Details from Mike Matessino's London talk

[crumbs 14,301]

Presumably Mike wasn't asked at the time to check them? It sounds like he wasn't involved at all when Varese first requested the tapes years ago.

[Faleel 5,340]

Too busy producing encore releases!

[Marian Schedenig 8,173]

2 minutes ago, King Mark said:

which they didn't know contained the real tapes after all. Why didn't they bother to check properly...

 

Who knows. They were obviously interested in doing it but for whatever reason didn't think that there would be the full stereo tapes hiding below the mono ones. Nobody seems to know what the mono tapes were for in the first place.

[King Mark 3,625]

that's ironic. The master tapes almost rotted away at the label that was supposed to restore them

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

3 hours ago, King Mark said:

that's ironic. The master tapes almost rotted away at the label that was supposed to restore them

 

It's ironic. They could save other scores from deteriorating, but not their own.

[TownerFan 4,983]

12 hours ago, publicist said:

Though i assume that happened a long time ago. Remember Goldsmith's (in)famous quote about Previn, Willliams and Bernstein (Elmer) being snobs and starfuckers from before his death, an opinion probably solidified in later years when there was hardly any socializing apart from BMI dinners and such.

 

I assumed Mike referred to the timeframe when both were working at Fox under Lionel Newman (mid-to-late 1960s/early 1970s), as he specifically recalled that magical period when there were so many talents working under the same roof (he also mentioned Sandy Courage and Herb Spencer). Once they went freelancing and became more and more famous respectively, they probably became more private.

 

22 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

This is the thread to share all the interesting information that Mike Matessino revealed when some of you guys met him in London as a warm-up to the concert on Friday. According to Jay, everything Mike said is considered public info and may be shared here. 

 

To start, here's my list of questions which @crocodile was kind enough to answer:

On 10/28/2018 at 7:27 AM, Jurassic Shark said:

1. Did MM say anything about the 2018 SW OST releases?

 

22 hours ago, crocodile said:

1. He said it's probably a good strategy that Disney and pushing reset button on everything. SW has a very complicated licensing history and starting with OSTs might be a good thing. He also hinted that he's having "conversations" with them about the expanded releases.

 

He actually threw more than a hint, imho. When he was asked about doing Star Wars, he replied "Given what happened in the last few years... What do you think?" and gave a nice smile. I think that was very eloquent

 

On a broader topic, he also said that he will continue to get his hands on anything he can, to salvage and restore as much music as possible, even if it will not be released on CD. It's part of his philosophy of keeping things secured for posterity.

[crumbs 14,301]

37 minutes ago, TownerFan said:

When he was asked about doing Star Wars, he replied "Given what happened in the last few years... What do you think?" and gave a nice smile.

 

Well that's very interesting then, isn't it?

 

Presumably referring to the fact that Disney went to the trouble and expense of tracking down and scanning all the session tapes in high resolution. One does not simply go to this much trouble for a mere OST reissue... 

 

37 minutes ago, TownerFan said:

salvage and restore as much music as possible, even if it will not be released on CD

 

Could explain why LLL invested in the scans, assembly and editing of the ill-fated Sugarland Express release, despite not having approval from Williams' camp. 

 

At least, so I read on here (and I assume they knew what they were talking about, because I'm questioning whether the release got that far along before being nixed by Williams). 

[publicist 4,643]

8 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

Who knows. They were obviously interested in doing it but for whatever reason didn't think that there would be the full stereo tapes hiding below the mono ones. Nobody seems to know what the mono tapes were for in the first place.

 

Exactly. Human errors happen, they probably just didn't check more than one or two of them. 

5 minutes ago, crumbs said:

Well that's very interesting then, isn't it?

 

Presumably referring to the fact that Disney went to the trouble and expense of tracking down and scanning all the session tapes in high resolution. One does not simply go to this much trouble for a mere OST reissue... 

 

Were you in doubt of THAT? I'm sure bloody Star Wars is first in line in all these considerations (to my never-ending annoyance 😎)

[Alan 689]

New expanded Star Wars releases have always been a question of "when" rather than "if" but it's still very reassuring to hear about JW's evolving attitude to preserving his life's work and MM's hints

[TownerFan 4,983]

It was also interesting to hear that JW himself asked to restore and produce a new master for Dracula. Most of the other releases (ET, Jaws, Jurassic Park) started with an interest from the studio and/or the film company involved, but in the case of Dracula the composer himself asked Mike if there would be a chance in getting it out on a better-sounding album.

[publicist 4,643]

Quote

The album sounds fine 

 

Quote Thor

[TownerFan 4,983]

I must say the moment when Thor asked his question to Mike and started by saying "Don't worry guys, I'm not going into THAT" was a pretty hilarious moment

[crumbs 14,301]

20 minutes ago, Alan said:

expanded Star Wars releases have always been a question of "when" rather than "if" but it's still very reassuring to hear about JW's evolving attitude

 

Yet ironically that series has been 'anything goes' since the early 90s, with multiple expansions for each OT score. 

 

Who knows how TPM UE slipped through the cracks, but maybe Williams didn't have as much free time in those days to care about vetting expansions? Or, more likely, he just wasn't consulted. 

 

I'm sure Star Wars has been one his largest income streams over decades now (residuals) so maybe he's less fussy about rubber stamping them.

[Incanus 5,713]

23 minutes ago, TownerFan said:

I must say the moment when Thor asked his question to Mike and started by saying "Don't worry guys, I'm not going into THAT" was a pretty hilarious moment

Thor has certainly a certain reputation in the film music circles.

[Alan 689]

11 minutes ago, crumbs said:

Who knows how TPM UE slipped through the cracks, but maybe Williams didn't have as much free time in those days to care about vetting expansions? Or, more likely, he just wasn't consulted. 

 

 

I get the feeling he had nothing to do with the UE and wasn't consulted about it. I'm sure I remember Williams expressing his embarrassment about the way TPM was chopped up in the film so I can't imagine him rubber stamping the UE presentation.

[Thor 7,468]

1 hour ago, TownerFan said:

I must say the moment when Thor asked his question to Mike and started by saying "Don't worry guys, I'm not going into THAT" was a pretty hilarious moment

 

He, he. I was only following up from Tim Burden's hilarious joke in the opening that he had installed an ejector seat in my spot in case the C&C issue came up.

 

Btw, I loved the six film clips that ended the whole thing in which the Williams music had been removed, giving everything a kind of cool, gritty 70s feel (but obviously inferior to the final product regardless).

 

One of my big regrets is that I didn't get to chat more with my fellow "hardcore Williams obscurities" researchers Miguel and Townerfan beyond brief hellos. Hopefully, a new opportunity will allow itself at some point.

[TownerFan 4,983]

Same here, Thor!

 

Btw, I talked briefly with Mike afterwards and asked him specifically about Story of a Woman. I was curious to know if he unearthed more information about the score being recorded in Italy and if JW came here to do it or if he sent someone else. According to him, it's likely JW didn't come to Rome to record it personally because he was in London finishing Goodbye Mr Chips, but he wasn't 100% sure about it. However, he said he really hopes to be able to release it one day because the tapes sounds fine and the score is really beautiful.

[Thor 7,468]

Whoa! The tapes sound FINE?!? 😱

 

I didn't know that. I thought it was basically lost or destroyed, requiring a complete rerecording.

 

I can understand Williams being hesitant, because the film is really bad. But hopefully, he'll come around eventually. Thanks for following up that, Townerfan!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

So he still doesn't want Sugarland released?

That was interesting. I wonder why 

[aescalle 122]

On 10/28/2018 at 12:00 PM, Bespin said:

I have a question for MM: is he single? 😋

I've already got an Husband man!😜

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]

1 hour ago, TownerFan said:

According to him, it's likely JW didn't come to Rome to record it personally because he was in London finishing Goodbye Mr Chips, but he wasn't 100% sure about it.

 

Could the reason JW doesn't want the score to be released be that he doesn't approve of the conducting and/or playing?

[bollemanneke 3,337]

Is there any chance MM has been asked to preserve TFA and TLJ already? Or in other words, do we think MM will be able to tackle JW's entire work even if it can't be released just yet? Seems silly to wait for another, possibly worse, producer to take over.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Well those are digital anyway. So preserved. They would require no restoration at all. 

 

I would love him to produce those albums.

[crumbs 14,301]

2 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

Is there any chance MM has been asked to preserve TFA and TLJ already?

 

We must preserve all those hard drives with multiple redundancy backups!

[bollemanneke 3,337]

Bad word choice. I meant, would it be possible for him to prepare the releases even if we get them in only 20 years? I don't know how old he is or how long he'll still work, but don't want a Didier Deutsche-like successor.

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]

5 minutes ago, crumbs said:

 

We must preserve all those hard drives with multiple redundancy backups!

 

We'll need to preserve them in formaldehyde.

[TownerFan 4,983]

40 minutes ago, Stefancos said:

So he still doesn't want Sugarland released?

That was interesting. I wonder why 

 

He seems to think he could have done better. I wonder also if it has something to do with his first wife's passing. She died before the film premiered and he was working on it.  But this is pure speculation on my part.

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]

2 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

Bad word choice. I meant, would it be possible for him to prepare the releases even if we get them in only 20 years? I don't know how old he is or how long he'll still work, but don't want a Didier Deutsche-like successor.

 

I'm guessing he's around 50.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Could be. He doesn't conduct the theme much.

[Holko 9,499]

Could a remix from the original sources help with TFA's sound, or is it beyond saving?

[crumbs 14,301]

I'm sure, so long as LLL remains profitable and soundtrack expansions remain commercially viable, and Mike continues to enjoy it as a profession, he will continue knocking off Williams scores every year (if the rights holders allow it). This year alone he's had 8! Probably more we don't know about.

 

There don't seem to be many roadblocks from the Williams' camp anymore; they seem rather encouraging of this restoration & expansion business.

 

Future issues will probably revolve around licensing (no independent labels will be able to access John's 4-5 Indy or 8-9 Star Wars scores) or union costs (anything post-2005 is very expensive for independent labels to license).

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

There are more specialty label then LLL though. 

[Bespin 8,480]

2 hours ago, aescalle said:

I've already got an Husband man!😜

 

Me too! I'm just a very curious person!

[aescalle 122]

10 minutes ago, Bespin said:

 

Me too! I'm just a very curious person!

Oh "F...K",

My "thinked" post was "You've already got an Husband man!"

Sorry

I was writing quicker than my brain process!

😫

[Dr. Rick 1,155]

Has MM ever posted here on the boards or just over at FSM?  If not, has he given a reason for not?  Wonder if he's got a ghost account here and is lurking and snickering at all of the back and forth on here, I know I would!

 

Also, I'm a total facebook noob (just signed up recently) and I tried to follow MM but it's grayed out.  I feel weird reaching out to him like a little groupie teenage girl "can I follow you?!" 😆  Any specific reason why this is the case?

 

So jealous that I couldn't be a fly on the wall for this conversation!   

[Ricard 2,242]

Mike posts on FSM on a regular basis.

[Holko 9,499]

On the Dark Side? He is a Saint no more!

[mstrox 6,647]

I think he's changed his user name now, but back when he was "mxmx," people would occasionally mistake me for him and ask me questions about scores

[Naïve Old Fart 9,498]

On 10/28/2018 at 10:59 AM, bollemanneke said:

 

What was MM doing in London?

No-one, but no-one needs an excuse to walk this most fairest of cities.

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]

Are you calling Mike a nobody?

 

[mahler3 478]

Hi All!

 

Last Friday was so enjoyable and thank you for being such a wonderful bunch. Sorry I didn’t get speaking with all of you and it was great to finally meet Miguel Andrade (the JWFan Yoda!) 

 

Putting names to faces is always a pleasure, sorry I missed Quint and Richard though. Most others are on Facebook with me so you were easily spotted :-)

 

The Gore Hotel was actually a suggestion by the Bernard Herrmann Society and I thought it would be good for our 2 groups to collide. Ironically, they didn’t come to the concert in the end as some members pulled out.

 

Rodney Newton reminiscing about attending the early 80s LSO sessions and speaking about  JW’s personal life was a highlight, but obviously Mike pulling back the curtains of what he does was always the point of this and big thanks to him once again for doing it.

 

We spent that morning recording an interview before heading over to NBC, so he was already talked out! Links to the 3 part interview will be on the main JWFan page soon by the way.

 

The concert had a marvellous atmosphere and other than the too slow tempos of CE3K and Dracula (in my opinion!) it was first class.

 

All the best!

 

Tim

 

ps - I’m in Dublin for Jaws Live to Picture at the National Concert Hall on Wednesday. If any of you are going let me know and we can share a pint.

[Jay 37,287]

7 hours ago, Thor said:

Whoa! The tapes sound FINE?!? 😱

 

I didn't know that. I thought it was basically lost or destroyed, requiring a complete rerecording.

 

What? When you asked the question, he answered that both Sugarland and Story of A Woman were found, but JW asked him not to release them. Then, he listed some scores that they've never been able to find (Daddy's Gone A Hunting, etc). How did you miss that part of his answer?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Forget it Jay, its tinnitus.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,498]

3 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Are you calling Mike a nobody?

 

Moi? Call MM a "nobody"?

Surely you can't be serious?

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]

17 minutes ago, mahler3 said:

ps - I’m in Dublin for Jaws Live to Picture at the National Concert Hall on Wednesday. If any of you are going let me know and we can share a pint.

 

I believe @Bilbo is going.

 

14 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

What? When you asked the question, he answered that both Sugarland and Story of A Woman were found, but JW asked him not to release them. Then, he listed some scores that they've never been able to find (Daddy's Gone A Hunting, etc). How did you miss that part of his answer?

 

Well, that the tapes were found doesn't mean they're in good condition.

[Chewy 2,377]

25 minutes ago, Jay said:

How did you miss that part of his answer?

😂😂😂

[Thor 7,468]

I didn't miss it. I just had no idea about the state of the material.

[Jay 37,287]

I'm confused. He clearly said both Sugarland and Story of a Woman were preserved and able to be released on CD, but Williams said no. Unless I just completely.heaed wrong.

 

Its too bad no one recorded the.talk, we're mixing up all the details!

[publicist 4,643]

Thor means if they sound as good as the old Dracula release!

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]