Screen Blockbusters
16-Feb-2009
What's in a title? Not much if the stars are not backed up by the producers it seems.
Black Dyke Band
Conductor: Dr Nicholas Childs
Soloists: John Doyle, Andrea Crossley
Obrasso Recordings: CD930
Total Playing Time: 72.00
It is getting increasingly difficult to find positives about CDs such as this: Black Dyke deserves better, the arrangers deserve better, the listeners deserve better.
You can see why Obrasso is so keen to be associated with the band – the name sells their products like no other can - even such convoluted pap such as this. But surely Black Dyke doesn’t need the link up as badly?
Raised the quality
For all the very good stuff Dyke does for the label – the ‘Fantastic Overtures’ series has been excellent - they also get tied into putting their name to releases like this. And it would be so much better for all concerned if Obrasso actually raised the quality of their side of the bargain to match the input of the band.
As has been the case for far too long now, the post production is cheaply put together (they can't even get the title right on the shoulder sleeve - calling it 'Screen Block Musters' for pity's sake.... )
Da Vinci Code
Dr Roy Newsome’s sleeve notes are perfunctory to say the least – his description of the film ‘The Da Vinci Code’, as portraying a controversial interpretation of Christian history, is like saying the Bible has a slightly surreal way of looking at the origins of the creation of mankind. Come on…
Once more it looks like Obrasso have used an insert that has the look of a C Grade GCSE art student’s homework, and this time it’s the band and MD biographies that are missing, instead of the usual notes on the music being played.
Angelina Jolie
This recording is a bit like seeing Angelina Jolie extolling fashion outfits from the Primark clothes store on a television advert.
Only the terminally moronic would even imagine that she would turn up at the next Oscars wearing a £12.99 dress from them, but hey – it’s the fabulous Angelina, so who cares? Every fat teenager will want to wear an off the shoulder nylon boob tube from now on.
Spurious
On their own, the vast majority of the 16 tracks are OK stuff – the type of music that would sit nicely in a lightweight concert programme (and we do mean lightweight and unchallenging – a park bandstand job for instance), but lumping them together under the spurious title of ‘Screen Blockbusters’ is taking the you know what.
We would love to hear what Mark Kermode would have to say about it.
Grubby sales pitch
The film critic would surely be at his apoplectic best trying to put forward a case for the film ‘Casper’ being a screen blockbuster, or ‘Hook’ or ‘Twister’ or ‘Babe: Pig in the City’. There are even two selection box items as well – the best bits (or most recognisable) of James Bond and Ennio Morricone. The music becomes incidental to the rather grubby sales pitch.
If you do really want to complete your Black Dyke CD collection, then buy this release by all means. But that’s about it.
Thanks
’Screen Blockbusters’ does a job for Obrasso thanks to Black Dyke’s sense of professionalism.
However, Black Dyke will also know that they cannot continue to see their hard earned reputation go untarnished by being associated with such projects unless Obrasso start to do the same.
That time is fast approaching.
Iwan Fox
What's on this CD?
1. Hook, John Williams arr. Darrol Barry, 1.27
2. Local Hero, Mark Knopfler arr. Alan Fernie, 3.36
3. The Best of Bond, John Barry arr. Darrol Barry, 7.03
4. Casper, James Horner arr. Sandy Smith, 4.54
5. Spirit of Africa, John Barry arr. Darrol Barry, 5.50
6. 633 Squadron, Ron Goodwin arr. Darrol Barry, 2.41
7. Chaplin, John Barry arr. Goff Richards, Andrea Crossley (Vibraphone), 3.57
8. Rocky IV, Vince Di Cola arr. Alan Fernie, 2.58
9. JFK, John Williams arr. Alan Fernie, 2.54
10. Twister, Mark Mancina arr. Darrol Barry, 3.01
11. Babe: Pig in the City, Randy Newman arr. Dan Price, John Doyle (Flugel Horn), 4.36
12. Ray, Ray Charles arr. Sandy Smith, 8.27
13. The Da Vinci Code, R A Harvey and Hans Zimmer arr. Sandy Smith, 6.53
14. Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade, John Williams arr. Klaas Van der Woude, 2.47
15. Dracula, Kilar Wojcieck arr. Sandy Smith, 3.21
16. Wild West!, Ennio Morricone arr. Sandy Smith, 7.27
