Classic Thriller Soundtracks

Classic Thriller Soundtracks
Royal Albert Hall

A couple of times during this Proms run I have commented on music taking my mind to a Hitchcock movie. I suppose it's a reference most people understand, so much so that it's almost exempt from further explanation. But what of Bernard Hermann, who composed the scores so many of Hitchcock's famous outings? Tonight's Prom is largely a tribute to him, with a conscious selection of other famous soundtracks associated with the big screen. 

A few of the films I have seen or heard of, but many I have not. Not necessarily a bad thing. This is giving me chance to reimagine some of my favourite cinematic scores, and also offering an opportunity to hear some new music, detached from my association/bias from what is already familiar to me.

North by Northwest - never seen it, but I know the title. The music sounds stereotypically Hitchcock.

Psycho - seen it to death. Shouldn't waste too much time talking about this, except to say that the performance was spot on, to the point where it could have been a studio-recorded CD I had just played.

Vertigo - saw it once, years ago. Loved it. Overdue a rewatch, I think. Fantastic music - it sways to and fro, or is it left and right? Either way, it's good.

Deception - never heard of it, but looking it up now I see it's Bette Davis, so this is surely to be added to my watchlist. As a matter of interest, I had a friend [he died in December just gone] who met Bette Davis in Southport in the 1970's.

Laura - never heard of it. It's another film noir that looks enticing. Great vocalist who bears aural resemblance to Frank Sinatra.

Ironside - my Nan used to watch it. I never have. It's got a smooth, steady groove. Falls just short of exciting - a sound very typical of American TV serials of the time. Like Shaft but minus the incessance. Gets jazzy as it goes on.

In The Heat of The Night - never seen it, but I note it's on iPlayer currently. The music starts extravagantly, and for a millisecond I think we're in for a rendition of The Stripper by David Rose. Thankfully I'm wrong about that, but it's not quite what I thought it was going to be. Has an almost blues-gospel-jazz feel, and apparently the original singer was Ray Charles. [Big fan of Ray, and I forgot to blog a few weeks back that - when I was in London for the first weekend of the Proms - I picked up an impressive Ray Charles 'Complete Atlantic Recordings' boxset for £25 from Reckless Records on Berwick Street. 'Light marks, box slightly worn,' but who cares at that price? Reckless Rec's has become a semi-regular check in when I'm down the Big Smoke. A fair few times over the last, say, ten years, I have gotten similar bargains on box sets, typically to be found on display in their glass cabinets. Not every time, but once in a while.] This piece of music at the RAH is glorious. Even if watching In the Heat of the Night on iPlayer turns out to be a flop, it'll be worth it for the music alone.

Twisted Nerve - never heard of it. Largely a melodic whistle. Nice enough, but grates after so long.

Taxi Driver - saw it once, years ago. Iconic. 'You talkin' to me?' The saxophone is driving the gentle sleaze. I can well picture Robert De Niro roaming about the streets of New York, as liquorish-all-sorts of scenes play out in the background as he passes by.

Shaft - never seen it but I know the music well! Who could mistake that muted, funky wah-wah guitar work? The beat carries it all: excitement, sleaze, farce, and glamour.

The Italian Job - never seen it but aware of the 'self-preservation society' jingle and the 'bloody doors off' stuff. It's been on the watchlist for a long time. This music takes me by surprise, and makes me wonder if the film has a hidden depth? Must find out one day!

Bullitt - never heard of it! Nor have I ever watched any films with Steve McQueen. Just never got round to it. At the RAH tonight this music blends back into an Italian Job reprise, and we get the obligatory 'self-preservation society' runaround.

You'll have to imagine me quoting a Michael Caine line as I sign off, but before I do we get an encore:

Jaws - watched it a couple of times. Once was in high school during a Media Studies lesson. Been a while since I've watched it but, of course, I know the score! When it's John Williams, you know it'll be a cut above.

The Planets and Star Wars

The Planets and Star Wars
Royal Albert Hall

It's Saturday morning and I'm sitting on the National Express coach, en route to the capital. Promming tickets go on sale at 9:30am, and with some trepidation I give it a go on my phone, hoping the signal will hold. I'm in the queue for about 15 minutes, and when I finally do get through I'm disappointed to see that promming tickets for the day have sold out. I therefore have two choices: purchase a return or something at inflated price, or go promming, in the true sense of the word, on the 'relaxed' version of this show on Sunday morning. I opt for the latter, and it was absolutely the right choice for me.

First, I rid myself of all the stress of scrambling for a ticket tonight, snatching a £8 ticket with relative ease. And I get a free afternoon/evening in London, which I utilise to full effect. A perfect pint of unpasteurised Pilsner Urquell at the Duck and Rice on Berwick Street, a browse of IKEA on Oxford St where I pick up the bluetooth speaker I've been after, and I even pick up one of the viral Strawberry and Creme sandwiches; reduced in the Oxford St M&S to a very reasonable £1.64.

So... it is Sunday morning that I find myself taking the stroll from Sussex Gardens, through Kensington Gardens, toward my ultimate destination of the Royal Albert Hall. Beautiful morning for it!

As the opening bars of Star Wars commence, I'm immediately ignited. In actual fact, this ain't my first rodeo with Star Wars at the Royal Albert Hall. In 2018, I attended the ill-fated Evening with John Williams, where he was not able to attend due to ill health and hospitalisation [Side note: The LSO did him very proud that night, and it was one I'll always remember].

Caroline Shaw's The Observaory fills the Star Wars-Planets gap fittingly. It's a piece I enjoy very much, and I will endeavor to take time to listen to this in full, at a later date.

Then, of course, we have Gustav Holst's The Planets. Arguably the piece of music for the Proms - Jupiter could almost be the Proms theme tune [you know the bit... "I vow to thee my country"]. Yes, it is sublime. If his intention was to launch us into space, he achieved it.

While the strobe lighting and dry ice may have been absent form this show, there was noting amiss from the musicianship on the stage, and I had chance to properly observe the orchestra proper. The National Youth orchestra was inspiring: I really enjoyed listening to the short interviews from selected members of the group.

Arguably, this is one prom that has been missed by Radio 3, who are claiming to be broadcasting 'every note.' Not quite so. As a completist, I am glad to have witnessed this morning's relaxed prom. As for Saturday evening's version, I look forward to watching it back when it is broadcast on TV, and I will update this blog post when I have done so!...............................