quote:

---

Originally posted by Scorro:
Jeron,

Thanks for the backup endorsement!

A question for you... do you have, or have you heard John Scott's "Becoming Collette" or "The Scarlet Tunic"?

Just wondering, because I do believe you would like those scores. Rather than adventure, these are dramatic romances, and really gorgeous (can't think of a more appropriate adjective). "The Mill On The Floss" is another good one, and "The Shooting Party" is also nice. I listen to these a lot and sometimes feel like too many in the film music appreciation world are missing out.

Sorry to pull your "Atlantis" thread off track...

---

In response to your comments, I figured we could continue them here without steering the Atlantis thread off track. Also (hopefully) we will be able to lure unsuspecting listeners to JS's music... which is truly a special (and under-appreciated) thing.

Like I said, his music for "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is one of my very favorites. ironically, one of my favorite cues on the cd is titled "Mount Atlantis." I've heard a few minutes of "Becoming Collette" courtesy of JJ or TimT, I can't remember. It was very nice - I just haven't acquired it yet. As far as the other scores you mentioned, I haven't heard any of them... though I'm certainly interested.

My John Scott collection encompasses the following:

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Antony and Cleopatra
Deceivers, The
King Kong Lives
King of the Wind
New Swiss Family Robinson, The
North Star, The
Shergar
William the Conqueror

I'd definitely like to get my hands on "The Final Countdown" and "Greystoke," though I haven't put much effort into finding copies as of late.

Anyway, John Scott is the man! Let's talk him up and discuss his music.

Jeron

1) King Of The Wind *
2) Shergar
3) The Deceivers
4) Lionheart
5) 20,000 Leaques Under The Sea *
6) Swiss Family Robinson
7) Shogun Mayeda
8) Walking Thunder
9) The North Star
10) Winter People
11) The Mill On The Floss *
12) The Shooting Party
13) Becomming Collette *
14) The Scarlet Tunic *
15) William The Conqueror *
16) To The Ends Of The Earth
17) Ruby
18) John Scott Conducts

All of these have received a lot of play time, but I have put a * next to the ones which have been played the most. I will post a few 'mini-reviews' on this thread in the next couple of days. For now, a few thoughts on what makes John Scott's music so special to me.

JS writes great themes, and some of his scores have a multitude of excellent themes in them. I like his use of the orchestra to project those themes. The other day I put on Goldsmith's "The Edge" so I could hear Jerry's wilderness theme and the huge, expansive manner the orchestra delivers the goods under his guidance. Scott's music has the same effect on me; he's in a leaque with Goldsmith in his ability to bring the orchestra to its maximum potential when playing thematically strong, expansive music. I know that this is high praise, but that's the only way I can express the feeling.

Hmmm, comparing someone else to Goldsmith on a film music message board! Uh, oh! BTW, I put "The 13th Warrior" in the player last week and was totally re-astounded!

Cheers,
_Sc NP: 20,000 Leaques (Scott)

Oh yeah, the next comparison will be to John Barry for some of those more pastoral scores.

John Scott is the man! I just wish he'd score something that gets popular. I mean how many movies have you seen that Scott as scored? I've only seen one, and that was Lionheart.
Scott CDs I currectly have are

Antony & Cleopatra (A&C is the score that started it all for me) *
North Star *
Walking Thunder *
Lionheart
Shogun Mayeda *
Man on Fire
Red King, White Knight
Ruby
Deceivers
Swiss Family Robison
Greystoke: Legend of Tarzan
King Kong Lives *
Winter People
Prayer for the Dying (rejected score)
Becoming Colette
Shergar
The Second Jungle Book
Far from Home: Adventures of Yellow Dog *
20,000 Leaugues Under the Sea
William the Conquer
King of the Wind

* = My favorites

Since Scott only scores obscure movies its very hard to choose which scores to get from him, because chances are you've never seen the movies, I know I haven't. Also there are no sites with reviews of Scott's scores. So if you are curious about which good Scott CDs to get just ask me. :-D
I know I'd be interested in knowing what "The Mill on the Floss" and "To the End of the Earth" are like.

[Message edited by TimT on 05-30-2001]

quote:

---

Scorro! I refuse to believe you do not have Antony and Cleopatra!

---

19) Antony And Cleopatra *

Oops! I knew I must have missed one! How could I have done that? A&C is one of Scott's tour-de-force scores! BTW TimT, a lot of your favorite JS scores are high on my list too. I don't have "Far From Home" yet; I rented the movie just so I could listen to it. I guess it was at that point in time that I got control of my wallet for awhile. I'll write some thoughts on "Mill" (pastoral) and "Ends" (heroic) sometime soon.
Gotta call it a day!
_Sc

Antony and Cleopatra

The North Star

20 000 Leagues Under the Sea

and these excerpts:
Yor: The Hunter from the Future (on the Sci-Fi At The Movies compilation disc from Label X)

King Kong Lives (on Silva Screen's The Monster Movie Music Album)

A Study in Terror (on Varese Sarabande's Sherlock Holmes compilation)

Antony and Cleopatra (on Silva Screen's Warriors from the Silver Screen compilation)

and, for any one who wants to hear clips or learn about John Scott:
http://webhome.idirect.com/~rlevy/

(though most of you John Scott fans already know that URL)

<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE>

The suite on that compliation is great, but the last few minutes of it are horrible! I can't believe how they just ruined it, its like they sped it up 100MPH! Its very laughable. They should have just used the Overture.

YOR: is another score I'm interested in knowing about. I see it on eBay every now and then.

quote:

---

I don't have "Far From Home" yet; I rented the movie just so I could listen to it. I guess it was at that point in time that I got control of my wallet for awhile. I'll write some thoughts on "Mill" (pastoral) and "Ends" (heroic) sometime soon.
Gotta call it a day!
_Sc

[Message edited by Scorro on 05-30-2001]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by TimT:
<BLOCKQUOTE>

YOR: is another score I'm interested in knowing about. I see it on eBay every now and then.

05-31-2001]

---

YOR

That's it

I have been lusting after ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA for years, so maybe it's time to give in.

YOR is a good score, although there is a rip of the Imperial March in the suite, and a silly interlude that sounds like Joy to the World!??!

But I can hear that Scott has a voice, and skill to burn in this score, caveats notwithstading. He would have surely been better for certain epics relating to a certain event in 1941

NP:1941 Marcia(Williams) I hope this is the score that Bouzereau is going to release an expanded version of!!

quote:

---

I know I'd be interested in knowing what "The Mill on the Floss" and "To the Ends of the Earth" are like.

---

OK Tim, to return to our JS discussion.

To The Ends Of The Earth:
This one is a documentary score for a movie made regarding exploration of the South and North polar regions. Musically, there is a primary theme (as represented at JOS site) which is visited a number of times throughout the score during the uplifting, heroic events. There are a couple of secondary themes early on in the 1st half of the score; the 2nd half becomes more serious and is a series of 'tone poems' as John describes them in the liner notes. These tracks tend to reflect the harsh, isolated polar environment. In other words it's atmospheric, but performed in an orchestrally rich and varied manner. The entire score is orchestrated, with only the slightest hint of a synthesizer on one of the tracks for texture.

Conclusion: I like this score, especially as a background when I'm busy doing chores and not concentrating exclusively on the music. The main theme is excellent, but there isn't the depth of thematic material that is to be found on other JOS scores. As JOS scores go, I would rate this 3.5 of 5 or so.

NP: The Mill On The Floss (mini-review to come)

BTW, there was 1 Scott score which did not work for me, and that is his "Cousteau" Papua New Guinea" CD. A good portion of this one can be best described as improvisational rhythms and sax, somewhat different than what the sound clip at the JOS site is representative of. It's an interesting listen, in a way, but you really have to be in the mood.

You bet! On the way!

Graham,
There is a suite from "England Made Me" on the "John Scott Conducts" CD. I'll have to listen to that again soon; it's been awhile. I had a good lead on getting the score on vinyl (and some other stuff ohis not avail on CD), but it seems to have fallen through.

BMikeJ,

"Mountbatten" release to CD is great news. I'll be looking forward to that and will be near the front og the line (though I haven't heard a note of it). I'm under the impression it's a good score.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Scorro:

Graham,
There is a suite from "England Made Me" on the "John Scott Conducts" CD. I'll have to listen to that again soon; it's been awhile. I had a good lead on getting the score on vinyl (and some other stuff ohis not avail on CD), but it seems to have fallen through.

BMikeJ,

"Mountbatten" release to CD is great news. I'll be looking forward to that and will be near the front og the line (though I haven't heard a note of it). I'm under the impression it's a good score.

Happy Friday!
_Sc

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Scorro:

Graham,
There is a suite from "England Made Me" on the "John Scott Conducts" CD. I'll have to listen to that again soon; it's been awhile. I had a good lead on getting the score on vinyl (and some other stuff ohis not avail on CD), but it seems to have fallen through.

BMikeJ,

"Mountbatten" release to CD is great news. I'll be looking forward to that and will be near the front og the line (though I haven't heard a note of it). I'm under the impression it's a good score.

Happy Friday!
_Sc

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Scorro:

Graham,
There is a suite from "England Made Me" on the "John Scott Conducts" CD. I'll have to listen to that again soon; it's been awhile. I had a good lead on getting the score on vinyl (and some other stuff ohis not avail on CD), but it seems to have fallen through.

BMikeJ,

"Mountbatten" release to CD is great news. I'll be looking forward to that and will be near the front og the line (though I haven't heard a note of it). I'm under the impression it's a good score.

Happy Friday!
_Sc

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Scorro:
The Mill On The Floss: (mini review)
An English score through and through; very provincial. Main theme can be heard at JOS site. If that sounds appealing to you, then you may find TMONF to be the gem I consider it to be. The tracks are rich and varied; John Scott lists 3 themes in the liner notes. It seems there are at least that many, ranging from melancholy to quaint to joyous. There aren't many scores I could compare it too in feel; perhaps "Little Women" by T Newman or "Anne Of Green Gables" by H Hardy or maybe even something by Rachel Portman. Quite honestly I imagine "The Mill On The Floss" might be a bit too quaint for many, but if a richly decorated low key English drama is in your scope of interest, this could be a winner for you. On the Scorro scale of Scott scores (say that 10 times real fast), TMONF checks in at 4.5/5.0 <- it's a solid 5.0 if you're having tea and scones!
_Sc

NP: Portrait Of A Lady (Kilar), another gem = 5/5 (no scones required)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Graham Watt:

Shall I say that again?
Shall I say that again?
Shall I say that again?

---

looks like Mountbatten is now out Must hear this one...

I have managed to get King Kong Lives(fantastic, rompy action stuff, with one action cue quoting YOR )Greystoke(instant classic of course, but the piece on this boot that put on repeat for endless hours is the finale of WINTER PEOPLE....my God is THAT a theme or what!!!)and The Final Countdown(also great for endless repeat, great themes, this may be my new fave JS score).

My real motif for digging up this dino is a little piece of disturbing info I just read....in an interview with dir. Antonio Margheriti, he states that YOR was actually an Italian mini-series, that was cut by half for US release....the original runs 206mins.!?!?!? Shocking isn't it?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mark:
When is Final Countdown to be released? The plans must have been scrapped because JOS website still says coming this summer.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by TimT:
I'm interested in Mountbatten, but I ordered the Trevor Jones CD instead.

What is Mountbatten like? I'm guessing like William the Conquer.

---

if anyone is absolutely desperate for England Made Me on CDR, I can make an LP transfer (when I get back to Vegas and make other CDRs people have been waiting patiently for).

quote:

---

Originally posted by JJH:
by the way,

on a related note, I just found myself a copy of [b]Ruby. This score any good?[/B]

---

Yes! Ruby is a great score. I love the main theme.

Just got a bunch of new Scott in last night, don't even remember all the titles yet

Did play Witchcraft last night, and it's terrific, like a symphonic danse macabre unto itself, one of those albums that plays fine as an album, and not as a parade of cues(having a few long pieces in there helps as well).

Have Shogun Mayeda in the car right now, and will be enjoying that in about 25mins. The first few cues are terrific, thriling thematic stuff, and a score I don't see mentioned that much.

Didn't have much to say but that really....and the Winter People theme is STILL just about the greatest thing every composed for film...I get that stuck in my head, and there is nothing more beautiful. Funny phenomenon really....

quote:

---

Originally posted by OHMSS76:
Time to revisit this classic thread again

Just got a bunch of new Scott in last night, don't even remember all the titles yet

Did play Witchcraft last night, and it's terrific, like a symphonic danse macabre unto itself, one of those albums that plays fine as an album, and not as a parade of cues(having a few long pieces in there helps as well).

Have Shogun Mayeda in the car right now, and will be enjoying that in about 25mins. The first few cues are terrific, thriling thematic stuff, and a score I don't see mentioned that much.

Didn't have much to say but that really....and the Winter People theme is STILL just about the greatest thing every composed for film...I get that stuck in my head, and there is nothing more beautiful. Funny phenomenon really....

Ciao,
Sean

---

Not only is John Scott a WONDERFUL composer, he is a gentleman and someone I am glad to call "friend."

I was fortunate enough to be at the mixing sessions for "Winter People" with John & Shawn Murphy in Santa Monica. It was a thrilling experience. This was before the director/studio decided the all electronic score needed to have some orchestral parts. John actually preferred the original electronic score, but personally I LOVE his orchestral stuff even more.

I always recommend his work. A class act all the way! If you can, pick up "Red King, White Knight." Even though they had to remove the drum track on the Airport Chase cute(because it was cost prohibitive)it's still an thrilling piece of music.

(The drum track was added later and performed by the drummer for Def Leppard of all people!)

One of his best scores that noone ever talks about is Far from Home: The Adventure of Yellow Dog. http://www.moviemusic.com/comments.asp?id=farfromhome
I think the title itself may turn people off, but its just as thrilling as Shogun Mayeda.

Also the score for Ruby is very entertaining. I used to not like it but its grown on me so much that I'd put it on my list of my Top 5 J. Scott scores.

NP: Spitfire Grill(Jamie)
Sean