NAVAJO JOE

Label: FSMCD Vol.10 No.14
Date: 1966
Tracks: 35
Time = 55:26

Cool album! Ennio Morricone (under pseudonym "Leo Nichols") gave Sergio Corbucci spaghetti western with early Burt Reynolds role a distinctive meld of now-trademark Italy western-isms (fragmented melodic hook, electric guitar, repeating piano figures, large chorus, harmonica solos, thundering percussion) plus modernism of considerably harsher musical vernacular. Native American-like voices literally cry out title character throughout score but tiny hook is always welcome eight-note idea that begins in minor, moves upwards by fourth to major, then drops back to initial minor. Another interesting device is sinister secondary motif for twanging electric guitar & left-hand piano that actually mimics harmonic outline of main "Navajo Joe" theme. Neat idea! Admittedly, variety of material takes back seat to repetition with slight differences in coloring. But what colors! FSM release offers three stereo selections from British western compilation, all mono tracks from United Artists LP from 1974 plus abundance of previously unreleased music from mono master elements. Superb liner notes & track analysis from John Bender, co-producers Lukas Kendall & Jim Wynorski (plus nice personal footnote from latter writer) provide insight to unique film genre, contributions of Morricone plus more. Ennio Morricone conducts. Sensational addition to any Italian western music library lands a knockout!

1. Navajo Joe (Main Title) (2:50) 2. A Silhouette of Doom (2:54) 3. Duncan's Plan (0:31) 4. The Peyote Saloon (2:32) 5. Wiping Out the Town (0:41) 6. The Road to Esperanza (Main Title -- Navajo Joe) (1:54) 7. The Engineer's Harmonica (0:09) 8. Duncan's Wild Bunch (Goodbye to Brother Jeffrey) (0:27) 9. Train Massacre (0:42) 10. Fear and Silence (1:49) 11. A Dollar a Head (2:20) 12. Joe's Departure (End Title -- Navajo Joe) (2:14) 13. An Indian Story (Healing the Wound) (2:01) 14. Ride Into Town (1:49) 15. But Joe Say No (1:20) 16. To Intermission (0:38) 17. Torture (The Bandit Gets the Train) (2:01) 18. Navajo Harmonica, Pt. 1 (0:40) 19. Navajo Harmonica, Pt. 2 (0:48) 20. The Navajo Escapes (1:38) 21. A Bad Childhood (0:26) 22. Joe and His Woman (1:07) 23. The Horses Set Free (0:48) 24. The Demise of Father Rattigan (The Demise of Barbara) (2:56) 25. From Esperanza (To Esperanza) (1:47) 26. Over the Mountain (1:13) 27. The Search for Joe (1:05) 28. The Confrontation / The Return of Joe (1:53) 29. After the End (2:16) Bonus Tracks 30. Main Title (Film Version) (3:01) 31. Raw Hides and Dead Hides (1:20) 32. Fear and Silence (1:49) 33. The Navajo's a Prisoner (1:40) 34. Navajo Joe Medley (2:06) 35. Sadness (0:33)