INTRADA Announces Frank DeVol's THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX

Roger Feigelson · **Joined:** Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:47 pm **Posts:** 3415

INTRADA Announces

THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX
Music Composed and Conducted by FRANK DeVOL
INTRADA ISC 450

For its latest release, Intrada features a completely restored 2-CD set of Frank DeVol's The Flight of the Phoenix. Hailing from 1965, this 20th Century Studios release was in the midst of a stunning period for film music with both old guard (Rózsa, Tiomkin, Steiner to name a few) and new talent (Barry, Goldsmith, Jarre, to also just name a few) on the scene, resulting in a wealth of powerful scores featuring both classic and modern sensibilities. Composer Frank DeVol was part of this crew, providing remarkable work, and yet somehow without many album releases, missed much notice. The Flight of the Phoenix is a showcase for DeVol's power as a composer, featuring a sweeping, Middle-Eastern flavored theme for the exotic, yet remote, setting. Although largely taking place in a single location, DeVol musically captures the location, the inner and outer drama of the characters, and seeming hopelessness of their situation. The result is an exciting, dramatic, heartbreaking and ultimately heroic score from someone who remains an underrated composer.

Restoration specialist Chris Malone mastered this expanded edition from 35mm magnetic tapes provided by 20th Century Studios. The score proper has been restored in vibrant stereo. The bonus section also features a few alternates, including a longer Connie Francis vocal of “Senza Fine,” accompanied by only piano, guitar and bass, and two versions of the concluding cue, “Ole Swimmin’ Hole.”

The film stars James Stewart, Richard Attenborough, Peter Finch, Hardy Kruger, and Ernest Borgnine, making up most of a crew who take off from a Jebel Sarra Arabco oilfield in a Skytruck, a utilitarian transport plane, headed to Benghazi. Because of an inaccurate weather report and a miscalculation by the pilot, the plane is overcome by a sandstorm and crashes in the central Libyan desert, instantly killing two of the passengers and leaving one grievously wounded. The film becomes a tale of relationships under dire circumstances, survival, and ultimately a creative escape—all based on a true story.

INTRADA ISC 450
Barcode: 720258545008
Retail Price: $24.99
Starts Shipping Week of 2/21
For track listing and sound samples, please visit http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12348/.f

bruce marshall · **Joined:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:16 pm **Posts:** 775

Seems like it could have been.a single disc release.
Oh well.
Hope it sells well.

Roger Feigelson · **Joined:** Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:47 pm **Posts:** 3415

Douglass Fake · **Joined:** Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:48 pm **Posts:** 2773

Fugues · **Joined:** Tue Oct 15, 2019 9:23 pm **Posts:** 603

Chris Shaneyfelt · **Joined:** Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:49 pm **Posts:** 67

This is a FANTASTIC release! The audio clips sound amazing. I put in my order and am so excited to get this! Thank you so very much!

bruce marshall · **Joined:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:16 pm **Posts:** 775

I'm not negative I'm disappointed.
These archival style releases don't appeal to ME. I call it constructive criticism.
As a supporter of Intrada since you had a store on Vallejo - not to mention a person who.promoted film music as a journalist- I think I have a right to my opinion.

I might have taken a chance on this release I.e spent thirty dollars , if it was presented in a more listenable format..
My only motive in commenting is to influence future releases in.that direction.
I'm not alone in my preferences. But, the ' collection of cues' crowd is being caterered to , exclusively.

Peace.
Bruce

P.s. If you don't want me to comment, I'll refrain.

Fugues · **Joined:** Tue Oct 15, 2019 9:23 pm **Posts:** 603

bruce marshall · **Joined:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:16 pm **Posts:** 775

Not all of us have the technical skills to " make our own album". Nor, do We have the capabilities of downloading.
We listen to CDs. For the pleasure of the music.
Is it such a big.deal to express our desire for CDs that place.more/SOME emphasis on listenability?
Most COMPOSERS care very much about this when preparing soundtrack albums for release ( ( INCHON).

This forum is titled " Soundtrack Views and OPINIONS".

BRUCE

bruce marshall · **Joined:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:16 pm **Posts:** 775

Fugues · **Joined:** Tue Oct 15, 2019 9:23 pm **Posts:** 603

To be fair, the anti-crossfade brigade was just a handful of people, led by one extremely vocal and particularly disgusting bloke. Most of the rest were people who hardly buy anything anyway. '80s soundtracks seem to draw the most angry fanboys.

bruce marshall · **Joined:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:16 pm **Posts:** 775

They may only be a " handful" but they ' won' the war!

Roger Feigelson · **Joined:** Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:47 pm **Posts:** 3415

bruce marshall · **Joined:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:16 pm **Posts:** 775

Nice to read you agree with me!.

I'll quote Ennio Morricone:
"No one wants to listen to an album full of twenty five second cues".

Chris Malone · **Joined:** Tue Sep 03, 2019 2:28 am **Posts:** 13

Like many of us, I’ve had the FSM Patton / Flight of the Phoenix CD since it was released back last century in 1999. Most of the time I stopped the CD before Phoenix got underway. I rarely returned to that second half of the disc as Patton was the gem as far as I was concerned.

That was a lack of judgement!

The 2021 version of me still loves and respects Patton but found so much to enjoy in Flight of the Phoenix! The revelation of hearing this music on its own terms made me realise that it is indeed great film music. And I can well appreciate why Doug holds it to such high esteem and has often championed it.

I guess I would say to someone dismissing Phoenix as not coming from a composer whose first name starts with the letter ‘J’, you might just be surprised and rewarded—as I was—if you broaden your film music horizons.

Chris

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INTRADA Announces Frank DeVol's THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX

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