HOOK Ultimate Edition - MUSIC Discussion

[Jay 37,369]

I am creating a second HOOK ULTIMATE EDITION thread, so that people can discuss the music without the conversation being mixed in with shipping updates and general anticipation posts.

 

Here is the original thread where shipping updates, etc should still be shared in

 

 

 

Now on to the music!

 

 

 

On 03/12/2023 at 1:35 AM, Justanothercrow421 said:

Super happy with this release! Mine came in yesterday! New baby is taking up my time but I’m hoping to listen to this in its entirety soon!

 

On 03/12/2023 at 11:16 AM, Alejandro said:

Mine came yesterday, too.  I’m really enjoying the extensions and Disc 3 so far. 

 

18 hours ago, Demondm810 said:

I don't see how any other film score expaneded release can best this.  This is unbelievable.  

Starting with disc 3 was such a good recommendation, thank you Jay.  That was an fantastic peek into what could have been.  

 

 

I'm looking forward to hearing more thoughts from you three, as well as anybody else that has received their copy already!

[CatastrophicJones 18]

Question. In the booklet I can't find who sings "Stick With Me" or "The Never Song". Who sung those? I'll admit I skimmed, so I'm sure it mentions it in there somewhere.

 

Only just started listening to it. Gonna throw it on my phone and listen to it while I'm at work if I can. This is a fantastic release, one I've been waiting on and I am excited to enjoy the music properly! 

[Jay 37,369]

1 hour ago, CatastrophicJones said:

Question. In the booklet I can't find who sings "Stick With Me" or "The Never Song". Who sung those? I'll admit I skimmed, so I'm sure it mentions it in there somewhere.

 

It is unknown who sang those.  None of the paperwork from 1991 had this information.  Mike made every possible attempt to find out, but no leads resulted in any answers. 

 

We're actually hoping this release might cause those two singers to come out of the woodwork and identify themselves!

[Tydirium 1,167]

1 minute ago, Jay said:

 

It is unknown who sang those.  Mike made every possible attempt to find out and nothing turned up.  We're actually hoping this release might cause those two singers to come out of the woodwork and identify themselves!

 

Who sings “Childhood”? I’m obsessed with the preview clip.

[Brando 1,864]

Very interesting. One would assume it was written down somewhere.

[Jay 37,369]

21 minutes ago, Tydirium said:

Who sings “Childhood”? I’m obsessed with the preview clip.

 

That would be the great Bobbi Page.

[Tydirium 1,167]

1 minute ago, Jay said:

 

That would be the great Bobbi Page.

 

Awesome, thanks! She has a beautiful voice.

[tranders65 65]

Listening to it right now - Jay, trying it with Disc 3 first and so far the music sounds FANTASTIC.  Best I've heard it sound easily, not that it's a surprise.  Enjoying the psuedo-conceptual-musical angle so far and can't wait to dig into the score-proper after.

 

[Dr. Rick 1,157]

Just finished listening to discs 1 & 2, wow!  I need a break and will listen to disc 3 tomorrow afternoon.  What a fantastic release, sound is amazing.  Thank you @Jay , MM, et all for making this happen!

[Dole 17]

Just have a huge smile on my face listening to this. Thanks to everyone involved in working on this Holy Grail project. 

[Dr. Know 326]

Just started my first listen.  The Hook Prologue never sounded better, and happy to report that the bass is booming.

[jacksparrow900 32]

I've already listen to the score three times since receiving it. On another note I also picked up Topaz at the same time and those stereo elements must of been in pristine condition  and untouched for almost 60 years since they sounded like they were recorded yesterday 

[Dr. Know 326]

I have now reached "The Never-Feast (Film Version)" -- I found myself literally holding my breath at the point where that wonderful festive section plays... Ahhhhh, no weird edit from the various amateur attempts to piece this together over the years. What a relief!  And what a glorious cue!

[Jay 37,369]

2 hours ago, jacksparrow900 said:

On another note I also picked up Topaz at the same time and those stereo elements must of been in pristine condition  and untouched for almost 60 years sin

 

I'd love it if you bumped the Topaz thread with your thoughts to help bring attention to that great release!

[IheartMelissaBenoist 36]

Wow. I'm only up to Farewell Neverland on Disc 2. I had no idea I'd be hearing so much new stuff! Seriously, it seems like it's filled with bits and pieces I've never heard before. Wow. 

 

I've had several versions of this score throughout the years, and not only is the sound quality excellent, the packaging and presentation is/are great, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M HEARING NEW-TO-ME HOOK MUSIC! 😀

 

To everyone involved in this release, bravo and thank you! 

 

I almost don't want to listen to Disc 3, because after that it'll be over. 😥

 

What with seeing lovely Bernard Cribbins make his last appearance in Doctor Who on Saturday, then Taylor Swift being in my neck of the woods Sunday night, and the Packers winning, and Hook arriving Monday... It's been an emotional week! 

 

(Guys, Taylor was less than half an hour away from me!! ❤️) 

 

Edited to add... Maggie actress Amber Scott, vocalist on When You're Alone, is 39 now, and wowzers! 

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

It never occurred to me that that actress is older than I am. To paraphrase the great Zapp Brannigan, seeing her as an attractive adult feels weird and deeply confusing!

[Manakin Skywalker 4,897]

Low Below was extremely different from how I imagined it, even re-listening to Ragoz's mockup beforehand for comparison. And I wasn't expecting the chant from the end of Show Us Your Hook to make a surprise cameo at the end, but to a different tempo/melody!

 

[Sandor 797]

Honestly, the songs -even if they're just demo-versions- sound much more accomplished than Thomas And The King, the only real comparable work in Williams' discography. 

 

It only makes me wonder how powerful Believe, Childhood or Mothers would have eventually become had the production steered towards the original planned musical idea.

[1977 1,743]

15 hours ago, Tydirium said:

 

Awesome, thanks! She has a beautiful voice.

 

Anything in the notes about Julie Andrews? You don't have to spoil the actual content for those who don't have the set, just a yes or no will suffice. Thanks

 

[Jay 37,369]

Yes she is mentioned.

[Bespin 8,483]

From the Wikipedia article:
 

Quote

Julie Andrews recorded one song, "Childhood", at the Sony Pictures Studios so that Maggie Smith could lip-sync it on set; it was meant to be sung by Granny Wendy to her grandchildren in their bedroom.^[26]

 

Is this Andrews? https://johndadlez.com/MP3/Hook-TheUltimateEdition/3_03_C.mp3

[mstrox 6,651]

There is a 0% chance that the voice in that sample is Julie Andrews.

[1977 1,743]

I'm very confused now. Guess all will be answered in time.

[Jay 37,369]

22 minutes ago, Bespin said:

From the Wikipedia article:
 

 

https://johndadlez.com/MP3/Hook-TheUltimateEdition/3_03_C.mp3

 

16 hours ago, Tydirium said:

 

Who sings “Childhood”? I’m obsessed with the preview clip.

 

16 hours ago, Jay said:

 

That would be the great Bobbi Page.

 

[Bespin 8,483]

So the Julie Andrews demo, if it truly exists, remains unreleased.

[Dr. Know 326]

Wow, the end of "Farewell Neverland" (short version/alternate) on disc 3 is gorgeous.  One of my favorite tracks on the set.

[Luke Skywalker 1,795]

Low below. Finally we hear those “prostitutes” mentioned in the end credits…

 

really childhood song is gorgeous. The amateur (but professionally done) version by a member here, (it was spot on in the singing) has slightly different lyrics. Was it an early draft of the song?

 

spielberg should have had the balls and release the film as a musical. All those songs and reprises make sense musically-thematically and feel choesive to the score…

 

and it was in the disney musicals renaissance. Maybe people would have had a soft spot for the film then…

[Tydirium 1,167]

7 minutes ago, Luke Skywalker said:

and it was in the disney musicals renaissance. Maybe people would have had a soft spot for the film then…

 

Not only that, but according to Wikipedia:

 

Quote

Spielberg began developing Hook in the early 1980s with Walt Disney Productions and Paramount Pictures, which would have followed the Peter Pan storyline seen in the 1924 silent film and 1953 animated Disney film.

 

It could have literally been a sequel to the Disney animated film.

[Brando 1,864]

I think the podcast will discuss it but the final version of the movie wouldn't have been a straight musical, more so a movie with more musical sequences than what the final product was. But that version would've been better.

[Tydirium 1,167]

6 minutes ago, Brando said:

I think the podcast will discuss it but the final version of the movie wouldn't have been a straight musical, more so a movie with more musical sequences than what the final product was. But that version would've been better.

 

So, like the Disney animated film? And I agree.

[Luke Skywalker 1,795]

Yeah, in the end the 90 disney musicals do not have that many songs either.

[Tydirium 1,167]

True, though I’d still consider them “musicals”; I guess my point was more that Hook would have fit in nicely as a sequel to the animated Peter Pan, because that one was similarly a movie with musical sequences (rather than a musical itself). So Hook being that way, wouldn’t have felt jarring as a sequel. I think the 90s Disney animated films do have more actual songs than the old animated Peter Pan did, but I could be misremembering.

[Faleel 5,356]

11 minutes ago, Tydirium said:

True, though I’d still consider them “musicals”; I guess my point was more that Hook would have fit in nicely as a sequel to the animated Peter Pan, because that one was similarly a movie with musical sequences (rather than a musical itself). So Hook being that way, wouldn’t have felt jarring as a sequel. I think the 90s Disney animated films do have more actual songs than the old animated Peter Pan did, but I could be misremembering.

Peter Pan has at least six:

 

Main Title song

You Can Fly

A Pirates Life

Following the Leader

What Made

Your Mother and Mine

 

Which is more than Mulan, (a few) less than Beauty and the Beast

 

 

[Taikomochi 1,136]

The Never Song melody sounds very similar to Follow Me from Always. I wonder if there is any relation - didn’t see any mention in my brief perusal of the liner notes. Maybe John just really liked the melody and thought to use it on something better.

 

Mothers is goofy as hell, and I kinda love it.

[Luke Skywalker 1,795]

🥲 something lovely happened.

 

i was listening to ‘when you are alone instrumental’ sitting on the floor looking at the window alongside my 15 month old daughter.

 Halfway through, i couldnt help it and started singing the lyrics. Then she looks at me, smiles and embraces me resting her little head with mine.

 

🫶🏼

[Jay 37,369]

1 hour ago, Luke Skywalker said:

Low below. Finally we hear those “prostitutes” mentioned in the end credits…

 

You can see them in the final movie, but yes it is great that after 32 years the musical number they sang on can finally be heard

 

 

 

[Taikomochi 1,136]

Believe is super beautiful. I was expecting to find all the songs too corny to enjoy, but this one is actually touching (the others are good in their own goofy way). I would much rather have had this make the cut than the songs that did. What could have been!

[Brando 1,864]

1 hour ago, Tydirium said:

 

So, like the Disney animated film? And I agree.

 

1 hour ago, Luke Skywalker said:

Yeah, in the end the 90 disney musicals do not have that many songs either.

Yes, and I suppose it depends on how you classify a musical, like I wouldn't say Peter Pan is a musical like Wizard of Oz or Sound of Music, but a movie with musical segments. 

53 minutes ago, Luke Skywalker said:

🥲 something lovely happened.

 

i was listening to ‘when you are alone instrumental’ sitting on the floor looking at the window alongside my 15 month old daughter.

 Halfway through, i couldnt help it and started singing the lyrics. Then she looks at me, smiles and embraces me resting her little head with mine.

 

🫶🏼

That's very sweet and adorable!!

[Luke Skywalker 1,795]

Its a shame most of the songs are mostly demos, not sung by the cast or ‘vocal look-alikes’. They cant really be integrated into the score to make an alternate movie with musical scenes siundtrack.

[mstrox 6,651]

I think if a character sings, the movie is a musical - with the limited exception of if the character sings as part of an in-world band/performance in a very limited capacity in a movie (for instance while the movies Once or A Star Is Born are clearly musicals, Mean Girls would not be since it’s one song as part of a performance).

[Bespin 8,483]

2 hours ago, Jay said:

 

A number with prostitutes, cool! Then, they remembered it should be a movie intended for kids...

[Faleel 5,356]

2 hours ago, Taikomochi said:

Believe is super beautiful.

Hell yeah

[King Mark 3,631]

I don't normally like songs but Childhood is my favorite JW song based on his themes.

Believe is really nice too.

 

These are 2 first tracks I listened to on this set.

 

The Farewell Neverland alternate ending is so cool I  want to find a way to put this track in the main score.

[Jay 37,369]

7 hours ago, Luke Skywalker said:

really childhood song is gorgeous. The amateur (but professionally done) version by a member here, (it was spot on in the singing) has slightly different lyrics. Was it an early draft of the song?

 

Good ears!  The lyrics to "Childhood" were first published in a Leslie Briscusse songbook (this one, I believe), and 6 lines of the song were different in that book, for unknown reasons.

 

Anyways, it was that book that was used to create that old fan-made recording.

[King Mark 3,631]

I prefer alternate Exit Music to the one in main score too. more prominent strings

[Faleel 5,356]

Is it my imagination, or is the alternate Hook chant not in the set? the one where it is just

 

Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! Hook! HOOK!!

[Jay 37,369]

That's not an alternate chant.  It's one layer of vocals and is heard in the track along with all the other vocal lines.

[Faleel 5,356]

1 minute ago, Jay said:

That's not an alternate chant.  It's one layer of vocals and is heard in the track along with all the other vocal lines.

I figured that was what was probably the case, but just thought I would bring it up.

 

Was that a similar situation with the Take Me Out to the Ballgame source? or was that an actual seperate extension?

[Luke Skywalker 1,795]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

 

Good ears!  The lyrics to "Childhood" were first published in a Leslie Briscusse songbook (this one, I believe), and 5 lines of the song were different in that book, for unknown reasons.

 

Anyways, it was that book that was used to create that old fan-made recording.

Since the verses are repeated in the song, he should have used both once, so we would have the complete lyrics.

 

im so accustomed to “cherish, childhood, as any child would” that i miss it.

“Should” kinda implies that some children get robbed of their childhoods, but although true it is not the message of the film. Or maybe it is…it could be also the message of the peter pan original, dont rob children their childhoods making them grow too fast. Both wendy’s father and peter banning tell their older child to grow up….

 

 

And maybe julie andrews sang the book version….

 

 

BTW, if the film had been an animated disney movie, childhood would have been the perfect end credit song. An unused song whose musical theme was strongly used in the score. Like it happened in pocahontas and hunchback.

[Jay 37,369]

15 minutes ago, Luke Skywalker said:

And maybe julie andrews sang the book version….

 

She sang the exact same lyrics as Bobbi Page's recording.