Music Webmaster Len Mullenger

FILM MUSIC RECORDINGS REVIEWS

 


Mike POST NYPD Blue - The Best of Mike Post OST    SILVA SILVAD3511 [63:12]

 

Crotchet



 

This is what it appears to be: a selection of Mike Post's themes for TV and all apparently from the original soundtracks and, in that sense, fully authentic. The range is wide. The memorably gnawing dawn drums, quiet elegies and menace of NYPD Blue contrasts with the less likeable Blossom Street, Hardcastle and McCormick, Hunter; Stingray (not the animation) and The White Shadow - all the latter being examples of forgettably sleazy rock trivia. Strong tracks include Hill Street Blues with its gloriously evocative spirit of made-anew mornings. Also notable are the cool themes from L A Law, Law and Order and Top of the Hill. Tale of the Gold Monkey has clear classical influences: Copland and Stravinsky. Contrast this with Sonny Spoon with its 'down and dirty' harmonica. B L Stryker is all slouching urbane confidence and a similar feeling pervades Hooperman (with prominent sax part), Doogie Howser MD and Studio 5B (heartbeat at start). Commercial rock (and often deeply unattractive) tracks include Magnum PI, The A-Team, Riptide and The Rockford Files. Good to hear the icily amiable theme from Quantum Leap.

The medium (TV) is ephemeral and themes tend to be written to match. Post (and a few others) confound low expectations with more memorable music than average. Quantum Leap, Hill Street and NYPD Blue are classics to be enjoyed in their original guise here. A great souvenir (though no notes).

Reviewer

Rob Barnett

Reviewer

Rob Barnett

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