1. Cell Bound
2. Little Johnny Jet.
3. TV of Tomorrow
4. Three Little Pups
5. Deputy Droopy
6. Dragalong Droopy
As a young boy on holiday
in the Isle of Wight, I discovered a tiny
cinema which showed a continuous programme
of four cartoons, changing every day - admission
price 6d (that means six of the pennies we
used in earlier, more innocent days). I soon
became familiar with the loony style of the
MGM cartoons produced by Tex Avery - a comic
genius who filled every cartoon with mad happenings,
outrageous characters and ridiculous puns.
I also became familiar with the credit titles,
which always read "Music: Scott Bradley".
Bradley was staff composer
for all MGM animated films, not only supplying
the music for Hanna & Barbera's "Tom and
Jerry" series but also working with Tex Avery
from 1942 to 1957. Scott's music was so eclectic
that it is difficult to know how to categorise
it - so it fits under "Jazz" as well as anywhere.
Much of the music consisted of quotations
or pastiches taken from familiar tunes. Because
Tex Avery's cartoons moved so fast, the music
had to fit an ever-changing scenario, punctuated
by frequent bangs, gunshots and other sound
effects.
A good example of Scott Bradley's
eclectic approach is the music for TV of
Tomorrow, which includes much original
composition (some of it jazzy, some of it
pseudo-classical) as well as bits of such
tunes as Yankee Doodle, For He's a Jolly
Good Fellow, Lovely Lady, The William Tell
Overture, Be My Love and Sweet and
Lovely! Some of the soundtracks in this
collection (like Little Johnny Jet)
include the original voice-overs, which may
help listeners to picture the scene for themselves,
although the tracks without dialogue allow
you to concentrate more on Bradley's marvellous
music.
My favourite Tex Avery character
was Droopy: the mournful little dog who, despite
his apparent weakness and timidity, always
outwitted his opponents. This compilation
includes two of the very best Droopy soundtracks.
Three Little Pups contains the dialogue,
including Droopy's morose voice exhorting
his brothers to build a house impregnable
to the baddie dog-catcher, who speaks with
a strong Southern accent. Sadly, the CD only
gives listeners the first half of this soundtrack,
but you get the whole of Deputy Droopy
(without dialogue) which captures the variety
of Bradley's score, matching perfectly Tex
Avery's surreal but uproarious inventions.
Despite the measly playing-time
(35 minutes), this album is a delightful reminder
of the genius that was Scott Bradley - and
Tex Avery.
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
Milan
399 193-2
