North Dallas Forty

British composer John Scott renewed his association with director Ted Kotcheff to provide a terrific score for North Dallas Forty, balancing personal, intimate music with dramatic sports energy. The music draws on the composer's jazz background (as a prominent session player in the '60s) but grounds it in a classical approach. The main theme is a flexible, bluesy melody which is tender and mellow when it accompanies the movie's more emotional moments, and haunting and eerie as it underscores the physical and emotional damage incurred by the players. By contrast, some of the football scenes feature a type of tuneful, disco-orchestral fusion (common to sports broadcasting of the era), while others underscore the violence, drama, celebration and heartbreak of the sport.

The 20-page booklet includes a personal reminiscence from composer Scott plus informative notes about the film and score by Andy Dursin (incorporating further quotes from Scott). Numerous film stills and the customary track-by-track analysis of each cue complete the package.

This premiere release of John Scott's complete score for North Dallas Forty has been newly remixed and mastered from the original 2" 16-track recordings for sterling sound quality. The extensive bonus section features numerous unused cues and alternates.