I never heard of Ron Grainer before, but clearly, I know his music due to my obsession with the TV series "The Prisoner." I can spend hours just watching the opening credits to the show, where secret agent No. 6 (Patrick McGoohan) resigns in anger and is seen being kidnapped and taken to the island, which resembles a retirement home for lunatics. Within two minutes one has the flavor as well as the narrative of the show. Equally exciting is the soundtrack theme to "The Prisoner."
Ron Grainer wrote the central theme, and the rest of the music that was on the show is a combination of his work, and various British composers who worked in the Film Library world. At times, playful, sinister, and classic Spy theme music all rolled in one package. British sounding to the core, and not that different from the aesthetics of various English shows of the time: "The Avengers," "Saint," and even McGoohan's old show "Secret Agent Man" (or in the UK "Danger Man"). Still, this is a spy TV show that hints of the avant-garde, or the theater of the absurd. A limited run show that had a beginning, a middle, and an end. In that format, it is like a structured version of "Twin Peaks," but with the intensity of McGoohan's participation. It's odd that I have at least three albums that are based on Parick McGoohan's film/TV works. Perhaps it's not the music itself, but the presence of this great actor/producer/director.
No comments:
Post a Comment