Being a soundtrack collector, and very much appreciating George Duning's remarkable compositions, I CANNOT FATHOM Columbia Pictures or RCA NOT contracting for the release of a soundtrack album for Duning's score.
The music is mood-creating and highly sentimental, not to mention just plain beautiful! To add insult to injury, it was apparently recorded in MONO ONLY! One of Hollywood's BIGGEST MISTAKES! NO SOUNDTRACK ALBUM for STRANGERS WHEN WE MEET!!
They should release a soundtrack of all the George Duning & Richard Quine's work together at Columbia:
Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder, Cruisin' Down the River, My Sister Eileen, Full of Life, Operation Mad Ball, Bell Book and Candle, It Happened to Jane, The World of Suzie Wong, The Notorious Landlady, and yes, most especially Strangers When We Meet ...
I have Andre Previn conducting "Theme From Strangers When We Meet". It's on 7" vinyl 45rpm record. Better than nothing.
shareA version of "Strangers When We Meet" is up on Youtube. Look up "Ronnie Aldrich - Strangers When We Meet".
It is a beautiful arrangement with a little Latin flavor.
Love all the George Duning scores I've ever heard, especially this one, "Any Wednesday" and "That Touch of Mink". He was so great at capturing the essence of the film, whether romance or comedy.
His music was also so evocative of the early 60's.
pouncemo, I just listened to the Ronnie Aldrich recording of Duning's theme, and it was fabulous; thank you! Interestingly, there's also an Aldrich recording of Moonglow there, but without the Picnic theme in counterpoint. It's really nice, and here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xFR0ueKkDw
In addition, here's the link to Aldrich's beautiful recording of Strangers When We Meet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRPJVPJ8Tes
So glad you liked it. I was listening to it today and remembering that I had recommended it on this thread. It is quite different from the version in the film, more light and bright and a little flowery.
The score hit the tone of the film just right. Romantic but with a tinge of sadness that perfectly conveyed the complicated love affair between two mature, married adults.
Thank you for the links. I'm going to listen to Moonglow, one of my all time favorite songs from one of my all time favorite films, right now...
Duning's score is indeed terrific, and he is one of the most under-rated of all Hollywood composers. His prolific work for Columbia Pictures in the '50s and '60s is consistently outstanding. Btw, Colpix Records at least released a 45 rpm single recording of the SWWM main theme, and I believe it was arranged and conducted by Duning himself, though I can't swear to it.
shareI have the Ronnie Aldrich piano version of Strangers When We Meet, but an even better one is available. It is by Fausto Papetti entitled "Noi Due Sconsciuti"
It is on the album "Fausto Papetti: Seconda Raccolta" It's available on iTunes and Amazon. Actually it is on several of his albums.
He plays the saxophone and it very much captures the tone of the film, much more so (imo) than the Aldrich version which I do love.
Check out Fausto Papetti for a beautiful take on the theme of Strangers When We Meet.