Help to identify a 70s piece of music.

Posted by: JamieL on 28 April 2008

I am trying to identify a piece of music I last heard in the first part of the seven documentaries BBC4 did a few months ago about British film. It was in the one on Gangster films, and was used in the section that covered the late 70s early 80s, specifically 'The Long Good Friday' (It might even be from the soundtrack of that film, but is not one of the samples to be heard on Amazon).

I had hoped it would repeated, and that I would be able to record it, which would have made things much easier, but not so far.

OK. I will try and describe it in words, since that is my only option.

Imagine if Pink Floyd had written Rob Dougan's 'Cubbed to Death' (that piece of techno music they always use for tension on TV), but in 1978. Pink Floyd as in the slow synth/drums section in dogs.

The piece is as if a 70s rock band had pre-empted techno. It has a steady (slow) but driving beat, over which chords, probably from a hammond organ are phased, then there is a VERY DRY VOICE that just makes the sound 'aaaaahhhh' each of which is about 20 seconds long and builds. It is this voice that is very distinctive about the piece.

I have heard this before, it is a very simple piece, but with a strong atmosphere. The section I have heard does not have any embellishments, or fast playing, it just builds and is eerie. It might just be an opening section.

It could perhaps be someone like Mountain, maybe Focus (but sounds a but dark for them), I am pretty sure it isn't Pink Floyd as it sounds mid to late 70s, and I have all their albums from 'Atom Heart Mother' onwards, but maybe one of the solo projects I don't have (Waters, or Wright).

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what it might be, especially if there are samples to listen to, I would be most grateful.

Jamie
Posted on: 28 April 2008 by Guido Fawkes
IIRC the music from The Long Good Friday was by Curved Air and Sky keyboard wizard Francis Monkman. It was written for the film. Not sure if that helps.
Posted on: 28 April 2008 by 555
I don't know the answer to your question Jamie,
but if you contact auntie & ask she will tell you. Smile
Posted on: 28 April 2008 by naim_nymph

Francis Monkman - The Long Good Friday Original Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

1. Long Good Friday
2. Overture
3. Scene Is Set
4. At The Pool
5. Discovery
6. Icehouse
7. Talking To The Police
8. Guitar Interludes
9. Realization
10. Fury
11. Taken

Further from what Roft said...
The above from an Amazon search. There is another cd version on there as well, available from 'other sellors' at varying prices. Hope this helps

nymph
Posted on: 28 April 2008 by JamieL
Hi All

Thanks for the info. Francis Monkman certainly does sound in the right terratory for the music.

One Amazon review recommends the 25th Anniversay edition, which has the soundtrack as a bonus disc, so I think I will give that a try.

I will let you know if it is, and maybe post a MP3 sample so you have an idea about what the piece actually sounds like.

Jamie
Posted on: 28 April 2008 by fatcat
[QUOTE]Originally posted by JamieL:
a VERY DRY VOICE that just makes the sound 'aaaaahhhh' each of which is about 20 seconds long and builds. It is this voice that is very distinctive about the piece.
/QUOTE]

Jamie


Roger Chapman springs to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j1VX7kvu2s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUuV-T831qU


Or maybe Tony McPhee
Posted on: 06 May 2008 by JamieL
Hi All

I got the DVD and soundtracks CD, but unfortunately the piece of music is not from the soundtrack, so I am still looking.

A quick description again. Hammond organ, phased, or synth very like a Hammond. No words. A steady thump, thump, thump beat, and then for building for about 20-30 seconds a dry/icy/breathy treated voice just goes aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Very Pink Floyd terratory, late 70s I suspect.

I can't remember the exact title of the series, and as it is over six months ago, the BBC website probably is not a lot of help now.

Help would be appreciated.
Posted on: 06 May 2008 by 555
quote:
Originally posted by 555:
I don't know the answer to your question Jamie,
but if you contact auntie & ask she will tell you. Smile


Did you?
Posted on: 06 May 2008 by JamieL
quote:
Originally posted by 555:
quote:
Originally posted by 555:
I don't know the answer to your question Jamie,
but if you contact auntie & ask she will tell you. Smile


Did you?


I don't know the exact name of the show/series so it would be difficult to explain what I am seeking the music credits for.

I will see if I can find an email for them, and try explain what I am seeking.

Jamie
Posted on: 07 May 2008 by Fozz
was it the Summer of British Film? You may find some databases out there to help. here are two but I am not sure they cover it. Fozz


http://www.soundsfamiliar.info/
http://www.commercialbreaksandbeats.co.uk/index.asp
Posted on: 07 May 2008 by JamieL
Hi Fozz

Thanks for the 'The Summer of British Film' title.

I have done more research, and am downloading a copy of the programme. I will try and extract the audio, and post a MP3 of it and then people can listen and say 'What, you don't know ......, where have you been the last X years?'

Now I have the correct title I have also followed 555's suggestion and made an email enquiry to the BBC, but it did have lots of warning saying we can't deal with everything we receive.

Fozz, your links were interesting, but I don't think the programme was widely seen enough to register on those search sites, but many thanks, I have now eliminated them as a possibility.

I have also checked the BFI, and IMDB pages for the programme credits, so I have some people I could try and contact directly if all else fails.

Munch, not sure on Get Carter, I don't remember the soundtrack, but the film is so gripping. It is a possibility. I will try Amazon to see if there is a sample there.

Hopefully posting an MP3 will do the trick.

Many thanks to all for help and suggestions.

Jamie
Posted on: 07 May 2008 by 555
I suggest you start with the BBC The Summer of British Film website.

If you can't find the information you need there,
try the BBC General Contact Form to ask. Cool

Good luck!
Posted on: 07 May 2008 by JamieL
FOUND IT, FOUND IT, FOUND IT!

What is more I have it on CD (which is what I always suspected), and just to show exactly how accurate my description of it as a piece of 70s music like Pink Floyd, the details are:

Artist: This Mortal Coil
Album: It'll End In Tears
Track: (4)Fyt
Year: 1984
Credits:
Mark Cox (of The Wolfgang Press) organ
Martyn Young (of Colourbox) synthesizer

OK, so wrong decade, nothing to do with Pink Floyd, the voice is there for about 10 seconds, not 20, but it does have an organ on it.
Also you can hear below what I do mean about a 'dry' voice.

Apart from that, the music was over the section about the film '10 Rillington Place' and not 'The Long Good Friday' at all.

Here is a short clip to hear:

MP3 clip 30 seconds

Boy are you going to trust my descriptions of music in future....

It can be said that I do find it annoying that TV programmes do not have to give credit to the music they use, as films do have to. This is probably because the visual effects supervisors is so adamant about getting their name on there so no space is left. (I am a visual effects supervisor in case you are wondering.)

555, I had used the link you gave to ask for the information. I will see if I get a response.

Thanks for all your help, without it, I would not have realised that somewhere among the albums I had not played for ages (years) was a piece of music that fascinates me.
Posted on: 07 May 2008 by 555
This Mortal Coil along with other Cocteau Twins related music is always excellent.

Pink Floyd sounds like This Mortal Coil?
No Jamie no!
Posted on: 07 May 2008 by Fozz
phew got there in the end. Now I will start my own thread on one thing bugging me that I am convinced I have in my collection... LOL
Posted on: 15 May 2008 by JamieL
quote:
Originally posted by 555:

If you can't find the information you need there,
try the BBC General Contact Form to ask. Cool

Good luck!


I did get a reply from the BBC, but it is I what expected:

"Thanks for your e-mail regarding the incidental music used in the episode of 'British Film Forever' broadcast on 28 June 2007, specifically that used during the section on 'The Long Good Friday'. .....

As I'm sure you can appreciate, BBC Information receives hundreds of thousands of requests each year for information about specific items in our programmes. We're able to provide answers to nearly all the enquiries we receive.

Occasionally, however, the information requested is not available on our very comprehensive database. As the BBC is committed to ensuring that we derive the best possible value for money for all our Licence Fee payers we can no longer justify searching some of the individual enquiries we were previously able to handle. Unfortunately, your request falls into this category and I'm sorry to tell you that we're unable to supply the information regarding the soundtrack to the programme. I hope you will understand the reasons why. "

I think the request was too obscure for them to have the answer. I expect the service is more geared to the 'How can I contact the organisation mentioned in the programme today' type question.

Interesting listening though 'It Will End in Tears'. Obviously I like 'Fyt', and also the tracks which involved Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry (of Dead Can Dance), but I find the rest of it very dated and not very enjoyable. I would say that I like very little music from the 1980s, and the sounds and production of that time are something I have a great antipathy towards, so perhaps not surprising.

Thanks again to all who helped me track down the music.

Jamie