Dave Grusin
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One up-shot of Zooba’s recent FSM Stream of Consciousness is he will, at some point, end up talking about Dave Grusin and Bobby Deerfield. I’m not sure if it’s 10 or 15 threads he’s created about it 🙂
Anyway, it recently led me to my Dave Grusin stack of CDs (numbering between 20-30, I would guess) and compelled me to spin ’em again (and order the odd one or two that took my fancy. Coming Soon = SELENA).
I first got into his music when I used to sneak into my older sisters bedroom (when she’d gone out) as a wee lad, to play my records on her way better music system.
This one time, she’d recently bought the 7′ single of the song If You Remember Me, which was from the 1979 film THE CHAMP, starring Jon Voight and Faye Dunaway.
For some reason, I flipped the record to Side B, which was called Main Title from THE CHAMP by Dave Grusin.
Well, it was love at first meeting. I absolutely adored the beautiful melody that played around me.
I’ve picked up his stuff, off n on, ever since. I like his eclectic nature and sound, from jazz, light pop, funk, disco, all wrapped around and within a strong symphonic base. Music producer and composer David Foster often sounds quite similar to Grusin’s style of composing.
What do others around here think about him?I like some of his 80s synth/jazz scores, like this:
I recently bought his Cinemagic CD, haven’t played it yet.
THE CHAMP I haven’t listened to for some time. I have the LP of ON GOLDEN POND which is great besides those dialogue bits… The groovy 3 DAYS OF CONDOR is also my cup of tea as is his classic TV Theme for BARETTA. And there is of course the childhood movie THE GOONIES.
I also remember a western with Robert Redford named TELL THEM WILIE BOY IS HERE that was quite unique and is unreleased.
We talked a little bit about him in the “Composers that you disliked, but now like” thread, and that’s really my angle into this.
To copy/paste what I said there, in the last post (after Dr. Jacoby suggested him):
“Dave Grusin is an interesting choice, and echoes mine.
Didn’t care for him back when. Simplistic, I thought. But I’ve come to appreciate his skill, and simple can be great. Love scores like AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, AUTHOR! AUTHOR!, BOBBY DEERFIELD, DIVORCE AMERICAN STYLE, FALLING IN LOVE, SELENA, THE CHAMP, THE CURE, THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE, THE GOONIES (obviously, I was born in ’77), THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER, THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR and TOOTSIE.
Never really explored his non-film work, though, other than having noticed — in the corner of my eye — that he did a lot of albums with Lee Ritenour.”
Never really explored his non-film work, though, other than having noticed — in the corner of my eye — that he did a lot of albums with Lee Ritenour.”
For sure a lot still to explore…
Since it fits here I link the documentary that is currently online:
https://www.pbs.org/video/dave-grusin-not-enough-time-kcw1r9/
Haven’t watched it yet but maybe manage that until May 15th 2028 😉(by the way, Kev, you should start a thread on Lee Holdridge….it would be wrong if it came from anyone else but you).
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