A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 34, Listening To... "Star Trek: The Next Generation"

Welcome back, everyone! In this episode of the podcast, I am charting the musical journey of the popular TV series, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, which ran from 1987 to 1994. THE NEXT GENERATION, or TNG, was a sequel syndicated series to the beloved original STAR TREK series, the first spin-off in what is now a long-running media franchise. TNG ran successfully for 7 seasons before leaping to the big screen in four feature films, closing out in 2002 with STAR TREK: NEMESIS. Personally, it happens to be my favorite TV series, it's what made me into a Star Trek fan and features some of my favorite music for television. 

The three primary composers on TNG were Dennis McCarthy, Ron Jones and Jay Chattaway. Only 4 episodes out of the 178 total received music from guest composers. My aim, as with other installments in my "Listening To..." episodes, is to identify the hallmarks of the show's overall musical style, where each composer's sound represented this and differed and then how the music evolved during its 7-year run. 

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-score-to-settle/id1317649943?mt=2

https://open.spotify.com/show/1KS5lN5RfVQ1claGbxR2YJ

https://ascoretosettle.podbean.com/e/asts-034-listening-to-star-trek-the-next-generation/

 

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 33, "Dragonslayer (1981)/Guest Todd Smith (fan chat)

Welcome to the next new episode of the podcast! It's been awhile since my last episode of this variety, being that it is split into two segments - the first focuses on a notable, favorite score of mine, followed by a segment that is a free-wheeling chat between myself and another soundtrack fan! Modernist composer Alex North's challenging, complex and arresting score for the 1981 dark fantasy film DRAGONSLAYER has long been considered memorable for the genre overall. I briefly present North's background before turning my attention to DRAGONSLAYER, its recurring themes and motifs and where it fits among his other epic scores.

Following this, I talk with a fellow movie music fan and my good friend of more than 25 years, Todd Smith. He shares what scores initially caught his attention, becoming a soundtrack collector and what makes this music memorable, along with many mentions of James Horner's music. The beginning of our own friendship is shared, all thanks to the early days of Film Score Monthly.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

https://ascoretosettle.podbean.com/e/asts-033-dragonslayer-1981guest-todd-smith-fan-chat/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-score-to-settle/id1317649943?mt=2

https://open.spotify.com/show/1KS5lN5RfVQ1claGbxR2YJ

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 32, Listening to... "Lethal Weapon" (Part 2)

Hello everyone! This is part two of my investigation into the music of the popular cop/action film series, LETHAL WEAPON, composed by Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton and David Sanborn, and its fusion of rock, blues and orchestral stylings. In part one, I focused on the original, released in 1987, and the first sequel, along with presenting contextual examples from scores for police and detective movies which preceded this series. Here, I continue on into LETHAL WEAPON 3 (1992) and LETHAL WEAPON 4 (1998) while for context I touch upon other scores by Michael Kamen from the same time period. In the late 1980's and throughout much of the 90's, Kamen's stirring approach of orchestral acrobatics defined the sound of cinematic action, including genre highlights such as DIE HARD, HUDSON HAWK and ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-score-to-settle/id1317649943?mt=2

https://open.spotify.com/show/1KS5lN5RfVQ1claGbxR2YJ

https://ascoretosettle.podbean.com/e/asts-032-listening-to-lethal-weapon-part-2/

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 31, Listening to... "Lethal Weapon" (Part 1)

Hello everyone! In this new episode of the podcast, I am exploring the music of the popular cop/action film series, LETHAL WEAPON, from the initial installment which appeared onscreen in 1987 up to LETHAL WEAPON 4, released in 1998. The scores, as composed by Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton and David Sanborn, are a colorful, exciting fusion of genres, such as rock, blues and orchestral, feature memorable character motifs along with instrumental solos by Clapton on guitar and Sanborn on saxophone. I begin by spotlighting examples of music from cop & detective movies preceding LETHAL WEAPON, noting how the styles moved from dissonant, dark orchestral turmoil to downtrodden, lonely sounds that often incorporated popular trends of the time, my aim being to provide some historical context for where the LETHAL WEAPON scores both follow this model and chart a new path.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-score-to-settle/id1317649943?mt=2

https://open.spotify.com/show/1KS5lN5RfVQ1claGbxR2YJ

https://ascoretosettle.podbean.com/e/asts-031-listening-to-lethal-weapon/

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 30, Guest Neil S. Bulk, soundtrack album producer and editor

Soundtrack album producer and editor Neil S. Bulk returns to the podcast, in this special "bulk size" episode, to discuss several of his notable film score restorations accomplished during 2019! He shares behind-the-scenes information and anecdotes from wonderful projects he guided last year for fan favorite labels, including La-La Land Records, Quartet Records and Varese Sarabande. I ask Neil about his work on the 5-disc PLANET OF THE APES box set, which collected all music from the original five films of the beloved franchise. In addition, we chat about eagerly anticipated expanded album releases such as THE SWARM (1978), THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY (1978) and U.S. MARSHALS (1998), all composed by Jerry Goldsmith, KARATE KID (1984) by Bill Conti and STARGATE (1994) by David Arnold. We also spend time talking James Horner's haunting, lush score for LEGENDS OF THE FALL from 1994 and its expanded edition from Intrada Records. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and forgive any technical or factual gaffes, in fact the sound on my mic can be a bit "hot" during this interview. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean.

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-score-to-settle/id1317649943?mt=2

https://open.spotify.com/show/1KS5lN5RfVQ1claGbxR2YJ

https://ascoretosettle.podbean.com/e/asts-030-guest-neil-s-bulk-album-producer-and-editor/

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 29, Film Music For My Father

Greetings and welcome to the first new episode of my podcast for 2020! Took me long enough, right?  So, the podcast has been on a bit of a hiatus in recent months, but I plan to return with new episodes throughout the year, beginning with this one, which features more of a personal topic. During this difficult and uncertain time we are all currently experiencing, I trust that everyone is staying as safe, healthy and sheltered as possible.

Last year, 2019, was the 25th anniversary of my father's untimely passing and to acknowledge how he affected my love of movie music, I wanted to devote time to the film scores he enjoyed and introduced to me. This includes wonderful classics such as PATTON (1970), THE BLUE MAX (1966) and STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) from Jerry Goldsmith, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) by Maurice Jarre, music from the James Bond series, and Ron Goodwin's exciting music for WHERE EAGLES DARE (1968) and 633 SQUADRON (1964). Along with these selections, I share some anecdotes and memories of my dad.

I realize that the focus of this episode is unusually personal, but I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy it regardless. I felt it was important to understand the people in our respective lives that can play a pivotal role shaping us into who we become. As always, forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean.

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-score-to-settle/id1317649943?mt=2

https://open.spotify.com/show/1KS5lN5RfVQ1claGbxR2YJ

https://ascoretosettle.podbean.com/e/asts-029-film-music-for-my-father/