Farewell to a Maestro!

            The amazingly talented TV-film composer Gerald Fried passed on February 17, 2023. He composed music for early films of Stanley Kubrick, as well as lesser horror flicks like The Return of Dracula and I Bury the Living. He scored hundreds of TV episodes, including Gilligan’s Island, It's About Time, Mission: Impossible, and Star Trek TOS.

            His contribution to 45 episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is our focus for this month!

            Gerald Fried—SALUTE!

More Music from The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

01. Gerald Fried - Sandals Only (2:34)
02. Robert Drasnin - Solo Busanova (2:08)
03. Gerald Fried - Boo-Bam-Boo, Baby (1:49)
04. Gerald Fried - Slink (2:09)
05. Gerald Fried - Lament For A Trapped Spy (2:20)
06. Robert Drasnin - Off and Running (2:27)
07. Gerald Fried - Run Spy Run (2:11)
08. Gerald Fried - Jungle Heat (1:58)
09. Gerald Fried - The Wiggely Pig Walk (2:06)
10. Robert Drasnin - There They Go (2:06)
11. Robert Drasnin - Jo Jo's Torch Song (2:11)
12. Gerald Fried - Dance of the Flaming Swords (2:33)

This is a 1966 album.  Thanks for stopping by.  See you on Monday, April 3, to begin a month of Spock Fun!

  

The Quest and the Return

            The amazingly talented TV-film composer Gerald Fried passed on February 17, 2023. He composed music for early films of Stanley Kubrick, as well as lesser horror flicks like The Return of Dracula and I Bury the Living. He scored hundreds of TV episodes, including Gilligan’s Island, It's About Time, Mission: Impossible, and Star Trek TOS.

            His contribution to 45 episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is our focus for this month!

            Gerald Fried—SALUTE!

This disc contains music recorded but unused, and the reunion movie.  See insert for details.

The Deadly Quest Affair (unused)

(recorded July 28, 1967)

Tracks 1-33 –28:44

 Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.

(April 5, 1983)

Tracks 34-61 – 31:38 

TOTAL TIME:  60:22

Thanks for helping honor Gerald Fried, musical genius-to-order. Just like Hemingway and Mozart, some of his stuff was hack work. But some was truly inspired.

And here is El Linko.

See you on Thursday with another album containing Fried's U.N.C.L.E. oeuvre.
  

Apples and Alternates

            The amazingly talented TV-film composer Gerald Fried passed on February 17, 2023. He composed music for early films of Stanley Kubrick, as well as lesser horror flicks like The Return of Dracula and I Bury the Living. He scored hundreds of TV episodes, including Gilligan’s Island, It's About Time, Mission: Impossible, and Star Trek TOS.

            His contribution to 45 episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is our focus for this month!

            Gerald Fried—SALUTE!

The Apple-a-Day Affair

(March 24, 1967)

Tracks 1-5 ­– 24:19

 

4th Season Alternate Titles

(recorded July 28, 1967)

Tracks 6-11 – 03:25

 

The Test Tube Killer Affair

(September 18, 1967)

Tracks 12-15 – 20:08

 

TOTAL TIME:  48:25

The third-season "Apple-a-Day" has some fine slinky-cum-insouciant exposition-chase music.

Tracks 6-11 are various takes of various Fried arrangements for Season Four's theme.  All were rejected.  For the life of me, I can't figure out if the wailing solo instrument is a filtered guitar, or an electrified clarinet, or ...?

To my mind, they would have signaled a break from the Third Season and its silliness.

FRIED: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. -- Disc 7

Enjoy this musical trip around the world, campers! See you on Monday.
  

The Fried Beat Goes On!

            The amazingly talented TV-film composer Gerald Fried passed on February 17, 2023. He composed music for early films of Stanley Kubrick, as well as lesser horror flicks like The Return of Dracula and I Bury the Living. He scored hundreds of TV episodes, including Gilligan’s Island, It's About Time, Mission: Impossible, and Star Trek TOS.

            His contribution to 45 episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is our focus for this month!

            Gerald Fried—SALUTE!
Once again, a blend of the divine and the goofy.  In "Napoleon's Tomb," some fine light suspense riffs or moody "European" music is suddenly curb-stomped by "Alouette."

No one does imitation Greek better than Fried, though!

The Napoleon’s Tomb Affair

(January 27, 1967)

Tracks 1-3 – 17:45

 

The It’s All Greek to Me Affair

(February 3, 1967)

 Tracks 4-7 – 22:58

 

The Hot Number Affair

(March 10, 1967)

Tracks 8-11 – 21:14

TOTAL TIME:  62:21

 When we get to "Hot Number," infamous for including the totally zombielike Sonny and Cher, you tell me if the kazoos are inspired or just a sign of derision for the whole setup.  But also in "Hot Number" is a lilting flute lullaby, complete with those tricky Fried time-signature changes.  Speaking of kazoos, we have a full rendering of the Goldsmith theme on kazoo in here somewhere!  I dare you to find it!

FRIED:  The Man from U.N.C.L.E. -- Disc 6

 See you Thursday, fellow Fried Freaks!
  

Glory and Gorillas ...

           The amazingly talented TV-film composer Gerald Fried passed on February 17, 2023. He composed music for early films of Stanley Kubrick, as well as lesser horror flicks like The Return of Dracula and I Bury the Living. He scored hundreds of TV episodes, including Gilligan’s Island, It's About Time, Mission: Impossible, and Star Trek TOS.

            His contribution to 45 episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is our focus for this month!

            Gerald Fried—SALUTE!

Yes, I understand that the opening seconds of "Off Broadway" are draggy, that's how I done got 'em.

This disc combines the glories and goofiness required by the subject matter of these third-season episodes.  "Off Broadway" is lots of hep-cat and semi-cool fun.  The vocal excerpts with Shari Lewis et. al. are pretty true to the gimmickry of Sixties "musical theatre."  "A Man Is a Song," perhaps, but our Dear David won't make the Top 40 in this one.  Stick with Shari marching for justice!

While "Gorilla" is just ... embarrassing.

The Off Broadway Affair

(November 18, 1966)

Tracks 1-6 – 29:23

 

The My Friend the Gorilla Affair

(December 16, 1966)

Tracks 7-10 – 19:27

 

The Take Me to Your Leader Affair

(December 30, 1966)

Track 11 – 00:23

 

The Yo-Ho-Ho and a Bottle of Rum Affair

(January 20, 1967)

Track 12 – 5:12

 

TOTAL TIME:  54:52

We got a nice twenty-second duet between David and Nancy Sinatra to represent "Leader," and a Thrush girl singing "Tender Trap" in "Yo-Ho-Ho."

FRIED:  The Man from U.N.C.L.E. -- Disc 5

Avast and have fun, me maties! See you Monday!
 

Yes, Master! The Casbah!

     The amazingly talented TV-film composer Gerald Fried passed on February 17, 2023. He composed music for early films of Stanley Kubrick, as well as lesser horror flicks like The Return of Dracula and I Bury the Living. He scored hundreds of TV episodes, including Gilligan’s Island, It's About Time, Mission: Impossible, and Star Trek TOS.

            His contribution to 45 episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is our focus for this month!

            Gerald Fried—SALUTE!

The Her Master’s Voice Affair

(September 16, 1966)

Tracks 1-5 – 25:12

 

The Super-Colossal Affair

(October 7, 1966)

Tracks 6-7 – 9:21

 

The Monks of St Thomas Affair

(October 14, 1966)

Tracks 8-11 – 22:53

The Come with Me to the Casbah Affair

(November 21, 1966)

Tracks 12-13 – 13:04 

TOTAL TIME:  70:59

 You'll be weary of Brahms's "Lullaby" by the end of "Her Master's Voice." But the breezy opening segment of the episode is the epitome of the GOOD PARTS of U.N.C.L.E. Season Three (yes, there are some).

I love how, in "Casbah," one of the themes is in 4/4 ... then, later on, it's in some other time signature -- 5/4, maybe? One of you smart folks let me know!

The Man from U.N.C.L.E., disc 4

See you Thursday, U.N.C.L.E.-ettes.  (And thanks for reminding me to put the dang link in there last week)!
  

Glories and Cringes

            The amazingly talented TV-film composer Gerald Fried passed on February 17, 2023. He composed music for early films of Stanley Kubrick, as well as lesser horror flicks like The Return of Dracula and I Bury the Living. He scored hundreds of TV episodes, including Gilligan’s Island, It's About Time, Mission: Impossible, and Star Trek TOS.

            His contribution to 45 episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is our focus for this month!

            Gerald Fried—SALUTE!

In today's post of Gerald Fried's Man from U.N.C.L.E. music you'll encounter some of the heppest, and some of his most stereotypical.

The Moonglow Affair

(February 25, 1966)

Tracks 1-6 – 27:50

 

The Bat Cave Affair

(April 1, 1966)

Tracks 7-10 – 20:27

 

The Indian Affairs Affair

(April 15, 1966)

Tracks 11-14 – 23:59

 

TOTAL TIME:  72:16

And now ... the link!

As always, these pieces are presented in aired order. See you Monday!

  

Blossoms and Zombies and Legions ...

             The amazingly talented TV-film composer Gerald Fried passed on February 17, 2023. He composed music for early films of Stanley Kubrick, as well as lesser horror flicks like The Return of Dracula and I Bury the Living. He scored hundreds of TV episodes, including Gilligan’s Island, It's About Time, Mission: Impossible, and Star Trek TOS.

            His contribution to 45 episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is our focus for this month!

            Gerald Fried—SALUTE!

The Cherry Blossom Affair

(November 19, 1965)

Tracks 1-2 – 13:00

 

The Very Important Zombie Affair

(December 31, 1965)

Tracks 3-6 – 20:26

 

The Foreign Legion Affair

(February 18, 1966)

 

TOTAL TIME:  61:17

 FRIED:  The Man from U.N.C.L.E. -- Disc 2

 See you Thursday, fellow agents!
  

Welcome to Spock's U.N.C.L.E. Month

            The amazingly talented TV-film composer Gerald Fried passed on February 17, 2023. He composed music for early films of Stanley Kubrick, as well as lesser horror flicks like The Return of Dracula and I Bury the Living. He scored hundreds of TV episodes, including Gilligan’s Island, It's About Time, Mission: Impossible, and Star Trek TOS.

            His contribution to 45 episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is our focus for this month!

            Gerald Fried—SALUTE!

 The Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Gerald Fried Collection, Disc 1

The Alexander the Greater Affair, Part 1

Tracks 1-39 –  25:24

The Alexander the Greater Affair, Part 2

Tracks 40-76 – 20:45

The Discotheque Affair

Tracks 77-81 – 26:10

= 75:03

See you on Monday, fellow agents!

  

I Will Have REVENGE!

So saith Antonio Vivaldi, the prophet wrote.

What makes this 1993 album special to me is this:  My copy was for sale on Amazon a decade or more ago.  I got a "sold, ship now" notice.  And, by golly, the person buying this CD was the flautist himself, Pierre Saint-Denis!

01. Spring - Allegro (3:39)

02. Spring - Largo e pianissimo sempre (2:16)

03. Spring - Danza pastorale: Allegro (4:17)

04. Summer - Allegro ma non molto (5:36)

05. Summer - Adagio -- Presto (2:02)

06. Summer - Presto (3:15)

07. Autumn - Allegro (4:39)

08. Autumn - Adagio (1:25)

09. Autumn - Allegro (3:58)

10. Winter - Allegro ma non molto (4:20)

11. Winter - Largo (3:31)

12. Winter - Allegro (3:52)

Vivaldi's Revenge - The NEW Four Seasons

Now you too may hear his artistry.

See you on Thursday, March 2. for a month of Man from U.N.C.L.E. music.

  

Clinical Bach

This 1989 release has so much great music, so much performing artistry, yet it’s ultimately boring, alas!  And I can't explicate why.  Don't you hate not being to explicate a feeling or impression?

01. Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565: I. Toccata, Adagio (2:32)

02. Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565: II. Fugue (6:00)

03. Fantasia in G major, BWV 572 (‘Pièce d’orgue’): I. Très vitement (1:15)

04. Fantasia in G major, BWV 572 (‘Pièce d’orgue’): II. Gravement (4:47)

05. Fantasia in G major, BWV 572 (‘Pièce d’orgue’): III. Lentement (1:34)

06. Variations -  ‘Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her’, BWV 769: 1. Nel canone all’Ottava (1:31)

07. Variations -  ‘Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her’, BWV 769: 2. Alio modo, nel canone alla quinta (1:32)

08. Variations -  ‘Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her’, BWV 769: 3. Canone alla settim (2:25)

09. Variations -  ‘Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her’, BWV 769: 4. L’altra sorte del canone al rovescio: 1) Alla sesta, 2) Alla terza, 3) Alla seconda e, 4) Alla n (2:55)

10. Variations -  ‘Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her’, BWV 769: 5. Per augmentationem, net canone all’Ottava (3:08)

11. Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532: I. Prelude (4:23)

12. Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532. II. Fuge (5:04)

13. Pastorale in F major, BWV 590 (‘Pastorella’): I. In F major (2:05)

14. Pastorale in F major, BWV 590 (‘Pastorella’): II. In C major (2:22)

15. Pastorale in F major, BWV 590 (‘Pastorella’): III. In C minor (2:25)

16. Pastorale in F major, BWV 590 (‘Pastorella’): IV. In F major (3:55)

17. Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, BWV 552 (‘St. Anne’): I. Preludium pro organo pleno (8:05)

18. Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, BWV 552 (‘St. Anne’): II. Fuga a 5 con pedale pro organo pleno (6:11)

13. Pastorale in F major, BWV 590 (‘Pastorella’): I. In F major (2:04)

14. Pastorale in F major, BWV 590 (‘Pastorella’): II. In C major (2:21)

15. Pastorale in F major, BWV 590 (‘Pastorella’): III. In C minor (2:24)

16. Pastorale in F major, BWV 590 (‘Pastorella’): IV. In F major (3:54)

17. Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, BWV 552 (‘St. Anne’): I. Preludium pro organo pleno (8:04)

18. Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, BWV 552 (‘St. Anne’): II. Fuga a 5 con pedale pro organo pleno (6:10)

Preston - Toccata & Fugue

Perhaps you can explain it to me.  Until then, see you next time!

   

Hymning and Hawing

It’s a 1993 release. The selections are really competent, but too distilled, too clean and precise, the bluegrass version of easy-listening muzak.

01. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (2:04)

02. I Saw the Light (1:46)

03. Turn Your Radio On (2:28)

04. Bringing in the Sheaves (2:13)

05. Standing on the Promises (1:48)

06. Shelter in the Time of Storm (1:55)

07. Trust and Obey (2:03)

08. I Love to Tell the Story (2:16)

09. When I Survey the Wonderous Cross (2:32)

10. Onward Christian Soldiers (2:16)

11. Send the Light (2:10)

12. I've Anchored in Jesus (2:17)

13. Rescue the Perishing (2:10)

14. Are You Washed in the Blood? (2:27)

15. Let the Lower Lights Be Burning (2:27)

16. Near to the Heart of God (1:53)

17. I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go (3:04)

18. Wonderful Grace of Jesus (2:47)

19. Take The Name (2:09)

20. Living on the Hallelujah Side (2:35)

20 Appalachian Hymns V3

Tell me if you become more or less spiritual after this album!  See you Thursday!

  

Look Out for Falling Houses

This is a 1990 compilation for which the artist or his producer shortened or edited some tracks for this release.  But it's still COSMIC, DUDE!

You may need to be in a certain frame of mind to appreciate the dreamy strains.  I first encountered Mr A on Music from the Hearts of Space, a bounty for meditative types.

01. Devotion (6:34)

02. Twin Flames Rising (4:13)

03. Inner Mounting Flame (7:11)

04. Feather's River (5:15)

05. Windsong (7:18)

06. The Other Side of the Rainbow (5:25)

07. Garden of Eternal Spring (4:33)

08. Lotus Love (5:09)

09. Oasis (6:53)

10. Celestial Sanctity (4:11)

11. Crystal Illumination (5:32)

The Other Side of the Rainbow

See you on Monday!

  

Work, Study, or Commit Hari-Kari

This 1954 album may be so smooth you can't take it.  Here is the text of the LP's liner notes.

     Now that modern science has come out in favor of it, everyone agrees on the good sense of listening to music while you are otherwise occupied. 

     Industry pipes it to production floors and laboratories—even where the most precise work demands absolute freedom from distraction.

     Schools pipe it to study rooms and libraries, and college professors recommend it as an efficiency aid to doing homework.

So it’s official! When you work by music or study by it, you work better or study better as the case may be.

     Ever since David played upon his harp and “Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him,” there have been at least two schools of thought on the matter of mixing music and more practical things.

     But it was not until fairly recent years, after the restaurateurs found that soft strains whetted appetites—and hence helped business—that psychologists began to do intensive research on the problem.

     Appropriately enough, the first noble experiment had been made by one of the prime movers in the development of the record industry—Thomas Alva Edison.

     As early as 1915 this great innovator played a selected program of recorded music in factories; it was his notion that production would increase proportionately with morale, and it was a perfectly sound notion. But the phonograph was not then as perfected as it is today, and the project unfortunately was written off as a failure.

     In 1942, when the findings of a more recent and more elaborately controlled test were presented to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the response was immediate and universal.

     Washington was so impressed that, after a further survey to confirm the scientific reports, it made phonographic equipment a high priority item for plants engaged in war work. And today it is a rare factory that does not offer music to its employees.

     In offices, too, there has been a steadily rising acceptance of the “music while you work” idea. Banks, advertising agencies, insurance companies, and publishing houses are among the employers now providing piped-in music for their white collar personnel.

     From the earliest days of World War II, when the British Army discovered his talents and made him its musical director, George Melachrino has had a wealth of practical experience in preparing ideal antidotes for preoccupied, overworked minds.

     If any orchestra in the world knows how to make music to work by or study by it is this one. Under Melachrino’s baton it might by any piece from Beyond the Blue Horizon to Chopin’s Minute Waltz, or even Whistle While You Work. No matter what the mood represented, the music is always appropriate for work and delightful for listening when interpreted by Melachrino. The privacy of the listeners mind is never invaded, so that it may ran freely over the most involved manual or intellectual problems without disturbance despite—or perhaps because of—the song that is on the lips.

The selections are:

01. Beyond the Blue Horizon (2:30)

02. Can't Help Singing (2:39)

03. Waltz in Water-Colours (3:07)

04. Midnight in Mayfair (3:06)

05. Way to the Stars (3:15)

06. Pick Yourself Up (1:58)

07. Scrub, Brother, Scrub (1:50)

08. The Minute Waltz (1:57)

09. Heigh Ho / Whistle While You Work (1:51)

10. It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow (1:43)

It's all so sparkling and fluffy, it doesn't even have the calories of whipped nothing!

Music to Work or Study By

See you on Thursday, if you recover from studying or working in such a haze of haziness ...