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Today, September 16, is the birthday of Mickey Rourke, an actor who seemed to specialize in weird film roles but his weirdest role has to be as Harry Angel in Angel Heart, a 1987 American neo-noir psychological horror film which was an adaptation of the William Hjortsberg 1978 novel Falling Angel.
William Hjortsberg ~ Falling Angel book cover
Written and directed by Alan Parker, the film stars Rourke in the lead role, with Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet and Charlotte Rampling. Angel Heart is not for the timid, it is graphic, grim, grisly and gruesome but it is brilliant and profound.
De Niro himself is no stranger to bizarre roles as witness the paranoid Taxi Driver in 1976 and the self-destructive and obsessive boxer, Jake LaMotta (link below), in the 1980 film Raging Bull.
De Niro himself is no stranger to bizarre roles as witness the paranoid Taxi Driver in 1976 and the self-destructive and obsessive boxer, Jake LaMotta (link below), in the 1980 film Raging Bull.
Raging Bull - 1980
photographers unknown
photographers unknown
Robert De Niro appears as Louis Cyphre (read: Lucifer, the devil incarnate). He is suave, impeccably dressed, sinister, dangerous and completely evil.
Robert De Niro as Louis Cyphre
American folk music and Piedmont blues singer and guitarist, Brownie McGhee, appears in the film as Toots Sweet. After Angel uses force to try to extract details of Favorite's last
known whereabouts, Toots refers him back to Margaret Krusemark (Charlotte Rampling). The following
morning, police detectives inform Harry that Toots has been murdered.
vinyl LP front cover
cover photo by Terry O'Neil
photo of album cover by Styrous®
William Hjortsberg also wrote the screenplay for the 1985 Ridley Scott film, Legend, which starred Tom Cruise and Tim Curry. Now, there's a bizarre teaming!
Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford
were originally considered for the
role of Harry Angel. Parker began meeting with actors for the lead role
of Harry Angel. After meeting Rourke and walking the streets of New York
through the night with him, Rourke declared that Parker should stop
looking for other actors, the role was his. Impressed by Rourke’s
confidence, Parker made him his Angel.
Alan Parker also directed Bugsy Malone, a 1976 gangster musical comedy which featured only child actors playing adult roles. The cast included Jodie Foster, Scott Baio and John Cassisi. He also directed the 1978 film Midnight Express, written by Oliver Stone, based on the Billy Hayes 1977 non-fiction book Midnight Express. It featured Brad Davis and John Hurt.
A2 Honeyman Blues
Performer [Performed by Bessie Smith
Written by G. Brooks* - 1:18
Nightmare
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 2:14
A3 Secret Loves
A4 Girl Of My Dreams
Performer [Performed by Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra
Written by Sunny clapp - 1:20
A5 I Got This Thing About Chickens
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 3:47
A6 Keyhole Song
Written by Clarence Williams, Eddy Green* - 3:23
Side 2:
Harry Angel
B1 Rainy Day
Performer [Performed by Brownie McGhee
Written by Brownie McGhee - 2:50
Looking For Johnny
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 7:34
B2.1 Cajuns
B2.2 Epihany
B2.3 I Am An Atheist
B2.4 Frightened Eyes Never Lie
B3 Soul On Fire
Performer [Performed by Performed By] – Laverne Baker*
Written by Ahmet Ertegun/Gerald Weffer* - 2:53
Bloodmare
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 3:02
B4 Dog Tags
B5 Johny Favourite
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 4:38
Remaining Time -1:13
Companies, etc.
Record Company – Island Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Ariola Eurodisc GmbH
Copyright © – Island Records Ltd.
Distributed By – RCA/Ariola-Ariola/RCA
Distributed By – Ariola/RCA-RCA/Ariola
Mixed At – Trilion Studios
Mixed At – CTS Studios
Pressed By – Sonopress
Published By – Anabasis Music
Published By – Copyright Control
Published By – Lawrence Wright Music Ltd.
Published By – Walter Brownie McGhee Publishing Co.
Published By – Chappell Music Ltd.
Credits:
Composed By, Arranged By, Conductor [Conducted By] – Trevor Jones
Coordinator [Album Co-ordinator] – Richard Manners
Coordinator [Music Co-ordinator] – Victoria Seale
Engineer [Assistant] – Buster Field
Executive-Producer – Marc Marot
Keyboards – David Lawson*, Trevor Jones
Mixed By – Paul Hulme
Producer [Album Produced By] – Trevor Jones (tracks: A1, A3, A5, A6, B1, B2, B4, B5)
Recorded By [Dialogue, Sound Effects] – David Wooley*
Sleeve – Island Art
Sleeve Notes – Alan Parker (2)
Soloist [Solo], Saxophone – Courtney Pine
Synthesizer, Sound Designer [Sounds Realized By] – David Lawson*
Voice [Bass, Baritone] – Simon Grant (4)
Voice [Coloratura] – Catherine Bott
Notes:
[On back]
Music co-ordinator: [...] for Contemporary Media Music Productions.
℗ 1987 [...] © 1987 [...]
Printed in Germany • Imprimé en Allemagne
[Island Visual Arts logo]
[On labels]
O.S.T. ANGEL HEART
ANABASIS MUSIC [tracks: A1, A3, A5, B2, B4, B5]
COPYRIGHT CONTROL [tracks: A2, A6]
LAWRENCE WRIGHT MUSIC LTD. [tracks: A4]
WALTER B. McGHEE PUBL. CO. [tracks: B1]
CHAPPELL MUSIC LTD. [tracks: B3]
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Barcode (Scanned): 4007192083961
Barcode (Text): 4 007192 083961
Label Code: LC 0407
Rights Society (Boxed): GEMA STEMRA BIEM
Pressing Plant ID (Side B label, embossed): [Bass clef]
Matrix / Runout (Label side A): S 208.396 A
Matrix / Runout (Label side B): S 208.396 B
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout stamped, variant 1): DM 208396 A-1/5-87
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout stamped, variant 1): DM 208396 B-1/5-87
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout stamped, variant 2): DM 208396 A-1/5-87
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout stamped, II etched, variant 2): DM 208396 B-1/5-87 II
Harry Angel (Rourke), a New York City private investigator, is hired to solve the disappearance of a man known as Johnny Favorite. His investigation takes him to New Orleans,
where he becomes embroiled in a series of brutal murders.
The key to everything is "heart" in every form of its meaning and
perception. It is not a pretty film; it gets gritty and graphic in every
way possible. But it is a great film and one not to be missed. I do
not want to give away anything but there is a blog that tells all, if you are
into spoilers (link below)
The score was produced and composed by Trevor Jones, with saxophone solos by British jazz musician Courtney Pine. Jones composed the score electronically on a Synclavier. In it director Alan Parker chose to reference the 1937 song, Girl of My Dreams by Glen Gray.
Saxophonist Pine utilized an Echoplex much as Stan Getz did on his 1978 song, Another World in which he referenced Alice Blue Gown by Joseph McCarthy and Harry Tierney.
Alan Parker also directed Bugsy Malone, a 1976 gangster musical comedy which featured only child actors playing adult roles. The cast included Jodie Foster, Scott Baio and John Cassisi. He also directed the 1978 film Midnight Express, written by Oliver Stone, based on the Billy Hayes 1977 non-fiction book Midnight Express. It featured Brad Davis and John Hurt.
Midway through the film there is a very weird scene with a sexy Louisiana Voodoo Queen, Lisa Bonet
who has the female lead as Epiphany Proudfoot. Proudfoot had an affair
with Johnny Favorite, the man Johnny Angel is searching for. Confused?
Well, that's the aim of the film!
The book, Falling Angel, was also adapted into an opera by J. Mark Scearce to a libretto by Lucy Thurber. Titled Falling Angel, it premiered at the Brevard Music Center on June 30, 2016.
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Side 1:
Harry Angel
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 6:55
A1.1 Kingdom Mission
A1.2 Introducing Mr Cyphre
A1.3 Fowler's
A1.4 Harlem Chase
A1.5 Lanza's
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 6:55
A1.1 Kingdom Mission
A1.2 Introducing Mr Cyphre
A1.3 Fowler's
A1.4 Harlem Chase
A1.5 Lanza's
A2 Honeyman Blues
Performer [Performed by Bessie Smith
Written by G. Brooks* - 1:18
Nightmare
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 2:14
A3 Secret Loves
A4 Girl Of My Dreams
Performer [Performed by Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra
Written by Sunny clapp - 1:20
A5 I Got This Thing About Chickens
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 3:47
A6 Keyhole Song
Written by Clarence Williams, Eddy Green* - 3:23
Side 2:
Harry Angel
B1 Rainy Day
Performer [Performed by Brownie McGhee
Written by Brownie McGhee - 2:50
Looking For Johnny
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 7:34
B2.1 Cajuns
B2.2 Epihany
B2.3 I Am An Atheist
B2.4 Frightened Eyes Never Lie
B3 Soul On Fire
Performer [Performed by Performed By] – Laverne Baker*
Written by Ahmet Ertegun/Gerald Weffer* - 2:53
Bloodmare
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 3:02
B4 Dog Tags
B5 Johny Favourite
Performer [Performed by Courtney Pine, Trevor Jones
Written by Trevor Jones - 4:38
Remaining Time -1:13
Companies, etc.
Record Company – Island Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Ariola Eurodisc GmbH
Copyright © – Island Records Ltd.
Distributed By – RCA/Ariola-Ariola/RCA
Distributed By – Ariola/RCA-RCA/Ariola
Mixed At – Trilion Studios
Mixed At – CTS Studios
Pressed By – Sonopress
Published By – Anabasis Music
Published By – Copyright Control
Published By – Lawrence Wright Music Ltd.
Published By – Walter Brownie McGhee Publishing Co.
Published By – Chappell Music Ltd.
Credits:
Composed By, Arranged By, Conductor [Conducted By] – Trevor Jones
Coordinator [Album Co-ordinator] – Richard Manners
Coordinator [Music Co-ordinator] – Victoria Seale
Engineer [Assistant] – Buster Field
Executive-Producer – Marc Marot
Keyboards – David Lawson*, Trevor Jones
Mixed By – Paul Hulme
Producer [Album Produced By] – Trevor Jones (tracks: A1, A3, A5, A6, B1, B2, B4, B5)
Recorded By [Dialogue, Sound Effects] – David Wooley*
Sleeve – Island Art
Sleeve Notes – Alan Parker (2)
Soloist [Solo], Saxophone – Courtney Pine
Synthesizer, Sound Designer [Sounds Realized By] – David Lawson*
Voice [Bass, Baritone] – Simon Grant (4)
Voice [Coloratura] – Catherine Bott
Notes:
[On back]
Music co-ordinator: [...] for Contemporary Media Music Productions.
℗ 1987 [...] © 1987 [...]
Printed in Germany • Imprimé en Allemagne
[Island Visual Arts logo]
[On labels]
O.S.T. ANGEL HEART
ANABASIS MUSIC [tracks: A1, A3, A5, B2, B4, B5]
COPYRIGHT CONTROL [tracks: A2, A6]
LAWRENCE WRIGHT MUSIC LTD. [tracks: A4]
WALTER B. McGHEE PUBL. CO. [tracks: B1]
CHAPPELL MUSIC LTD. [tracks: B3]
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Barcode (Scanned): 4007192083961
Barcode (Text): 4 007192 083961
Label Code: LC 0407
Rights Society (Boxed): GEMA STEMRA BIEM
Pressing Plant ID (Side B label, embossed): [Bass clef]
Matrix / Runout (Label side A): S 208.396 A
Matrix / Runout (Label side B): S 208.396 B
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout stamped, variant 1): DM 208396 A-1/5-87
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout stamped, variant 1): DM 208396 B-1/5-87
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout stamped, variant 2): DM 208396 A-1/5-87
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout stamped, II etched, variant 2): DM 208396 B-1/5-87 II
Various – Angel Heart (Original Soundtrack Music By Trevor Jones. Featuring Courtney Pine, Saxophone.)
Label: Antilles New Directions – 208 396, Antilles New Directions – 208.396
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Jazz, Blues, Stage & Screen
Style: Soundtrack, Louisiana Blues, Delta Blues, Cool Jazz
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
DVD Talk ~ Angel Heart (spoiler ALERT)
Fiction Machine ~ Angel Heart (review)
Mad Monster ~ De Niro Does the Devil
Alan Parker ~ The Making of Angel Heart
UCR ~ Lisa Bonet likes being different review
YouTube links:
10 Things You Didn't know About Angel Heart (14 mins., 26 secs.)
Angel Heart ~
Angel Heart movie trailer
Stan Getz ~ Another World song
J. Mark Scearce ~ Fallen Angels
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