Why there is STILL no release of NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA?

Lokutus · **Posted:** Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:51 pm

Well... the topic says it all...
50 years after its release (anniversary is coming very soon), there is still no decent CD release of Richard Rodney Bennett's masterpiece. Yet as far as I know there has never been any explanation from anyone reliable. If the masters of the complete score are missing, the LP master would be a huge improvement over the current situation - if even that's missing - I suppose using a good shape copy of the LP to release it FINALLY on CD would be still highly welcome...

So what's the problem with this one exactly? Or maybe a re-recording is the only viable option this will ever see any decent release?

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

Good question. I have the same question regarding Sir Bennett's score for Yanks.

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

As to Nicholas And Alexandra, a superb score, the Bell label went under back in 1974, not long after issuing Bennett's soundtrack. The catalog eventually worked its way over to Arista and ultimately ended up as part of Sony, where I believe the rights currently reside. It is an elusive title to be sure and whether original album masters exist is a query to which I don't know the answer. But I'm guessing they may be missing in action, as are some of the Colgems releases that also worked their way into the Sony properties.

The album rights for Yanks resides with UMG. The master elements to the MCA release most likely do exist. It may just need a few more interested parties financially supporting it to make a CD release viable. By the way, I remember watching the movie way back when and felt cheated because it was a v e r y l o n g WWII movie that had no war sequences. --Doug

Lokutus · **Posted:** Sun Oct 03, 2021 11:15 pm

Thanks for the answer. Fingers crossed something can be done about either of these...

There certainly isn't enough Bennett's (film) music available out there.

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

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

The Nicholas and Alexandra album is now available for download, and it does not seem like a vinyl transfer. Sounds like we got lucky with a clean transfer of the album tape.

Too a Bell album, Dominic Frontiere's On Any Sunday is also now available. Definitely a soundtrack of its time, to put it mildly.

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

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

I just came across a sealed LP.
Lmk if anyone is interested.

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Why there is STILL no release of NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA?

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