As a few of you may know, I work in the L.A. Phil store (located in the Walt Disney Concert Hall). Though I'm a lowly employee on the pay scale, I'm regarded as a music expert so my opinion counts with my bosses. For some time now I've been trying to get more film music into the store. Up 'till now it's pretty much just been the odd Williams compilation, the fantastic Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone (thanks to me our single best-selling CD in the entire store, even beating out all the pop stuff), and random stuff like The Illusionist (but not Notes on a Scandal...weird, huh?) and The Painted Veil (I think just because it featured Lang Lang...blech). Oh yeah -- and the Esa-Pekka Salonen conducted Herrmann album, of course.
Recently, however, I've been approached by one of my bosses for advice on what general film scores to bring in. While I have my own ideas, I figured I'd come to my friend here for extra suggestions -- here's your chance for some input as to what film music a high profile general store should carry! Now just a few ground rules:
1. It has to be not only in-print but easy-to-get. Unfortunately that disqualifies a lot of great specialty album labels. My buyer has to be able to get it from her suppliers, so for the most part it needs to be major labels, unless I can somehow help work out a deal between her and FSM/SAE/Intrada/etc.
2. It has to be more high-profile stuff that sells to the general public. Or perhaps at least something where if I'm playing it on the store's speakers it's pleasant and bewitching enough to lure people into buying it even if it doesn't have a big name or something. I'm thinking I may be able to squeeze in something like Goldsmith's Medicine Man that way.
3. It has to be good. That's just my own special rule.
Any ideas, guys?
High profile jazz scores in particular are needed, since there's apparently a concert coming up that's based around. I've of course already submitted the obvious (to me) Streetcar Named Desire, Sunset Blvd., and Man With the Golden Arm, but are there any other ideas there? Newer stuff like The Russia House and Catch Me if You Can is probably okay, too.
Yavar