1960s Science Fiction Background Music by Alexander Courage

[Scott Kellogg]

Hey Folks,

I thought you might be interested in this:
It's on YouTube: Some 18 tracks of background Music by Alexander Courage.
There are other artists on this playlist, but I figured you all might like good old Alexander Courage.

Enjoy!

Scott Kellogg

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nAt5dSTLx9ebUKQea-lO7wdv5WqyH5sH8

 

[Ssosmcin]

His Lost in Space music is, for me, mostly pretty dire. He gets a little too into the comedy of the second season. However, his first score for the series "Wild Adventure" is pretty sweet.

HIs work for Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is much better and his scores for that series often rival his Star Trek work.

 

[Scott Kellogg]

Neat! I don't think I've heard any of his Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea scores.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Gerald Fried ("Shore Leave", "The Paradise Syndrome") said that, behind the scenes on Star Trek, he and others enjoyed long conversations about the ideas and philosophy of the show. It wasn't just another job, it was special. It really meant something to them.

Fried and Courage wrote their best TV music for Star Trek, it wasn't close, and it wasn't an accident. TOS inspired them to dig deep and compose their hearts out. The contrast with their Lost in Space music is dramatic: on LIS (year 2 and 3) you can hear their personal style and "bag of tricks," but the melodies are nowhere near as good.

 

[Scott Kellogg]

Yes, I've been noticing some of the similarities.
Courage's "Mantrap" siren theme is the same as the theme he used for the green space siren girl in Lost in Space.
There's also similar themes used in the "Friday's Child" score to some Lost in Space music.

 

[Scott Kellogg]

Here's some more Alexander Courage with a helping of Joseph Mullindore.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lUT1bQpAduB9d7_U0BuUy-d0oi7I-AixM

BTW, I did not post these to YouTube, but I figure folks here would be interested.
Enjoy!

Scott Kellogg

 

[Scott Kellogg]

Just in case you folks wanted some 1960s John Williams SF Music:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kc0Bb0yfQsG499XoGh2xrdh1acLMP-YuE

Scott Kellogg

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Yes, I've been noticing some of the similarities.
Courage's "Mantrap" siren theme is the same as the theme he used for the green space siren girl in Lost in Space.
There's also similar themes used in the "Friday's Child" score to some Lost in Space music.

I just found some old notes of mine on musical analogs between Lost in Space and Star Trek:

1) "Cave of the Wizards" and "The Naked Time" (Alexander Courage).
This is a near-exact similarity in the ascending scale, mystery / stealth music.
• Wizards cue is on LIS box Disc 6, Track 1, "Mummy's Boy" starting at about 1:05.
• Naked Time cue is on ST box S1 D2 T24, "Party Time" at the beginning.

2) "Collision of Planets" and "The Paradise Syndrome" (Gerald Fried).
This is a vague similarity. There might be a better instance in the LIS score.
• Collision: LIS Disc 9 Track 32, "Fight - First Blast" about 0:22 to 1:37.
• Paradise Syndrome: S3 D1 T24 "Mind Fusion" about 1:20 to 2:29.

Track locations refer to the La La Land box sets.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I was watching Mannix the other night, which was another of the big action Desilu/Paramount series at the time. There was a huge crossover of gust stars and composers. Jerry Fielding did an episode and I knew it was him the moment the Big Fight Scene started and he cranked out his "Tribbles" fight music. It was lighthearted and fun on Trek but weird on Mannix.

Gerald Fried did a few Man from UNCLE scores and they were, for the most part (especially in the 3rd season), awful. You can absolutely hear his "bag of tricks" that were a little more obscured in "Catspaw" and :Friday's Child."

 

[Scott Kellogg]

Hey Folks,
Here are the Tracks from "Collision of Planets" that Zap Brannigan mentioned.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_myfGXnFfAdBNfqIsDKAIYrcOD7xWLiVlU