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djangomarvin wrote:........... The Boys was another film from the same period where the Shads recorded the theme, but apparently weren’t on the actual soundtrack. So who did play on these two soundtracks ?

The opening credits of "The Boys" states: "Music composed and played by The Shadows", so it would seem they are, in fact, the ones playing. No idea for "The Frightened City" though. I've always assumed it was Norries orchestra, but I've no basis for that assumption.

Cliff

djangomarvin wrote:The Footage Detectives looks a very interesting programme on TPTV. The Frightened City film was mentioned, and the question of who actually played on the soundtrack. The Boys was another film from the same period where the Shads recorded the theme, but apparently weren’t on the actual soundtrack. So who did play on these two soundtracks ?

This has been the subject of speculation, particularly with regard to The Frightened City, for decades and we seem to be no nearer a definitive answer than we ever were!

Bill

I don’t know either, although I’m sure a bit of googling with the ‘right’ search conditions would turn up the answer.
I never understood the workings of the movie industry, but they seemed to need their own versions of things. There are three Shadows versions of Foot Tapper. The first one (exciting but rough) ended up on the Summer Holiday LP. The second was tighter, and released as the No 1 single it turned out to be. The third (unmemorable) was done specifically for use in the film.

Iain Purdon wrote:I don’t know either, although I’m sure a bit of googling with the ‘right’ search conditions would turn up the answer.
I never understood the workings of the movie industry, but they seemed to need their own versions of things. There are three Shadows versions of Foot Tapper. The first one (exciting but rough) ended up on the Summer Holiday LP. The second was tighter, and released as the No 1 single it turned out to be. The third (unmemorable) was done specifically for use in the film.

That all changed in 1964 when The Beatles used only their proper EMI studio recordings in the film "A Hard Day's Night".

Two and a bit years later, Cliff and The Shadows did the same in "Finders Keepers".

Perhaps it's no coincidence that the production company was United Artists.

Indeed, the music in both AHDN and FK was tons better. Why didn’t they do the same in the earlier films?

My recollection is that Norrie ensured that both versions sounded similar, presumably by making the
soundtrack sound Shadowy?

The sheet music featured scenes from the film.

George

I recorded a short programme on TPTV this morning: a piece to camera by Jess Conrad in the series "Glimpses".

I'm sure his memory must be failing him. He said that he was inspired to become a film extra (this allegedly before the making of "Serious Charge") one afternoon after he had seen the film "Cleopatra".

The problem: "Serious Charge" (in which Conrad was an extra) was released in 1959 and "Cleopatra" didn't make it to the screen until 1963 (it took several years to make).

Anyway, after "Glimpses", TPTV showed "Serious Charge" and I watched the first few minutes recorded by the Sky box before the timer terminated its setting.

Having always thought of, and treated "Serious Charge" as a throwaway movie, I hadn't ever realised that the opening credits featured a version of the instrumental Chinchilla, also recorded by The Drifters and included on the Cliff Richard "Serious Charge" EP. Played by a bunch of session-men, the structure of the tune is presented starkly, with some well-telegraphed augmented and diminished chords. I wonder why Bruce was so self-deprecating about his knowledge of such chords over the years? He'd nailed it in 1959!

Incidentally, Chinchilla is credited to composers Starr and Wolf, though the "score" for the movie (though not Lionel Bart's songs) is attributed to "Leighton Lucas". I am assuming that Norrie brought all three songs, plus Chinchilla, to the film.

JimN wrote:Having always thought of, and treated "Serious Charge" as a throwaway movie, I hadn't ever realised that the opening credits featured a version of the instrumental Chinchilla, also recorded by The Drifters and included on the Cliff Richard "Serious Charge" EP. Played by a bunch of session-men, the structure of the tune is presented starkly, with some well-telegraphed augmented and diminished chords. I wonder why Bruce was so self-deprecating about his knowledge of such chords over the years? He'd nailed it in 1959!

Incidentally, Chinchilla is credited to composers Starr and Wolf, though the "score" for the movie (though not Lionel Bart's songs) is attributed to "Leighton Lucas". I am assuming that Norrie brought all three songs, plus Chinchilla, to the film.

During the opening credits (in Ab) there are a few minor chords for good measure, too - the brief end credits version is in F#.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJJtyOgelOI

Bill