MovieChat Forums > The Anderson Tapes (1971) Discussion > Awful score by Quincy Jones

Awful score by Quincy Jones


What was Q thinking when he wrote this? Maybe the film's plot about electronic devices made him think that bloops and squeaks from monophonic synthesizers would be a cool effect. It gets tired real fast.

Bring on the funk, Q, and stash those synths in the closet with your other antiques.

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I liked the movie, but you’re right the score was dreadful.

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you're an ass.

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He speaks the truth. Score sucked. Deal with it.

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Just watched the film for first time last night and agree. Much of the score was simply irritating and distracting.

The story was also much poorer than I'd hoped. As one of the reviewers noted, Anderson's relationship with Ingrid was underdeveloped and the "Anderson Tapes" themselves barely played any role.

Disappointing.

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pfft, I really liked the soundtrack. Really mixed things up and was a nice change of pace from the soundtracks usually heard in these 70s post-classical hollywood films (not that there's anything wrong with the other ones).

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It's a matter of opinion of course, but I too was disappointed with Quincy's efforts here, particularly when I picked his name out from the opening credits as something to look forward to. Gil Melle did a much better job of this style of electronic soundtrack on The Andromeda Strain around the same time, and of course the Barron's score for Forbidden Planet is also wonderful. This just isn't something Quincy seems to be up to - be interesting to hear how much input into the score the production team had.

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This is the danger of using the "latest thing" in music: it dates the sound hopelessly. There are loads of late 80s filmscores that I can spot right away because they overused keyboards like the Korg M-1 or the Roland D-50. When synthesizers became more portable and cheaper in the 60s, a lot of people jumped n the bandwagon without really thinking about the most musical way to use the new technology. I think that this score is an example of the worst kind of synthesizer abuse.

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Why does everyone use the word "dated" as a pejorative? As if a film being dated somehow diminishes its themes, ideas, message, content, or relevance. I really couldn't disagree more. I think a dated film provides an interesting, lost atmosphere and acts as a unique piece of history. Oddly enough, I consider a lot of films that most people consider "timeless" to be extremely dated.

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Being old doesn't necessarily mean "dated." The films that have the "dated" feel are those that tried too hard to be trendy, whether musically, linguistically, etc.

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Being old doesn't necessarily mean "dated." The films that have the "dated" feel are those that tried too hard to be trendy, whether musically, linguistically, etc.

I know what "dated" means, thanks for the definition anyway though. Also, I never said "old" and "dated" were synonymous.

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christ. this guy didn't say a negative word toward you, just clarified his point
maybe what you should really look are up the words 'touchy' and 'prick'

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This is the danger of using the "latest thing" in music: it dates the sound hopelessly.


So, so true, and it seems to apply to many movies from this era where synths were new, but becoming more common. Unfortunately, the whole "synthy" sound did as you said, dated the movie in a very naive, narrow timeslot. Also, I can't help but feel that a more (literally) classical soundtrack that may have suited so many movies of this era far better, were likely nudged out in favour of the new, brash kid.

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Actually I think is cool and a real surprise.

I was a teenager when it was made and never heard it until 2day. So I'm old enough to remember funny monophonic sounds and I swear there are worse things in pop muzik than this score.
Dated yeah, vintage yeah, old, maybe yeah but crappy it ain't.




nJOY_________________________________tha_______________________________________NoiZe

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The music wasn't 'old' or 'dated' as some of the other posts claimed. It was corny and as you said, tiring.

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