Alex North - North By North / Journey Into Fear (Original Motion Picture Soundtracks) '1998/2021

Tracks list

The Main Theme from the little known 1955 film Unchained later metamorphosed
into the Righteous Brothers hit song Unchained Melody and remains Norths best
known work. A dramatically sentimental piece, this demonstrates a flip-side to
his more remote and often jarring compositions. The Love Theme from The Racers
(also 1955) is another very fifties, rather mushy piece, but unfortunately it
pales in comparison with the previous track and is pretty much instantly
forgettable.

Josefa from Viva Zapata! (1952) is a gentle Mexican folk style melody that is
adequate rather than compelling, while The Bad Seed (1956) contributes an
interesting Lullaby which becomes disturbing in context of the story of a
murderous eight year old, always with a sense of underlying tension.

Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) is somewhat syrupy in the old
school manner with an odd discordant music box intruding towards the end. The
Bachelor Party (1957) has another Love Theme thats low-key and reflective,
becoming more appealing as it develops.

Denise from The 13th Letter (1951) is more 50s romanticism, which to be frank
does very little for me. To my ears it is all rather bland. And the Love Theme
from Ill Cry Tomorrow (1956) and Eva from Stagestruck (1959) are really just
more of the same. A selection from Les Miserables (1952) is also similar in
vein, although it does become more interesting and dramatic mid-way though.

The lush strings of Bacio from The Rose Tattoo (1955) feature in another
romantic offering, as is the case with Desirée (1954) and its Love Theme. In
fact this section is dominated by similar pieces and it would have been far more
appealing to hear a greater variety in style.

The second half of the CD is dedicated solely to the score for the 1975 remake
of the Orson Welles produced Journey into Fear.

The Main Title begins as pandemonium, a cacophony of sound and never really lets
up. Next comes Dead Agent, which while rather more restrained than the virtual
madness of the Main Title, still retains its inherent dissonance.

A romantic interlude is found in Loneliness but its really only of middling
quality and this is followed by a run of strident suspense cues including The
Weapon, Deadly Quest and Desperate Straits.

There are also a number of previously unreleased tracks, the most prominent
being Deep Water with its growling, atmospheric low bassoon in what is the most
satisfying cue from the entire score. The dramatic Beneath the Surface is of
interest too, building to an intense conclusion. Also worth a mention are Love
Theme: Painful Memory which features a quite affecting, very brief reprise of
Loneliness and Native Mood, a Middle Eastern source cue with flute and exotic
percussion. Its actually quite odd really that these reinstated tracks are far
and away the best pieces on offer.

The CD concludes with End Title (Its Over), with anxious tinkling piano and dark
bassoon creating a sense of uneasiness, before strings begin to build into more
of Norths familiar tumultuous clamour.

Tracklist:
 01. Alex North - Main Theme (From Unchained) (03:39)
 02. Alex North - Love Theme (From The Racers) (03:43)
 03. Alex North - Josefa (From Viva Zapata!) (03:32)
 04. Alex North - Lullaby (From The Bad Seed) (03:08)
 05. Alex North - Blanche (From A Streetcar Named Desire) (02:53)
 06. Alex North - Love Theme (From The Bachelor Party) (04:12)
 07. Alex North - Denise (From The 13th Letter) (02:57)
 08. Alex North - Eva (From Stage Struck) (03:17)
 09. Alex North - Love Theme (From Ill Cry Tomorrow) (02:44)
 10. Alex North - Love Theme (From Les Miserables) (02:53)
 11. Alex North - Bacio (From The Rose Tattoo) (03:14)
 12. Alex North - Love Theme (From Desiree) (02:55)
 13. Alex North - Main Title (From Journey Into Fear) (01:47)
 14. Alex North - Dead Agent (From Journey Into Fear) (01:35)
 15. Alex North - Loneliness (From Journey Into Fear) (02:55)
 16. Alex North - The Weapon (From Journey Into Fear) (01:28)
 17. Alex North - The Search (From Journey Into Fear) (01:49)
 18. Alex North - Deadly Quest (From Journey Into Fear) (02:44)
 19. Alex North - Troubled Romance (From Journey Into Fear) (03:15)
 20. Alex North - Tight Rope (From Journey Into Fear) (01:00)
 21. Alex North - Deep Water (From Journey Into Fear) (01:24)
 22. Alex North - Fellow Travelers (From Journey Into Fear) (01:10)
 23. Alex North - Beneath The Surface (From Journey Into Fear) (02:15)
 24. Alex North - Love Theme / Painful Memory (From Journey Into Fear) (01:13)
 25. Alex North - Native Mood (From Journey Into Fear) (01:49)
 26. Alex North - Pursuit (From Journey Into Fear) (03:14)
 27. Alex North - Despair (From Journey Into Fear) (01:24)
 28. Alex North - Desperate Straits (From Journey Into Fear) (02:20)
 29. Alex North - End Title (Its Over) (From Journey Into Fear) (02:44)

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