Intrada Soundtrack Forum

I knew Mike Matessino was good, but I had no idea that he dabbled in the supernatural. What kind of sorcery is this?

Thankfully, lost tapes are sometimes found! Alien3 from LLL earlier this year was another example...but I'm even more excited for Dracula in complete form! A primary Holy Grail of mine and my second favorite John Williams score of all time...

Yavar

Williams' Star Wars, Indy, Superman, E.T., Close Encounters and Jaws scores took much of the deserved spotlight away from masterpieces like Dracula, Black Sunday and Eiger Sanction.

Anyway, this deluxe release is a dream come true. Varese's recent releases are more diverse than ever before.

A dream come true.

This was my biggest remaining grail (along with an expanded album of John Barry's Moonraker), but I can happily cross it off the list. Thank you Mike Matessino and everyone at Varese.

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Most Wanted: Moonraker - complete; Inside Moves (John Barry), Volunteers; The Hand; Brainstorm - complete (James Horner); MacArthur; Supergirl -expanded (Jerry Goldsmith).

They haven't found the master tapes. If they had, Varese would say so in the blurb.

The blurb states they used a 'new source'. That's quite vague. I am intrigued as to what Mike Matessino will say about it over on FSM.

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Grail: ONE OF OUR DINOSAURS IS MISSING (Ron Goodwin)

Stereo 1/4" tapes for the main score and a 1/4" stereo album master located in Universal Music vaults in England. No stems were used for Dracula.

Neil

4-track 35mm dubbing units as well (not stems).

Mike M.

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Grail: ONE OF OUR DINOSAURS IS MISSING (Ron Goodwin)

Since positivity just falls on deaf ears at FSM (but packing, complaints, materialism goes over VERY well), I'll put my kudos here. Not to denigrate this fine forum, that other is just where everyone gravitates to...
The new Dracula is...there are hardly words.
I was always just ok with the score. The lp sounded awful, too quiet, never found a good pressing. The original cd, again bad sound, and never thrilled with the program - too repetitive. Its Williams in his heyday, however, so I never gave up on the score.
Cd1 - the full score is a true revelation. A case of the complete score playing much better than the album program, sorry JW. The sound qual, what we all were worried about is fantastic, gorgeous, that incredible LSO sound we knew & loved from the 70s, 80s.
Cd2 - playing tonight for the first time & exclaimed a few...expletives out loud, I must admit. I still feel it leans too heavy on the theme, but the sound is just...(insert a string of good expletives, I'll keep it G-rated here at Intrada). There are details that...again, made me curse out loud. For example "there's an F'ing organ in the main title??". The dbl. basses sound like they are grinding out of the speaker! Despite not being a big personal fave, I've still played that old program a lot, over 30 odd years.
Hearing a piece so newly after three decades is incredibly moving.

A hundred kudos & thanks to ALL involved in this release - you all outdid yourselves, turned a good score into a MASTERPIECE. I've been touting your work where I can - except FSM where shipping, condition of the plastic, looking for issues or misery, is what's most important. I'm certain this took more time & effort than Matessino may ever let on - it was worth it MM.
I hope the good word of mouth will sway everyone in doubt to get a copy. It will be one we still talk about for the next 40 years.