Intrada Soundtrack Forum

INTRADA Announces:



RETURN FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN
Music by LALO SCHIFRIN
INTRADA ISC 435

Return from Witch Mountain has all the things that make my
music what it is, and all the things that I am as a composer.
-- Lalo Schifrin

Intrada returns to the Disney vaults of the '70s with Lalo Schifrin's score to the 1978 live-action sequel, Return from Witch Mountain. The film follows the further adventures of Tony and Tia, now teens, some three years after their introduction in the original 1975 Escape to Witch Mountain. A long-time Disney fan, Schifrin was thrilled at the chance to compose the score for a Disney film. While Witch Mountain was lighter fare than his earlier scores, he didn't want it to be cartoon music. It was also his first foray into electronics, his first score that allowed him to plunge into mixing orchestra with electronics, including the ondes Martenot, an instrument championed by both Maurice Jarre (used in Lawrence of Arabia) and Elmer Bernstein (Ghostbusters). The score brought a musically adult edge to the studio, making the movie a little hipper and proving to Schifrin he could meld orchestra and electronics.

The film was released in mono and the score had never been mixed into stereo until Intrada mixed the 2″ 24-track session masters graciously provided by Disney Studios. This allowed Intrada to produce and master a brand-new two-track stereo mix, perhaps for the very first time, with stunningly vibrant and detailed audio. CD 1 is a presentation of the complete original score, heard in picture sequence. CD 2 is quite simply a bonus presentation of the strongest highlights of the much longer score, unfolding as a tighter listening experience. It is not intended as a replacement for the complete score but rather as an “album” that might have been offered in 1978 had one been released. It is intended for enjoyment when listeners might not have 73 minutes to play the longer program but still desire a satisfying listening experience under 50 minutes.

Return from Witch Mountain's tone was darker than the first film, as money-hungry adults use a mind control device to turn the now teenage siblings against each other. The formidable villains appear in the personages of longtime Dracula, Christopher Lee, and screen legend, Bette Davis. Davis was cast as Letha, the heiress enabler of Lee’s mad scientist, Victor. Anthony James was cast as Letha’s nephew-henchman, Sickle.

Listen to the Podcast about this release! https://www.dropbox.com/s/ftd4w62pzcqk9 ... n.mp3?dl=0

INTRADA ISC 435
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For track listing and sound samples, please visit http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12006/.f

Never seen the film, and not the biggest Schifrin fan, but the music sounds great. So Doug did the mixing and mastering? Sounds ridiculously daunting when you're not the composer. My toupee's off to him.

Ok come on....a 'bonus album' that was never an album? I realize the price isn't higher (or at least not a full amount higher) but....I just boggle why? What possible reason is there to include it. Put a 'suggested listening sequence' in the notes, sure, I'm all for that, but a fully redundant disc when it wasn't even originally released like that?

I know a lot of people will love this (and obviously the producers of the CD wanted it this way) but....it's the exact opposite of making any sense to me.

I applaud the second disc representation
It's a big improvement over disc one which, frankly, looks unlistenable.
Hope this is the beginning of a trend towards " listenability"

_________________
Film Score Monthly Articles & reviews http://filmscoremonthly.com/daily/articles.cfm?bauthor=22

http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/4189-THE-BEST-SOUNDTRACKS-OF-THE-DECADE.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujMSjXiRpOI

Fantastic release.
I know what I shall be listening to over the holiday's.
Thanks Intrada & Disney for dusting off those session masters.

Agree about" creative decisions".
Maybe next time?

_________________
Film Score Monthly Articles & reviews http://filmscoremonthly.com/daily/articles.cfm?bauthor=22

http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/4189-THE-BEST-SOUNDTRACKS-OF-THE-DECADE.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujMSjXiRpOI

Schifrin recycles this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGL-2LeJuLg but a very good soundtrack

I guess Doug and the guys were reminded that no good deed goes unpunished. I eagerly await homemade videos of loonies gleefully smashing the hated second disc to pieces.

_________________
Karl Morton IV

"Enjoy every sandwich."
-- Warren Zevon

As long as it cost the same as a one disc release, pour your favorite beverage use disc two as a coaster and sit back and listen to disc one. Great Release Intrada. Thank You

Easily one of the best albums of the year. Can't thank you guys enough for this.


My amateur attempt at mimicking a 40-minute LP, if one were so inclined:

Side One
1978 Mickey Mouse Birthday Logo
Main Title
Cab Drive
Sickel's Fall
Gang War
Unlimited Possibilities
Stagecoach Incident
Family Reunion

Side Two
Magic Chase
The Most Powerful Man
Operation Rescue
Don't Go Any Closer
Molecular Control
Will We Ever See You Again?
End Titles