One of the many Italian westerns that received a release during the 1960’s, TEXAS ADDIO, starring Franco Nero, was typical of many of the movies that appeared during that period, a tale of revenge laced with numerous gunfights and bad dubbing, but nevertheless a popular movie in Europe at the time of its release. The score is, in my opinion, one of the most appealing and melodic non-Morricone western scores to come out of Italy. The music is by Anton Garcia Abril, who interestingly is Spanish, and had considerable success in his own country with scores for TV and film and also was the composer of the score for the English western made by Michael(Hammer films) Carreras entitled SAVAGE GUNS. Originally the for TEXAS ADDIO score did not get a release on LP, but a 45rpm single was released in Italy (containing the title song performed by Don Powell and an instrumental version of the theme) and a further single in Japan was issued containing an alternative version of the song and theme.
For this the definitive edition of the soundtrack, Screen Trax have re-edited and also digitally remastered the tapes, producing not only an entertaining CD, but also a disc that has good clear sound with very few distortions. The theme ‘Texas Goodbye’, features throughout the entire running time of the score in one form or another, at times performed on solo trumpet, harpsichord and also orchestra and choir.
There is also a secondary more subdued theme, that is heard on cues such as ‘Amor’ and ‘Anguish And Tenderness’. The soundtrack also features a few tracks that are Mexican cantina type compositions, these are short lived, but are not unpleasant, and seem to bring a certain authenticity to the work. The score also contains a third theme and at times is blended and fused with elements of the other principal thematic material, creating some exhilarating and highly charged interludes, as in ‘Hot Pursuit’ and ‘Fight’.
The CD boasts, fine eye catching art work, and there are also a few sleeve notes, which have unfortunately lost something in the translation, as they say, but this is one of the negative points or at least one of the most discussed points among collectors at least where Italian releases are concerned. There is also a suite from the score included, which runs for nearly 14 minutes, which I am sure has been put together in the mastering process and not by the composer. A classic score from a genre that contained its fair share of original and innovative musical works, many of which proved to be more popular than the films that they were composed for.
MOVIE MUSIC INTERNATIONAL. (MMI) . 