Bad Girls (Expanded) Music By Jerry Goldsmith

Bad Girls (Expanded)

Music Composed And Conducted By Jerry Goldsmith

Performed By The Hollywood Symphony Orchestra

Produced By Nick Redman

Executive Producers For LaLaLand Records:

MV Gerhard and Matt Verboys

Liner Notes by Jeff Bond With A foreword

by Director Jonathan Kaplan

LaLaLand LLCD1169 Limited Edition of 3000 Copies

26 Tracks/Running Time: 60:27

Released On June 21, 2011

Bad Girls maybe a minor entry in the Western genre, but it's something of a curiosity in the filmography of the late Jerry Goldsmith. The film stars Madeline Stowe, Andie MacDowell, Mary Stuart Masterson and Drew Barrymore as former prostitutes who upon killing a Colonel in a bordello all decide to come together and head west to start over. On the way, they are persued by bounty hunters, a mysterious stranger (Dermot Mulroney) who has his own personal agenda and Stowe' old flame, the ill-tempered Kid Jarrett (James Russo) who is planning to rob a train carrying Mexican gold with a Gatling gun no less and his band of bandits. Originally the film was directed by Tamara Davis (Happy Gilmore), but was soon replaced after filming by veteran Jonathan Kaplan (Unlawful Entry, Project X) to punch up the proceedings. It's ironic that I'm reviewing this CD because I just watched the film again after a really long time and it is not a bad film or a great film. The actresses in the film are perfectly cast especially Stowe, who is the tough as nails Cody Zamora.

The most important aspect of the film besides it's rather striking visuals by Ralf D.Bode is Jerry Goldsmith's memorable and underapperciated score for the film. Goldsmith was definitely no stranger to the genre having scored such Westerns like Rio Conchos, Bandolero, Take A Hard Ride, Breakheart Pass and Wild Rovers. This film came along at a time when Goldsmith really overbooked himself in 1993 scoring no less than seven movies which included Matinee, Dennis The Menace, Malice, Six Degrees of Separation, Rudy, Angie and Tombstone. Due to a scheduling conflict, he was forced to drop Tombstone from his scoring slate for which has boggled the minds of many after all these years and the film which has become a cult classic and definitely the better of the two Wyatt Earp films that came out around that time. So what did Goldsmith see in this film, well it was obviously the story of an all female western that must have intrigued him. Goldsmith did of course score the first exploitation Western with Take A Hard Ride that starred Jim Brown, Fred "The Hammer" Williamson and Jim Kelly in the late 70's and came up with one his most robust action scores.

Bad Girls is a score that while it has some sensational robust music much like his earlier westerns, but also some really nice character moments which are times playful and tender. While the movie has been considered somewhat of an afterthought after 17 years, but Goldsmith's score does live on and now that great label, LaLaLand Records has given fans of Goldsmith a great reason to not only revisit the score and for those who haven't heard it, they're in for a fun little treat. "The John" kicks off the album and establishes the score's main theme on keyboards, harpsichord and acoustic guitar which is tender at first and as the drunken "Colonel" starts to beat up on Masterson and Stowe ends up killing him in her defense and then is slated for "The Hanging" as the Masterson, MacDowell and Barrymore all pack up and prep to leave the town and rescue Stowe. Goldsmith's music for this track is energetic and quintessential of his rhythmic action scoring giving it a "honky tonk" vibe to it. "Bank Job" starts off on a slow and brooding tone as Goldsmith introduces some rather dark thematic material for the bounty hunters after the girls known as the Pinkertons with guitar, a bullwhip and keyboards playing off a waltz like theme for the girls who wonder through town as Stowe gets her hard earned money from the bank only for the tone to change dramatically as Stowe's former flame arrives to rob the bank. Goldsmith changes gears quickly and introduces menacing trombones and horns to go along with some harsh percussion bits. "Jail Break" is a wonderful playful cue which starts off with the honky tonk theme as Masterson tries to break MacDowell out of jail while distracting a smitten cattle rancher named William Tucker (James LeGros) and her plan quickly goes to heck and force to break her out the hard way by knocking out the deputy as lush strings and piano as another rendition of the score's sweeping theme is heard. The album features many more highlights like these such as "Ambush", "I Shot Him", "Rescued", "No Bullets" and "My Land/End Credits", which features the most expansive and melodic use of the score's main theme along with the honky tonk material.

Goldsmith put together a terrific 39 minute album when the film was released and has been a sought after CD in the secondary market for many, many years now. LaLaLand gives you the most complete presentation of the score adding twenty extra minutes and expanding a lot of cues for which Goldsmith cut a bit short on his original album conception. For Goldsmith fans and fans of the score, it's a welcome sight to see back in the spotlight again. I was amazed at how much I enjoyed the score more and more again after so many years. It's an underrated gem.

Bad Girls is a robust action score by one of the great and sorely missed composers in the soundtrack world. One that is great to see in circulation again, especially for those who missed it the first time around

Bad Girls is available from LaLaLand Records (www.lalalandrecords.com)

TRACK LISTING:

1. The John (2:19)
2. The Hanging (2:06)
3. Which Way?* (:42)
4. The Snake (1:20)
5. The Saw Mill* (1:56)
6. Keep Moving* (:57)
7. Bank Job** (5:16)
8. The Gang/The Posse* (:56)
9. Return to the Fold* (4:06)
10. Don’t Hurt Me* (1:45)
11. Jail Break (3:27)
12. No Money (2:09)
13. The Guests* (:36)
14. Welcome to My Home* (1:20)
15. The Pleasure of Your Company* (:48)
16. Ambush (5:45)
17. What’s Your Name?* (1:18)
18. The Claim* (:25)
19. Together* (:39)
20. I Shot Him** (2:46)
21. Put It On* (1:32)
22. River Crossing* (:34)
23. Rescued* (3:03)
24. Josh’s Death (3:41)
25. No Bullets (3:53)
26. My Land/End Credits (6:53)