Press Release from Music Box:
In collaboration with BMG and EMI Music Publishing France, Music Box Records proudly presents on the same album three original motion picture soundtracks which highlight the collaboration between composer Philippe Sarde and Pierre Granier-Deferre: L’Homme aux yeux d’argent (The Man with the Silver Eyes, 1985), Cours privé (Private Tuition, 1986) and Une étrange affaire (Strange Affair, 1981). In addition, the album also features the score of Que les gros salaires lèvent le doigt ! (Will the High Salaried Workers Raise Their Hands!, 1982), directed by Denys Granier-Deferre.
This album presents the composer’s versatility that takes the listener on a discovery of the jazz score composed for L’Homme aux yeux d’argent, highlighting some legendary jazz soloists of their time: Herbie Hancock, Toots Thielemans, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Clark Terry. In contrast, the lyrical score of Cours privé combines the timbre of Joe Beck's electric guitar with the impressionist piano and the soft strings of the Orchestre de Paris. The music of Une étrange affaire (only released on a 45 rpm when the film was released in theaters) is finally presented in an expanded version and lets admire one of the jewels of the collaboration between Philippe Sarde and the filmmaker of The Cat, The Widow Couderc or The Train. Three scores for one of the composer's favorite filmmakers, including Que les gros salaires lèvent le doigt ! with an openly pop style single theme. A musical quartet placed under the seal of musical inventiveness and a beautiful faithfulness that has become almost family-like for the occasion.
The program has been assembled, produced and supervised by Philippe Sarde and Édouard Dubois. This present edition has been fully remastered from complete scoring session elements and includes previously unreleased tracks. The CD comes with a 12-page booklet with liner notes by Christian Lauliac, discussing the films and the scores. The release is limited to 500 units.