Manakin Skywalker 4,891 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 This is a question I've been meaning to ask for a while. What are your favorite obscure scores? Meaning, what are under-rated scores that you enjoy that almost nobody but you seems to like or even know exist? For example, one of my favorite scores is John Debney's Zathura. shockwave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,507 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Ok. Here goes: I like Larry Fast's score for THE JUPITER MENACE, and his two "audition" pieces, for THE RIGHT STUFF (TO THE EARTH AND BACK, and LAUNCH AT DAWN) but then, I've been a Synergy fan for over forty years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted February 4, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 4, 2019 Star Wars mstrox, Kasey Kockroach and Manakin Skywalker 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Lady Jane by Stephen Oliver: Fabulin and SteveMc 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Kockroach 2,343 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Tremors wasnt scored by Robert Folk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabulin 3,510 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Romão 2,274 Posted February 4, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 4, 2019 The Bible, by Toshiro Mayuzumi. Absolutely incredible score and in my view, the best biblical epic score ever written: SteveMc, Fabulin and Naïve Old Fart 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabulin 3,510 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,477 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 The topic is too wide for me. Every year, a lot of great soundtracks score highly on my list that would probably be labelled 'obscure' by most people because they're not from the US, and they're not blockbusters. But I'd need some more parameters than just 'obscure' to be able give any meaningul reply. For example, my favourite score of 2018 was a retro synthwave score called VIDEOMANNEN (VIDEOMAN) by Robert Parker and Waveshaper. Probably obscure to most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 1 hour ago, Romão said: The Bible, by Toshiro Mayuzumi. Absolutely incredible score and in my view, the best biblical epic score ever written: Is there a little Rozsa quote at the very end there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,319 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Celeste by Lena Raine Wet Hot American Summer by Craig Wedren & Theodore Shapiro Alcatraz by Chris Tilton and Andrea Datzman Ferris Bueller's Day Off by Ira Newborn Now You See Me 1 & 2 by Brian Tyler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shockwave 8 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Wing Commander - 1999 (Arnold/Kiner). March 2019 would be the 20th anniversary. Sonic Images released the score back then only a little over 37 minutes. The score heard in the film is about 70 minutes. A bombastic score but I am hoping LLL or Intrada would consider an expanded CD. Manakin Skywalker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manakin Skywalker 4,891 Posted February 4, 2019 Author Share Posted February 4, 2019 1 hour ago, shockwave said: Wing Commander - 1999 (Arnold/Kiner). March 2019 would be the 20th anniversary. Sonic Images released the score back then only a little over 37 minutes. The score heard in the film is about 70 minutes. A bombastic score but I am hoping LLL or Intrada would consider an expanded CD. Ah yes that's another of mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,477 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 We apparently have a different definition of 'obscure', because most of the titles mentioned in this thread are fairly familiar, especially to film score fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Not Lady Jane, which happens to be the best title brought up yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,507 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Anything by Michael J. Lewis, especially MARATHON MAN, and the absolute piece of shit, and guilty pleasure par excellence, THE MEDUSA TOUCH. I love it; both score, and film Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 I still think of Pino Donaggio and his scores as obscure. His Brian De Palma work is damn good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,319 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 1 hour ago, Thor said: We apparently have a different definition of 'obscure', because most of the titles mentioned in this thread are fairly familiar, especially to film score fans. I'm sorry but Wet Hot American Summer is an incredibly obscure score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 But not obscure film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manakin Skywalker 4,891 Posted February 5, 2019 Author Share Posted February 5, 2019 2 hours ago, Thor said: We apparently have a different definition of 'obscure', because most of the titles mentioned in this thread are fairly familiar, especially to film score fans. "Underrated" was more the word I was trying to think of when I wrote the title. shockwave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Kasey Kockroach and Incanus 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,477 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 22 hours ago, Manakin Skywalker said: "Underrated" was more the word I was trying to think of when I wrote the title. I see. Well, I can think of hundreds, if not thousands of great, underrated scores. Wouldn't really know where to begin. Anything particular style you had in mind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TheUlyssesian 2,473 Posted February 5, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 5, 2019 Ryan's Daughter by Jarre. An unappreciated masterpiece. 4 outstanding themes used well throughout. Bayesian, Naïve Old Fart and Fabulin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 7 hours ago, Thor said: I see. Well, I can think of hundreds, if not thousands of great, underrated scores. Wouldn't really know where to begin. Anything particular style you had in mind? Just choose your favourite, goddammit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,477 Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 Nah. I need my parameters in order to function properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 Favourite is the ultimate parameter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,176 Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 "Obscure" can have various worthwhile interpretations, of course. Obscure composers, hardly known scores by well-known composers, rather well-known scores that still nobody ever talks about. And due do the nature of their obscurity, I'm sure I have some favourites that don't even come to mind right now. Two prime candidates though: Elmer Bernstein's The Hallelujah Trail: A musical, a comedy, and a western score at the same time, with each song serving as a leitmotif (and a few more that aren't songs), at times combined contrapuntally. Sadly, the original recording was lost to water, and all that survives is the album arrangement, which lacks some of the best moments and works more as a (good) song album with a few instrumentals than a representation of the score's full scope. One of my prime candidates for a new recording (beyond the lovely concert ouverture conducted by James Sedaris). Philippe Sarde's Pirates: A wonderful pirate/comedy score, with a strong Spanish influence and one of the best mystery themes I've heard. Both are wonderful and underrated films, too, with excellent casts (Lancaster in Hallelujah Trail and Matthau in Pirates are brilliant) and a great sense of humour, even if both falter a bit in their second half. Polanski's film is still the last good pirate film I've seen, retaining a strong romantic swashbuckler flair through all its comedy antics. In fact, when I recently watched it again, I was surprised how many similarities to the Monkey Island games it has; I'm pretty sure Gilbert and/or Schafer must have seen and liked it. Fabulin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,176 Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 Another one... Stephen Endelman's The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain: Another comedy score (do I see a pattern?) with its share of epic, Morricone-esque moments. Another wonderful film, too - with Colm Meaney as a Welshman. Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,507 Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 17 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said: Just choose your favourite, goddammit! ...but choose...wisely. ScorePhile 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 The fury and Dracula are obscures scores for me, I like them both, but it’s intense and obscure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Once 604 Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 I too have a hard time deciding what is considered "obscure". I guess it differs from person to person. These are some of my favorites I don't see get mentioned often; "Valhalla" by Ron Goodwin (1986) "Fortunella" by Nino Rota (1958) "Himalaya - l'enfance d'un chef" by Bruno Coulais (1999) "Bébé(s)" by Bruno Coulais (2010) "Flåklypa Grand Prix" by Bent Fabricius-Bjerre (1975) "Hannibal & Jerry" by Thomas Hass (the songs excluded) (1997) "Stato interessante" by Ennio Morricone (1977) There are plenty of others, but I'm unsure how "obscure" they are (some of them were Oscar-nominated, after all). Like "Avalon" (Randy Newman), "The Secret Garden" (Zbigniew Prisoner), "Les triplettes de Belleville" (Benoît Charest), "Sunshine" (Maurice Jarre), "Nebraska" (Mark Orton), "Far from the Madding Crowd" (Craig Armstrong), "Mr. Bean's Holiday" (Howard Goodall), "In Bruges" (Carter Burwell), or the television scores for "Poirot" (Christopher Gunning), "Midsomer Murders" (Jim Parker) and "30 Rock" (Jeff Richmond). Okay, I might have included some quite known scores. 😅 They're all worth a listen, anyway, I guess. Fabulin and TheUlyssesian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,319 Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 9 minutes ago, Once said: "30 Rock" (Jeff Richmond). His scores for Kimmy Schmidt are good too, and almost every episode gives him a minute or two in the end credits to showcase his material Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Once 604 Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 Yes! I hope Netflix releases an official soundtrack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabulin 3,510 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 . Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 13 hours ago, Once said: I too have a hard time deciding what is considered "obscure". I guess it differs from person to person. These are some of my favorites I don't see get mentioned often; "Valhalla" by Ron Goodwin (1986) "Fortunella" by Nino Rota (1958) "Himalaya - l'enfance d'un chef" by Bruno Coulais (1999) "Bébé(s)" by Bruno Coulais (2010) "Flåklypa Grand Prix" by Bent Fabricius-Bjerre (1975) "Hannibal & Jerry" by Thomas Hass (the songs excluded) (1997) "Stato interessante" by Ennio Morricone (1977) There are plenty of others, but I'm unsure how "obscure" they are (some of them were Oscar-nominated, after all). Like "Avalon" (Randy Newman), "The Secret Garden" (Zbigniew Prisoner), "Les triplettes de Belleville" (Benoît Charest), "Sunshine" (Maurice Jarre), "Nebraska" (Mark Orton), "Far from the Madding Crowd" (Craig Armstrong), "Mr. Bean's Holiday" (Howard Goodall), "In Bruges" (Carter Burwell), or the television scores for "Poirot" (Christopher Gunning), "Midsomer Murders" (Jim Parker) and "30 Rock" (Jeff Richmond). Okay, I might have included some quite known scores. 😅 They're all worth a listen, anyway, I guess. Two tumbs up for Flåklypa! I love Ron Goodwin's war scores, but I can't remember if I've checked out his score to Valhalla. Does it have an official release? Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUlyssesian 2,473 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 21 hours ago, Once said: "Fortunella" by Nino Rota (1958) Not obscure to anyone who has seen the godfather! 😉 Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Once 604 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 On 2/8/2019 at 1:00 PM, Jurassic Shark said: I love Ron Goodwin's war scores, but I can't remember if I've checked out his score to Valhalla. Does it have an official release? Yes, but I think it's out of print. Fair warning; the score contains too much mickey mousing, but the themes are great. On 2/8/2019 at 8:40 PM, TheUlyssesian said: Not obscure to anyone who has seen the godfather! 😉 Haha, true. But while it's fun to hear the Godfather waltz (edit: the love theme!) arranged in many different ways (like this silly arrangement) Fortunella is much more than just that theme. Jurassic Shark and Fabulin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 Always Ghostbusters II Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUlyssesian 2,473 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 2 hours ago, Once said: Yes, but I think it's out of print. Fair warning; the score contains too much mickey mousing, but the themes are great. Haha, true. But while it's fun to here the Godfather waltz arranged in many different ways (like this silly arrangement) Fortunella is much more than just that theme. 2 You mean the love theme! The Godfather Waltz is the main theme. Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Once 604 Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Oh, right, of course. I'm a bit stressed out at the moment, haha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabulin 3,510 Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 . Once and TheUlyssesian 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,176 Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Fabulin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,176 Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Philip Glass certainly isn't obscure, but I haven't seen Naqoyqatsi mentioned anywhere in a long time. Once and Jurassic Shark 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 That score is iconic! Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 On 2/9/2019 at 1:23 AM, Once said: Oh, right, of course. I'm a bit stressed out at the moment, haha! FYI, I sent you a PM about a week ago, in case you haven't seen it. Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 On 2/8/2019 at 9:59 PM, Once said: Yes, but I think it's out of print. Fair warning; the score contains too much mickey mousing, but the themes are great. There's now a new CD release, and it's also available on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/album/66IEpy8y1dAF1PRm8bquUG?si=qbVs6VDDTi-MgpqdrGRRug Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmmusic 1,823 Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Angel's Egg by Yoshihiro Kanno The whole soundtrack is available in youtube. It's a masterpiece. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-zSJVcg1Q7C9SNhX5xxrlMiFIjWA3wig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,477 Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 24 minutes ago, filmmusic said: Angel's Egg by Yoshihiro Kanno The score is fine, but I checked out the film two years ago after a recommendation from a friend of mine. Well, I'm afraid it didn't do much for me, although I can understand why it has received so much kudos over the years. As for the topic at hand, I'll just have to say what I said earlier in the thread -- my head implodes without any proper parameters to work from. 50% of my entire collection would probably fall into the 'obscure' or 'underrated' category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1977 1,743 Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Quite an obscure one, and no soundtrack has ever been released (nor likely ever will): Music by Ken Melville and Dawn Atkinson (whomever they are) Edit: okay, on searching I found that Dawn Atkinson is a music producer and is credited with composition, orchestration and conducting on TUAT: http://www.dawnatkinson.com/film.html From the bio page: "She was the second woman ever to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra (at age 28) for the score of a George Lucas animated feature, Twice Upon A Time, a film for which she also co-produced songs for Bruce Hornsby and Michael McDonald." Ken Melville seems to have done at least one game score: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ken-melville-mn0003416761/credits?1586959609836 This is a terrific score and needs to be released! I wonder if Disney has the elements from the Lucasfilm archives? Does anyone have the ear of a certain Mike Matessino? Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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