FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE ENNIO MORRICONE GDM2038 Running Time 45.31
Ennio Morricone, a name which will always raise a smile, not only among the Eastwood loyalists, but also among serious collectors of movie scores. For a few Dollars More (1965) has seen many reincarnations since it's debut release back on the United Artists label. It's among many of those titles that has been sadly neglected, both in it's quality, and in terms of available music, it's quantity. That was until now.
Over a period of many patient years I had amassed a total of 8 tracks:
Sixty Seconds to what?, Aces High, The Watcher Watched, Vice of Killing, The Musical Pocket Watch, The Showdown, Goodbye Colonel and For a Few Dollars More.GDM's new release generously consists of 22 tracks, this Expanded and Remastered CD has without doubt, become the Ultimate Collectors Edition. Extremely Limited to
1000 copies, it's a disc set to become highly collectable in the future.
The Packaging is stunning, GDM stuck to the established European art for it's front cover design, adjusting only the background to a blood red sky, used to striking effect. To the back is a blow up of the famous timepiece revealing the doomed sister of the Colonel, not only a reminder of it's importance in terms of story, but also of it's influence within this fine score. Contained within the CD booklet are Liner notes by John Mansell along side the films main cast and credits. The center spread consists of 6 beautiful colour stills, turning the page reveals a further 6 stills, very nicely designed. On the back page, GDM has included 5 examples of original artwork including German, Italian and a rare Japanese design. A sign that GDM has put this CD together with the fan very much in mind, a rare occurrence these days.
The clear case housing the CD, also reveals a film blow up of Clint's reaction while spotting trouble in the saloon mirror during the poker game sequence.
And so to the music.
I'll keep this review as tight as possible, as opposed to a track by track account. All of the previously released tracks retain their original titles, in Italian, while the new material is simply listed (in Italian) as
Per Qualche Dollaro in Piu (seg 7, seg 8, seg 9 etc).
As Lionel Woodman, executive producer for Hillside CD, explained to me, "A lot of the original recordings are now lost"
So in fairness, I guess this seemed like the sensible approach when it came to naming the tracks.
3 or 4 of the tracks contain some of the films effects, probably taken from a very clean sounding M & E (music and effects track) rather then the films final mix. What was apparent on listening to these few particular tracks, was how well these sounds were firmly kept to the rear and how clearly the music was prominently to the fore, clarity and balance of these tracks, are in my opinion, very well produced.
Interestingly, I thought I detected some very subtle echo added to certain cues, resulting in a new refreshing sound, while not detracting from the elements of the original recordings, the result does not harm the tracks at all.
Track 1 was a pleasant surprise, the films original opening and title music, the striking of a match, the cocking of a gun and the inevitable gun shot, with a superbly extended echo prior to the main title striking through the speakers. I have to say, I was stunned at the quality of these recordings.
Alessandro Alessandroni's classic whistling lament is as clear and as sharp as I have ever heard. The films gunshots that continue to obliterate the films opening titles, remain clearly to the rear of the recording.
Track 2 is in fact an error, described on the track listing as new music, it is actually the previously released
"Carillon" or
"The Musical pocket Watch". On the track listing
"Carillon" is identified as track 14, which, at first, could be mistaken for
"Carillon", also starting with the delicate sound of the watch, until a heavy piano and choir are introduced to the track, a great cue, which could be an alternate unused version? A minor error which does not detract from the outweighed brilliance of this disc. I asked Lionel Woodman about this error, and he confirmed he knew of the error, which occurred during production in Italy.
On comparing the previously released tracks, I'm convinced that
"The Watcher Watched" (Osservatori Osservati) is an alternate take, the razor sharp recording reveals what almost sounds like an underlining drum roll and listen for the loud snap, which almost serves as a cue for the menacing brass section, again, another nice surprise.
All other previously released tracks sound identical, apart of course for the vastly superior quality. Track 16 is a great example of simplicity, yet, is still very important to the score. Starting with the gentle tones of Indio's watch, we are treated for the first time to Indio's drug induced flashback sequence and Morricone's eerie accompaniment, before we are brought safely back to the comforting chimes of the watch. Track 12 is a similar mix except this time, before we enter Indio's flashback cue, we have the isolated and menacing pounding of the bell, as Indio reveals that he has known all along that Clint's character is a bounty hunter...
For a few Dollars more, which I can honestly say, I've played a few times in the past
has, in my opinion, never sounded so good.
Alessandrini's guitar is given new life, Morricone's Choir (
I Cantori Moderni di Alessandroni) sound both vibrant and fresh.
Nicola Culasso's Trumpet sounds glorious, practically punching through the speakers.
And if all this was not enough?
Tracks 21 and 22 are a couple of incredibly rare treats. Included here are the Two vocal versions of the main title, originally released in the 60's. I seem to recall reading about these tracks, but I was never able to track them down. Sung by
Maurizio Graf, Track 21 (
Occhio per Occhio) is the original Italian version in Mono, while Track 22 (
Eye for an Eye) is the Original English version in Stereo. I could not think of a better way to finish off this Collectors Edition? GDM have worked to the highest possible standards and produced something rather spectacular. Considering the limed availability of the source material, I would struggle to see how they could have done any better?
As I said, extremely limited to
1000 copies, when I spoke to Lionel last, his UK stock is already down to just
150 discs!
An excellent job, and essential listening for every Eastwood fan.
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Hillside CD Productions can be contacted at
lionel.woodman@talk21.com Discs are priced at £16.00 + £1.00 p/p.
Lionel has since informed me that the release of
THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY has been postponed and no new date has been announced. I'll keep all members informed of any news as soon as I know more.
-Stranger-
Clint Eastwood Forums
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