I just rewatched For A Few Dollars More; still a very satisfying experience, and the right way to start writing the liner notes for Volume 2...
Seeing the unshaven (Lee van Cleef excepted) anti-hero and assorted bad guys squinting in the harsh sunlight while smoking something that vaguely resembles a cigarette, in a dusty, mountainous landscape, and accompanied by Ennio Morricone's dramatic, idiosyncratic film scores, put me in a proper mood.
But let's focus on the music presented here; again, it's a highly varied bunch: instrumentals, Americana, reggae, trip hop, and, this time, even one cover of a classic...
Like the first volume, this one too starts with a performance by Morricone's secret musical weapon: Alessandro Alessandroni.
More or less well-known artists/groups include Hermanos Gutiérrez, Hoodoo Gurus, Concrete Blonde, and The Dead South.
From the soundtrack world, we get Los Lobos (Rango), Harry Gregson-Williams (Cowboys & Aliens), and from Japan comes Koji Endo (Sukiyaki Western Django).
Hooverphonic takes us to more psychedelic western sounds with a sad tale of a young woman...
James Calvin Wilsey is probably unknown to many of us, but he was Chris Isaak's lead guitar player on his first four albums, doing a great job!
More instrumentals are delivered by Tommy Guerrero, Martians on Maui, and Living Daylights.
Rather unfamiliar bands/artists - The Heavy Horses, Escondido, Eve Adams, and The Echocentrics - contributed some neat tracks as well.
Ska and reggae sounds come courtesy of Adrian Sherwood, Prince Fatty (with some whistling assistance from Alessandro Alessandroni!), and finally, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, who are paying a dubby respect to John Wayne.
In Volume 1, I already mentioned the comedy spaghetti-western genre starring the duo of Terence Hill and Bud Spencer...
These two characters featured in several movies as the 'Four Fists' and were very popular in the Netherlands; I remember those fondly.
So imagine my surprise when about 10+ years ago I suddenly read a review about a Swiss reggae/dub band called Dub Spencer & Trance Hill!
Therefore, these guys are featured here with their dub-infused version of Morricone's Man with the Harmonica.
Enjoy!
Link: https://pixeldrain.com/u/AY4fTyJa
ReplyDeleteQuestion: What's your favourite reggae spaghetti western track?
Anything by Clint Eastwood., he had a hit record with Stop That Train, dueting with General Saint. His seventies work is straight forward reggae with tracks like Action/45 Magnum and Badder Than You.Thank You Koen
ReplyDeleteStop That Train, great ska track, also featured on The Harder They Come soundtrack!
DeleteSpaghettadillo by Chrome Johnson.
ReplyDeleteThanks for yet another great entry.
You're welcome elrod and thanks for Chrome Johnson, listening to it now, cool song!
DeleteWow! I've been listening to a ton of spaghetti surf but spaghetti reggae's never even crossed my mind. Well, this should be very interesting. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoy this series, Berni!
DeleteThe spaghetti westerns were also wildly popular in Jamaica and lots of local bands and performers used 'elements' from those movies in their music, either in names (e.g. Richard's suggestion the singer Clint Eastwood!) or music (Lee Perry's The Good, The Bad, & The Upsetter, etc.).
I'll post more in Volume 3...