Odyssey Interviews - Mike Davis

03/01/22 • 177 min

We realize that we've been interrupting our Odyssey with a lot of Soundtrack Spotlights lately. To make up for that, this month we're interrupting the Odyssey with a new Odyssey Interview! Back in October of 2021, Yavar had an in-depth conversation with Retired Chief Master Sergeant Mike Davis, who served as chief arranger for the U.S. Air Force band for many years. Among Davis's numerous musical endeavors was a reconstruction of Jerry Goldsmith's "The Thunder of Imperial Names" (originally written for the 1957 radio production 1489 Words), which in turn inspired Goldsmith himself to re-examine his original piece. Over the course of this wide-ranging interview, Davis talks about his personal and professional encounters with Goldsmith, his own efforts as a composer and sole experience writing for film, his work with the U.S. Air Force Band, his role in the creation of Goldsmith's now-iconic "The Generals" Suite, the experience of working in Hollywood on a '70s Goldsmith recording, encounters with other legendary film composers such as Henry Mancini, Elmer Bernstein, and Richard Rodney Bennett... and much more! Lots of great stories and great music in this one, so do your patriotic duty and give it a listen!
Here is your Odyssey Interviews Mike Davis Track list!
Please send your correspondence to [email protected].

Previous Episode

undefined - Production Report - Black Patch / The Man (2021 Intrada Recording) with William Stromberg, Doug Fake, Roger Feigelson, Leigh Phillips and Jeff Johnson

Production Report - Black Patch / The Man (2021 Intrada Recording) with William Stromberg, Doug Fake, Roger Feigelson, Leigh Phillips and Jeff Johnson

Intrada's Kickstarter-funded re-recording of Jerry Goldsmith's Black Patch and The Man is almost here, and we've got something special for you to enjoy while you wait: the Odyssey's very first Production Report!
"What’s that?"
Glad you asked, ma'am. In this case, it means your humble hosts Yavar and David conducting an in-depth conversation with Intrada's Douglass Fake, Roger Feigelson, Jeff Johnson, reconstructionist Leigh Phillips, and conductor William Stromberg. You'll hear stories about how the project came together, details on how the recording sessions went, the financial realities of this sort of endeavor, and much more. Plus, you'll hear plenty of clips from the new album. It's not only an exciting update on this project, but an informative behind-the-scenes look at the many moving parts of re-recording a classic film score. Whether you're a Kickstarter contributor who's eager for new details or simply a film music fan who wants to know a little bit more about how these things work, this is a show you'll want to hear!
Here's your handy Black Patch & The Man Production Report track list!
Please send your correspondence to [email protected].

Next Episode

Episode 34 - Wagon Train - The Ah Chong Story (1961)

Hyah! Hyah! Odyssey Ho!
In our first regular episode of 2022, we join the long-running western series Wagon Train to discuss the episode "The Ah Chong Story," featuring a lively Goldsmith score that fuses eastern and western elements. In this one, your humble hosts David, Yavar, and Clark discuss the painful stereotypes that hamper the show's effectiveness, the creative ways Goldsmith finds to blend his assorted thematic and textural elements, and much more!
Before the episode analysis begins, you'll also be treated to an exploration of an early Wagon Train soundtrack album featuring music by the likes of John Williams, Laurindo Almeida, and Roy Webb. If you've got a little time to spare, why not join the wagon train for a while?
Our direction is westward, our pace is slow, and someday we aim to reach the land of 1962. Enjoy!
And here is The Goldsmith Odyssey's Wagon Train - The Ah Chong Story track list!
Please send your correspondence to [email protected].
Check out our friends at Settling the Score — their regular Jerry Goldsmith episodes at present include Episodes 8 (Planet of the Apes), 18 (Chinatown), 33 (The Omen), and 52 (Alien).
And here is Settling the Score's Patreon page; support them here to get bonus episodes including Goldsmith’s Freud (1962).