A Guide For The Married Man   (Limited Edition CD Soundtrack)

 

Sound: B     Music: B-

 

 

Before he became the king of blockbuster music, John Williams was known for some of the smartest, darkest film scores around, but even before that he was known as Johnny Williams.  His score for A Guide for the Married Man (1967) is a strangely dating work for the mixed Gene Kelly film of the same name.  This was at a time when Hollywood was making comedies that were missing the point of what was really going on at the time.  The mix of “groovy” Pop/Rock, older funny music, and even silent movie-era piano music demonstrates the strange nature of the film Williams was trying to work with.

 

The title song features lyrics by Williams’ occasional collaborator Leslie Bricusse (Goldfinger with John Barry, Superman’s “can You Read My Mind?” with Williams), and the single version is performed by The Turtles.  There are also amusing chorus version featured and the usual multiple instrumental versions weaved throughout the score.  Even though this is not one of Williams’ best works, he is certainly ambitious within the confines of what he has to score, so he deserves high marks for effort.

 

This is the first time any of this music, except The Turtles song, has ever been issued as a stand-alone soundtrack.  It also comes with a fine booklet that offers great details.  The music comes from the original archival masters, which have survived better than average, but sparse damage is on some of the bonus tracks, while a few slight “wows” can be heard in a few early tracks.

 

The PCM CD sound is not bad on what is a stereo presentation throughout.  It will be interesting to compare this to the DVD whenever that is issued, but you can get this CD now by visiting www.filmscoremonthly.com while the 3,000 copy limited pressing lasts from Film Score Monthly’s FSM CD label.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo