My Twisted Valentine/Compilation

When I first saw the latest release My Twisted Valentine from Silva Records, I immediately thought about all of the blood and gore films that had to do with Valentine’s Day. As I looked at the titles and saw such films as Marnie, Bonnie and Clyde, Brokeback Mountain, and Vertigo, it suddenly dawned on me that this was different from what I anticipated and the word twisted had to do with the film and not the kind of music one might hear on Valentine’s Day or the slashing music of “My Bloody Valentine.” “My Funny Valentine” and “My Foolish Heart,” staples on this romantic day, are left to other CD compilations.

Three of Bernard Herrmann classic film compositions “Marnie,” Psycho,” and “ Vertigo,” previously released on the Essential Bernard Herrmann, are fine examples of the concept with “Scene D’Amour” also fitting on a romantic CD as well as this one. Psycho is without a doubt one of the more terrifying scores ever written with the slashing string sound bite being copied 1000’s of time. “Edward At Her Bed” (Bella’s Lullaby) from the Twilight film as well as Brokeback Mountain could also fit into the romantic genre CD. “La Dolce Vita Suite,” from the Nino Rota compilation release, seems a bit out of place with its jazz like elevator style music, but it is nonetheless a nice selection of material from the 60’s film. Similar is the waltz from Eyes Wide Shut which is taken from a jazz suite of Shostakovich. I found the banjo picking/strumming of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” from Bonnie and Clyde quite out of place on this CD. The film did have a violent shootout ending so I can understand why it was chosen but this famous theme would be better served on another compilation.

The veteran collector likely already has the majority of this material and with the exception of the “La Dolce Vita Suite” isn’t going to find much new to his liking at all. For the new collector this would be an introduction to Herrmann and more in the ever growing digital download market. Look for more digital download only material in the future. Available as a digital download only on 02-08-10 from the usual suppliers.

Track Listing:

1. Marnie City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Paul Bateman 3:03

2. Psycho – Main Theme / Murder City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Paul Bateman 3:02

3. Kill Bill – Battle Without Honour or Humanity London Music Works 2:35

4. La Dolce Vita Suite The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Derek Wadsworth 7:14

5. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – The Storm City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Nic Raine 4:26

6. Eyes Wide Shut – Waltz No. 2 from Jazz Suite No. 2 City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Paul Bateman 3:55

7. Bonnie and Clyde – Foggy Mountain Breakdown Michigan Music Works 2:31

8. Thelma and Louise – Main Theme City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, James Fitzpatrick 2:56

9. Fatal Attraction – Main Theme City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Paul Bateman 5:02

10. Betty Blue (37.2 le Matin) Mark Ayres 5:41

11. Lolita – Lolita Ya Ya London Music Works, Evan Jolly 2:36

12. Rosemary’s Baby – Lullaby City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, James Fitzpatrick 2:48

13. Brokeback Mountain – The Wings / Brokeback Mountain City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, James Fitzpatrick 4:08

14. Vertigo – Scene D’Amour City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Paul Bateman 5:13

15. Twilight – Edward At Her Bed (Bella’s Lullaby) City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, James Fitzpatrick 3:33