Customer Reviews

Soundtrack from Thirtysomething (1987-1991 Television Series)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a great collection of music! I didn't even watch the show and could not tell you about even one episode; however, the music here is some of the best in the acoustic instrumental genre I've heard lately.

Reading some of the other reviews I saw words like "emotional" and "powerful" etc. I can vouch for the fact that the music alone can convey this emotion and depth of feeling even without knowing the scenes and stories it was set to originally. Also, I'm about 10 years behind in discovering this CD but it sure sounds timeless and definitely not dated to me.

W.G. Snuffy Walden is a very talented musician indeed. He is not only a good player, but he has such a feel and a passion for his instrument.

I heard from Windham Hill that Walden is due out with a solo effort in June 2000. I will definitely be looking for it to add to my collection.

For someone like me who does not normally go for soundtracks, I'd have to say that this one is a winner. It bears up under repeated listens and has as much to give in emotion and mood as it does in sheer musical quality.

If you like acoustic instrumental music ... really good acoustic instrumental music ... if you like to be moved and not just entertained ... then THIS ONE IS A MUST! ...

The episode was entitled "second look."

It had been one year since we learned Nancy had cancer and the doctors were going back in to make sure they had gotten it all. While Nancy was under the knife everybody else was trying to keep it together, but this proved impossible for Elliot, who had broken down in the men's room begging God not to take his wife, saying that he would do anything, give anything. Throughout this riveting scene, the music by w.g. snuffy walden provided a perfect musical counterpart to not only the specific action on the screen by the growing tension of waiting to find out what the news was going to be from the doctors. A simple piano theme that takes on an agitated complexity as it repeats and is repeated by other instruments, with the strings sweeping in and out of the theme. Then the theme becomes inverted before returning to a richer, deeper interpretation of the original.

If you saw that episode I would be willing to be you never forgot the music and that if you were blindfolded and listening to the tracks on this soundtrack album you would recognize this one immediately. It was a stunning bit of musical accompaniment and in the history of television. We can all name instrumental television themes we loved (e.g., ""), and recall songs that were used to great effect (e.g., "Sarah McLachlan's "Full of Grace" for "Becoming, Part II" on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), but how many instrumental pieces stand out in your mind? "Laura Palmer's Theme" and "Dance of the Dream Man" by Angelo Badalamenti for "Twin Peaks" would probably be it, which is not a bad short list for walden to be on. My own real complaint about this album is that the mood of "second look" is quickly shattered by the jazzy riffs of "hot butter (miles comes to dinner)". Walden remains the one composer whose name I recognize and pay attention to when it pops up on "West Wing," "Once and Again," "Angel," "My So Called Life," "The Wonder Years," et al. It is not at all surprising that producers like Zwick & Herkowitz, once working with walden, keep employing him at each and every opportunity. Not bad for a guy who was one of the Squiggytones on "Laverne & Shirley," eh?

Even the characters that I didn't care for at first: Elliot, Gary and Ellen, grew and changed over those 4 years and I wept with joy at Ellen's wedding, wept with sadness at Gary's untimely death and watched with pride as Nancy grew stronger, first through the separation, then in her own skin and finally battling cancer. Yes, even Elliot stepped up to the plate.

And then all in an instant, it was gone. Guess that's why I bought the CD back then, because, just as other reviewer's have said, the tracks will bring you right back to the episode.

My personal favorite track is "The Water is Wide".

This is just outstanding instrumental music! You got flutes, pianoes, and trumpets on one track, violins, acordians, saxophones, and xylophones on another. W.G. Snuffy Walden (who is no doubt a genius) serves up a diverse menu of music to feast your ears on. Some tracks move me to tears, while others get me up and dancin'.

When company comes over, this would make great mood music. But even if no ones around, hey, slap this in your CD player and it's great music to clean by too! Whether in the morning, afternoon, or evening... all are great times to be listening to this incredible album!

Great album, even if you never watched the show. (Shame on you if you didn't!) The main theme ranks up there with Love Is All Around from The Mary Tyler Moore Show as the greatest theme song from television. Just like the show that inspired it, this music is still relevant. Perfect for any season...but I tend to revisit this beautiful album in the fall. The only song missing from this collection is Stevie Nicks great remake of Johnny Cash's I Still Miss Someone.

I have owned this soundtrack for about 10 years- on cassette. I am finally upgrading it to CD, because its something I can not live without. The music is so emotional and powerful. If you ever watched the show, you can replay the episodes in your mind so vividly with each song. My favorite tracks are "The Go Between" and "Gary's Funeral". What makes this album amazing? It hits on emotions that everyone has had at one point or another. A must have!

Thirtysomething was one of my all time favorite programs on t.v.
I still get hooked when they run re-runs. The music was a great part of the show and to have a cd to remember all of the special moments from the show is great! Snuffy Walden is a great musician...If you love thirtysomething, you will love this cd! My sister loves it and she's never even watched the show. The music is great!

Amazing that after 9 years of owning and listening to this CD my eyes well with tears after reading the reviews! I too cried when the show was cancelled. I remember breast feeding my little one at 2:00 a.m. to thirtysomething reruns on lifetime, in 1996. I too can also visualize the episodes to the music. How many TV shows today can do that? You won't regret buying this one! It's a keeper.

If you liked the show you'll love the music. If you never watched the show you'll like the music too. There isn't much here not to like.

These peppy acoustic instrumentals (and a couple vocals) will put you right back into the series and will remind you of particular episodes.

In addition to the instrumental numbers, Rickie Lee Jones sings a slightly hard to understand version of "It must be love," Ray Charles sings "Come Rain or Come Shine," and Karla Bonoff sings the folk favorite "The Water is Wide."

This is a great album to have on when you're cooking, cleaning, writing, reading, entertaining, thinking, not thinking, or daydreaming.

This CD takes you back to the wonderful television world of Thirtysomething. Even those that are not fans of the show will love the instrumentals of Snuffy Walden.