A Score To Settle

Welcome all listeners out there to the new year and also to the inaugural episode of 2024! To launch into this new year, in this episode I am accompanied once more by perennially popular soundtrack album producer and editor Neil S. Bulk, to continue our conversation in recapping his standout projects from the prior year, in this instance 2023. His work can be heard on album releases from the La La Land, Quartet and Varese Sarabande record labels. As always, I appreciate when Neil can spend time to share the details and experiences on these albums!

Below are the films and composers represented here, with time index for helpful reference:

Intro - 00:00:00

GORKY PARK (1983) (James Horner) - 00:02:36

DAD (1989) (James Horner) - 00:13:15

SNEAKERS (1992) (James Horner) - 00:20:01

THE MASK OF ZORRO (1998) (James Horner) - 00:26:01

MULAN (1998) (Dolby Atmos album releases, score by Jerry Goldsmith, songs by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel) - 00:38:12

LIVE AND LET DIE (1973) (music by George Martin, title song by Paul McCartney & Wings) - 00:45:34

OCTOPUSSY (1983) (music by John Barry, title song "All Time High" by Barry and Tim Rice) - 01:00:00

Stay safe out there, take care of yourself and each other! 

Albums discussed now available at:

La La Land Records

Quartet Records

Connect with the podcast on Facebook and Twitter:

• www.facebook.com/ascoretosettle

Email the show at [email protected] 

Welcome back, everyone! To close out 2023, I’m concluding with an episode of the Now Playing sub-series of the podcast to spotlight notable film scores throughout the calendar year. This year provided some surprise blockbusters, such as BARBIE and OPPENHEIMER, along with new entries from major franchises like INDIANA JONES, CREED and THE FAST & THE FURIOUS - with memorable music from many. Enjoy music from a cavalcade of composers - John Williams, Lorne Balfe, Christophe Beck and Hans Zimmer, among others!

Below are the films and composers represented here, with time index for helpful reference.

Title playtime index:

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA (Christophe Beck) - 00:01:37

SHAZAM: FURY OF THE GODS (Christophe Beck) - 00:06:12

CREED 3 (Joseph Shirley) - 00:10:09

TETRIS (Lorne Balfe) - 00:17:29

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOUR AMONG THIEVES (Lorne Balfe) - 00:24:06

THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE (Brian Tyler/Koji Kondo) - 00:34:09

FAST X (Brian Tyler) - 00:38:24

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (John Williams) - 00:42:33

BARBIE (Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, "What Was I Made For?" by Billie Eilish) - 00:53:00

OPPENHEIMER (Ludwig Göransson) - 01:04:02

THE CREATOR (Hans Zimmer) - 01:10:50

THE MARVELS (Laura Karpman) - 01:19:01

Stay safe out there, take care of yourself and each other! 

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Hello and welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, prepare to be transformed as I continue my mini-series entitled “TV Goes To The Movies” and now explore the music for THE TRANSFORMERS franchise. As before, my focus is musically what was or was not carried over from the television episodes of a particular series to its respective theatrical feature, such as the main TV theme or scoring style.

During its near 40 year history, from the original 1984 syndicated cartoon series, to the animated and live action movies, the Japanese-only series and more, music for the THE TRANSFORMERS has been remarkably varied. The vocal and score tracks have often reflected current or trendy musical approaches, leading to elements of lush symphonic strains, synth pop, hard rock and jazzy funk all being heard in various incarnations. Now, hold on to your crankshafts and let's transform and roll out! 

Title playtime index:

Intro - 00:00:00

THE TRANSFORMERS (US, 1984 cartoon series, theme by Anne Bryant & Ford Kinder, score by Johnny Douglas and Robert J. Walsh) - 00:06:17

TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE (US, 1986 animated theatrical film, songs by Stan Bush, Lion & Spectre General, score by Vince DiCola) - 00:16:45

THE TRANSFORMERS: HEADMASTERS (1987), TRANSFORMERS: SUPER-GOD MASTERFORCE (1988) and TRANSFORMERS: VICTORY (1989) (Japan, songs & score by Ishida Katsunori, Toshiya Igarashi, Michiaki Watanabe) - 00:31:45

TRANSFORMERS (2007), TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (2011), BUMBLEBEE (2018) and TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS (2023) (US, live action theatrical films, song "What I've Done" by Linkin Park, scores by Steve Jablonsky, Dario Marianelli and Jongnic Bontemps) - 00:38:18*

*This segment also contains an excerpt from BATMAN BEGINS (2005), composed by Hans Zimmer and James Newtown Howard

Additional tracks heard but not referenced - 

"Calling You", Theme from TRANSFORMERS: SUPERLINK (Japan, 2004), by Takayoshi Tanimoto

"Time Limit", from TRANSFORMERS: LEGEND OF THE MICRONS (Japan, 2002), composed by Hayato Matsuo

Stay safe out there, take care of yourself and each other! 

Connect with the podcast on Facebook and Twitter:

• www.facebook.com/ascoretosettle

Email the show at [email protected]

Welcome all to the podcast! In this episode, I continue my mini-series entitled "TV Goes To The Movies", a topic in which I intend to explore TV shows that migrated over to the big screen. As expected, my focus is musically what was or was not carried over from the television episodes of a particular series to its respective theatrical feature, such as the main TV theme.

This time I open Channel D to examine "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." - a popular spy series which aired on NBC from 1964-1968. Its musical template was initially set by legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith, while still early in his career, and subsequently experienced many unexpected tonal shifts. Afterwards I discuss the eight "Man From U.N.C.L.E." "movies", each built from 2-part TV episodes and primarily released theatrically internationally, and lastly wrap up with the 2015 feature film, directed by Guy Ritchie, starring Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer, with music composed by Daniel Pemberton.

Title playtime index:

Intro - 00:00:00

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Theme (Concert Version) (Jerry Goldsmith) - 00:03:59

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Theme (Season One broadcast version) (Jerry Goldsmith) - 00:06:15

Early Jerry Goldsmith TV & Film works - DR KILDARE (TV, 1961), CITY OF FEAR (Film, 1959), THE PRIZE (Film, 1963) - 00:07:10

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (TV, Season One) (Jerry Goldsmith, Morton Stevens, Lalo Schifrin) - 00:15:50

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (TV, Season Two) (Gerald Fried, Robert Drasnin) - 00:28:28

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (TV, Season Three) (Gerald Fried, Robert Drasnin, Nelson Riddle) - 00:39:11

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (TV, Season Four) (Richard Shores) - 00:50:40

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. "movies" (released theatrically internationally) (Gerald Fried) - 00:56:22

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (Film, 2015) (Daniel Pemberton) - 01:02:49

Stay safe out there, take care of yourself and each other! 

Connect with the podcast on Facebook and Twitter:

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Hello everyone! With this episode of the podcast, I begin a new sub-series entitled "TV Goes To The Movies", a topic intended to explore TV shows which migrated over to the big screen.

In mapping out a potential plan for the podcast this year, I felt motivated to explore this scenario in terms of musically what was and was not carried over from the television episodes of a particular series to its respective theatrical feature. For example, was the TV series' main theme referenced? Was the style of episodic scoring repeated? Was the series composer, or composers, hired on for the cinematic adventures? My plan is to feature music released officially on album from a selected TV series, followed by the films and see if we can identify recurring attributes.

The initial episode in this sub-series is fraught with danger and intrigue... that being MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE!

Title playtime index:

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (TV, 1966-1973) (Lalo Schifrin, et al) - 00:00:00

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (TV, 1988-1990) (Lalo Schifrin, Ron Jones) - 00:36:28

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (Film, 1996) (Danny Elfman) - 00:44:15

M:I 2 (aka MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2) (Film, 2000) (Hans Zimmer) - 00:55:37

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 3 (Film, 2006) (Michael Giacchino) - 01:05:47

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL (Film, 2011) (Michael Giacchino) - 01:10:03

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION (Film, 2015) (Joe Kramer) - 01:22:27

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT (Film, 2018) (Lorne Balfe) - 1:34:22

Stay safe out there, take care of yourself and each other! 

Connect with the podcast on Facebook and Twitter:

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Email the show at [email protected]

Happy New Year to all listeners out there and welcome to the first new episode of 2023! In this inaugural episode of the new year, I am accompanied by popular soundtrack album producer and editor Neil S. Bulk, in what has become a perennial, (hopefully) entertaining and often “inside baseball” type of discussion. Neil and I recap his standout projects from the prior year, 2022, for the venerable soundtrack record labels La La Land Records, Quartet Records and Varese Sarabande. As always, I appreciate when Neil can spend time to relay the details and experiences on these albums!

Below are the films and composers represented here, with time index for helpful reference:

FIRST BLOOD (1982), RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II (1985), RAMBO III (1988) (Jerry Goldsmith) - 00:00:00

MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS (1971) (John Barry) - 00:15:39

CHAPLIN (1992) (John Barry) - 00:19:10

DR SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000) (James Horner) - 00:26:09

TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997) (David Arnold) - 00:33:43

THE GODFATHER (1972) (Nino Rota) - 00:44:54

PRESUMED INNOCENT (1990) (John Williams) - 00:55:00

DEATH BECOMES HER (1992) (Alan Silvestri) - 1:01:02

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (1997) (Jerry Goldsmith) - 1:08:09

THE BURBS (1989) (Jerry Goldsmith) - 1:15:50

Stay safe out there, take care of yourself and each other! 

Albums discussed now available at:

https://lalalandrecords.com/

https://www.quartetrecords.com/

https://www.varesesarabande.com/

Connect with the podcast on Facebook and Twitter:

• www.facebook.com/ascoretosettle

Email the show at [email protected] 

Welcome back to the show! In an effort to wrap up 2022, I’m concluding with an episode of the Now Playing sub-series of the podcast. This is following on from the previous Now Playing installment (episode 47) in which I primarily covered the first half of the year, including THE BATMAN and TOP GUN: MAVERICK, with additional notable highlights from late 2021. In this episode, enjoy music from John Williams, Lorne Balfe, Junkie XL, Alexandre Desplat among others! Below are the films and composers represented here, with time index for helpful reference:

Title playtime index:

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER (Michael Giacchino & Nami Melumad) - 00:00:00

NOPE (Michael Abels) - 00:10:29

THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING (Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL) - 00:18:53

THE WOMAN KING (Terence Blanchard) - 00:27:18

THE LOST KING (Alexandre Desplat) - 00:34:41

BLACK ADAM (Lorne Balfe) - 00:42:30

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (Ludwig Göransson) - 00:53:07

THE FABELMANS (John Williams) - 1:03:57

Stay safe out there, take care of yourself and each other! 

Connect with the podcast on Facebook and Twitter:

• www.facebook.com/ascoretosettle

Email the show at [email protected]

Welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, I present and examine the music composed for the PREDATOR film franchise, from the 1987 original through to the latest installment, PREY, released via the streaming service Hulu in August 2022. My goal is to identify the themes, motifs, instrumentation and approach applied by composer Alan Silvestri (BACK TO THE FUTURE, MOUSE HUNT, THE AVENGERS) to PREDATOR (1987) & PREDATOR 2 (1990) and how this symphonic model was subsequently interpreted in the sequels and spin-offs (or not). Later, PREY eschews much of the previous musical language and charts new sonic territory, with a subtle nod to Silvestri. Additional composers represented in this pulse-pounding episode include John Debney, Brian Tyler, Henry Jackman, Harald Kloser and Sarah Schachner. 

Title playtime index:

PREDATOR - 00:00:00

PREDATOR 2 - 00:26:25

ALIEN VS PREDATOR - 00:37:10

ALIENS VS PREDATOR: REQUIEM - 00:44:36

PREDATORS - 00:51:52

THE PREDATOR - 1:04:48

PREY - 1:19:23

Stay safe out there, take care of yourself and each other! 

Connect with the podcast on Facebook and Twitter:

• www.facebook.com/ascoretosettle

Email the show at [email protected]

Welcome, everyone, to the next episode of the podcast! In this episode, I revisit a sub-series of the show called "Now Playing", during which I showcase recent soundtrack albums to which I’ve been listening. This can include music for both current film releases and classic scores newly issued on album. Below are the titles (and artists) that I present, mostly from the end of last year and the first half of 2022:

VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE - Marco Beltrami

ARMY OF THIEVES - Hans Zimmer & Steve Mazzaro

THE KING'S MAN - Matthew Margeson & Dominic Lewis

DEATH ON THE NILE (2022) - Patrick Doyle

UNCHARTED - Ramin Djawadi

DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS - Danny Elfman

THE BATMAN & JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION - Michael Giacchino

TOP GUN: MAVERICK - Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, Hans Zimmer & Lorne Balfe

FIRESTARTER (1984) - Tangerine Dream

Stay safe out there, take care of yourself and each other! 

Connect with the podcast on Facebook and Twitter:

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Hello again and welcome back to the podcast! In this somewhat "super-sized" installment of my multi-part trek through the music of Science Fiction cinema, I attempt to close out the decade of the 1980's. The previous installment in this series focused on titles from the years 1980-82. Here, I cover the remaining years of the decade with examples of the competing and sometimes collaborative film music trends - pop & electronic and orchestral. 

The 80’s were a peak time of musical surprises, somewhat akin to the 1960’s when we heard a mix of traditional orchestral scores, jazz, pop & rock-based colors as well as avant garde music derived from concert techniques. Following its revival, the large scale orchestral approach continued reigning over much of cinematic Science Fiction, now bolstered by electronic and choral elements. Parallel to this were the experiments in synth and pop styles, connecting the genre to present day (for the time) musical trends. To help identify these unique sonic qualities, I'll sample music from TERMINATOR (Brad Fiedel), 2010 (David Shire), ENEMY MINE (Maurice Jarre), KRULL (James Horner), SPACEHUNTER: ADVENTURES IN THE FORBIDDEN ZONE (Elmer Bernstein) and THE ABYSS (Alan Silvestri), amid more!

*Correction - During this episode, I mistakenly attributed the theme song for the TV series "Cheers" to composer Craig Safan. In fact, while Safan provided the series bumpers and underscore cues, the theme was composed by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo.

Stay safe out there, take care of yourself and each other! 

Connect with the podcast on Facebook and Twitter:

• www.facebook.com/ascoretosettle

Email the show at [email protected]