A Fistful of
Soundtracks
"A Tribute to New York"
Hosted and produced by Jimmy Aquino
Originally aired November 11, 2001 on KZSC 88.1 FM, Santa Cruz, California
120 min.
HOUR 1
ACT 1
JIMMY AQUINO: Welcome
to A Fistful of Soundtracks. I'm your host, Jim Aquino. Two months ago
today, on Sept. 11, New York City experienced perhaps the darkest day in its
history when the World Trade Center was attacked by terrorists. Thousands lost
their lives that day. New York hasn't been quite the same since. And now anthrax
scares that may or may not be connected to the events of Sept. 11 have continued
to keep an already jittery city on its toes. Yet the city perseveres, with spirit
and with humor. And hey, you guys may have lost the World Series last week,
but you haven't lost our support. Today, two months after the attacks, A
Fistful of Soundtracks salutes the most resilient city in the world with
music from movies and television series that were filmed there or set there.
This is… a Fistful of Soundtracks Tribute to New York.
[Elmer Bernstein's
"Prologue," from Hoodlum]
AQUINO: That was
Elmer Bernstein with music from his score to Laurence Fishburne's 1997 gangster
movie Hoodlum, which was set in 1930s Harlem.
["A Tribute
to New York" ID: "A Fistful of Soundtracks. 'A Tribute to New
York.' How to Marry a Millionaire. Alfred Newman."]
[Alfred Newman's
"Street Scene," from How to Marry a Millionaire]
["A Tribute
to New York" ID: "Today, A Fistful of Soundtracks salutes the
most resilient city in the world with music from movies and television series
that were filmed there or set there. This is… a Fistful of Soundtracks
Tribute to New York."]
[Isaac Hayes' "Theme
from Shaft"]
["A Tribute
to New York" ID: "A Fistful of Soundtracks. 'A Tribute to New
York.' Breakfast at Tiffany's. Audrey Hepburn."]
["Moon River,"
from Breakfast at Tiffany's, performed by Audrey Hepburn]
["A Tribute
to New York" ID: "Today, A Fistful of Soundtracks salutes the
most resilient city in the world with music from movies and television series
that were filmed there or set there. This is… a Fistful of Soundtracks
Tribute to New York."]
[Max Steiner's "Overture,"
from King Kong]
AQUINO: That was
the City of Prague Philharmonic, performing music composed by Max Steiner for
the original King Kong, a movie that makes memorable use of the Empire
State Building when Kong runs loose in the streets. It certainly won't be the
last time that a hairy bastard tries to bring fear to New York. If you just
tuned in, today's edition of A Fistful of Soundtracks salutes the most
beautiful and most resilient city in the world with music from movies and television
series that were filmed there or set there. This is… a Fistful of Soundtracks
Tribute to New York. More music from New York movies after a short break, but
first, let's listen to this.
ACT 2
["A Tribute
to New York" ID: "Today, A Fistful of Soundtracks salutes the
most resilient city in the world with music from movies and television series
that were filmed there or set there. This is… a Fistful of Soundtracks
Tribute to New York."]
[Ray Parker, Jr.'s
theme from Ghostbusters]
AQUINO: Ray Parker,
Jr. with the theme from a great New York movie, Ghostbusters. Watch the
special edition DVD of Ghostbusters now if you ever get the chance, just
to look at all those scenes that were filmed out in the streets — with
the onlookers cheering on the Ghostbusters — those scenes feel more dramatic
and poignant now after Sept. 11. On today's edition of A Fistful of Soundtracks,
we're listening to selections from soundtracks to movies that were filmed on
location in New York City. One of those films was Superman: The Movie,
which used parts of New York for the movie's setting of Metropolis, which has
been described more than once as New York by day, while Batman's hometown of
Gotham City is New York by night. In a New York minute, we'll hear John Williams
and the London Symphony Orchestra with the main title march from Superman:
The Movie, followed by Nino Rota with the "Immigrant" theme, from
the score to another movie filmed in New York, The Godfather Part II.
There's sort of a New York-as-a-land-of-immigrants theme that we have going
here with these two. Because if you recall, both Don Vito Corleone and Superman
are immigrants. And we all know why Superman married Lois Lane, right?
Yup. Because he had to get a green card.
[John Williams'
"Prelude and Main Title March," from Superman: The Movie]
[Nino Rota's "Main
Title/The Immigrant," from The Godfather Part II]
AQUINO: Nino Rota
with "The Immigrant," from the soundtrack to The Godfather Part
II, which they finally released on DVD, as part of The Godfather
DVD Collection box set. Before that, John Williams did the "Prelude and
Main Title March," from Superman: The Movie. Today's edition of
A Fistful of Soundtracks salutes New York with music from movies and
television series that were filmed there or set there. This is… a Fistful
of Soundtracks Tribute to New York. Next up is a double shot of Leonard
Bernstein. We'll hear Bernstein conduct the New York Philharmonic for a performance
of a piece entitled "Andante (with dignity)," from his score to the
1954 Brando movie On the Waterfront. The performance was recorded in
1960 at the Manhattan Center. And then the piece from On the Waterfront
will be followed by another classic Bernstein piece from a New York movie: it's
the overture from the 1961 movie version of West Side Story.
[Leonard Bernstein's
"Andante (with dignity) — Presto barbaro (Symphonic Suite),"
from On the Waterfront]
[Leonard Bernstein's
"Overture," from West Side Story]
AQUINO: Leonard
Bernstein with the overture from the big-screen version of West Side Story.
The opening dance sequence in West Side Story was shot in a part of the
Upper West Side that later became the Lincoln Center. Before that was another
Leonard Bernstein piece from a New York movie: it was "Andante (with dignity),"
from his score to On the Waterfront, which recently came out on DVD.
Today's edition of A Fistful of Soundtracks salutes New York with music
from movies and TV series that were filmed there or set there. It's a tribute
to New York. It's a big up to the Big Apple. Now New York is home to some famous
directors: Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Sidney Lumet, Spike Lee… You know,
how about we hear some music from a Spike Lee Joint? Up next is the theme from
Spike Lee's Crooklyn, produced by A Tribe Called Quest and performed
by the Crooklyn Dodgers, featuring Special Ed, Buckshot and Masta Ace. And I
speak for everybody when I say: Where are they now?
[The Crooklyn Dodgers'
end theme from Crooklyn]
AQUINO: That was
the end title theme from Spike Lee's semiautobiographical Crooklyn, which
if you've ever seen the movie, it accompanies a montage of dance clips from
old episodes of Soul Train. The Crooklyn theme was performed by
the Crooklyn Dodgers, which back in 1994, was a supertrio of rappers Special
Ed, Buckshot from Black Moon and Masta Ace. Not so super anymore — what
happened to these guys? Listeners who don't listen to rap are going, "What
the hell is Jimmy talking about?" Today on A Fistful of Soundtracks,
we're hearing music from movies and TV shows set in the most resilient city
in the world. A sign that things are getting back to normal in New York? New
Yorkers are giving each other the finger again. More music from New York movies
and shows after a short break, but first, let's listen to this.
HOUR 2
ACT 1
AQUINO: You're listening
to A Fistful of Soundtracks. I'm your host, Jim Aquino. Two months ago
today, on Sept. 11, New York City experienced perhaps the darkest day in its
history when the World Trade Center was attacked by terrorists. Thousands lost
their lives that day. New York hasn't been quite the same since. And now anthrax
scares that may or may not be connected to the events of Sept. 11 have continued
to keep an already jittery city on its toes. Yet the city perseveres, with spirit
and with humor. And hey, you guys may have lost the World Series last week,
but you haven't lost our support. Today, two months after the attacks, A
Fistful of Soundtracks salutes the most resilient city in the world with
music from New York movies and shows that were filmed there or set there. This
is… a Fistful of Soundtracks Tribute to New York.
[John Barry's theme
from Midnight Cowboy]
AQUINO: John Barry,
featuring Toots Thielemans on harmonica, with the instrumental theme from Midnight
Cowboy. I'm walkin' here! Today's edition of A Fistful of Soundtracks
salutes New York with soundtrack music related to the city. Next up in a few
moments is a double shot of movie music centering on Broadway. We'll hear the
main title theme from Sweet Smell of Success, composed by Elmer Bernstein,
who, by the way, was honored this week by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences in Beverly Hills for 50 years of film scoring. Amazing legend.
And then the theme from Sweet Smell of Success will be followed by the
Broadway scene from the Simpsons episode "The City of New York vs.
Homer Simpson," which, by the way, was removed from syndication by Twentieth
Century Fox a few weeks ago because of its jokes about New York and because
most of the scenes with Homer take place at the World Trade Center. That sucks,
doesn't it? As if some mook over in Brooklyn is going, "Hey, dat episode's
inappropriate! The Simpsons have gone too far!" This putting a leash
on popular culture because of recent events is getting out of hand now. Besides,
New Yorkers still have a good sense of humor about themselves. And they've been
through so much that I don't think an episode of The Simpsons poking
fun at them would faze them. Anyway, A Fistful of Soundtracks is gonna
let you hear a musical number from the Simpsons episode that Fox doesn't
want you to see anymore. They think they can completely remove the episode from
people's memories? Simpsons fans aren't dumb. I mean the episode's Broadway
scene is included on one of the Simpsons soundtracks, for crying out
loud. Next, they're probably gonna go after that CD and remove copies from the
stores. Anyway… but first, here's the legendary Elmer Bernstein with "The
Street," the theme from Sweet Smell of Success.
[Elmer Bernstein's
"The Street (Main Title)," from Sweet Smell of Success]
[The "You're
Checkin' In" musical number, from the Simpsons episode "The
City of New York vs. Homer Simpson"]
["A Tribute
to New York" ID: "A Fistful of Soundtracks. 'A Tribute to New
York.' Taxi Driver. Bernard Herrmann."]
[Bernard Herrmann's "Main Title," from Taxi Driver]
[Mike Post's theme
from Law & Order]
AQUINO: Mike Post
with the theme from Law & Order. I can remember a time when Law
& Order wasn't all over the TV. [Sounds like an old man] Remember those
days? You know, back in the day, we didn't have Law & Order on A&E
and Law & Order on TNT. There was no Law & Order: Special
Victims Unit or Law & Order: Criminal Intent or Law &
Order: Deep Space Nine. I had to walk 10 miles barefoot in the snow to get
to Law & Order… Anyway, before the theme from Law & Order,
we heard Bernard Herrmann's main title theme from Taxi Driver. Today's
edition of A Fistful of Soundtracks salutes New York with music from
movies and television series that were filmed in New York or are set in New
York. There are 8 million stories in the Naked City, and next, we'll hear two
of them. We'll hear the Jazz at the Movies Band perform the theme from the 1948
film The Naked City, which was composed by Miklos Rozsa and Frank Skinner.
And then that will be followed by Mundell Lowe & His All Stars performing
George Duning's theme from the TV version of The Naked City.
[Miklos Rozsa and
Frank Skinner's theme from The Naked City, performed by the Jazz at the
Movies Band]
[George Duning's
theme from the Naked City TV series, performed by Mundell Lowe &
His All Stars]
AQUINO: Mundell
Lowe & His All Stars performing the theme from the Naked City TV
series. Before that, the Jazz at the Movies Band performed the theme from the
original Naked City movie. Today's edition of A Fistful of Soundtracks
is a tribute to New York. More music from New York movies and shows after a
short break, but first, let's listen to this.
[A Fistful of
Soundtracks ID: "It's A Fistful of Soundtracks. KZSC."]
ACT 2
["A Tribute
to New York" ID: "Today, A Fistful of Soundtracks salutes the
most resilient city in the world with music from movies and television series
that were filmed there or set there. This is… a Fistful of Soundtracks
Tribute to New York."]
AQUINO: Hey. Jim
Aquino here. Today's edition of A Fistful of Soundtracks is a shout out
to New York. So we're hearing soundtrack music related to the city that never
sleeps. Now I like New York and I wanna live there and work there someday, even
after the attacks, but I just want to make sure that today's show is not a complete
ass kiss to New York. I mean if you ask a New Yorker how they really feel about
all the love America's been showering New York with lately, they'd probably
laugh it off and then give you the finger. I saw that episode of Third Watch
about life after Sept. 11, and there were these wonderful scenes where we
saw how the firefighters and the cops and the medics feel uncomfortable about
all the hero worship and all the love and attention towards New York. So I'm
gonna make sure that for the rest of the show that I mute the love for New York
a little bit. Because New York will always have its flaws. I mean, for example,
what's up with the people on the subway? At least when you ride BART, your chances
of getting accosted by dudes who think they can speak to aliens with their tinfoil
hats are much slimmer. But love it or hate it, New York is an interesting place,
and it's such a great setting for films and TV shows, and that's what today's
edition of Fistful is all about. Next up here on this New York-centric
edition of Fistful is Mike Post with the extended version of his theme
music from NYPD Blue, and this version includes actual lyrics that have
never really been heard on the show. So listen closely to the lyrics. It's hard
to believe this version of the theme was recorded back in 1993 because it sounds
like it was recorded yesterday, as if it was in response to the events of Sept.
11. Here it is: the rarely heard extended version of the theme from NYPD
Blue, on A Fistful of Soundtracks.
[Mike Post's theme
from NYPD Blue] (For those who don't know, the rarely heard lyrics
from the Blue theme are "It's alright/Make me feel good/I said it's
alright," sung by a doo-wop-style chorus. The lyrics were actually heard
once in the series, during the pilot episode. They were used for — get
this — a softcore porn-style cue accompanying the pilot's notorious nude
sex scene between David Caruso and Amy Brenneman. — Jimmy)
["A Tribute
to New York" ID: "A Fistful of Soundtracks. 'A Tribute to New
York.' Do the Right Thing. Bill Lee."]
[Bill Lee's "Wake Up Finale," from Do the Right Thing]
AQUINO: From the
score to Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, a wonderful movie about the
Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, we heard Bill Lee and the Natural Spiritual Orchestra
with "Wake Up Finale." Today on A Fistful of Soundtracks, we've
been listening to music from New York movies and TV shows. Let's conclude this
tribute to New York with a famous tune that wasn't written for the movies but
it's been in so many of them, including Fantasia 2000 and most famously,
as a theme for Woody Allen's Manhattan. And yeah, the United Airlines
commercials too. It's a tune that perhaps best represents New York City. I'm
talking about George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." And it's the final
tune in today's Fistful of Soundtracks Tribute to New York. This version
of "Rhapsody in Blue" is from the Fantasia 2000 soundtrack,
and it's performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by James Levine.
[George Gershwin's
"Rhapsody in Blue," from Fantasia 2000]
[Isaac Hayes' end
title theme from Shaft in background]
AQUINO: From the
Fantasia 2000 soundtrack, that was Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue,"
performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra with James Levine as conductor. Doesn't
that tune just make your heart soar? The end title music from the New York movie
Shaft means that's gonna do it for today's Fistful of Soundtracks
Tribute to New York. Today, we heard music from movies and TV shows that are
either filmed or set in the city that never sleeps.
AL PACINO (from
Scarface): Who put this thing together? Me! That's who!
AQUINO: A Fistful
of Soundtracks was edited and produced by me, Jim Aquino. Don't forget to
visit the Fistful of Soundtracks Web site at jim.aquino.com. Once again, the Web site is jim.A-Q-U-I-N-O.com. Aiiight, this
is Jimmy "Mack" Aquino saying, I'm outta here. Peace.
© 2003 Jimmy Aquino