The Color Purple: 1 of the best scores for a Spielberg film?

[Sandor 459]

Recently I've been listening a lot to Quincy Jones' The Color Purple score. I don't really want to like it (for obvious reasons), but to be honest I think it's a great score. I actually think it's one of the better scores for a Spielberg film. It has a truly amazing theme (although lifted a little from Georges Delerues' Our Mother's House).

What do you guys think?

[AC1 3,565]

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

I really don't know it very well.

Saw a docu about Quincy Jones a while back in wich he stated the reason he ended up scoring the picture is because they realised late in the films production that they had not hiored a composer nor give any thought to who should do the score.

I laughed out loud when I heard that statement.

[Adam 1]

That seems remarkable that Speilberg would let that slide. I always figured that was a condition of Jones producing it. Its almost worse to think incompetence prevented Williams from doing it. But I also remember that a lot of people being credited to the final product so its hard to know how much of the score is Jones' effort or maybe he was being overly gracious.

I'm not that familiar with it either but I remember JW mentioning that Quincy Jones was someone who understood the language of film and how music can complement it. He contrasted that with somebody who might be a better musician but couldn't score films if they didn't have that kind of understanding. That was an interview before The Color Purple I think.

- Adam

[fommes 126]

This is recently reissued isn't it? Where can you get it?

[nightscape94 965]

From what I remember, Williams wasn't hired because the studio convinced Spielberg that a more traditional score for that culture be used instead. Quincy was a producer on the movie also, so I'm sure he had something to do with the choice (twisting Spielbergs arm, etc).

But to answer your question: "The Color Purple: 1 of the best scores for a Spielberg film?"

Hell no.

Tim

[Sandor 459]

The fact of the matter is that The Color Purple had already started development BEFORE Spielberg was approached. This was more Quincy Jones' project initially before they started looking for a director. It was Jones' dream that the film would reflect the history of American black music. He was always assigned to do the music. Since Spielberg was "merely" hired to direct Purple he didn't have anything to say about the musical direction.

Still; Spielberg's liner notes make it clear (despite other reports) that he was very fond of the Color Purple score. He even whistled on the album! He was very involved with the music.

What is true however is that the score itself was written fairly late in the process. The songs and all were done first since they were mostly used as source music. The score is very sweet and sentimental, even overdone as some have said.

Still I like it very much!

[orrakul 0]

I also like this score alot, but I dont think it's one of the best scores for a Spielberg film.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

its a nice score, and I like the songs, but no Roald its not one of the best Spielberg film scores, not by a long shot.

[Trumpeteer 243]

I agree with Joe.

Jeff -- shakin' his shimmies

[JoeinAR 1,759]

I do like the score, I've had it since it came out, to say what I did, doesn't change the fact that its a good score.

[Sandor 459]

Yeah I agree Joe. It's a good score. There are Williams scores which I would rate higher (Jaws, CE3K, Raiders, Schindler's List, Jurassic Park, Hook definately), but that's it I guess. Then comes The Color Purple. So in my opinion it's the 7th best score written for a Spielberg film.

[Morlock 9]

I just saw the movie again, and I found the score to be quite good at parts, but nothing phenominal. I don't think the main theme fits the character. I wasn't crazy about it in Delerue's score, and I think Delerue is the only person who could pull off that theme.

[Morlock 9]

I take my previous post back- The jury is out on this score. I've just been watching the making of stuff on the DVD, and the music used there is very beautiful. I guess I missed it in the movie or something. I'll have to get the album.

[Sandor 459]

I'll have to get the album.

Good luck with that! Very hard to find nowadays... At least in Holland it is...