Leith Stevens

[ST-321 42]

I am a big fan of the old 50s Sci Fi flicks and really like some of the music the Leith Stevens composed for movies like Destination Moon, War of the Worlds, When Worlds Collide and others. Are there any releases of these on CD?

[artyjeffrey 20]

There was definitely a release (a re-recording) of Destination Moon. I have it . As far as War of the Worlds or When Worlds Collide, I've never run across them.

[Greg1138 3]

Kunzel did a re-recording of War of the Worlds for the Fantastic Journey album....pretty heated stuff....SoundtrackCollector.com lists a Tsunami release that has music from both War of the Worlds and When Worlds Collide...not come across this but someone may know more....

[Omen II 1,300]

Good call on the very neglected Leith Stevens, ST-321. I had always hoped that Monstrous Movie Music might rerecord some of Leith Stevens' music for the movies you mentioned some day. I have this CD which includes reasonably lengthy suites (10 minutes or so) from each of War of the Worlds and When Worlds Collide; it is the recording used in

.

I must say that the CD is one of the City of Prague Philharmonic's better efforts and I am quite fond of the choral music from WWC, while I love the bit right at the end of WOTW where Stevens incorporates the hymn tune Now Thank We All Our God. I always found that scene at the end of WWC when the guy in the wheelchair tries to get up to board the ship near the end very poignant.

[Greg1138 3]

I've always thought both movies to be underrated and underappreciated gems. WOTW in particular still holds up today - some genuinely terrifying moments, and no-one who has seen it ever gets those swan-like machines of destruction out of their heads.

[Omen II 1,300]

Agreed! And what was Deep Impact if not an updating of When Worlds Collide but with more babies and pregnant women in it?

[Ollie 1,375]

I know there have been requests for Leith Stevens' scores from the film score community.

I do know that MMM has plans for some older vintage sci-fi - monster music in 2010 and if those are successful there will be more to follow. Don't know what scores but I would imagine there is a chance for some of Steven's scores since they fall within MMM's choice of music to release.

[ST-321 42]

I know there have been requests for Leith Stevens' scores from the film score community.

I do know that MMM has plans for some older vintage sci-fi - monster music in 2010 and if those are successful there will be more to follow. Don't know what scores but I would imagine there is a chance for some of Steven's scores since they fall within MMM's choice of music to release.

I would certainly look forward to hearing what they have got coming.

[JoeinAR 1,957]

Agreed! And what was Deep Impact if not an updating of When Worlds Collide but with more babies and pregnant women in it?

not at all, while there are similarities your basic statement is wrong.

[Greg1138 3]

Just had a look at his credits over at IMDB - much more prolific than I had previously thought - quite a CV, in fact. Interesting that he did episodes of Land of the Giants, Lost in Space and Time Tunnel....I know the link is more than a little tenuous but I do wander if this brought him into contact with JW at all? Anyone know if JW has even mentioned him? I can't remember him doing so, but others out there are far more likely to know than I am.

[ST-321 42]

War of the Worlds music video from Leith Stevens 1953 effort. At the very end there is a bit from the Jeff Wayne musical version of WotW.

Nice recording for the clip.

Greg, you would think that JW might have commented on Leith Stevens around the time of the remake. I can't find anything though, but I am curious and looking now.

[ST-321 42]

Wow, Destination Moon will soon be released by Monstrous Movie Music. There's a thread on this and some other releases over at FSM:

http://filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=92141&forumID=1&archive=0

[Naïve Old Fart 13,021]

I caught "TWOTW" on Film 4, yesterday: fantastic score! Is there a c.d. of it?

[Jay 46,242]

Yes: http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7685/.f

Be sure to follow this thread to be kept up to date on releases such as these:

http://www.jwfan.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20226

[Naïve Old Fart 13,021]

Thanks for that, Jason!

P.s. can't wait for Jeff Wayne's new recording of "WOTW"!

[JoeinAR 1,957]

Agreed! And what was Deep Impact if not an updating of When Worlds Collide but with more babies and pregnant women in it?

as a fan of both films I do not agree with this at all,

lets change up your statement, And what was Armaggeddon if not an updating of When Worlds Collide but with more Michael Bay explosions and stuff?

I'd love a serious modern retelling of When Worlds Collide without changing the basic story.

[Wojo 2,458]

P.s. can't wait for Jeff Wayne's new recording of "WOTW"!

Oh wow, I forgot about that! It's only a month away, and with Liam Neeson as the Journalist, it's going to be awesome!

Every time I see this product in the store, I want to listen to that album: