FSM revives the “Retrograde Records” label for its first new release since 1998: A Man Called Adam, a classic jazz album as well as movie soundtrack. A Man Called Adam (1966) was an independent production starring Sammy Davis Jr. as a troubled jazz trumpet player, costarring Cicely Tyson, Ossie Davis and ratpacker Peter Lawford. Louis Armstrong and Mel Torme appear in the film and on the soundtrack album -- as does the famously versatile Davis.
Adam was notable for its prominence of African Americans both in front of and behind the camera (it was produced by Ike Jones, an associate of Nat King Cole). The film's composer was Benny Carter (1907-2003), who may be little-known to soundtrack collectors, but was a hugely respected jazz artist as well as a pioneering figure for African Americans -- in fact, the first black composer to receive screen credit for an original score for television (on M Squad). Carter worked on numerous classic musicals of the 1940s and '50s and became, on A Man Called Adam, one of only a small number of African Americans to score a motion picture.
The musical requirements of A Man Called Adam called almost entirely for jazz source music, particularly that for the lead character's band (the reason we are issuing it on our Retrograde label). Carter composed and arranged a variety of small band numbers, taking care to achieve not only musical excellence but story appropriateness in reflecting the on-screen performers. (Night Walk, track 10, is the only score cue on the CD.) The studio musicians include Nat Adderley (who ghosted Davis's trumpet performances), Bill Berry, Kai Winding, Tyree Glenn, Junior Mance, Billy Kyle, Buster Bailey, Danny Barcelona and Jo Jones. Original lyrics are by Al Stillman.
Unavailable since the Reprise Records LP in 1966, A Man Called Adam is a jazz classic soundtrack with historical significance, and has been remixed here from the three and four-track master tapes for excellent stereo sound. Liner notes are by Jon Burlingame, documenting the film, Carter's importance, and the various selections. ＊FILM SCORE MONTHLYより抜粋
トラックリスト
Main Title: All That Jazz 2:58 I Want to Be Wanted (Sammy Davis Jr. Vocal) (Spotti/Testa/Gannon) 3:20 Go Now 2:05 Someday Sweetheart (Louis Armstrong Vocal) (B. & J. Spikes) 3:05 Ain't I 3:14 Soft Touch 3:52 Claudia 2:54 All That Jazz (Mel Torme Vocal) (Lyrics by Al Stillman) 3:03 Back of Town Blues (Louis Armstrong Vocal) (Armstrong/Russell) 5:05 Night Walk 3:54 Whisper to One (Sammy Davis Jr. Vocal) (Lyrics by Al Stillman) 3:13 Claudia 3:53 Crack Up (Playboy Theme) (Cy Coleman) 2:50 All That Jazz (Mel Torme Vocal) (Lyrics by Al Stillman) 1:46
Total Time: 45:53
Featuring the Voices of Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong and Mel Torme
1966年の映画のクラシック・ジャズ・サウンドトラック、初CD化。マスターテープからのステレオ収録。
トラックリストサミー・デイヴィス・Ｊｒが破滅的なジャズ・トランペッターを熱演する（ペットの吹替えはＮ・アダレイ）未公開作品で、ちょっと図式的な展開が気になるが、ゲストも多彩で音楽的には大変充実している。主人公アダムは１０年前に自分の不注意で起こした事故で妻子を亡くし、バンドのピアノ奏者レスを失明させてしまった。それを悔いながら酒に溺れつつ音楽生活を続けていたが、敵を作るばかりで次第に演奏の場を失っていた。その晩も客の反応に怒って公演先から酔ってＮＹへトンボ返り。ツアー中部屋を貸す話をすっかり忘れ、自室にいた老人をどやしつける。彼こそ尊敬するコルネット奏者“スウィート・ダディ（サッチモ）”だった。オマケにその孫娘クローディアを強引に口説こうとする醜態を演じ、恥じ入った彼は翌朝、いつまでも滞在してくれと彼らに詫びるのだった。やがて、アダムは市民権運動家であるクローディアを真剣に愛し、変わり始めるが、暗い過去を払拭できずたびたび荒れた。相手はレスだったり、仕事を回してくれるプロモーター、マーニー（ローフォード）だったり。その怒りには狂的なものがあった。が、クローディアや彼がペットを教える白人青年ヴィンス（シナトラ・Ｊｒ）の援助で、遂に宿怨の出生地、南部ツアーを成功に納めることができた。しかし、ヴィンスに襲いかかる差別主義者の暴徒を前に為す術もなく立ち尽くし、クローディアにも見捨てられる。雲隠れのアダムは労務者までするが、仲間の演奏に招かれ、そこで一世一代のプレイをし、舞台の上で倒れ、そのまま帰らぬ人となった。Ｍ・トーメが“オール・ザット・ジャズ”を唄う場面が秀逸。監督のＬ・ペンは「ベン・ケーシー」や「ドクター・キルデア」などのＴＶシリーズの演出家で、俳優のショーンとクリスの父親
FSM revives the “Retrograde Records” label for its first new release since 1998: A Man Called Adam, a classic jazz album as well as movie soundtrack.
A Man Called Adam (1966) was an independent production starring Sammy Davis Jr. as a troubled jazz trumpet player, costarring Cicely Tyson, Ossie Davis and ratpacker Peter Lawford. Louis Armstrong and Mel Torme appear in the film and on the soundtrack album -- as does the famously versatile Davis.
Adam was notable for its prominence of African Americans both in front of and behind the camera (it was produced by Ike Jones, an associate of Nat King Cole). The film's composer was Benny Carter (1907-2003), who may be little-known to soundtrack collectors, but was a hugely respected jazz artist as well as a pioneering figure for African Americans -- in fact, the first black composer to receive screen credit for an original score for television (on M Squad). Carter worked on numerous classic musicals of the 1940s and '50s and became, on A Man Called Adam, one of only a small number of African Americans to score a motion picture.
The musical requirements of A Man Called Adam called almost entirely for jazz source music, particularly that for the lead character's band (the reason we are issuing it on our Retrograde label). Carter composed and arranged a variety of small band numbers, taking care to achieve not only musical excellence but story appropriateness in reflecting the on-screen performers. (Night Walk, track 10, is the only score cue on the CD.) The studio musicians include Nat Adderley (who ghosted Davis's trumpet performances), Bill Berry, Kai Winding, Tyree Glenn, Junior Mance, Billy Kyle, Buster Bailey, Danny Barcelona and Jo Jones. Original lyrics are by Al Stillman.
Unavailable since the Reprise Records LP in 1966, A Man Called Adam is a jazz classic soundtrack with historical significance, and has been remixed here from the three and four-track master tapes for excellent stereo sound. Liner notes are by Jon Burlingame, documenting the film, Carter's importance, and the various selections.
＊FILM SCORE MONTHLYより抜粋
Main Title: All That Jazz 2:58
I Want to Be Wanted (Sammy Davis Jr. Vocal) (Spotti/Testa/Gannon) 3:20
Go Now 2:05
Someday Sweetheart (Louis Armstrong Vocal) (B. & J. Spikes) 3:05
Ain't I 3:14
Soft Touch 3:52
Claudia 2:54
All That Jazz (Mel Torme Vocal) (Lyrics by Al Stillman) 3:03
Back of Town Blues (Louis Armstrong Vocal) (Armstrong/Russell) 5:05
Night Walk 3:54
Whisper to One (Sammy Davis Jr. Vocal) (Lyrics by Al Stillman) 3:13
Claudia 3:53
Crack Up (Playboy Theme) (Cy Coleman) 2:50
All That Jazz (Mel Torme Vocal) (Lyrics by Al Stillman) 1:46
Total Time: 45:53
Featuring the Voices of Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong and Mel Torme