Elmer Bernstein THE GRIFTERS Film Soundtrack OST LP Varese Import Scorsese 1990

	£		30
	$		40

Here I have for sale the German import original film soundtrack LP to 'The Grifters', composed by Elmer Bernstein. This is 180g vinyl release. The Martin Scorsese movie starred John Cusack, Angelica Huston and Annette Bening.

Elmer Bernstein ?– The Grifters (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1990)

Condition (refer also to notes at bottom):
Vinyl – EX. Superbly clean on visual inspection. No marks or scuffs. Heavy Varese vinyl. Played just pre-listing and sounds superb. Owned since bought new.
Outer Sleeve (Cover) – EX. Colours are unfaded and clean. Gloss finish. Stored responsibly. Some minor edge and corner wear, disc outline showthrough as well as slight creasing from edges.
Inner Sleeve – EX. Original. White ‘window’ paper with plastic lining. Minor folding; clean and intact.

Label: Varèse Sarabande ?– VS-5290
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Import
Country: Germany
Released: 1990
Genre: Classical, Stage & Screen, Easy listening, Jazz, Blues
Style: Score, Contemporary, Smooth Jazz, Instrumental

Track listing:
A1. The City     
A2. The Racetrack     
A3. Roy In Trouble     
A4. School For Grifters     
A5. To The Hospital     
A6. Trobadour Race     
A7. Lily's Argument     
A8. Bobo     
A9. Carhumba
    
B1. Roy Gambles – composed by Cynthia Millar    
B2. Madness     
B3. Myra's Blues     
B4. Roy And Lilly – composed by Cynthia Millar
B5. Chase     
B6. Fright And Flight     
B7. Endings     
B8. Credits     
B9. Do Ya Do Ya Love Me ? – lyrics and music by Emily Bernstein, Pete Theodore; performed by Dream World


Review:
This Stephen Frears drama about a few con-men in New York (produced by Martin Scorsese) inspired one of Elmer Bernstein's more experimental scores.  Probably for the first time in a drama score from the composer, electronics play a relatively major part, being integrated with the orchestra through the majority of the score.  Bernstein has frequently gone on record to say that the use of electronics has virtually ruined film scores, and he does have a point (composers don't need to compose any more, they can sit at a keyboard and a computer will do most of it for them), but he shows here how they can be used to really elevate things onto the next level, when done correctly and for the right film.

"The City" introduces the score's main theme is an insanely catchy, jazzy piece written in Bernstein's unmistakable style.  It crops up frequently through the score.  It's light and breezy and yet powerful and memorable at the same time.  Elsewhere, the music is a mixture of very moving chamber pieces (such as the flute-dominated "Troubadour Race", which is truly beautiful), action music ("To the Hospital", "Chase"), almost comedic material (sections of "Bobo", "School for Grifters") - though it's always only light comedy, never the kind of riotous stuff Bernstein was writing through much of the 1980s - and more eclectic electronic material (some of which is composed by Bernstein's longtime associate Cynthia Millar).  There is also some considerably darker, more dramatic material (the finale, "Endings", is particularly strong), and there's even a piece of dance music ("Carhumba").

I've always felt that Bernstein's strongest scores have come when he has written for a chamber ensemble for serious drama, as is the case here.  The album is probably a little too schizophrenic to be entirely satisfying and be considered alongside his very best works, but even so this is a strong score bolstered by the composer's typically touching orchestrations and some rare branching out into different territories for Bernstein.  Recommended.


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Postage and packaging FREE to UK.

Will post worldwide.
Europe (Royal Mail International Standard) = £6.50
Europe (Royal Mail International Signed For) = £11
North and South America, USA, Canada (Royal Mail International Standard) = £9
Asia, Australia, Japan (Royal Mail International Standard) = £11.

Sorry but no returns accepted.

Payment by cheque (UK only) or Paypal please.

Please see my other soundtrack listings.

Thanks for looking and happy eBaying!


ITEM CONDITION - items are graded according to Record Collector definitions - see below:

MINT: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

EXCELLENT: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and / or creasing.

VERY GOOD: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

GOOD: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

FAIR: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and / or defaced.

POOR: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

BAD: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection filler.