An action score from Jerry Fielding, but one that's done in a great mix of modes – definitely with some of the driving numbers you might expect, but also with these mellower, moodier tracks that are perfect for a film starring Alain Delon – and which really do a great job of linking it to some of his famous French cinematic efforts! Fielding's got his roots in American jazz, and always does a great job with action – but we're even more impressed here as he gets into some more deeply introspective passages, mixed with moments of subtle tension – served up with orchestrations that are completely sublime – and which rival those of 70s soundtrack contemporary Jerry Goldsmith. Jazz artists Lennie Niehaus and Greg McRitchie conducted the orchestrations, which might explain some of their strength – and titles include "The Imperial Vaults", "On The Plane From Paris", "The Russian Wags His Tail", "All Fall Down", "Hide & Seek Underground", and "The Parisian Connection". CD version features 24 tracks in all! CD

Nice one! Clint Eastwood will forever be remembered for his groundbreaking tough guy work in the Dirty Harry films – but equally famous are Lalo Schifrin's funky soundtracks for the movies! The work is some of Schifrin's best – a mix of the jazzy style he created in the late 60s, and a funkier 70s cop theme edge that was sort of the white answer to blaxploitation scoring that was happening at the same time. Titles include "Dirty Harry's Creed", "Scorpio", "This Side Of Forever", "Unicorn's Head", "Alcatraz Encounter" and "Rooftop Chase". LP, Vinyl record album

A masterpiece of soundtrack scoring from Jerry Fielding – done for Sam Peckinpah's classic Mexico-set thriller with Warren Oates in the lead! Those other two names are more than enough to get us to needle drop the record – but it's Fielding's music that really captivates us – deep orchestrations that we never would have expected in his work the decade before – handled by Lennie Niehaus and Greg McRitchie, both of whom really unlock these channels of rich tonal colors in the music – while Jerry's score serves up all these nice changes throughout, including some key action moments, a touch of solo guitar flavoring, and other bold elements that really make the record leap from the speakers the way the film leaps off the screen. Titles include "Bring It To Me", "Gathering Information", "Marriage Plans", "Bennie's Revenge", "Killer's Rhapsody", "Requiem For Alfredo", "El Jefe", and "Road Kill". Intrada reissue includes 10 tracks from Fielding's score for the film Killer Elite, released the following year. CD

A surprisingly poignant score – especially when you consider that it was written for a film that was known for its graphic violence! Jerry Fielding's at his height here – drawing on his earlier work in jazz, yet weaving together colors and tones that work with really bold imagistic properties – almost visual in themselves, but in ways that are so different from the images on the screen – and which, on record, make the whole thing feel like it's almost an alternative movie in itself! The orchestrations are wonderful – hardly the usual western style, but not really crime, cop, or other 60s modes either. Titles include "Drinking Song", "Dirge & Finale", "Adventures On The High Road", "Main Title", and "Adelita". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of soundtracks for two of the creepiest horror movies of the 70s – back to back on a single CD, and given the top-shelf Film Score Monthly treatment! First up is the score for Soylent Green – a mix of very moody, unusually-toned passages that are mixed with some mellower, jazzier numbers that offset things nicely – composed by Fred Myrow, but also given a bit of help from horror maestro Gerald Fried! The music is definitely above the norm – not just in the higher budget, but also in the way that things come together sonically – at a level that makes for a lot of surprises throughout – on titles that include "Tab's Pad/Furniture Party", "Shirl & Thorn", "Home Lobby Source", "Can I Do Something For You", and "Sol's Music". Demon Seed is a great one from Jerry Fielding – definitely at the darker side of his sonic spectrum, which is pretty darn fitting, given that the film involves a computer having sex with Julie Christie! There's a sense of evil that resonates in the music right from the start – a mode that's partially borrowed from the Italian giallo generation, but which is given a more varied approach here, often at a level that's very low in the sonic spectrum. Tracks include "Birth Scene", "Probed Or Put To Bed", "Last Voyage", and "Closing Crawl". CD features almost 80 minutes of music – and detailed notes on both scores! CD

A wonderfully jazzy soundtrack – one of our favorite Jerry Fielding film scores of the 70s, thanks to key solo work from Art Pepper on alto and Jon Faddis on trumpet! The music is far deeper than you might expect for the Clint Eastwood action film setting – funky enough in the best parts, but also with a sensitivity that gets past the usual cop/crime grooves – making for a really rich record that's almost as pleasing from a jazz perspective as it is from a funk soundtrack perspective too! The album sports a great Frank Frazetta cover – and titles include "The Pickup", "Bleak Bad Big City Dawn", "The Box Car Incident", "The Delivery", "The Black Sedan", and "Manipulation On The Center Divider". LP, Vinyl record album

Great early jazz work from Jerry Fielding – an artist who's probably much better known for his soundtracks of the 60s and 70s, but who sounds equally great here in a big band setting of the 50s! Fielding's style is heavy on modes blossoming in the LA scene of the time – modern, swinging, tight ensemble playing, but often with standout soloists like Conrad Gozzo, Buddy Collette, and Gerald Wiggins. The style isn't so much "dance" as it is swinging big band work – and titles include "Young Man's Fancy", "When I Grow Too Old To Dream", "Song Of The Bayou", "Carefree", and "Cheerful Little Earful". LP, Vinyl record album

A masterpiece of soundtrack scoring from Jerry Fielding – done for Sam Peckinpah's classic Mexico-set thriller with Warren Oates in the lead! Those other two names are more than enough to get us to needle drop the record – but it's Fielding's music that really captivates us – deep orchestrations that we never would have expected in his work the decade before – handled by Lennie Niehaus and Greg McRitchie, both of whom really unlock these channels of rich tonal colors in the music – while Jerry's score serves up all these nice changes throughout, including some key action moments, a touch of solo guitar flavoring, and other bold elements that really make the record leap from the speakers the way the film leaps off the screen. Titles include "Bring It To Me", "Gathering Information", "Marriage Plans", "Bennie's Revenge", "Killer's Rhapsody", "Requiem For Alfredo", "El Jefe", and "Road Kill". CD features bonus tracks – including the 12 minute "Hacienda Suite". CD

Kathy, we'd follow you anywhere – not just for your sultry look on the cover of this album, but for your warm and wonderful vocals throughout the set! The notes describe Barr as "vibrant, vivacious, vital, and full of volcanic tenderness too" – and given the presentation of the tunes here, we'd certainly find it hard to disagree. Kathy's got a great way with a torchy mellow tune, but shines even better on some of the more uptempo numbers – scored nicely by Jerry Fielding with a slightly jazzy undercurrent that really pushes the dynamic edge in Barr's vocals. Titles include "Love Is Here To Stay", "Cuddle Up A Little Closer", "How Long Has This Been Going On", "I'm Just Wild About Harry", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "Day In Day Out", and "Fine & Dandy". LP, Vinyl record album