It is a record in ascending order of a few of my favourite John Wayne western film theme songs and tunes which I hope goes to stir a debate or two amongst JW followers on the market.
There’s one characteristic that I practically at all times point out in passing when writing a evaluation of a John Wayne film, particularly the music. There have been some nice soundtracks written over time for his movies, nevertheless it’s the theme tunes that are likely to catch the ear.
I’m assuming cinema audiences again in 1962 wouldn’t have heard the principle overture except they have been attending a roadshow Cinerama screening of this epic film however I’m together with it right here as a result of, other than an impressive important theme by Alfred Newman, it options an intriguing medley of conventional songs equivalent to I’m Sure for the Promised Land, Shenandoah, Infinite Prairie and Ox Driver.
Not strictly a full-blown JW automobile both, to be trustworthy, however he does get to look within the Civil Conflict sequence as Common Sherman, thought of by some to be the most effective a part of the movie.
I’m afraid I can’t advocate too most of the different songs that characteristic within the movie, which ultimately turns into the most costly episode of the Debbie Reynolds Present ever made. Love that important theme although.
Not a lot a track, extra a taster for what was to come back when JW recorded America – Why I Love Her a couple of years later.
I’m pretty positive it didn’t really characteristic in the principle movie, however got here as a bonus on the Elmer Bernstein sound monitor album. I’m conscious that Bernstein wrote the melody behind the track, however not too positive who really wrote the lyrics.
I really favor the subtlety of JW supply on Texas Is A Girl to the considerably overblown strategy taken on the America album, however perhaps that’s simply me.
I perceive that the lyrics are primarily based on a few of Martha Hyer’s dialogue from the movie, so I assume strictly talking they need to be attributed to one of many three scriptwriters, William H. Wright, Allan Weiss or Harry Essex.
As a matter of curiosity, different vocal renditions for John Wayne Westerns that by no means made it into the movies themselves embrace The Sons of Katie Elder by Johnny Money, which will be discovered alongside Texas Is A Girl on the soundtrack album.
The Burt Bacharach / Hal David track for The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, recorded by Gene Pitney, equally didn’t make it into the precise film.
There’s additionally a track entitled The Comancheros and impressed by the movie which was recorded by one Claude King, and will be discovered on a restricted challenge of the unique soundtrack.
North to Alaska – Opening Credit Title Tune / Johnny HortonThere are plenty of movies that generally don’t deserve the music written for them, and this can be a working example.
I discovered it laborious to love the film however Johnny Horton’s rendition of the jaunty important theme tune, written by Mike Philips – the soundtrack was composed by Lionel Newman and Harry Sukman – will get the movie off to an amazing begin.
Then the movie begins and it’s downhill all the best way from there.
Chisum – Opening Credit Title Tune / William Conrad
The start to this movie resembles very intently the credit for El Dorado, each films utilizing a montage of work to accompany their important themes
William Conrad, the considerably portly actor who rose to eventual fame as TV detective Cannon, right here recites his lyrics while a gathering of nameless studio singers present the singing duties.
Andrew J. Fenady wrote the lyrics for Dominic Frontiere’s composition however, musically talking, Chisum is famous extra for the truth that John Mitchum, who appeared within the movie, persuaded Duke to document the album America – Why I Love Her. And that’s an entire different story.
El Dorado – Opening Credit Title Tune / George Alexander and the Mellomen
I feel I’ve already talked about some other place that this track was voted probably the greatest cowboy film themes by the Western Writers of America Affiliation.
I additionally mentioned it was a fairly tacky track, which it’s, however on reflection that doesn’t make it a foul track. Simply tacky.
The Alamo – The Inexperienced Leaves of Summer season / The Brothers 4
Not strictly a JW theme tune, as the principle title music is an orchestral mixture of De Guella and Inexperienced Leaves of Summer season.
The Brothers 4 had fairly a substantial hit with the latter which, with lyrics by Paul Webster and music after all by Dimitri Tiomkin, was launched in 1961 and nominated for an Academy Award.
