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David Raksin - Laura / The Bad & The Beautiful / Forever Amber

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David Raksin, now the senior living film composer of Hollywood's "Golden Age," prepared and conducted this recording in the late 1970s with the National Philharmonic at the height of interest in film music from the past. His selections are highly representative of the beauty, sophistication and brilliance of three of Hollywood's greatest film scores. Does anyone honestly not like "Laura"? Raksin virtually invented the theme-based score with this work and he provides a very generous suite. "The Bad and the Beautfiul" is one of Hollywood's most incisive looks at its ugly side and Raksin wrote one of the more complex, bittersweet themes composed for any film. It's a gorgeous performance. "Forever Amber" was one of the major best-sellers of the 1940s and Raksin was pegged to score 20th Century-Fox's "toned-down" production. This was the '40s version of "Valley of the Dolls" but on a more lavish -- and campier -- scale. Raksin delivered a full-bodied, lush orchestral masterwork. These three scores are among the most-admired ever written. For anyone interested in film music, this recording is as seminall as all of RCA's Charles Gerhardt/National Philharmonic recordings from the 70s. The CD reproduces the LP album's generous, insightful liner notes by the composer. For the more avid film music fan, the complete original soundtracks of "Laura" and "The Bad and the Beautful" are available on CD, and "Forever Amber" will be available by March 1998. END

"I remember the weekend Laura died..."

With those haunting words one of the finest motion pictures ever made begins to unfold. But it is the lush and beautiful music of David Raksin playing from the moment the camera pans to Laura's portrait that set the tone for this film classic. It is one of the most easily recognizable scores in the history of motion pictures. Perhaps never before had a score so embodied a film. The film itself and its score are so intertwined it is impossible to separate the two.

While not the complete score, this lovely suite is magnificent in and of itself. David Raksin wrote other very fine scores as well, however, and two of them are also given their due here. Film buffs cannot hear the music from "Forever Amber" without thinking of the young and breathtaking Linda Darnell. The music and the manner in which it is conducted is extraordinary.

The longest segment here, however, is from "The Bad and the Beautiful." It fit this film perfectly and while it does not contain that one haunting melody to remember, Raksin's music as a whole is stunning.

The liner notes contain some invaluable comments from Raksin himself regarding the story behind each film. Those who think they have heard the story of "Laura" may be surprised to know that one of the most famous scenes in the film would have been cut had the young composer not argued for its inclusion in the film. They will also learn that once Raksin began to play what would become one of the most beautiful and memorable scores ever composed, it was not inspired by sheet music, but rather the letter from his wife taking its place.

Every film buff will want to own this. The suites are beautiful and the comments from Raksin himself are priceless. David Raksin will always be remembered for "Laura." We will always see Gene Tierney when we hear it. Listening to this, however, will remind us of the genius behind that "face in the misty light."