Candyman Soundtrack Release Update!!!
I really love the scores for both Candyman films. Just like with the first Halloween film, I strongly believe the movies (at least the first two) would not have been nearly as effective as they were without this beautiful, haunting music by brilliant composer Philip Glass. It created a spooky atmosphere for the world the story was set in and most importantly it created the character of Candyman himself. Giving him both a brutal and tragic quality.
I’ve always wanted to have an official copy of it but was never able to get the Philip Glass: The Music of Candyman soundtrack which I think is still available through Amazon. But if I’m going to own a copy of it I’d rather hear it in the best possible way. And luckily the good folks at One Way Static Records still have some vinyl records in stock but they’ll probably go fast so get your order in ASAP! As you know the limited edition yellow vinyl exclusive has sold out.
Information is provided by realclivebarker.com and there’s a quote from One Way Static Records in there as well with the Candyman soundtrack update:
“If you ordered the Candyman limited edition yellow vinyl exclusive (all sold out!) from realclivebarker.com, good news from One Way Static Records– check their site for cassettes and to see what vinyl records remain. A stunning soundscape by Philip Glass with liner notes from Clive Barker himself.“
Candyman update from One Way Static Records :
“We got confirmation from the pressing plant that the vinyl will be ready by December 15. We’ll keep a close watch on this and we’ll keep you updated. Expect some variant pics as soon as we have them.”
Update: 12/25/2014
Thanks to the official Clive Barker Facebook for the info!
“We’ve just received word from the gentlemen at One Way Static Records that the Candyman soundtracks have come off of the presses and are being inserted into their deluxe gatefold jackets as we speak. There is a black vinyl edition of 1400, a bee-striped vinyl and a mirror edition at 500 copies each, and 100 copies of honey transparent vinyl that was a special exclusive on the RealCliveBarker.com webstore. We’re all very excited to see them here at Seraphim, and if you ordered a copy from the store then you can expect them in January! We’ll make sure to post photos here once they arrive!” (Please note that our 100 honey transparent vinyl copies sold out immediately, sadly we do not have any extras available.)
The liner notes on the CD make it sound like Glass was tricked into composing music for a lowly horror movie. Whoever wrote it pretty much cuts down Candyman at every opportunity and it made me kind of angry. It’s good to see Clive is supplying the comments on this one.
Interesting Dave. Care to show the liner notes if you have the time?
Luckily, I have the CD on hand. Here is the offending BS line:
“Glass accepted this task and wrote a “gothic” score for chorus and pipe organ. Somewhere down the line the producers and Clive Barker became dissatisfied with Rose’s work, probably because he wasn’t creating enough overt gore and horror and relived him from the job of finishing the film. The final version of the film was a disappointment to Glass. He felt he had been manipulated. What was presented to him as a low budget independent project with creative integrity indeed became a low budget Hollywood slasher flick.”
On the DVD Virginia Madsen recalls Rose screaming, “More blood! More blood!” while on the set…It didn’t sound like Rose wasn’t creating enough gore. The only thing that was changed was the ending because a test audience didn’t like it. Clive recalled being at the test screening and a very drunk Rose marched down and told the audience they didn’t know what the fuck they were talking about.
Then the guy writing the notes goes on to say Glass let them use the music for the sequel…Some facts are wrong and it just doesn’t make sense. Anyway, the new liner notes by Clive surely won’t dismiss Candyman as a slasher.
Thanks for sharing Dave. I never knew there were so many behind the scenes problems with Candyman. And I sure didn’t know there was a different ending? What was the original ending? So I guess that’s why Glass didn’t really come back and do an all new score for the Farewell to the Flesh?
Glass did write new cues for Candyman 2, and he also let them use the original Candyman music from the first film. I don’t know. If I was lied to and felt manipulated I wouldn’t come back for part two. The music is brilliant, but those untrustworthy notes still leave me sour.
Clive said the liner notes were wrong. He didn’t know the guy who wrote it, but no one made Rose make it bloody and they didn’t take the movie away from him. Rose turned in a draft for Candyman 2 and then worked on the Midnight Meat Train for a couple of years with Clive before moving on to The Thief of Always. These aren’t the actions of someone who had the movie taken away from him. As an aside, several years ago Rose said he took the MMT elements out of his script and he was still trying to make it as an original movie. Something about the queen of England cannibalizing prostitutes…
The ending of Candyman did change, though. The shot was supposed to go through the painting and we’d see Helen stuck in the wall, covered in bees. Virginia Madsen said she went through hell for that shot, but then they didn’t use it. I was hoping it would be an extra on the DVD, but no dice. I like it as it is, I guess. I always shed a tear at the end when that Glass music plays and I see in the painting that Helen has become the protective avenging angel of Cabrini Green. A Hollywood slasher fim?! You got that very wrong, liner notes writing guy.
Thanks for all the info David. I might end of writing this up as a report sometime. I’ll give you credit of course.