Ennio Morricone - "Danger: Diabolik" CD, Album, OST, Italy, 2001 (Sycodelic)

Not exactly an obscure soundtrack by Ennio Morricone, but a very difficult one to obtain.  Only available as a bootleg, and always on a CD.   Seeing "Danger: Diabolik" is not that difficult in the world of the format DVD.  Still, Diabolik was a master thief who operated outside the law to do justice.  There was or is something extremely fetish about his lifestyle as well as his love life. He was devoted to his girlfriend/wife, with a sexual passion that is almost heated as his body suits, just exposing his eyes.   Influenced by Fantomas, but very much part of the James Bond world, Diabolik was also an Italian comic book.  I do have some copies that were translated into English.  A guilty pleasure of sorts, but on the other hand, Morricone's score/incidental music for the film is fun. 

If there is a hit song off this, it would be "Deep Down" sung by Christy, who I suspect was sort of an Italian Yé-Yé singer, who worked with Morricone as well as with Piero Piccioni.  The story behind the soundtrack is that the master tapes were destroyed from a warehouse fire, and what we have here is the actual music and dialogue from the film itself.  So, the quality is not that hot, and there is a lot of dialogue added here as well.  Personally, I just want the music, but I can understand that there are people out there who insist on studying the Diabolik film. 

Morricone is a composer of many styles.  "Danger: Diabolik" is the easy listening side of Morricone, a jazz tinge existence with great sound effects.   For the record, it's not my favorite Morricone score, but for those who prefer the Bachelor Pad music era, it is a must and a high point in that world. 

Roberto Pregadio & Romano Mussolini - "Satanik" OST, Vinyl, LP, Album, 2017/1967, Limited Edition, Red Vinyl (Dagored)

The soundtrack to Piero Vivarelli's film "Satanik" based on an Italian comic book series.  The score is jazz, with touches of soundtrack melodies coming here and there.  Mostly the listener feels like they're sitting in a small Rome bar and listening to the band.   Not too far off from a Henry Mancini or even John Barry type of jazz feel.  So we're not talking Miles or Monk here, but a very cool version of jazz, that is more likely played by men in suits and sunglasses and of course, in the middle of the night.   

I know nothing of the composers/musicians Roberto Pregadio and Romano Mussolini.  Pregadio is a jazz pianist who did a lot of Italian soundtracks.   Mussolini is the youngest son of the Italian dictator, and reportedly has no interest in politics, but hugely into jazz.  He played piano and had often worked with Pregadio for soundtracks.  Mussolini is very much a known pianist in Italy and had a long career in that country.   

The soundtrack aspect of the music I think is more Pregadio than Mussolini.  In such moments, the incidental music reminds me a bit of Nino Rota, not in his over-the-top arrangements, but a quiet sense of melody suitable for 3 in the morning. Pergadio is credited as the conductor and director of the orchestra, while the music is credited to both Pregadio and Mussolini.   Or more likely Mussolini made the jazz music.  There is no clear credit on the album.  

The album is red vinyl and in a limited edition of 500.  It's a nice soundtrack album, that's not the best out there, but alas, it gives me pleasure.