Zigzag - The super cops

FSM returns to the heart of the Silver Age of film music—the early 1970s—with this 2CD set of M-G-M scores by Oliver Nelson and Jerry Fielding.

Oliver Nelson (1932-1975) was best-known for his television music ( The Six Million Dollar Man) and superlative arrangements for other musicians (Alfie, Last Tango in Paris). One of the few African American composers to break through on mainstream Hollywood projects, he was a gifted musician beloved for his penchant for melody and pleasurable orchestrations.

Zigzag (1970), a mystery-thriller starring George Kennedy, was one of Nelson's few feature scores, for which he provided a pair of evocative themes and jazz-based undercurrents. Disc one of this album features the previously unreleased original soundtrack (with action cues anticipating The Six Million Dollar Man) plus the LP re-recording (featuring vocalists Roy Orbison and Bobby Hatfield).

Jerry Fielding (1922-1980) is best-known for his work for Sam Peckinpah, but scored dozens of projects in the 1970s, with a complex, intricate style that was perfect for the decade.

The Super Cops (1974), directed by Gordon Parks (Shaft), was based on a true story about a pair of low-level cops who took it upon themselves to clean up a dangerous area of New York City. Fielding provided an amusing, energetic kaleidoscope of moods and styles: anxious, comedic, reflective, and action-packed, with funky source cues and a cheeky, militaristic main title—it's Jerry Fielding meets Shaft.

To fill out the running times, this 2CD set adds a bevy of bonus cues: Disc two includes Fielding's three episode scores for the 1973 TV series Hawkins, interpolating Jerry Goldsmith's theme for the pilot (FSMCD Vol. 6, No. 13); plus unreleased Fielding source cues from The Outfit (1973, otherwise released as FSMCD Vol. 5, No. 8). Disc one adds jazz standard source cues from Zigzag and The Outfit recorded by legendary singer Anita O'Day. Liner notes are by Lukas Kendall. Both discs are in excellent stereo sound.

Tracklist

Disc 1
1. Main Title (02:16)
2. This Is A Brain Tumor / YC-30 / Insurance Office / Insurance Books (02:54)
3. Cartridge / Earphones / Holding Letter (02:16)
4. This Robe Is Shot / Out Of Focus (03:02)
5. The Walk to Court / My Maiden Name (03:01)
6. Yes, Your Honor / Guilty, Your Honor (01:30)
7. Breakout (03:02)
8. Did You Call A Cab? / Pier And Surf / Effects / Marimba Select / Two MP's (02:22)
9. The Other Car / Nite Scene (02:29)
10. Shotgun Blast / End Title (02:53)

TRACKS 11-21: Album Recording
11. All You Did Was Smile (01:35)
Vocal by Bobby Hatfield
12. Main Title From Zigzag (02:27)
13. Guilty, Your Honor (01:47)
14. It Was You, It Was You (02:29)
15. Love Theme (Bossa) (02:38)
16. Earphones (02:05)
17. Zigzag (02:50)
Vocal by Roy Orbison
18. The Other Car (03:58)
19. Variation Of Themes (04:51)
20. I Call Your Name (02:33)
Vocal by Bobby Hatfiel
21. End Title (01:06)

TRACKS 22-27: Anita O'Day Sings (source cues from Zigzag and The Outfit) / total time: 17'13
22. On Green Dolphin Street (Kaper & Washington) (03:22)
23. I Concentrate On You (Porter) (02:11)
24. Everything I Have Is Yours (Adamson & Lane) (03:32)
25. You Were Meant For Me (Brown & Freed) (02:03)
26. Don't Blame Me (Fields & McHugh) (03:19)
27. Did You Call A Cab? (Zigzag Alternate) / On Green Dolphin Street (Kaper & Washington) (02:32)
CD 1: Zigzag (1970) / total time: 72'17

Disc 2
1. Main Title (01:15)
2. The Sniper (01:36)
3. Angels / Everybody Down (00:35)
4. Blue Imperial / Bed-Stuy (02:47)
5. Pull The Shade (02:17)
6. Interior Hock Shop / Turn In Your Badges (01:20)
7. Good Friends / To The Dead Child / By The Book (01:46)
8. Tip Top Inn / More Tip Top Inn (04:27)
9. Sara's Strip (01:21)
10. The Junkie (01:21)
11. Down Rope / Across The Roof (01:46)
12. Sara And The Cat (01:43)
13. Hit Men (02:03)
14. Purse Snatcher / The Hip Strip / Raid On The Hayes Bros. (04:51)
15. Caucasian Lads / Pusher Chase / End Of Pusher Chase (03:02)
16. Ride With The Hayes Bros. (01:25)
17. After Shoot (01:28)
18. Rotunda (01:50)
19. Interior Hock Shop / Turn In Your Badges (Alternate) (01:24)
TRACKS 1-19: The Super Cops (1974) / total time: 38'47

20. Life For A Life (Includes Hawkins Theme by Jerry Goldsmith) (12:37)
21. Harmonica Source ("Blood Feud") (00:33)
22. Blood Feud (07:45)
23. Source ("Murder In The Slave Trade") (01:13)
24. Murder In The Slave Trade (Includes Hawkins Theme by Jerry Goldsmith) (04:57)
TRACKS 20-24: Hawkins (1973) / total time: 27'15

25. Gas Station #1 (The Outfit) (02:27)
26. Cody Diner #2 Alternate (The Outfit) (02:59)
27. Look At Me Now (The Outfit) (02:56)
28. All Purpose Extra Blues Source (The Outfit) (04:04)
29. Pull The Shade (The Super Cops Alternate) (01:04)
TRACKS 25-29: Jerry Fielding's Source Cafe / total time: 13'41