Many films from the mid-1960s through to the early '70s had at least one scene set in a party or nightclub. In those scenes, rather than using pop music from the time, they would often feature amazing original music.
The original idea for this mix was to feature only music used in party scenes from movies from that era.
As I was compiling the mix below, however, I realised that out of all the soundtracks I own I had nowhere near enough to fit the rather strict brief. So I had to loosen the rules and include other kinds of tracks: fight scenes, chase scenes, a freakout, or just random incidental music.
I did include some tracks that clearly represent my original idea - 'House Party, Part I', 'Houseboat Party No.2', 'Executive Party' - being the most obvious examples. The rest at least match in spirit.
At that time, you had the best composers of the era creating their own interpretation of what they thought pop music sounded like, performed by some of the best session musicians of the time. And they can get pretty wild. It's almost as if these tracks provided a chance to finally let loose after a day of sticking closely to the score.
You might notice some moments that seem oddly familiar, as soundtracks have been a rich source of samples over the years. The most obvious one here is 'Go Down Dying' (played by Ray Brown and his Orchestra, with a hand from Quincy Jones) which formed the basis for Björk's 'Human Behaviour'.
Also, there are some familiar names featured here: A pre-Star Wars John Williams gets funky, André Previn sets the baton aside and fires up the Moog, and Ennio Morricone displays his usual idiosyncratic brilliance. Australian composer, Bruce Smeaton, delivers a unique Moog and wordless vocal number to finish things off.
A mix of soundtrack music.
Cinematic grooves from the mid-60s to early 70s.
Tracklist
- The Black Queen's Beads (Barbarella OST) The Bob Crewe Generation
- The Pompeii Club (Rich Man's Frug) (Sweet Charity OST) Ralph Burns Orchestra
- Ballet Photo Rouge (Tu Seras Terriblement Gentille OST) Jacques Loussier
- Moon Rock Ad Talk (Getting Straight OST) Ronald Stein
- Go Down Dying (The Adventurers OST) The Ray Brown Orchestra
- Bacchanalia (De Sade OST) Billy Strange Orchestra
- Shall We Gather At The Boat Dock (The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. OST) Teddy Randazzo
- House Party, Part I (The Love Machine OST) Artie Butler
- Nadine (Le Serpent OST) Ennio Morricone
- Der Obelisk Von Karnak (Chariots Of The Gods OST) The Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra
- Houseboat Party No.2 (Goodbye Gemini OST) Christopher Gunning
- The Duel (Part One) (C.C. And Company OST) Lenny Stack
- Svolta Definitiva (Citta Violenta OST) Ennio Morricone
- Ascension To Virginity (Candy OST) Dave Grusin
- New Shooter (Cinderella Liberty OST) John Williams
- Run Fay Run (Tough Guys OST) Isaac Hayes
- Executive Party (Rollerball OST) André Previn
- Football (The Great Macarthy OST) Bruce Smeaton
