Well, dear readers, sometimes patience can pay off. I, for example, am one of the most impatient people on the planet Earth. I was born without patience and patience is a very difficult concept for me. But, in licensing scores from one particular place, patience is what you need every step of the way. Four months ago, the deal was done for me to do one of my all-time top-ten favorite scores ever, a true Holy Grail for me and Kritzerland. There had been an LP of short duration back in the day, and there had been an import release of that LP on CD, but not from the first generation album masters. We had the original 35mm stereo recordings, which had been transferred to one-inch tape some years ago. So, we transferred those, and I had the import CD if that was needed. But when I heard the one-inch transfer my heart sunk – many cues were plagued by pretty bad wow and flutter. Recently, someone finally invented a software program that can finally deal with wow and flutter, but at a cost of over $5,000, it wasn’t in the cards for us. The good news was that between what was in good shape on the tapes and the original LP program, we were 80% covered for the wow and flutter. It was determined we were missing only one or two really short cues, and some of the source music. So, I had the thing put together in film order. However, we’d also found out that the company who’d issued the LP back in the day had rights that had expired many years ago. Getting them to understand that and acknowledge that was an arduous task – but in the end they saw it was true and after three months, finally agreed to return everything they had on the title. And what they had was not only the first generation stereo and mono album masters, but the three-track tapes from which those masters were assembled. In those days, what this particular label did was add quite a lot of reverb to their LPs. But the three-track tapes wouldn’t have all that additional reverb, so I was praying we’d be in great shape with the LP cues. Then I got a list of how many tracks were on the two 3-track tapes and I knew we’d hit pay dirt and had the entire score, including the short missing cues and all the source music. But would the tapes be in good shape? Since the label stored their things well, I hoped for the best.
And late last night, I heard the transfer from the three-tracks and I just dissolved into a puddle of tears, as it’s some of the most beautiful film music ever written and a career highlight for a composer with nothing but career highlights. The sound was crystal clear and perfect and when it’s mastered it will be even better. The fellow who figured out what cues went where, will be picking up the stuff tomorrow and making sure all the cue titles are what they should be and we have to determine how exactly we’re going to use the source music, a lot of which is very similar and which comes all in a row. I think I’ll end up doing what the LP did and using one or two and then we’ll put the rest of them as bonus tracks. At every step of this four-month thing I was asked to remain patient and as hard as it was I did. And my patience was rewarded by this incredible musical gift. It will be coming out in the next three months, depending on the approvals process, which can take a bit of time.
Prior to dissolving into a puddle of tears, I’d had an interesting Saturday. I got up after eight hours of sleep and did a phone interview with a lady who’s writing a book about creativity. I was honored she wanted to talk to me and it was a really fun and interesting two-hour chat. I was quite exhausted after it. Then I did some work on the computer, after which I did some errands and whatnot. I did the four-mile jog, and then I went to Hugo’s and had a splurge meal of pasta papa and a small Caesar salad – not much of a splurge, but boy was it good and filling. I then picked up no packages and an important envelope.
Then it was time to go see a play. I’d seen a reading of this play several months ago, but it was fun to see a full production. The play is called Sex and Education and it’s by my friend Lissa Levin, who is a very smart and very funny lady. It’s directed by her husband Dan Guntzelman and stars Maria Gobetti, Kanin Guntzelman, and Jessica McKee. It’s a very enjoyable play with lots of big laughs, very well acted by its trio of players and briskly directed by Dan. The house was full, I saw my pal Joan Ryan and her ever-lovin’ hubby, and it was a fun night out. Afterwards, I got a piece of custard pie at Foun ‘n 20 Pies – both custard and pumpkin pie are extremely calorie friendly at only 250 calories a slice.
Then I came home and loaded the transfer of the 3-track tapes (on one CDR) into iTunes and began listening and reveling in that glorious music, which played an important part in my young teen years. I also proofed the packaging on our next release. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’ve expended enough patience on this section.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after a good night’s beauty sleep. I’ll do the four-mile jog and work on the computer, and then we have an invited dress rehearsal for Melody’s show in North Hollywood. After the rehearsal, we’ll get a bite to eat and give notes.
Tomorrow and the rest of the week are filled with meetings, meals, jogging, hopefully picking up packages, seeing Teddy for a haircut, having a final rehearsal for Melody’s show, and then doing the show, and then celebrating doing the show, and then I leave for New York, New York, to shoot two episodes of my web series.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the four-mile jog, have a rehearsal, eat, give notes, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I patiently hit the road to dreamland.