Customer Reviews

Something Wild [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

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At long last, here is the first-time original soundtrack release of Copland's masterful score to "Something Wild" (1961; not to be confused with the later Melanie Griffith film), which languished in obscurity for more than forty years after United Artists deemed it commercially unviable. Copland did his best to change their minds, but took the defeat philosophically, arranging portions of the music into one of his concert works, "Music for a Great City."

Hearing the music in its original guise is a revelation. From an artistic standpoint, the score is head-and-shoulders above ANYTHING being written today (in this listener's humble opinion, of course). Those expecting Copland in a pastoral vein, take note! This is not a folksy rehash of "Appalachian Spring." The language is tough, urban, occasionally strident and sometimes jazzy - in all, a brilliant juxtaposition of violence and lyricism. Admirers of Bernstein's music to "On the Waterfront," or some of Leonard Rosenman's scores of the era, will have an idea what to expect. But Copland's work is even more uncompromising, less Hollywood -- a work of art. That U.A. nixed a soundtrack release of the first score in twelve years by arguably America's greatest composer -- when his last score ("The Heiress") even won the Academy Award -- is criminal. And it's a minor miracle that the situation has come to be rectified.

The story of the album's resurrection is a good one, and it's all laid out in the generous liner notes. Basically, the film's director, Jack Garfein, had a limited number of LPs pressed from the original recording sessions. When a commercial release failed to materialize, he gave a number of them to Copland and kept the rest for himself. The master tapes subsequently disappeared. In the 1970s, Garfein sold his LP collection, and apparently one of the "Something Wild" soundtracks along with it. A CD-R surfaced at the University of Texas, twenty years later, and Mark Leneker, who was doing research into Copland's film and TV work, in preparation for the composer's centenary -- and who basically set this project in motion -- was able to trace Garfein, then in his 70s and living in Paris. To make a long story short, Garfein's wife discovered a sealed copy of the LP in their attic. It was flown to California and digitally transferred, and it is this beautiful mint copy which has been released by Varese Sarabande.

The transfer has been marvelously accomplished. Under normal listening conditions (I haven't used headphones), it's inconceivable that it was remastered from an LP. The packaging is beautiful, a model of its kind. So sure was he of the album's imminent commercial release, Copland provided his own sleeve notes, which have been included, as has been a blurb from the director, Leneker's history, and a track-by-track description of the action. What's more, the tracks are presented in the composer's authorized sequence, as they would have appeared on the original soundtrack album. (For film score lovers who like their music in the order in which it appears in the film, Varese has kindly included an alternative sequence in the booklet.) I'm sure Copland, in particular, would have been very pleased.

As am I. I can't emphasize how very impressed I am with this release. The revival of ANY "lost" Copland is a major, major event. Buy this, and reward everyone connected with its resurrection. Furthermore, reward yourself. Recommended with all enthusiasm.

I will begin by stating that I bought this CD based solely on the recommendation of the two previous posters.

I had never heard either of this film or of it's score, and I am only passingly familiar with the works of Aaron Copland. I was aware, however, that despite his unquestioned mastery of the concert hall and film scoring, his music for films has been almost completely ignored in recordings.

So...the prospect of owning an actual Aaron Copland soundtrack CD caught my attention. I read the unusually helpful reviews of the previous posters and sent my $5 for the CD.

What a great investment! What incredible return for so little! Copland's score is as fresh and vigorous as any score being written today. There is nothing outdated or "period" sounding about the music; nothing that dates it as a 60's score. It is as vital and spot-on as you could hope to hear.

The CD packaging is also one of the most handsome I've seen, looking exactly like it could be for any film that opened last week. Saul Bass' poster designs never go out of style and the back cover photo was well-chosen and is evocative of a Meg Ryan drama.

The audio quality is startling for something which has been re-mastered from a vinyl source. There's not the slightest indication of a third-generation-twice-removed as far as I could hear. No audio artifacts -no, pops, hiss or loss of fidelity. The sound is a pleasant stereo balance and everything sounds quite good.

Varese Records has done it again with "Something Wild", by Aaron Copland as we listen to this marvelous score as it was meant to be heard. The cues are in the composer's sequence, and to all "film-score-buffs" ~ this is the only way to sit back and soak Copland's masterful classic. Strange as it may seem this was Copland's finest film scores and also his last.

Mr. Copland would be so proud to know his score finally made it on compact disc ~ it is a work of art. Every track is a winner with "NEW YORK PROFILE", "SUBWAY JAM", "LOVE MUSIC", "WALK DOWNTOWN" and "EPISODE ON THE BRIDGE" all uncompromising brilliant with jazzy blends that keep the ingredients true to Copland's style and reputation.

As a "film-score-buff" and Copland fan, I am so impressed with this release from Varese Sarabande Records ~ this is a must, must have for your music collection. Hats off to Robert Townson (executive producer), Erick Labson (mastered by) and of course the legendary icon composer and producer ~ Aaron Copland...gotta love it!

Total Time:35:08 on 11 Tracks ~ Varese Records 64692 ~ (5/13/2003)

Wow! This is an unbelievable find. It's hard to imagine this not being released or discovered for all these years sitting in (if only temporary) obscurity. Copland has always had a magnificent feel for the stage and screen with his works. I am a huge Copland fan also and this is off the chart for me. It has a strong jazz vibe to it combined with Coplands gifts with orchestral instrumentation and various combinations of ensembles. I too am a composer and admire this work very much. For me, this puts Copland in similar company of film score composers such as Jerry Goldsmith, Lalo Schifrin, Elmer Bernstein, Maurice Jarre, John Williams and others, and I don't make this statement lightly or loosely. This film may not have been a huge success but the film score is dynamite and worthy of a posthumous award. It takes a great ability, talent and insight as a composer to put yourself into the film and see it from the actual scenes viewpoint, and Copland could do that as well as anyone. If you are a fan of Coplands, of great film scores or just great music in itself, grab this recording. You won't regret it for a moment. It is simply a fantastic piece of work and a very worthy adddition to the very large, brilliant and prolific Aaron Copland catalog.