Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry because I must be up at six in the morning to announce the new Kritzerland limited edition CD. It’s been quite a little adventure with this one, but we’ve worked really hard on it and it’s pretty spectacular – despite three previous CD releases, this is the first complete release of Jerry Goldsmith’s great score for Poltergeist II: The Other Side. The four short cues that were missing are finally with us – it doesn’t add up to a lot of music but it’s great to finally have it all. It’s a two-CD set for a one-CD price and the complete film score is on disc one, and disc two has eight bonus tracks, featuring film versions of two cues (those two cues, written for orchestra and choir and released that way on the previous CDs, played without the choir in the film), and the other bonus material is fun. This was a 1986 digital recording – when Mr. Goldsmith and his engineer did their three-track mix-downs they printed them to digital and to analogue – we’ve opted to use the analogue version because 1986 digital was just a harsh and unpleasant thing and the analogue mixes were much nicer sounding. Our mastering engineer, James Nelson, has done a rather brilliant job on this and the sound is superb, with amazing dynamic range (none of the previous releases were what they should be in terms of their dynamic range – this recording, the raw tracks, was incredible sounding). This score has never really gotten its due, even with Goldsmith fanatics. We’re hoping this release will cause some reassessment of the score. Here’s the cover, and the title will go live at six in the morning. I don’t think it’s going to be around for more than a few days.
Yesterday was a somewhat relaxing day. I had a little less than eight hours of sleep, listened to some stuff I had to listen to, got the final proofed set of liner notes for what may or may not be our next release, and now that packaging is done and going in for approval. I then joined Lanny Meyers and his son at Tam O’ Shanter, an old, classic chop house on Los Feliz Blvd. It’s owned by the people who own Lawry’s. I had some eggs benedict that were undercooked, which I hate. There wasn’t even much hollandaise on them, so they were pretty calorie friendly and I had tomatoes instead of potatoes. I also had a really tasty and small scone. I was worried that that would be a lot of calories, but I looked it up online and it’s only about 150. We all had fun.
After that, I came back home, did some work on the computer, made sure the new announcement page worked, and then I did a three-mile jog, planked, and did thirty sit-ups. Then I decided to watch The Diary of Anne Frank, since I just saw the musical of The Diary the night before. I watched the first hour and I must say it’s not my favorite George Stevens film, but still the story is so compelling that I’m enjoying it, and the cast, of course, is excellent, although Millie Perkins’s voice is a little irritating at times and while she looks young, at twenty-one she certainly doesn’t look thirteen. I noticed that there are two other versions based on the play and I might try to check those out.
After watching that, I had some popcorn, some cherries and one low-cal Skinny Cow ice cream bar so well within my 1200 calories. I did nod off at some point for about twenty minutes, so that was nice. And then someone pointed me to this Miley Cyrus video from something called the VMA awards or something like that. And what I saw this girl doing was so appalling on so many levels, this “role model” for young girls, tweens and teens. She was, in a word, disgusting, continually touching her girl parts (and I don’t mean her boobs) and using a big finger to touch the parts of the male singer next to hear, as well as shoving her ASS into everyone’s face, and grinding her ASS against a guy – it made me want to vomit on the ground. And you just know that these idiot tweens with their idiot parents (not all tweens are idiots and some have wonderful parents) will be doing this “dance” routine all around the house, as if that’s cute. Well, it wasn’t cute on Miley Cyrus and I don’t want to see twelve-year-olds doing music porn. If this is what our culture has devolved to heaven help us all. End of rant.
Today, I will be up at six to announce, then I’ll try to get another three hours of sleep. I have to jog in the morning because I won’t have time before rehearsal. Then I’ll eat, I may see the Darling Daughter after her dental appointment (she has two this week), and then we have our first Kritzerland rehearsal. And, of course, I hope I’ll print out a LOT of orders, and hopefully I’ll pick up a package or two.
The rest of the week is very busy with meetings and meals, prepping our NEXT release, having our second rehearsal, having our stumble-through, then our sound check, our first show, and then our evening show.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s dance the Hora or the Charleston, because today is the birthday of long-time and beloved dear reader Jrand. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to long-time and beloved dear reader Jrand. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO LONG-TIME AND BELOVED DEAR READER JRAND!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, announce our new title, hopefully print a LOT of orders, do a jog, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, maybe see the Darling Daughter, and then rehearse. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite WWII films, those made back in the day and since? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall hopefully get as much beauty sleep as possible.