2CD, limited edition of 350. When the talk turns to music for the Italian western, the conversation tends to begin and end with Ennio Morricone. Ortolani's writing for I giorni dell'ira is the proof that the genre held more than one voice. Directed by Tonino Valerii in 1967 and starring Lee Van Cleef and Giuliano Gemma, the film follows a town outcast who becomes the apprentice of a celebrated gunfighter, and the score tracks that arc of ambition, mentorship and revenge with a sound all its own.
Ortolani came to film from the jazz bandstand, and it shows. Across the score he sets sweeping orchestral themes against blaring trumpet, jazzy horns, electric guitar and a rhythmic snap that pulls the western away from its expected register and toward something cooler and more urbane. The central Fino all'ultimo colpo is the standout, a slow-stepping theme with real soul that recurs throughout, while the main title has gone on to a long afterlife, later drawn on by Quentin Tarantino. This is the composer of Mondo Cane and its Grammy-winning More applying that melodic gift to dust, gunsmoke and moral reckoning.
RCA released two albums in 1967, an Italian mono LP and a US stereo edition, sharing a track list but differing in mixes, takes and edits. Every CD reissue since drew on the mono album alone, until recently. For this edition both albums appear from their respective original elements, alongside the complete film score in stereo, drawn together by Claudio Fuiano, restored and mastered by Chris Malone, with an essay by Jeff Bond. Released by Quartet Records with GDM and Universal Music Publishing Italy.
A cornerstone of the Italian western and one of the high points of Ortolani's screen work, restored at last to its full shape. Limited to 350 copies and not to be missed.
Music composed and conducted by Riz Ortolani. Original mono album, original stereo album and complete film score in stereo from the original elements. Audio supervised by Claudio Fuiano, restored and mastered by Chris Malone. Booklet essay by Jeff Bond.
