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Here's what the experts say about the
The Intruder: Winner of the 2009 Sammy Award! “[The Blob is] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for SF/Horror soundtrack fans” “Stein’s Intruder is a marvelous score.” “As with previous MMM CDs this is a quality release. The sonics are excellent, the sound bright and David Schecter has provided a generous 13 pages of informative and entertaining
liner notes. As usual, there are some bonuses, in this case four extra tracks from The Blob, one of which served duty in two other films. The cover art is by MMM
stalwart Robert Aragon and features cameos in the background by Carmichael, Schecter, Mayne, Bob Burns and The Intruder composer Herman Stein.” “[The Intruder] It's a hard-hitting film and Stein's mostly orchestral score also packs a punch. Following the dour
seriousness of The Intruder is Stein's brief, but delightful score for Career for Two, a short 1951 industrial film about savings banks. It's the composer's first score and it's clear from the get-go
that he's got the musical moxy for the movies. It’s definitely worth seeking out.” “[The Blob] It's easy to get swept away in this wonderfully imaginative music. Just get it already.” “[This Island Earth] An inordinate amount of thought has been applied to these recordings, and the results are richly
rewarding. [MMM’s] devotion to preserving such wonderful scores is simply beyond question.” “[The Blob is] a thoroughly enjoyable listen. There is, of course, so much more to this CD than first meets the eye. With almost 40 mins more devoted to such horror and B movie classics as The Green Slime, Terror
from the year 5000 and The Brain that Wouldn’t Die, there’s certainly enough here to keep the most ardent of horror fan satisfied.
Incorporating works of such legendary composers as Roger Roger, Angelo Francesco Lavagnino and Mario Nascimbene this is a must-have for any Blob-ophiles and other sci-fi and horror fans.” “It’s a real treat be able to enjoy Herman Stein's score to [The Intruder].
The result is a refreshingly unpredicatable element to the score that evokes comparisons to Bernard Hermann's chilling work on Psycho and Cape Fear. Bonus material on this well-produced disc
includes the composer’s complete score for Career for Two (1951) and an additional selection of unused main titles and underscores. Monstrous Movie Music deserves credit for releasing this forgotten gem that amply showcases the composer's diverse talents.”
“This Monstrous Movie Music CD is recommended especially for The Blob.” “[The Blob] is a superb release which has been meticulously put together by people who clearly care very much about the music.
One of the hallmarks of the Monstrous record label is the amount of research that goes into their albums.” “[The Blob is a] landmark soundtrack CD.” “These two latest CDs from Monstrous Movie Music offer world premiere releases of scores that movie buffs will welcome.
As we have indicated before, this company employs high production standards, and their detailed booklets are almost worth the price alone!” “[The Blob] is a mood-music lover’s dream.
Offering melodic moments ranging from frightening to frisky and terrifying to tranquil, the collection is altogether spellbinding.” “Both discs [The Blob and The Intruder] feature 16-page booklets with witty and
comprehensive liner notes by David Schecter, who devotes the kind of attention to the film, the music, and the composer that we’d like to find in every serious soundtrack release.” “Released complete for the first time on disc (including cut cues), Stein’s music [for The Intruder] has a real dramatic edge to it.
The thunderously aggressive Main Title sets the scene perfectly, combining insistent, rhythmic string work with driving brass statements to produce a genuinely startling curtain raiser. Elsewhere, toe-tapping jazz
source cues mingle with more lyrical passages, resulting in a rich and varied score that is sure to impress admirers of its composer.” “Fans of the film or the genre will find The Blob and Other Creepy Sounds to be a jewel in their soundtrack collection. [It] is a masterpiece of forgotten classics that any fan of music will appreciate.”
“FOUR STARS: The Intruder is a very good score and fully deserves to be made available in complete form. I highly recommend this CD to anyone in search of discovering music well worth hearing... the film music of Herman Stein.”
“EXCELLENT RATING -- The Blob is a must-have album that will give repeated play. Producers Schecter and Kathleen Mayne have made a wonderful tribute to several unsung film and mood music composers. All cues are beautiful mastered from crisp and clean mono sources, and the CD includes the entire Blob score, plus some rare full-length source cues.”
“Like the simultaneously released album of The Blob, this [The Intruder] is a mandatory addition, and another example of the
skilled talent that was employed by the B-movie industry.” “Carmichael’s score for The Blob finally receives its due with a wonderful soundtrack release. This is a delightful encounter with low-budget 1950s film music, preserving music I never thought I’d hear... Many thanks to MMM for their continued commitment to preserving and restoring vintage science fiction and horror film music from the 50s and 60s.”
“[The Intruder] is yet another welcome opportunity to be able to explore Herman Stein. Take advantage. Recommended!” “Monstrous Movie Music... has put out another wonderful CD full of rare tracks. [The Blob] CD itself is fully packed clocking
in at 75:49 and you get your money's worth.” “If anything connects the albums of THE BLOB and THE INTRUDER, it’s a sense of true geek love
that MMM infuses its releases with, from their surprisingly good production values to Schecter’s exhaustively hilarious liner notes for them. I look forward to MMM’s continuing countdown of my Creature Feature
favorites, even as they look beyond it.” “[The Intruder] As with all the label's releases, the illustrated accompanying foldout booklet is crammed with information on
the films and their composer, together with an invaluable cue-by-cue guide.” “[The Blob is] an engaging trip back in time, the album also features music from The Green Slime, Terror from the Year 5000 and The
Brain That Wouldn’t Die. Now they certainly don’t make ‘em like that any more!” “[The Blob] Another splendid foldout booklet accompanies the disc, featuring extensive notes and the usual cue-by-cue guide.”
“Best of 2006” (Mighty Joe Young and This Island Earth) “Best Soundtrax of 06” (Mighty Joe Young and This Island Earth) “Whatever your personal favorite piece of music is from these treasured CDs, the true perfection is in the love and time that was put into their production.” Five “Monstrous is something like The Little Engine That Could, scaling unimaginable heights to deliver breathtaking reconstructions. Its releases are
must-haves, and the latest, long-awaited titles [This Island Earth and Mighty Joe Young] are no exception. This Island Earth is a sonic science-fiction sensation. The varied compositions were restored by Kathleen Mayne
and recorded gorgeously--and faithful to the original orchestrations--by the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Slovakia under the direction of Masatoshi
Mitsumoto. David Schecter’s 40-page, richly-illustrated booklets are encyclopedic, and as delightful as they are detailed.” “EDITOR’S CHOICE: April, 2006. These new recordings [This Island Earth and Mighty Joe Young] from Monstrous Movie Music seek –
successfully – to replicate the same kind of intimate but infinitely detailed acoustics that distinguished the original vintage recordings. Consequently
this music sounds ‘authentic’ in more ways than one. The listener is genuinely transported back to another era, albeit with the added dividend
of digital recording techniques. The sterling performances of the Radio Symphony Orchestra Of Slovakia under the sure batons of Masatoshi Mitsumoto and Kathleen Mayne also bring additional veracity to the
proceedings. Oh yes, the CD booklets! They are forty pages long! Everything you could ever want to know about the films, the scores (every recorded cue in detail), the composers and the recordings is reproduced
here – and the tomes are lavishly illustrated too – photos of the composers, of the recording sessions, of manuscripts – even a picture of the album’s producer and his wife, the reconstructionist and conductor
Kathleen Mayne, standing amid a field of Triffids! I hope they got home safely! These booklets are so stupendously annotated that I’m still reading mine – and its been three weeks already!” “Great fun to listen to. Herman Stein’s music for the classic This Island Earth certainly ticks all the boxes when it comes to this kind of fare:
energetic and full of vigour, it features trilling strings and a series of in-your-face statements from the brass section that are undeniably of the
period. This unmistakable sound has been lovingly re-created by conductor Masatoshi Mitsumoto and his team. Five stars.” “A good time will be had by any retro sci-fi fan. The 40-page note booklet is packed with interesting stuff.” “Highly recommended.” “David Schecter and Kathleen Mayne of Monstrous Movie Music have finally issued their latest two recordings, with results no less effective and
pulse-pounding than their first three. Both volumes include an exhaustively researched and details-rich CD booklet.” “The Radio Symphony Orchestra of Slovakia and the recording are superb, as well as the music restoration. Kathleen Mayne did a job to be
proud of, as well as conductor Masatoshi Mitsumoto. Just the liner notes (it’s really a book) are worth the price of the CD!” “The production [Mighty Joe Young]... is nothing less than excelllent. A nice fat booklet (almost a book, really) completes
the Monstrous package.” “The three wonderful CDs... are beautifully organized and the sound is truly so crisp and full I felt like the little boy who would be taken to the
MGM recording studio by my father. What joy!” “Let me congratulate you all on the fantastic presentation and quality of the music. I don't think I ever really appreciated how beautiful the sound
track was until I listened to this.” “It is no wonder Monstrous Movie Music releases take so long to appear when you consider the time and effort that goes into the preparation of
each recording. Let's hope the future holds similar delights from this enterprising label.” “Fans of these previous recordings will rejoice to know that their ranks have been swelled by two more albums: Mighty Joe Young and This Island Earth. Masatoshi Mitsumoto, conducting the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Slovakia, has done an admirable job re-creating the sound and pace of these scores from the reconstructions of Kathleen Mayne. Both albums are highly recommended to both the soundtrack collector and to those who love science fiction and fantasy films. “The [MMM CDs] are bountiful treats for the soundtrack collector, meticulously researched and reconstructed, conducted with great affinity
for the material by Masatoshi Mitsumoto, beautifully recorded and mastered with superb sound quality, and graced with generous and detailed liner notes that also offer interesting photos and reproductions of score
manuscripts. All reasons why every soundtrack collector should support the Monstrous Movie Music releases.” .“Brilliant new digital re-recordings of classic sci-fi scores.” “We can promise you that you will not be disappointed – they are simply superb. Each disc also comes complete with a 40-page booklet, describing
in great detail the film and score, with many rare production photographs.” “The CDs arrived and I have to say, that they are really amazing! Your wife and you are doing a wonderful work.” “‘Classic’ rating. Since the appearance of the classic film music series as conducted by Charles Gerhardt on the RCA label, many vintage film
scores have received the reconstruction and re-recorded treatment. This practice has had its gems and also a number of works that have not been
exactly brilliant. This latest collection from Monstrous Movie Music in the States is I am glad to say going to be one of the very few that is among the
gems, being one of the most faithful re-recordings that I have heard in a long while. The packaging on the compilation is outstanding... [the booklet]
is packed with an unbelievable amount of information... The cover too contains some eye arresting artwork. As for the quality of the recording it
is wonderful, and the authenticity, well I forgot that I was listening to a re-recording, I was so caught up in the music... I cannot recommend this
recording highly enough, this is one CD that you should not be without. So much music, so much information, so go out and buy it!!!” “If there are any questions about how to re-record filmusic, go listen to Monstrous Movie Music CDs. The effect is so authentic that you'll look
around and ask, Where the hell is the movie? Creature from the Black Lagoon [is a] miracle. The release features a 40-page set of liner notes
that are as much fun as the music. It's a classic entry in the annals of filmusic and a treasure of scares and smiles. An incredible listening
experience and surely more fun than I've had in years listening to filmusic.” “Top Ten Film Music Albums Of The Year” (Monstrous Movie Music & More Monstrous Movie Music)
“Sound quality, as per their usual high standard, is perfect. And again, incredibly detailed liner notes are worth the admission alone, documenting the
film histories, the scores and their creations, and biographies on the composers. For fans of classic horror films [Creature From The Black Lagoon] is a must. For those with a
passing interest in the reconstruction and preservation of classic scores, this recording will surely be of great interest.” “Put these on your 'must-have' list. They are indispensable. Special note must be made of the 32-page booklets.” “[The] reconstruction and recording is excellent, and the liner notes are exhaustive.” “Impressive re-recording effort. Well researched and authentic.” “Best Compilation CDs of 2000” [Creature From The Black Lagoon] and “Best Record Label: Compilations.” “Breathtaking stereo suites... orchestrated and conducted to sound just as
they did it in the movies, without changes or interpretation. Clearly, this is a production of great love.” “In the annals of fantastic film music, this disk [Creature From The Black Lagoon] joins the previous pair as some of the most important horror film
music recordings ever. 40 pages of copious, encyclopedic, and exhaustive liner notes, delving into fascinatingly intricate detail about the use of music in these films.” “These CDs are a godsend.” “To hear the CREATURE music rerecorded with state-of-the-art recording techniques is quite revelatory. Had [The Alligator People’s music] been tied to a
better picture, this would certainly be remembered today as a classic and imaginative horror score. The CD is packaged with a 40-page illustrated booklet... which discusses the films, the
scores, and their composers in gratifying detail. You don’t find articles of this depth even in magazines devoted to movie music.” “Five stars [out of five]. Remarkably authentic re-recordings of music from 1950's SF and fantasy B picture creature features, supported by a
superb booklet which is a model of presentation. Splendidly performed with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. [Creature From The Black Lagoon (and other jungle pictures)] is music for the true fan and
aficionado, a celebration of those neglected films which offer much more entertainment and fun than the ‘A’ pictures which they sometimes accompanied.” “A+ Remarkable reorchestrations and a flawless symphonic performance, result in an excellent, exhilarating album. The 40-page
booklet that accompanies the disc is also incredible, revealing a phenomenal level of scholarship. Creature From The Black Lagoon is a
wonderful collection, marvelously capturing the essence and the excitement of these movies and their music.” “These masterfully produced CDs are the big ones! [Monstrous Movie Music] has set the standard for all future classic score recordings”
“[Creature From The Black Lagoon is] a superb new album. A major contribution to the
ever-growing attention that is being paid to genre movies in general and horror and sci-fi movies in particular.” “Cool CDs which... showcase superb digital re-recordings of musical scores from some 1950's sci-fi classics.” “Creature [from the Black Lagoon] is a class act from fanfare to finale,
and is essential listening for horror enthusiasts, soundtrack collectors, and the 8-year-old in us all. Extensive and humorous liner notes.” “[Monstrous Movie Music] is really a stunning example of how to do
something right. It’s a beautiful recording that tries painstakingly to recapture the sound of the original soundtrack.” “Terrific music for classic monsters.” “Creature From The Black Lagoon (and other jungle pictures) is a wonderful collection, marvelously capturing the essence and the
excitement of these movies and their music. The 40-page booklet that accompanies the disc is also incredible, revealing a phenomenal level of scholarship. “The performances (by the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Slovakia) are superb throughout, and MMM's recording process has all the fidelity of a
modern recording, yet with the in-your-face sound common to the old scores. Special mention must be made of the CD's liner notes. If there were Academy Awards for score albums, this would EASILY win the ‘best
booklet of the year’ statuette. Almost encyclopedic in scope, the amount of information in there is overwhelming, and proves once and for all these
guys are in the business out of love of the music and movies.” “Some of the 1950's best monster music. Inventive, dynamic, infectious. The renditions are flawless and painstakingly faithful.” “[Creature From The Black Lagoon is] a stellar effort that resurrects
some wildly distinctive film music in amazingly authentic form. A big, web-handed salute to... everyone involved in the production of this CD.” “Must-haves. If you like to think of yourself as a fan and a supporter of these movies and their music, I've got news for you -- you're NOT, unless you order these CDs pronto.”
“They are both wonderful nostalgic items (especially for folks who caught these films first time around) and educational tools for younger listeners
like myself. Get 'em because they are high quality albums that are most importantly fun to listen to.” “Beautifully restored and played music in superb stereo sound. Not only of great value for soundtrack fans, but also movie lovers, especially the
ones that love science fiction and monster movies, will be surprised by the excellent re-recordings of Monstrous Movie Music. The Radio Symphony
Orchestras of Cracow and Slovakia have done a beautiful job under the inspiring conductor Masatoshi Mitsumoto. That inspiration can be heard
in every note of the music. These CD’s should be part of the collection of every true soundtrack and movie fan.” “To call the third release from Monstrous Movie Music ‘astounding’ would not do it enough justice. The recordings are dead-on recreations of
what the composers originally intended. Also included is a 40-page booklet with the most comprehensive liner notes I've ever seen. The ultimate comprehensive presentation possible!” I’M CONVINCED! I’M CONVINCED!
“The sound is really exceptional and the orchestra top rate. [The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms] is a first-rate improvement over the original.” “RATING: 10 out of 10. If you are a fan of horror films and/or good music, then you absolutely must have these... CDs in your collection.” “What they've accomplished here in terms of restoration is indeed an accomplishment. For the fan who has fond memories of these films the
music will definitely take you back. So will the 32 page CD booklets! If you're looking for a way to spice up your next movie showing you can absolutely do no better than to purchase Monstrous I & II and have them playing when your guests begin to arrive. I'll use the words ‘must have’ here.” “Gosh! Wow! These suites from classic science fiction thrillers will leap off your stereo speakers and grab you. From a technical standpoint, these
recordings are flawless. The booklets are a history lesson in themselves.” “This new recording of the Creature pretty much blows all previous rerecordings out of the water.” “Editor's Choice - Best Compilation CD of the Month. [Creature From The Black Lagoon] is a real treasure and should be part of every film
music lovers collection. Buy this CD!” “Five stars [out of five]. Both these albums [Monstrous Movie Music and More Monstrous Movie Music] packed full of world premiere recordings
are simply essential.” “‘Close-miking’ has been successfully used to recapture the original sound of the scores. The 40-page booklet is full of detail, facts, and fun.” “You have liner notes that will take you at least 2 weeks to read and The Alligator People. What more could a fan of film music want! This CD is a
must-have for any fan of fantasy films and really good top notch film music.” “If you dig the scores for classic black-and-white monster flicks, you'll be in seventh heaven with this release [Creature From The Black Lagoon]
from Monstrous Movie Music.” “These are true gems and are presented faithfully, respectfully and, I would go even so far as to say, lovingly. The notes themselves are not
only extremely erudite but also witty, displaying Schecter’s other talents as a humorist.” “Eerily effective music from the classic 1954 Universal monster movie ‘Creature From the Black Lagoon.’ Exacting performances by the Radio
Symphony Orchestra of Slovakia under the direction of Masatoshi Mitsumoto. A lavish 40-page booklet offers a wealth of historical and recording notes.” “Monstrous Movie Music and More Monstrous Movie Music are dreams
come true. Excellent liner notes.” “This album will appeal to anyone interested in true film music, for its wonderful packaging alone, not to mention the consistent high quality of
the music. From the wonderful nostalgic cover by Robert Aragon, to the pristine sound quality, one cannot go wrong with Monstrous Movie Music!” “Nails the 50’s monster sound with panache and fury, taking you right back to those glorious drive-in monster days. Very entertaining liner
notes, absolutely the last word when it comes to the Creature’s music.” “Bravo! They're great!” “What a magnificent find [Monstrous Movie Music] is. Scores to classic
sci-fi and horror movies from the 1950s done right. The results are amazing. Not to be overlooked are the extensive liner notes detailing the
creative history of each track. This CD makes you want to check out these classic movies and watch them with a fresh perspective.” “Der Hörer mit etwas klassischer Kinoerfahrung in Sachen B-Movies erkennt hier direkt die schwarz-weiße Welt der „billigen“
Leinwandmonster der fünfziger Jahre und schmunzelt dabei wahrscheinlich. Die spürbar liebevoll und engagiert gemachten und mit aufwändig gestalteten Booklets versehenen CDs verdienen einen Bonus in
der Bewertung für die – nicht zu unterschätzenden Bemühungen – des Produzententeams, derartige filmmusikalische Nischenprodukte überhaupt zugänglich zu machen: dafür gibt’s 5 Sterne.” (Well, at least we think this is a rave review. Unfortunately, we don’t speak or read German, and this
review of our first three CDs was written for a German film music site. But since each album got five out of six stars and the reviewer wrote about
three pages on them, we assume he liked our discs a lot. Of course, there’s always the possibility that in Germany they use a scoring system like in golf, meaning one star is the best...) [ADDENDUM TO ABOVE REVIEW: Doug Finton, one of our devoted fans, was kind enough to translate the German review for us! It reads: “The listener who has a bit of classical cinematic experience with regard to B-movies will immediately recognize the black & white world of the "cheap" screen monsters of the 50's, and most likely grin. The CD's - which have obviously been lovingly and enthusiastically produced and provided with painstakingly-crafted booklets - deserve a bonus in our evaluation for the efforts of the production team, which should not be underestimated, to make such "niche products" of film music available at all. For that reason, 5 stars.” Thanks, Doug!] “[Creature From The Black Lagoon] faithfully captures some incredible music ‘from the old days.’ My hat's off to the crew at MMM.”
“[Monstrous Movie Music] is great stuff! Kudos to everyone involved in this magnificent production.” “Truly magnificent. The sound is outrageous! The 32-page booklets that come with each CD are worth the price alone!” “Amazing! It's like having a time machine and being able to go back to the original scoring sessions!” FEATURED ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, "STRANGE UNIVERSE," THE SCI-FI CHANNEL, AND IN "MIX" MAGAZINE. IT TOOK A LOT TO CONVINCE ME,
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Contents of this website Copyright © 1996 - © 2010 Monstrous Movie Music. | |||
-- “Beautifully reconstructed and
digitally re-recorded... comes with a meaty booklet of incisive and entertaining notes.”
