BuySoundtrax Records: STAR TREK: MUSIC FROM THE VIDEO GAMES

BUYSOUNDTRAX RECORDS TO RELEASE
STAR TREK: MUSIC FROM THE VIDEO GAMES

Featuring Music by Dennis McCarthy, Rod Abernethy, Kevin Kiner, Ron Jones, Danny Pelfry, Roland Rizzo, Gregory Smith, Steve Scherer, Kevin Manthei, and Others

(June 17, 2013) – BuySoundtrax Records is proud to announce the release of Star Trek: Music from the Video Games, available digitally on Wednesday, June 19th and in stores and from www.buysoundtrax.com the week of July 1, 2013.  The recording was produced, arranged, and performed by Dominik Hauser.

The Star Trek universe extends much further than a simple 1960s TV series that lasted a mere three seasons.  It is a movement unto itself, spawning three television sequels and one prequel, an animated series and several film series.  One of the lesser-known ends of this universe are the video games which get the star treatment with this new collection from BuySoundtrax.

“Perhaps the greatest intersection between the Star Trek series and movies and the contemporary popular culture has been seen in the video games based on the Star Trek universe,” said Randall D. Larson in the liner notes for this collection.  “Games have not only borrowed the concepts and characters from Star Trek, but have extended story-lines and created wholly new adventures unique to the interactive world of gaming, in which players become actively involved in simulated story-lines, battle action, and alien environments rather than just watching the story unfold outside of oneself.”

BuySoundtrax Records: MUSIC FROM THE FILMS OF RIDLEY SCOTT

BUYSOUNDTRAX RECORDS

TO RELEASE MUSIC FROM

THE FILMS OF RIDLEY SCOTT

Featuring Music by Hans Zimmer, Jerry Goldsmith, Vangelis, and Tangerine Dream

(May 13, 2013) – BuySoundtrax Records is proud to announce the release of Music From the Films of Ridley Scott, available digitally on May 14th and, in stores and from www.buysoundtrax.com on May 27, 2013.  The recording was produced and arranged by Dominik Hauser, performed by the American Film Symphony, and features performances by Brandon K. Verrett and Edgar Rothermich.

Ridley Scott has produced some of the most critically acclaimed, commercial successes, and beloved films of the past 35 years.  From his 1979 breakthrough, Alien, to the cult classic Blade Runner, to his three Academy Award nominations (Thelma and Louise, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down), Scott’s films have run the gamut, set in the past, present and future.

One thing is constant in the works of Ridley Scott – he has worked with some of the best-loved composers of his time, including Jerry Goldsmith, Hans Zimmer, Vangelis, Trevor Jones, and more recently Harry Gregson-Williams and Marc Streitenfeld.

Music From the Films of Ridley Scott features tracks from Scott’s films including The Duellists (Howard Blake), Alien (Jerry Goldsmith), Blade Runner (Vangelis), Legend (Jerry Goldsmith and Tangerine Dream), Someone To Watch Over Me (George and Ira Gershwin), Black Rain (Hans Zimmer), Thelma and Louise (Hans Zimmer), 1492: Conquest of Paradise (Vangelis), White Squall (Jeff Rona), G.I. Jane (Trevor Jones), Gladiator (Hans Zimmer), Hannibal (Hans Zimmer), Black Hawk Down(Hans Zimmer), Kingdom of Heaven (Harry Gregson-Williams), Robin Hood (Marc Streitenfeld), Prometheus (Marc Streitenfeld).

Originally from Switzerland, Dominik Hauser received his education at the Jazz School St. Gallen in Switzerland, earning a masters degree in music. In 1996 Hauser relocated to Los Angeles, to attend UCLA where he delved deeply into film scoring. Subsequently he took his skills to the realm of indie cinema and began composing for film. Hauser’s work involves him in a variety of projects, including cinema, theater and video games. Recently Hauser completed arranging and orchestration on the restoration of the first Best Picture Academy Award® winner Wings for the 2012 Paramount Picture centennial celebration. His work for the record label BSX includes The Bounty, Scrooge, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Hauser recently published his fourth book, Soloing for Bass.

-Jeremy [Retro-Z]

BuySoundtrax Records: Film Music of Michael Nyman For Solo Piano - Joohyun Park

Film Music of Michael Nyman For Solo Piano
Music by: Joohyun Park

Released By: BUYSOUNDTRAX RECORDS

BuySoundtrax Records is proud to announce the release of The Film Music of Michael Nyman For Solo Piano featuring piano performances by Joohyun Park. The recording will be available digitally, in stores, and from www.buysoundtrax.com on April 10th.

“I started this piano album by concentrating solely on music from The Piano,” said Park. “All music of Michael Nyman has stunning, beautiful and dynamic melodies and it really began to capture my attention. I wanted to record more of Nyman’s work after working on the pieces from The Piano.”

Pianist Joohyun Park was born in Kwang-Ju, South Korea.  She began studying music at age 6. Park received both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees of Piano from Yon Sei Univeristy (Seoul, Korea) and a Bachelor’s Degree of Contemporary Writing and Production from Boston’s famed Berklee College of Music.  She has worked as a score coordinator, pianist, orchestrator and assistant composer for movies including Priest, The Informers, Drag Me To Hell, Creation, When in Rome, The Black Tulip, and Love Happens.  A frequent performer for BuySoundtrax, Joohyun also performed The Music of Battlestar Galactica for Solo Piano.

4/5 It is difficult to review a release like this one... the artist Joohyun Park does an awesome job giving the sense of Michael Nyman collective work. It's Joohyun Park could stand out and give us the same incredible return on personal material and journeys.

-Jeremy [Retro-Z]

BuySoundtrax Records - Gives Us Two Releases

Film Music For a New Age Vol.

Cinema Classics for Solo Piano

Digitally on March 19, 2013

BuySoundtrax Records is proud to announce the release of two new recordings on Film Music For a New Age Vol. 1 and Cinema Classics for Solo Piano (performed by Mark Northam). 

Film Music For a New Age Vol. 1 is the first in an upcoming series of newly recorded/arranged versions of themes that are new age-influenced from films including Avatar, Class of the Titans, Legend, and Star Trek Generations.

Cinema Classics for Solo Piano is a stripped down arrangement of classic film themes as performed by Mark Northam.  Performing these themes for solo piano really lets the melodies shine and spotlights the genius of such composers as Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Dave Grusin, Nino Rota and John Williams.

Released By: BUYSOUNDTRAX RECORDS

 

4/5 and 4/5 I prefer the originals to the scores I get, though it is nice once in awhile to get some great interpretations of a mix in one place. These sounds-capes bring us a aspect of sharing not only the talent of artist you know and ones you should like "Mark Northam".

-Jeremy [Retro-Z]

Film Noir’s Finest: Themes From the Dark Side of the Lens

Film Noir’s Finest: Themes From the Dark Side of the Lens
Music By: Dennis McCarthy, Dominik Hauser, Mark Northam, Joohyun Park, Dan Redfeld, and John Beal

Available: Now [Check: Label for More Details]
Released By: BUYSOUNDTRAX RECORDS

BuySoundtrax Records is proud to announce the release of Film Noir’s Finest: Themes From the Dark Side of the Lens available digitally on November 6, 2012.  This stylistic collection includes music from such atmospheric film noir and neo-noir film and TV shows including Body Heat, Chinatown, Dirty Harry and TV’s Remington Steele.

The 20-track compilation includes tracks written by Jerry Goldsmith, John Barry, Pino Donaggio, Howard Shore, Lalo Schifrin, Dennis McCarthy, and Henry Mancini, newly recorded, produced and arranged by Dennis McCarthy, Dominik Hauser, Mark Northam, Joohyun Park, Dan Redfeld, and John Beal.  Featured soloists include Mark Northam, Elizabeth Hedman, Roy Wiegand, Tim Messina, Joohyun Park, and Dennis McCarthy.
 

3/5 Nice Job on the styles, I just as always prefer the originals... but if you cannot find those this is a nice collection to work as a starter.

-Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]

Triple [Score] Tuesday!!

30th Anniversary: Blade Runner [2012]
Available: Now
Released By: BuySoundtrax Records
Composer: Edgar Rothermich

For More Details: [CLICK HERE]

BuySoundtrax Records seeks to rectify that, with this new recording faithfully recreating the original music from the film, which proved a difficult task.  Vangelis’ score was composed entirely by performing on keyboards and recording it directly, so no written transcriptions exist. Edgar Rothermich was charged with reverse engineering the score – listening to the original music and a 1982 album mock-up and transcribing it by ear.  He also had to recreate the sound of 1982 synthesizers and decipher if noise heard was due to recording on tape or stylistic choices by the composer.

“Blade Runner is the most difficult kind of score to deconstruct,” said BSX producer Ford A. Thaxton.  “Symphonic music can usually be determined because the instrumental palette is known.  But the 1970s-era electronic technology and the improvisational style in which Vangelis created the score made it especially difficult.  But we feel Edgar’s made a very close replication of what the score sounded like in the film.  He’s true to the sound the original but he’s brought it into today’s world.”

Music From The Batman Trilogy [2012]
Available: October 2, 2012
Released By: Silva Screen Music
Composer: London Music Works

For More Details: [CLICK HERE]

Masterfully performed by the London Music Works and City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra this unique compilation brings together the best score cues from Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.

According to AllMusic.com, for Batman Begins, the Oscar-winning composers have “crafted an atmosphere that relies less on the dynamics of Danny Elfman and more on the rain-soaked soundscapes of Brian Eno and Blade Runner-era Vangelis.”

In the music for The Dark Knight, Zimmer and Newton Howard individual styles are distinct - Zimmer merges percussion and electronics whilst Newton Howard combines lush orchestral passages with solo piano sections.

Super Themes [2Cd] [2012]
Available: October 16, 2012
Released By: Silva Screen Music
Composer: London Music Works

For More Details: [CLICK HERE]

SUPER THEMES gathers over 50 years of film and TV themes that accompanied adventures of the Super Heroes - men of steel, caped crusaders, web-slingers and many more.

From Neal Hefti’s hooky 1966 Batman theme all the way to Hans Zimmer’s contemporary sound for 2012 The Dark Knight Rises, the compilation underlines the caliber of composers (John Williams, Danny Elfman) involved and the everlasting quality of the themes.

3/5 As I do enjoy the idea of  the compilations, I do enjoy the original versions the best... though these do allow you have descent version.
-Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]

John Carpenter’s: Assault on Precinct 13 [Limited Edition 1500]

John Carpenter’s: Assault on Precinct 13 [Limited Edition 1500]
Available: July 13, 2012
Released By: BuySoundtrax Records
Composer: John Carpenter, Alan Howarth

For More Details: [CLICK HERE]

BuySoundtrax Records is proud to announce the release of Music From The Motion Picture Assault on Precinct 13 Also Includes Music From John Carpenter’s Dark Star available at www.buysoundtrax.com now and digitally and via other soundtrack boutique retailers on July 13, 2012 (limited edition 1500 units). Alan Howarth, a frequent collaborator with Carpenter, produced, arranged and performed on the recording.

Dark Star and Assault on Precinct 13 were Carpenter’s first two films; the former began as a student film during his time at USC. Both provide hints at his style to come, both as a director and as a composer.

4/5 Electronic Score at it's very best... also about time!
-Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]

Jerry Goldsmith Collection Vol. 1: The Rarities [2012]

Jerry Goldsmith Collection Vol. 1: The Rarities [2012]
Available: June 19, 2012
Released By: BuySoundtrax Records
Composer: Various

For More Details: [CLICK HERE]

In the early 60s Goldsmith moved more into the feature film realm, earning widespread acclaim for his score for the western Lonely Are the Brave and his first Academy Award nomination in 1962 with Freud. Throughout his long career, Goldsmith with be nominated 17 more times, for A Patch of Blue, The Sand Pebbles, Planet of the Apes, Patton, Papillon, Chinatown, The Wind and The Lion, The Omen – nominated for original song and earning the Award for original score – The Boys From Brazil, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Poltergeist, Under Fire, Hoosiers, Basic Instinct, L.A. Confidential, and Mulan. He would also earn 5 Emmy Awards, for The Red Pony, QB VII, Babe, Masada and Star Trek: Voyager. His credits also include beloved films and cult classics including Gremlins, Rudy, The Secret of N.I.M.H., First Blood, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, The Mummy, Logan’s Run, The Great Train Robbery, and Alien.

Jerry Goldsmith Vol. 1: The Rarities features 23 tracks of new recordings of some of Goldsmith’s rarely heard themes including a Dominik Hauser’s recording of the complete score for Seven Days in May, the unused theme for the modern crime thriller 2 Days in the Valley, “Comes The Night” from the rarely screened Sebastian, Chuck Cirino’s rendition of Goldsmith’s theme from Rio Conchos, arranger Joohyun Park’s take on “The Sentence” from Warlock, vocalist Katie Campbell’s interpretation of the theme from The Illustrated Man, and “If We Could Remember” from one of his final films The Sum of All Fears.

3/5 Good, I prefer the originals!

-Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]

Legend [2012] - Vangelis/Brandon K. Verrett

Legend [2012]
Available: Digitally on June 12th and on CD (limited edition 1500) on May 21, 2012
Released By: BuySoundtrax Records
Composer: Vangelis/Brandon K. Verrett

For More Details: [CLICK HERE]

LEGEND is a visually stunning fantasy/adventure that takes place in a mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, where an epic battle of Good versus Evil begins to unfold. Tom Cruise plays Jack, a peasant boy in love,  perhaps tragically, with the beautiful princess Lili (Mia Sara). Jack and Lili become pawns in a much larger game as the Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) exploits their relationship to reveal the location of the remaining members of the purest race in the world, the last pair of Unicorns. He dispatches his goblins to kill the Unicorns and claim their horns, so that he may claim their mystical power and bring about an everlasting age of Darkness. Jack finds himself forced to undertake a quest, to save Lili, try to prevent the death of the last Unicorn and defeat the plans of the Lord Of Darkness, or the sun will rise no more.  

This is a wonderful release it has always been one of my favorite scores and with very uplifting songs that made this one tough find in the collecting world. Brandon K. Verrett captures the mood and the essences in every note, it's like listening or seeing the film for the very first time. The whole package from score to design is just amazing and you too can relive your fantasy just by opening your ears.

-Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]

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Titanic: An Epic Musical Voyage [2012]

Titanic: An Epic Musical Voyage
Available: April 10th, 2012
Released By: BuySoundtrax Records
Composer: Dan Redfeld

BuySoundtrax Records is proud to announce the release of Titanic: An Epic Musical Voyage performed by the White Star Chamber Orchestra and Chorus Conducted by Dan Redfeld. In the 100 years since the famed RMS Titanic hit an iceberg and plunged into the ocean, it has been celebrated on stage, on television and in film.  The recording, which features extensive liner notes by Randall Larson, celebrates the music from these productions.  Titanic: An Epic Musical Voyage will be available digitally on April 3rd, and in stores on April 10, 2012, the 100th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. 

The heart of this musical voyage is the music composed by James Horner for the Academy Award winning film Titanic.  In addition to a number of tracks of the score from the film, singer Zoë Poledouris performs “My Heart Will Go On.”  Also featured on this album are tracks from S.O.S. Titanic (Howard Blake), Raise the Titanic (John Barry), “The Titanic Trot” from TV’s The Time Tunnel (John Williams), and selections from Maury Yeston’s Tony winning musical Titanic.  Rounding out this recording are two historical tracks, an arrangement of traditional Irish Music (by Joohyun Park) and “Nearer, My God, To Thee”, the hymn reportedly performed by the Titanic’s dance band as the ship went down. 

My Heart Will Go (vocal version)
    Titanic - James Horner – vocals by Zoë Poledouris
Never An Absolution/Unwilling to Stay, Unwilling to Leave
    Titanic - James Horner – vocals by Kristi Holden
Southampton/Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch
    Titanic - James Horner – vocals by Kristi Holden
Third Class/Steerage
    Traditional (arranged by Joohyun Park)

Rose
    Titanic - James Horner – vocals by Kristi Holden
Titanic Trot
    Time Tunnel Pilot (Rendezvous with Yesterday) - John Williams
The Portrait (Piano Sketch)
    Titanic - James Horner – solo piano by Dan Redfeld
Doing the Latest Rag
    Titanic - Maury Yeston 

No Moon
    Titanic - Maury Yeston
SOS Titanic Theme
    S.O.S. Titanic - Howard Blake
We'll Meet Tomorrow
    Titanic - Maury Yeston
Nearer My God to Thee
    Traditional (arranged by Steven Ganci)
Raise the Titanic
    Raise the Titanic - John Barry
Hymn to the Sea
    Titanic – James Horner – vocals by Kristi Holden

My Heart Will Go On [Vocalize]
    Titanic - James Horner – performed by Kristi Holden

This is a great retrospect on the 100 year anniversary of the Titanic and the iceberg story, something that many will never forget and a new generation needs to know. Take that journey in one place, one piece of music at a time from the film and television perspective and listen to Titanic: An Epic Musical Voyage.

-Jeremy [Two Thumbs]

Chillerama [2012] - I Was A Teenage Werebear

Chillerama [2012] - I Was A Teenage Werebear
Available: February 24, 2012
Released By: BuySoundtrax Records
Featuring Original Songs By PsychoCharger, Briana Nadeau, Bobby Vinton and Robert Vinton,
With Score by Patrick Copeland

Walt Disney/Pixar Films for Solo Piano by Michael Giacchino

Up • Ratatouille • The Incredibles - Music from the Walt Disney/Pixar Films for Solo Piano by Michael Giacchino
Available: January 24, 2012
Released By: BuySoundtrax Records
Composer: Michael Giacchino