Music Composed and Conducted by JERRY FIELDING

Intrada brings back one of Jerry Fielding’s classic western scores, revisiting the 1972 Michael Winner-directed Chato’s Land. The early ’70s was and intensely prolific period for Fielding, and one where his creative genius was on display to the extreme – filled with such masterpieces as The Nightcomers, The Mechanic, Scorpio, and Straw Dogs. His untimely passing was nothing short of devastating.The music to Chato’s Land stands firmly among the aforementioned titles and again showcases the passion Fielding brought to everything he touched. As the late Nick Redman, one of Fielding’s biggest champions, commented in his liner notes:

It’s a fierce, dark, difficult work, full of anger and tension. It is notable for its non-reliance on familiar western motifs. Instead, Fielding conjures a uniquely interesting musical language that creates an all-pervasive chilling barbarity; a cruelty that is always present, never romanticized, and is seemingly part of the land itself. It swirls around the luckless protagonists, closing in upon them and ultimately shutting them down.

Intrada’s initial release in 2008 was the premiere release from the first generation stereo session tapes from MGM’s library, bringing a new depth and clarity previously unheard, and offering the first complete presentation of this powerful and aggressive score. It also sold out very quickly. For this new addition, Intrada has created an all-new master, removing some of the less musical assemblies from the prior release and allowing the score to flow as Fielding originally intended, as many of the cues live as their own separate entities.  After lengthy career of films both popular and obscure, Charles Bronson teamed with director Michael Winner in 1972 to create Chato’s Land.

Two years later, Winner brought genuine superstardom to the physically commanding actor in Death Wish. Chato is a halfbreed Apache who kills a local sheriff in self defense, runs and finds himself pursued by a large posse of vengeance-minded townsfolk. Numerous familiar faces include Jack Palance, Richard Basehart, James Whitmore, Simon Oakland, Richard Jordan, Ralph Waite. Gerald Wilson scripts, keeps the film on target with nary an unnecessary subplot or distraction. Stark, violent action is name of the game with a particularly strong ending. Not your routine western by any means! United Artists presents with Winner also producing.

Composer Jerry Fielding follows his terse western score for Winner’s Lawman (1971) with intense score less reliant on thematic unity than smaller motifs, dynamic percussion rhythms, tense harmonic structure. Dry as the landscape, aggressive as the violence. Launching with lengthy opening “Titles”, Fielding offers his primary motif right at the outset, proceeds to work the cue with dynamics both pianissimo, fortissimo, with spotlights not only on brass but also military percussion (snare, bass drum) for Palance in Civil War garb right down to his saber. Great sequence!  Entire score plays off suggestions of Native American flavor melding with brutal racism of the tale. Two ideas do musical battle throughout. Fielding’s penchant for vivid percussion writing sands out with this non-traditional western score. Amongst highlights are lively “Indian Rodeo”, brief but riveting “Ride Like Hell”, graphic “Joan Of Arc At Stake”. Serving special spotlight is Fielding’s final coda. After last action sequence of “Malachite Gets Shot and Finis”, Winner brings picture to powerful close with striking final imagery. Fielding drives dramatic visuals home with knockout burst of snare drum-led orchestral hits. No big ending chords here, Fielding instead slams fortissimo punctuation in percussion right down to the very end. Dynamic and memorable!

Intrada first presented complete score in 2008. New issue, courtesy MGM, features newly remastered audio plus new editing that allows cues to play aa Fielding original scored them, without additional musical assemblies of earlier edition. Original release liner notes by Nick Redman are reprised plus new flipper-style cover designed by Kay Marshall that allows both original United Artists artwork campaign or later home video design. Orchestrations by Greig McRitchie, Lennie Niehaus. Jerry Fielding composes, conducts. Intrada Special Edition CD available while quantities and interest remain!

TRACKLIST

01. Titles (4:37)
02. Peeping Tom In The Bushes (0:42)
03. Mind Your Ma (0:44)
04. Whiskey And Hot Sun (0:45)
05. Coop Falls (1:21)
06. Pain In The Water Bags (2:17)
07. Burning Rancheros (2:29)
08. Peeping Tom On The Hi Ridge (3:05)
09. Indian Convention (1:33)
10. The Snake Bite (1:18)
11. Chato Comes Home (1:49)
12. Indian Rodeo (1:29)
13. Chato Bags Horse (0:51)

14. Junior Blows The Whistle (0:39)
15. Joan Of Arc At Stake (3:51)
16. Massa’s In The Cold, Cold Ground (1:24)
17. Hot Pants (2:45)
18. Rainbow On The Range (0:55)
19. Ride Like Hell (0:47)
20. Big Stare Job (2:17)
21. Attack In Gorge (1:51)
22. One Big Pain In The Neck (2:33)
23. Lansing Scalped (1:43)
24. Malechie Gets Shot and Finis (5:03)
Total Time: 47:48