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Author	Topic: The Jan Hammer Sound

Jon Oscar® Winner	Hammer is no longer working in the movies, he hasn't done anything for 3 years and hss probably returned to his native East-Europe, but he was a vital force in the 80s and early 90s, scoring things like A Night In Heaven, Secret Admirer, Dark Angel, Kingdom Of The Blind, Beastmaster 3(!), A Modern Affair and of course Miami Vice. I just love the sound that he created for the MV series, and recently I got a nice surprise when I received a CDR containing a track he wrote for the 1985 film Secret Admirer. The track, "Finale", running for 4:10, is extremely similar to the hours and hours of unreleased MV music that is out there. The soundtrack to Secret Admirer is only released on LP and it contains only pop songs in addition to this score track, and I think it's extremely hard to find. Any opinions on this track in particular or Hammer in general?
posted 06-18-2000 07:38 AM PT (US)

dantoris Oscar® Winner	I've always enjoyed his work for Miami Vice. I have a CD called Mission: Accomplished - Themes For Spies and Cops, and it contains the "MV" theme and "Crockett's Theme," which, if you haven't heard it, is very cool.
posted 06-18-2000 10:54 AM PT (US)

Jack Oscar® Winner	I assume both of you are aware of Hammer's ESCAPE FROM TELEVISION? Lots of Miami Vice music.
posted 06-18-2000 02:14 PM PT (US)

dantoris Oscar® Winner	Thanks, Jack. Jon - here's the link to this CD at Amazon.com . . . Escape From Television (appears to be the best of the CDs) And here's three more Miami Vice CDs I found there. Miami Vice - Volume 1 Miami Vice - Volume 2 Miami Vice - Volume 3 These mainly consist of songs used on the show and some tracks of Hammer's scores. NP: Gone In 60 Seconds - "Boost Me" (Oh, the addiction!! The addiction!!)
posted 06-18-2000 02:30 PM PT (US)

H Rocco Oscar® Winner	Here is the complete available Hammer filmography. Just click on the old blue line: http://us.imdb.com/Name?Hammer,+Jan It does indeed appear that he hasn't done a movie or TV show since 1997. Well, he had a good ride. I can't say that I miss him.
posted 06-18-2000 03:11 PM PT (US)

dantoris Oscar® Winner	He never won an award for Miami Vice? Not even a nomination? I can't believe that!!
posted 06-18-2000 03:16 PM PT (US)

H Rocco Oscar® Winner	I'd be surprised if he didn't get at least a Grammy nomination. (The IMDb doesn't always track those.)
posted 06-18-2000 03:24 PM PT (US)

Lancelot Oscar® Winner	Check out Hammer's album "Drive" for a great version of his Knight Rider 2000 theme...
posted 06-18-2000 09:03 PM PT (US)

Jon Oscar® Winner	Thanks, all. Maybe Hammer didn't get an award but several of his tunes from MV actually hit the number ONE at the Bilboard charts in the 80s! That's an amazing thing for an instrumental film composition. Also, check out his MV-like album Snapshots from 1989. Beyond The Mind's Eye from 1993 is quite OK too, but not a masterpiece.
posted 06-23-2000 04:22 AM PT (US)

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