cinemediapromo
2010-10-20 18:57:49 UTC
SILVA SCREEN RECORDS PRESENTS
WICKER MAN – The Original Soundtrack Album with Music and Songs by
Paul Giovanni
“The music to the Wicker Man is quite extraordinary. I think it is
probably the best music
I have heard in a film”
Christopher Lee Lord Summerisle - The Wicker Man
Against all odds, one of the most talked about soundtracks in movie
history has finally risen to the surface. Believed for years to be
lost, destroyed or even buried deep beneath a motorway, this disc
contains Paul Giovanni’s original music to The Wicker Man that has
never been released. These historic recordings have up to now only
been heard by a select few.
Based on the themes of fertile pre-Christian practices of pagan
Britain, The Wicker Man did not follow the predictable formula of
1960’s British horror movies. The equally non-formulaic music score
was provided by talented songwriter Paul Giovanni, and his assistant
Gary Carpenter. With only six weeks allotted to write, research, and
record the soundtrack, Paul draws on the rich traditions of Celtic
music to present a brilliant collection of eclectic folk songs
underpinned with aeons-old verse.
The first 8 tracks are the stereo masters which would have been the
soundtrack to The Wicker Man that
Paul Giovanni originally intended for album release but ultimately
never happened because of the film’s troubled history. These masters
have been carefully preserved over the years and are now presented for
release for the first time.
The following three tracks were recorded for the film and used for
playback purposes on set, but only exist in mono versions. These have
been digitally restored and enhanced for CD release. The balance of
the tracks have been compiled from various sources (with occasional
sound effects) and present elements of the background score to the
film to give a more complete representation of this unique score.
Timeline:
August, 1972: The music is recorded for the film.
1973: The Wicker Man is released as the lower half of a
double-bill with Don’t Look Now and is almost forgotten. Composer
Paul Giovanni’s plans for a soundtrack release are scrapped.
1977 / 1978: The Wicker Man gets a US theatrical release and the
beginnings of a cult following thanks to the efforts of Christopher
Lee and Robin Hardy (director). Varese Sarabande announced a
soundtrack release but this didn’t happen (for whatever reason).
1992: Simon Wells, budding author / journalist, writes
to Silva Screen suggesting it would be a good idea to release the
album. Past interviews with Paul Giovanni show that a soundtrack
master was prepared. David Stoner of Silva Screen contacts the current
owner of the film, Lumiere Films, and establishes that tapes
containing music and effects are in storage. On hearing a cassette of
some of this material, David decides that the quality is too poor and
a key song “Gently Johnny” is missing.
1998: Trunk Records release the soundtrack to TWM. On
listening to it, Silva Screen realizes that it is the same source as
the tapes previously heard. Mono, loads of effects on the top and one
song missing. The album sells very well in spite of this.
2000: Simon Wells, now an author and working on a book
about cult British movies, contacts David Stoner. As part of his
research, he has contacted Gary Carpenter, the Associate Music
Director on The Wicker Man to talk about the music since Paul Giovanni
is now deceased. During this conversation, Gary reveals that he has
Paul’s original album master in his possession plus other previously
unreleased music. Simon immediately contacts David Stoner.
2002: Finally with all of the appropriate clearances,
the master tape is digitized, cleaned and generally brought back to
life.
October, 2002: The CD containing the album that Paul Giovanni had
always envisioned is released in the UK.
October 2010: The CD is cleared for release in the US.
CD: SILCD1342
US RELEASE DATE: October 5, 2010
For more information contact: ***@yahoo.com
WICKER MAN – The Original Soundtrack Album with Music and Songs by
Paul Giovanni
“The music to the Wicker Man is quite extraordinary. I think it is
probably the best music
I have heard in a film”
Christopher Lee Lord Summerisle - The Wicker Man
Against all odds, one of the most talked about soundtracks in movie
history has finally risen to the surface. Believed for years to be
lost, destroyed or even buried deep beneath a motorway, this disc
contains Paul Giovanni’s original music to The Wicker Man that has
never been released. These historic recordings have up to now only
been heard by a select few.
Based on the themes of fertile pre-Christian practices of pagan
Britain, The Wicker Man did not follow the predictable formula of
1960’s British horror movies. The equally non-formulaic music score
was provided by talented songwriter Paul Giovanni, and his assistant
Gary Carpenter. With only six weeks allotted to write, research, and
record the soundtrack, Paul draws on the rich traditions of Celtic
music to present a brilliant collection of eclectic folk songs
underpinned with aeons-old verse.
The first 8 tracks are the stereo masters which would have been the
soundtrack to The Wicker Man that
Paul Giovanni originally intended for album release but ultimately
never happened because of the film’s troubled history. These masters
have been carefully preserved over the years and are now presented for
release for the first time.
The following three tracks were recorded for the film and used for
playback purposes on set, but only exist in mono versions. These have
been digitally restored and enhanced for CD release. The balance of
the tracks have been compiled from various sources (with occasional
sound effects) and present elements of the background score to the
film to give a more complete representation of this unique score.
Timeline:
August, 1972: The music is recorded for the film.
1973: The Wicker Man is released as the lower half of a
double-bill with Don’t Look Now and is almost forgotten. Composer
Paul Giovanni’s plans for a soundtrack release are scrapped.
1977 / 1978: The Wicker Man gets a US theatrical release and the
beginnings of a cult following thanks to the efforts of Christopher
Lee and Robin Hardy (director). Varese Sarabande announced a
soundtrack release but this didn’t happen (for whatever reason).
1992: Simon Wells, budding author / journalist, writes
to Silva Screen suggesting it would be a good idea to release the
album. Past interviews with Paul Giovanni show that a soundtrack
master was prepared. David Stoner of Silva Screen contacts the current
owner of the film, Lumiere Films, and establishes that tapes
containing music and effects are in storage. On hearing a cassette of
some of this material, David decides that the quality is too poor and
a key song “Gently Johnny” is missing.
1998: Trunk Records release the soundtrack to TWM. On
listening to it, Silva Screen realizes that it is the same source as
the tapes previously heard. Mono, loads of effects on the top and one
song missing. The album sells very well in spite of this.
2000: Simon Wells, now an author and working on a book
about cult British movies, contacts David Stoner. As part of his
research, he has contacted Gary Carpenter, the Associate Music
Director on The Wicker Man to talk about the music since Paul Giovanni
is now deceased. During this conversation, Gary reveals that he has
Paul’s original album master in his possession plus other previously
unreleased music. Simon immediately contacts David Stoner.
2002: Finally with all of the appropriate clearances,
the master tape is digitized, cleaned and generally brought back to
life.
October, 2002: The CD containing the album that Paul Giovanni had
always envisioned is released in the UK.
October 2010: The CD is cleared for release in the US.
CD: SILCD1342
US RELEASE DATE: October 5, 2010
For more information contact: ***@yahoo.com