Jonny Quest-High Flying Adventure and a popping Jazz score and way before Indiana Jones!! Part One
Below: link to main title -theme
This soundtrack collection defies description.. it’s like eye candy for the brain.. none other than Jonny Quest could inspire a CD with all the stops pulled out …and live up to it’s reputation as a series and a soundtrack ahead of its time. It’s all here-including the artwork featuring a look and design created for the series by none other than legendary comic book artist-Doug Wildey-the CD also features a collectible book loaded with all sorts of trivia and information not only about the music, series and Hoyt Curtin …
High Flying Adventure and a popping Jazz score and way before Indiana Jones stated “I hate snakes”!! Only Hanna-Barbera and Hoyt Curtin could create such a unique experience …the first animated prime-time adventure series from the decade that gave us James Bond,
Above — The James Bond Theme … compare to the Jonny’s theme-both conjure up excitement and adventure…
go go girls and way out music…
and
La La Lands/Warner Bros newest Release- Jonny Quest double CD featuring music by the one and only Hoyt Curtin plus William Hanna-Joseph Barbera with musical direction by Ted Nichols and Hoyt…Just think of the amount of creative talent right in the mention of those 4 names. This was a project destined to succeed. and the release a Limited Edition — 3000. Most of their product is produced in a small batch any where from 1000 to 3000. It assures a few things- the value and the collectible status.
The CD is packed with an incredible amount of cues, complete tracks to several episodes. Liner notes with a fabulous amount of information & trivia regarding the series and of course the history behind the music that changed cartoon series for all time. *A stand out is the list of musicians(pg 15 Liner Notes)who were part of the crew who collaborated in the recording sessions. Not only their names but what instruments they played. I stress that you carefully look over the list. Among those are the legendary Frank Capp-Jazz Drummer along with Neil K. Lavang on guitar,James Decker-horn…too many to to name. It was the right paring of these instruments & the talent who performed that would create the unique score and lend itself so much so to the feeling and mood within you as the audience to generate the excitement and suspense in each and every episode of this classic series. From violin & cello to drums(the chase/suspense)to trombones(a march), trumpets to the flutes(Asian) and clarinets and harp. Sometimes capturing the element of surprise or even purveying the cavalry to the rescue. Or it may be someone or something lurking in the shadows. The lighter moments when Bandits curiosity would render him in trouble or maybe slightly embarrassed.
Left-Hoyt with Bill Hanna sitting in on a recording session. Bill was the music “guy” of the two(Barbera was the creative one)
Here is another reason why this score is so special — Hoyt and Ted both have said many times that this was a labor of love. They really enjoyed working on Jonny Quest. Curtin said of everything he did this was the most fun. He enjoyed walking in to the studio each and every day. Could not wait to crank out the next cue. It was an exciting time and process. Of Hoyt, it was said nobody could write a piece of music as fast as he could. As for Ted he lived for this. Something he had wanted to do all his life.
- Important to note was that it was not until the later 60’s and early 70’s that musicians and the composers themselves started to get the recognition they deserved and that meant royalties.
All this super fun and exciting music from the series is collected here on 2 CDs. Each CD has over 50 tracks and exceeding 75 plus minutes including bonus tracks. Interesting it is, that out of 26 episodes music is missing from 2. Monster in the Monastery and The Sea Haunt. Now it is quite possible that those 2 episodes in the series were the last 2 aired back in 1965 and most of the score may have been made up of cues, themes and music tracks previously appearing from earlier stories. Just in Hoyt’s compositions alone there was well over 2 hours of music. Ted Nichols also composed a similar amount of material.
Trivia- Hoyt and Ted never once met or even bumped in to each during their time spent on Jonny Quest. And yet they were in and out of the same studios and even working some of the same members of orchestra and band. Both have a high regard for each other. They both held the title of Music Director for Hanna Barbera . Curtin up until early 1965 and then Nichols(Scooby Doo was all Ted) thru 1972 which is when Curtin returned to Hanna Barbera. Back after several successful years working within the field of Television Commercials/Advertising.
Above: Hey dad what’s for dinner…?
In regards to the scoring process…Curtin and Nichols both created and wrote music based on the storyboards and script. there was no finished product available to write for. In the animation industry this is often the case. This actually helped in terms of them using there imagination. In the animation industry this is often the case.
Here is a clip featuring music from one of the all time greatest animated TV series especially within the Fantasy/Adventure genre with one wild ride after another and Bandit too..a show way ahead of it’s time and still relevant today a true classic in the very sense of the word …
Studio Cues-Rare
One last thing I would like to share in terms of music. A score/soundtrack can make or break my choice when it comes to keeping me interested or sparking my interest in watching a TV or Film. I do not want to hear a melodic tone or piece played constantly in the background. One it reminds me of laziness and is almost like brainwashing. It almost numbs my emotions. Sometimes I find it disturbing. NCIS & it’s spin offs, Law and Order …etc use the many of the same ques over and over. Horrible. I want a score to grab me right from the beginning. James Bond theme, Jaws , The Greatest American Hero, Mission Impossible and Mannix (Lalo Schifrin).
Below- the iconic theme to Mannix (Saturday and Sunday nights from 1967–1975)
So til next time I hope you stop by LaLa Land Records you won’t be disappointed. All their releases are carefully chosen and are of high quality. Informative as well as nostalgic. Many sought after and requested by fans the world over. The Wild Wild West Soundtrack (out of print) is another example.
Newly released titles-
Ladyhawk (1985 Matthew Broderick & Rutger Hauer) 2 CD Limited ED-3000 Andrew Powell/Alan Parsons
Batman:The Animated Series -several volumes and CD Editions plus look for the DC Super Sale…
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Original Television Series Collection Soundtrack by Various Artists including Jerry Goldsmith, Alexander Courage and Paul Sawtell-Limited 1000
Planet of the Apes-Film Series (1968–1973)6 CD
link-
LaLa Land Records: Where Soundtracks Live
Links to additional articles regarding Hanna Barbera & Warner Archives-preserving Saturday Mornings-
