hurt his career, which I'm grateful for. I've always felt there are a few scores JW has written where his considerable talents weren't really needed for the film in question and Stepmom is perhaps a prime example. You can probably count on the fingers of one hand the composers who could have come close to writing something as good as Star Wars, CE3K, Raiders, Jaws, ET, Schindler's List etc. etc. (and they're all dead...) but there's plenty who could have written a great score for something like Stepmom - Elmer Bernstein (probably my first choice), Randy Newman (second choice to Elmer), Alan Silvestri, Carter Burwell, Thomas Newman, either of the Danna brothers, Danny Elfman (in Good Will Hunting mode), Aaron Zigman, Alexandre Desplat etc. I'm sure there will be some pearl clutching to think that someone could write a score as good as JW, but I think this is one of those (admittedly rare) cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Penna 3,675 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 17 minutes ago, Tom Guernsey said: I'm sure there will be some pearl clutching to think that someone could write a score as good as JW, but I think this is one of those (admittedly rare) cases. Nah, I don't think pearl clutching is warranted - this can hardly be compared to other cases of composers coming on late in a project and composing a massive symphonic score in a few weeks. It's a sugary family drama that quickly needed some fairly understated music which any good Hollywood composer could have done. Compare it to Rosewood where Williams provided an actual score (after that bizarre jazzy stuff which was never going to work) and delivered an excellent, thematic, celebrated score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,640 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 2 hours ago, Tom Guernsey said: I'm sure there will be some pearl clutching to think that someone could write a score as good as JW, but I think this is one of those (admittedly rare) cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 On 07/04/2024 at 9:57 AM, Richard Penna said: Nah, I don't think pearl clutching is warranted - this can hardly be compared to other cases of composers coming on late in a project and composing a massive symphonic score in a few weeks. It's a sugary family drama that quickly needed some fairly understated music which any good Hollywood composer could have done. Compare it to Rosewood where Williams provided an actual score (after that bizarre jazzy stuff which was never going to work) and delivered an excellent, thematic, celebrated score. Completely disagree with the notion that understated drama scores are inherently lesser projects with a "one size fits all" approach that any composer could fill. Williams' fingerprints are all over stepmom and it contains some of his finest melodic work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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