Thor

Those got instantly popular, not instanly iconic. By definition, it's a word that can only be used in retrospect, after some time has passed.

Another soundtrack found among my dad's LPs (I'm impressed he had a few -- he's never been into soundtracks). I love this, nobody could do elegant pop as well as the late Bacharach. Also, the film has one of the funniest moments of all time -- that wonky car scene -- which left me in stitches when I saw it as a kid (I THINK that was ARTHUR; I might be confusing it with another Dudley Moore film).

SUGARLAND is definitely desired by me (it's the most recent Williams score not to have a release, if you discount shorts like A TIMELESS CALL and DEAR BASKETBALL), but it doesn't make my Top 3 either, and I consider myself a relatively big John Williams fan. My top three would probably be: 1. STORY OF A WOMAN 2. Alcoa Premiere Theatre 3. Symphony No. 1 But yes, definitely THE SECRET WAYS too, as mentioned by two people above. It's Williams' THE THIRD MAN, in a way, and that main theme ostinato foreshadows "Duel of the Fates".

Nothing gets instantly iconic. You'll have to wait years and decades to assess something like that properly. But I can certainly think of potential candidates within the last 10-20 years. Certainly scores like INCEPTION (14 years old now) and INTERSTELLAR (10 years old now) have already attained some form of iconic status through their wide exposure in popular culture and crossing over into the mainstream consciousness. So sorry to the million Zimmer haters in this forum, he is the PRIME candidate at the moment for this status in 50 years. I'm reminded of Dimitri Tiomkin, who -- according to various film music histories, interviews etc. -- was also considered somewhat populistic by the intelligentsia at the time, and not taken proper seriously. His appearance on things like WHAT'S MY LINE? did not do him any favours for these people. But of course time has cemented his position as one of the iconic composers of the time, 50+ years later.

Continuing my journey through the vinyls I got from my dad. This is not the film soundtrack, but the original Broadway soundtrack -- and a German pressing, no less. I've always had a soft spot for hippie music, although some of the songs are a bit on the rowdy side here.

Most of us can remember iconic film scores from 1974 and thereabouts, so I don't see why people in 50 years won't be able to do the same for 2024 and thereabouts.

Time will tell.

Today's piano selection is a rather obscure one -- it's from the 1958 album COME SWING WITH ME by Tony Travis, reissued on CD in 2020. Travis is basically unknown today, but I think he was more famous as an actor at the time, appearing, for example, in the teensploitation film THE BEATNIKS from the same year. For this crooner-style album containing various standards by Cole Porter and the like, he is accompanied by Russell Garcia and his orchestra, with Williams on the keys. Travis' voice isn't remarkable, but there are a few bits of Williams elegance on display in the background, if you listen carefully. I love how he often drops his piano hits half a measure behind, classic jazz. There are several tracks I could play here where his piano playing is more prominent, but I wanted to play "Anything Goes" because it was used so famously in TEMPLE OF DOOM. Here you have him performing it himself, so you can picture him sitting in the Lao Che restaurant:

I have absolutely no idea who that is, and I don't believe I've seen him in anything, but hey -- let's see.

Moving on through my dad's LPs, here's another one with some evergreens on it. I'm not quite sure what's "HiFi" about it, though, but that may be the state of the LP itself. Needs a bit of cleaning. I know that Karajan's 50s DG recordings are definitely HiFi.

Harsh, but amusing.

I'm going to be the boring and irritating one now, sorry.... I don't understand this fascination for what one wishes he did, or wishes he didn't do. These alternate reality thingies. I'm more than content with what he actually did, in this world - here and now. If you think there's been enough discussion of all the STAR WARSes and INDIANA JONESes and HARRY POTTERs of this world (which I totally get -- I feel the same way!), and you want to talk about something else, there's so much else in his back catalogue. Let's talk about his flute concerto or THE PAPER CHASE or the CONVOY series or his piano gigs. There's enough existing Williams work to talk about for the remainder of our lifetimes!

One of my top 3 scores from 2022, with gorgeous use of synths and Pink Floyd-ian elements (including a shout-out to "Echoes"). You can read my review here. Gary was so kind as to send me this transparent vinyl, for which I'm very grateful. It's the best-sounding vinyl in my collection!

Continuing my journey through my father's vinyl gifts, I found this one too! Again, not as good as 52ND STREET, but still wonderful! I know many people have this as their fav. I had no idea my dad liked Billy Joel so much, but kudos to him! Hey, I love that one! Even if a friend of mine at the time played the song over and over again.

Mary Ann?!? That may very well be, yes! If so, a second 60s item. Cool!