Original Soundtrack: The Wicked Lady
	No production credits
	Released on May 1983
	no chart information
	Find it at GEMM
80073-1 cover [high resolution photo]

F aye Dunaway in tight leather pants with a whip? Okay, I’m with you so far. Actually I’ve only seen part of this film. The lousy part, I’m guessing, since I don’t remember no whippin’. What I did remember was that Tony Banks scored this film, so when I found a wicked cheap copy of this in a used record store, I pounced on it. (All right, it was more of an elated bunny hop.) As soundtracks go, this is kind of unusual. The first side contains short instrumentals written by Banks and played on various synthesizers; similar in sound to The Fugitive but not nearly so fleshed out as a “Charm” or “Thirty-Threes.” However, the producers didn’t use Banks’ modern music for a film set in the 17th century. Instead, Christopher Palmer created a classical score based on Banks’ music, which is what appeared in the film. It’s interesting to hear Banks’ synthetic inventions reinvented for orchestra, and in interviews Banks has cited the experience as an inspiration to eventually write his own classical work (Seven). Over time (which I apparently have a lot of), The Wicked Lady is growing on me. It’s soothing to sit down with, no worse than some of Anthony Phillips instrumental CDs and better than Banks’ Soundtracks. Of course, lots of records are better than Soundtracks. Smallcreep’s Day was a better record than Soundtracks. So unless you’re intent on collecting everything by Banks or have fond memories of this film (and the gratuitous whipping that I’m assuming took place somewhere), you don’t need to trouble yourself with this soundtrack. I know there are some who will chafe at the idea that this (still) hasn’t been released on CD, but consider it a kindness. Some things are better left to the imagination, like soundtracks to forgotten movies and Marina Sirtis.

80073-1 back cover

TRACK LISTING

1. THE WICKED LADY    3:40
2. SPRING    2:35
3. THE CHASE    3:26
4. CAROLINE    3:08
5. JERRY JACKSON    2:28
6. REPENTANCE    2:07
7. KIT    3:02
8. BARBARA    4:46
9. PRELUDE TO THE WICKED LADY    4:03
10. PORTRAIT OF JERRY JACKSON    4:57
11. CAROLINE'S THEME    3:01
12. SCHERZO    2:41
13. PASTORALE    3:59
14. THE WICKED LADY    3:41
15. KIT'S THEME    3:12
16. FINALE    2:04
    
    All music composed by Tony Banks
    

CREDITS

TONY BANKS --
CHRISTOPHER PALMER -- musical arrangements and orchestration
THE NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA OF LONDON -- orchestra
STANLEY BLACK -- conductor
Sydney Sax -- orchestra leader
Stephen Short and Geoff Callingham -- mixing help
Tony Faulkner -- engineer

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