The main theme of Cul-De-Sac. Komeda's off-kilter jazz sensibility was really perfectly suited to Polanski's absurdist comedy. Like many of the best film scores, it seems absolutely essential to the film. If you like Komeda's style, this track really delivers.
from Cul-De-Sac available on CD - The Complete Recordings Of Krzysztof Komeda, Vol. 13 (Polonia)
I don't know much about the French duo Di Maggio, but this is a great track. I guess this sounds a lot like that other French duo, Air, but with a more pronounced Morricone influence. Very nice regardless...
The kind of overlooked track that makes Frank Jastfelder and Stefan Kassel's soundtrack series so great. I find this a very refreshing take on the familiar James Bond theme. Ivor Raymonde's arrangment really sells the composition in the context of the Lettermen-styled vocal harmonies of the Bachelors without losing any of the energy of the John Barry/Shirley Bassey original. I particularly like the way Raymonde implements the steel guitar here.
available on CD - The Mad, Mad World Of Soundtracks, Vol. 2 (Universal/Motor [Germany])
The score for Pasquale Festa Campanile�s mean but effective film "Autostop Rosso Sangue (Hitch Hike)" seems to be a precursor to the score for Oliver Stone�s mean and ineffective "U-Turn." On second thought, not just the score but the entire film. I wonder if Stone had seen this movie before making "U-Turn." At any rate, I�m here to talk about the music, and both films feature absolutely incredible scores by Morricone.
The arrangement here is pretty spare � I�m pretty sure that this track is mostly improvised -- and plays like a toned down spaghetti western theme. Morricone can evoke more feeling from a small group of musicians than most film composers could from an entire orchestra. The twangy banjo sounds great over the plodding bass line, and I love the subtle organ sounds. Ultimately, the real star here is Edda Dell'orso whose wordless vocals meander over it all.
from Autostop Rosso Sangue available on CD - Un Genio, Due Compari, Un Pollo (Hexacord)
I'm not going to say much about this track aside from it being one of my favorite Sammy Davis, Jr. performances. This really shouldn't work, but it does. Chalk it up to the genius of Sammy.
28 Nov 02 ·n-jeff: But isn't Sammy Davis Jnr just like that? Silk purses out of sows ears, I treasure his performance of 'If I could talk to the animals'. It should stink, but it doesn't. Its a real treasure. 18 Jan 03 ·konsu: He also managed to spin gold from "Mr. Bojangles" without too much effort... A dying breed indeed. 20 Apr 04 ·olli: even though his vocal version of the hawaii 5-0 theme (you can count on me) is unbelievably corny, i absolutely love it. a party favourite.
i even made an animated ninja movie about it.