The Hustler Soundtrack

Producer, director, & co-writer Robert Rossen needed a score for his film, "The Hustler", that reflected itsgritty, uncompromising subject matter. If you've seen the 1961 film, then you know the tone is edgy, dark,brooding, hard, & even sad. The extraordinary jazz score written by the brilliant composer Kenyon Hopkins(1912-1983) perfectly evokes these elements in the film. Hopkins, formerly an arranger for Paul Whiteman,became well known as a composer who knew how to successfully emulate "sounds of the city". This debutcd issue on the Cherry Red Record label based out of England is a MUCH awaited welcome to the long out-of-print vinyl soundtrack. Mr. Hopkins was once called, "one of jazz's great composers and arrangers" anddeserved it. On "The Hustler", he used seventeen of the top studio jazzmen of the day, including legendarysax player Phil Woods, Bernie Glow, Jerome Richardson, trumpet great "Doc" Severinsen, Jimmy Cleveland,Milt Hinton, Joe Wilder, and exquisite jazz pianist Hank Jones. Fifteen tracks are featured on the soundtrack(just like the lp), and sound fabulous on cd. Woods, in particular, is stellar in his solo's that shine on severalof the tracks Hopkins wrote. Moreover, the whole ensemble is magnificent in capturing the intense emotionsof the characters and their scenes. In particular, oboe, flute, & English horn are most effectively used at keypoints to underscore the more dramatic and reflective aspects in the film. One of Hopkin's top achievementsin movie scoring, this soundtrack is a classic. Kenyon Hopkins was well known for writing many film scores ina jazz idiom, including "Baby Doll", "The Fugitive Kind", & "This Property is Condemned." He even composeda jazz ballet called "Rooms" for Anna Sokolow. "The Hustler" soundtrack cd also contains two other additionalfilm scores that featured Paul Newman - "Paris Blues" from 1961 composed by Duke Ellington, and "The LongHot Summer" (1958) composed by Alex North. These are fine, but the main showcase here is the marvelous"Hustler" score by Kenyon Hopkins that sounds better than ever now on cd, thanks to the Cherry Red label.Digitally remastered, it's a beautiful and haunting work of art. They don't make them like this anymore.P.S. If you can locate it, get the wonderful jazz-flavored, moody soundtrackKenyon Hopkins wrote for the 1963-64 CBS TV show "East Side, West Side",(which, like "The Hustler", also starred George C. Scott) that was set ANDfilmed entirely on the streets of New York City. Available on vinyl only, butwell worth seeking if you liked "The Hustler" soundtrack. It was recorded inboth mono and stereo versions.P.S. #2 "East Side, West Side" has now been released in stereo by Sony on cd andit sounds terrific. However, NO liner notes, player credits, or re-issue informationis included with the cd front/back inserts, so if you still have a copy of the originalalbum cover, you might want to hang on to it. Great to FINALLY have this cool workfrom Hopkins on cd, as well.

Just a great, great soundtrack that I have loved since I saw the movie as a twelve-year old in 1961. I always wondered who played that terrific alto sax solo, and it was the terrific Phil Woods. Only complaint I have is that (at least on my copy) I discovered that a number of pages (5 thru 16) were missing from the liner notes booklet.Eric

Good sound quality that captures the feel of the likes of "Fast Eddie" and "Minnesota Fats" milieu

I've been looking for this for some time and have loved the music since I first saw the film upon its release. For me, it captures the "cool" feel of early '60's film jazz perfectly & Woods is perhaps at his best. The addition of Ellington & Armstrong's music from Paris Blues is pure dessert.

Long lost Kenyon Hopkins masterpiece. Have owned the LP for 50 years. This CD is the same content remastered. Also look for the Kenyon Hopkins forgotten score to the short lived George C. Scott score East Side West Side.

Seriously, if I could request a movie to watch right before my death...this would be it.

Another wonderfull treasure from él. The Hustler soundtrack pays for the cd alone. Together with Paris Blues (by Duke Ellington) and The Long, Hot Summer (by Alex North) transforms this one in a must have. Unhesitatenly recomended!

Classic sixties sound. Subtle and dark small big band stuff. Excellent writing! The producers of this movie got more than there money's worth with this score!

El presents a Paul Newman festival. For your bucks you get 2 full soundtracks here: The Hustler by Kenyon Hopkins and Paris Blues by Duke Ellington plus 7 of the 10 cues as found on Roulette's original release of The Long Hot Summer by Alex North. While the latter 2 have been been previously released on CD (albeit limited), The Hustler has languished on a list of scores never to be released. Thanks to El the list is one score lighter. Best description I can shoot you is sultry jazz (Hollywood style), heavy on atmosphere, with an occasional swinger thrown in. Duke Ellington's Paris Blues is a mix of swinging jazz, Afro Cuban rhythms and slower mood pieces befitting a wintry Paris. The excerpts of dialogue sandwiched between tracks sound rather clunky and the sound quality is acceptable but only just. That said you do get to hear Duke & Satchmo. Alex North's Long Hot Summer kicks off with a vocal by Jimmie Rodgers which is fairly forgettable and should (in my opinion) have been jettisoned from this release in favor of more of North's hot, jazzy score. As previously mentioned sound is an issue but until someone else steps in and sources the master tapes, presuming they are not lost, El's release is the only way you will hear The Hustler. The booklet is decent with several pictures but too much space is given over to the films and not the composers or their music.

Excellent 3 soundtracks on 1

Habe den Film The Hustler mit Paul Newman gesehen und die Musik hat mich nicht mehr losgelassen, musste ich unbedingt haben. Ich liebe diesen Jazz der späten 50iger und frühen 60iger Jahre. Auf dieser Ausgabe sind zusätzlich noch die Soundtracks zu den Paul Newman Filmen Paris Blues und The Long hot summer.

Magnificent film from the early 60s ... gritty ... stark ... wonderful ensemble cast.