REEL MUSIC DOWN UNDER
Original Television SoundtracksThe Fred Karlin Collection vol.3
Electronic Chronicle
Music composed and conducted by Fred Karlin
RMDU 2 US$18.00 (not including the shipping cost)
About this CDTrack List
About the films and scores
Purchase this CD
Fred Karlin's official website
About this CD
Synthesised music is somewhat of a black sheep in the world of film scores. In the world of television it has even more of a negative reputation, where it is usually perceived simply as an indication of tight budgetary constraints and rarely as a significant creative factor in the production. However, the collection of synthesised scores on this CD, Electronic Chronicle, throw this idea out the window and establish themselves as prominent works of art not only in the context of the soundtrack, but in music itself. This disc is a compilation album of four television soundtrack scores composed by Academy award winner Fred Karlin (1970 – Best Song, “Lovers and Other Strangers”), the acclaimed composer for Michael Crichton’s West World and Robert Mulligan’s The Stalking Moon.
Fred Karlin established his career and honed his skills in the feature film world, but in the 1970’s he began composing many first-rate scores for TV movies using his studio and electronic equipment such as synthesisers. His energetic, rhythmic arrangements and innovative melodies saw the artist imbue these works with the same artistry and creative flair that signified his big screen work.
This world premier release CD contains newly remixed and mastered scores, plus a deluxe full color 20-page booklet. The inclusion of detailed liner notes by the composer, studio technician/sound engineer John Milligan and the founder of Reel Music, Robert Feigenblatt completes this release.
Only Reel Music Down Under is able to release compilations as rare and arcane as this, and we hope that you can enjoy this release as much as we do.
Produced for CD by Yutaka Aoshima and Fred Karlin
Executive Producer: Ichiro Koji
Associate producers: Masaki Ajito Kusaka, Takashi Oku, Nobuyuki Sugimoto
Remixed and mastered for CD by Michael Stern
Graphic design: Jeongsoo Choi
Photos by Rudy Koppl
Film stills courtesy of Wynn Hammer and Frank von Zerneck
Track List
Hostage Flight (1985)
1. Main Title 3:40
Murder C.O.D. (1990)
2. Main Title 2:20
3. Preparing for Murder 2:39
4. The Bill for Murder/Ellie Stalked 2:06
5. Negotiation with Killer/Washburn Street 3:40
6. Unseen Enemy 2:31
7. Steve's Home/Booby Trap 3:21
8. Find Alex/Final Fight 2:00
Dadah Is Death (1988)
9. Main Title 5:09
10. Kuala Lampur 3:32
11. Drive to Airport 1:30
12. Arrested 3: 17
13. Prison 5:23
14. Kevin and Rachel 2:22
15. Smuggling 4:25
16. Goodbye 3:59
17. Epilogue 3:05
Final Jeopardy (1985)
18. The Streets 0:51
19. Dogs 1:48
20. Phone Booth 0:53
21. Gang Chase 1 :46
22. Subway Chase 2:22
23. Steam Room 2:27
24. End Title 2:02
Total Running Length 68:31
About the films and scores
HOSTAGE FLIGHT (1985)
When their plane is hijacked by a group of international terrorists, a group of airline passengers decides to take the matter into their own hands. Obviously, in light of recent vents, this film bears even more pertinence today than when it was first aired. In the first cut of the film, the ending saw the hostages become a group of legislative vigilantes and as judge, jury and executioner they hang the terrorists. Although this version was aired in Europe, the network deemed this ending too controversial, and demanded it be changed. American audiences today may well sympathise with this ending.
Included on this compilation is the Main Title Music for the film, a slightly ethnic mix of pre-recorded percussion guitar over with an overdubbed orchestra of strings, French horn and timpani. It’s frenetic pace ensures place as a thoroughly satisfying tune for fan’s of action movie soundtracks.
MURDER C.O.D. (1990)
In this thriller, Wiliam Devane plays gun for hire Alex Brandt, a high-tech psychopath wiling to bump off any victim for a price. Homicide detective Steve Murtaugh (Patrick Duffy) has had one too many encounters with Alex and moves cities to elude the unstable hitman. Alex takes sick pleasure in taunting Murtaugh, and the pressure reaches boiling point when he threatens his wife.
The rich yet distinctly weird main theme of this film is included; the tune was achieved electronically by doubling several horn and brass samples. Karlin’s traditional muted trumpet solos infuse the 7 tracks on this score with a dark, unsettling atmosphere.
DADAH IS DEATH (1988)
Based on a true story, this film revolves around the tragic exploits of two Australians caught for drug smuggling in Malaysia and are sentenced to death. A four part mini-series, the film is assisted greatly by Julie Christie, who gives a wrenching, emotional performance as the mother of one of the doomed young men.
Karlin created a nuanced, textured electronic score that emphasised the drama and emotional purpose of the film. Karlin also composed 8 original songs for this work, collaborating with lyricist John Milligan. These 8 tunes are not included in this disc, but are scheduled for a future release.
THE FINAL JEOPARDY (1985)
Richard Thomas and Mary Crosby (the daughter of the enduring Bing Crosby) star as a naïve, small-town couple stranded in downtown Detroit at night. The film is a tense, fish-of-water drama that explores the nature of isolation and urban vs regional lifestyles. The pair encounters one problem after another, having to confront their fear and isolation and eventually overcome this with new-found courage. The binary cultural relationship between big cities and small towns is explored both in drama and in Fred Karlin’s resonant, pulsing soundtrack.
Karlin relied entirely on electronic means to create the soundtrack for Final Jeopardy. Electronic rhythms drive the music forward, but occasionally the pace mellows down, with cool timbres expressing the couple’s night-time fear. Melancholic, whistling tunes establish the theme of an American class void.
Orders
Please submit your order by using PayPal, or enquire vendor information to the following retailers. We press only very limited copies. They are only available while stock lasts.
・Price: US$18.00 (not including the shipping cost)
・Catalog Number: RMDU-2
Please click to Orders and Vendor Information
Fred Karlin's official website
Copyright(C) 2002-2004 REEL MUSIC DOWN UNDER, All Rights Reserved.