Fire Birds by David Newman (New Intrada CD April 29 2013)

[Jay 39,172]

INTRADA Announces:

FIRE BIRDS

Composed and Conducted by DAVID NEWMAN

INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 241

1990 was a threshold year for composer David Newman’s career: Mr. Destiny, Ducktales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp and Meet the Applegates were all aesthetically formative scores. Fire Birds was another mile marker, being his first full-blooded action film. With only a few weeks to score the movie, Newman began drafting what were to be heavily synthesized cues. Far from a budget limitation, the choice of favoring synthesizers was a popular stylistic one and one fitting technology’s importance in the film. Newman elected to write for hefty band of live brass players as well—for use in the “rousing,” soldierly main theme, as well as for somber and reflective passages and combat material. The main theme, based on a very Americana, three-note leap, soars at sunrise with the Apaches over the “Main Title,” and issues an exciting call to arms throughout the score. The main tenets of Newman’s score outside the main theme are the plucky training sequences—using a pizzicato string effect, a gentle pop-flavored romance theme, an icy militaristic idea for the baddie, and the action set pieces. Everything is tied up triumphantly with the noble trumpet theme and a wave of electric guitar in the feel-good final scene.

For this release Intrada presents the complete score in crisp stereo from the original 2-track masters.

Fire Birds begins with a helicopter dogfight against a South American drug cartel, in which cartel baddie Eric Stoller (Bert Rhine) guns down Army pilot Jake Preston’s (Nicolas Cage) comrades. The Army plots a retaliatory hit— this time with their new, high-tech Apache gunships. Preston is assigned to air combat training to learn the Apache under commander Brad Little (Tommy Lee Jones). In training, too, is Preston’s former fiancée, Billie (Sean Young), who reignites his romantic pilot light. With both his eyes engaged and a sparkle back in Billie’s, Preston takes the fight to the cartel and, with the aid of superior birds, blows them out of the sky.

INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 241

Retail Price: $19.99

Available Now

For track listing and sound samples, please visit

http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.8032/.f

FIRE BIRDS

Label: Intrada Special Collection Volume 241

Date: 1990

Tracks: 16

Time = 58:01

Exciting music! World premiere release of action-packed David Newman score for David Green helicopter action pic starring Nicolas Cage, Tommy Lee Jones, Sean Young. Playing out as Army version of TOP GUN, solid picture finds pilots of high tech helicopters going up against well-armed members of drug cartel in South America. Newman takes command with his score, propels it with military musical muscle courtesy large array of brass, percussion, then adds layer of high tech electronics on top. With patriotic angles covered, gently rhythmic love theme in tow, Newman creates exciting music with striking metallic edge! Highlights abound but spotlight deservedly goes to powerful 11-minute climactic battle cue "Gates Of Hell". Complete score available from crisp digital two-track stereo session mixes courtesy Touchstone Pictures. David Newman conducts. Intrada Special Collection release available while quantities and interest remains!

01. Main Title 6:04

02. First Flight 3:38

03. Reunion, Billy And Preston 1:55

04. Simulator 3:39

05. Laundry Mat 1:37

06. Good Morning 1:28

07. Copter Romance 2:43

08. Boxing 1:32

09. In The Bag 4:34

10. Periscope Montage 4:35

11. Corvette Drive 1:34

12. War Games 5:54

13. Flight To Camp 2:23

14. Brad And Preston 2:34

15. Gates Of Hell 11:18

16. Final Scene 2:10

David Newman

Price: $19.99

[filmmusic 2,156]

Oh, first time I hear about this movie!

I just watched the trailer in youtube and it seems like a "Top Gun" but with helicopters!

[Thor 8,200]

I've had the bootleg for ages and enjoyed it immensely. Great stuff. I am particularly fond of the synth tracks, but the orchestral tracks are great too. I can finally retire the bootleg.

The film isn't very good, however.