Library Music (Sound Library/Production Music/Soundtrack Music) - 1960s-1980s - A Mirror World of Funk/Jazz/Psych/Pop

soundslike, thanks so much for this. actually, all of your mixes are great. thanks for being so great.

and here's a topically-named cut from one of my all-time fav library records:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prehOsA73_Y

It occurs to me that there must be at least a few library records - or at least pieces from them - which were never used by anyone for any project ever and thus remained ‘music for pleasure’ only

It occurs to me that there must be at least a few library records - or at least pieces from them - which were never used by anyone for any project ever and thus remained ‘music for pleasure’ only

i have a modern library album that i dont think has ever been picked up by anyone - made by part of hans zimmers crew.
it could even have some witch house style stuff on it as its been a couple of years since i heard it.

which zimmerite?

stephen hilton.
used to be part of david holmes crew (free association), and then flykller.
he made a proper library album, and sorted me a copy out ...
dont think i have ever listened to it properly, but cos of this thread i have now added it to the archive.

huh i don't know that name but there are a lot of ppl in that posse

he is a studio guru who tried the popstar thing for a while.

we stole this riff (from tim buckley)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbAsp3UVBzg

I've been playing memories of love a lot. Great sequencing and transitions - A+

Thanks! I tried to make each "side" of each "record" have a somewhat unique sound/vibe, at least for each grouping of years (so there are three total crime-drama-ish ones, say). Hadn't really had any feedback about particular favorite individual mixes, so I really appreciate that you're digging that aspect!

I think 'The Beat,' 'The Sophisticate,' 'California Gold,' 'Winter Sunrise,' 'High Score' and the two 'The Hero' sets have been my faves--but I made sure there were at least a few of my all-time-favorite tracks on each set.

Shame about the lame generic art, since the record had a fantastically fun cover. . . But Jacques Sioul's 'Midway' album has really stuck with me as one of the best "album-like" Library records:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWqS2d5K-uA

https://ring.cdandlp.com/princethorens/photo_grande/114595182.jpg

For anybody who's ever really gotten bit by the library bug, there's a new book out that's a great combination of interviews with participants from its heyday, label overviews, and great covers (similar to the Johnny Trunk book but rather a lot more in-depth):

'Unusual Sounds' by David Hollander on Anthology

Buy here: https://shop.mexicansummer.com/product/david-hollander-unusual-sounds/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHJz81Q0MW0

at a thrift store i found vol. 2, 3, and 4 of Música Popular Do Nordeste, a four-volume documentation of the popular music of Northeast Brazil. there are lots of different styles featured. it is a wonderful set!

The KPM All-Stars return. Also a new film on library music by Shawn Lee:

https://www.bl.uk/events/kpm-talk-and-late

thanks for reminding me of this shawn lee album I have in the archive :

http://www.theaquarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09-12-Discs-Shawn-Lee-Synthesizers-in-Space.jpg

Brief feature and interview with the guy who put together 'Unusual Sounds' - stick to the end for a gallery of pages from the book:
https://thevinylfactory.com/features/unusual-sounds-library-music-records/

My friend Robert bought the book so I had a read of some of it and skimmed the rest. It's pretty exhaustive about KPM, with plenty of quotes from the key players. Once it roams beyond the UK however it gets increasingly sketchy and reliant on the cover images.

There's a Library Music film premiering at the British Library this October, followed by the KPM All Stars. Tickets for the film are sold out but I think you can still get to the concert?

This is going to be great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgOMibjOJcw#

I didn't realize Shawn Lee was doing it! That's awesome--I first heard of him/bought his record sound-unheard stumbled upon solely because the cover was a direct homage to Bruton.

maybe i should listen to some more shawn lee, i heard "world of funk" when a co-worker recommended it to me and love it but have never delved deeper

So, was anyone here at the British Library yesterday?

I left it too late in the end for any of the events, but I am going to a talk tonight in King's Cross with Hawkshaw, Bennett and Cameron.

I would have loved to have been there--very jealous of anyone who was!

If anyone here did attend--how was the film??

I was working there and, going to and fro from the staff canteen, casting admiring glances at Alan Hawkshaw's organ.

Im coming to that- hyped!

Was just listening to hawkshaw- bruton- great mysteries of the world a few days ago

This is a total longshot, but here we go. . .

I had some compilations on vinyl in the late 90s (part of the same series) that were completely amazing, but I only used them for samples. I would like to be able to find those albums again, in hopes of maybe rediscovering some stuff.

Some further info: the music was a total mystery at the time, but I recognize it now as probably sound library and film soundtrack excerpts. Maybe Italian stuff mostly? No famously used samples or breakbeats; though tons of stuff yet to be mined in that regard. The covers had kind of stock "exotic" female models on them (in my memory the models are white; this could be inaccurate), overlayed with kind of art deco type designs, and a beige / jade type color combination. None of the artists were of any notoriety to me at the time, so no idea what even was on it. I just remember most of the songs were 3-4 minutes, except there were a couple that were really long (I'm thinking at least 10 minutes). Shit was insanely dope and it would be rad to find again.

Little help?

https://www.discogs.com/label/730186-Easy-Tempo-Series ?

or possibly https://www.discogs.com/label/865338-Beat-At-Cinecitt%C3%A0

Wow, those look excellent! Thank you!

Alas, no. None of those look familiar, unfortunately. Will comb through the tracklists for sure though. Thanks again!

see also https://www.discogs.com/label/416923-The-Mood-Mosaic

mookie, thank you for your vigiliance. i simply cannot recall what this series was. i went to amoeba yesterday and pestered the employees at both help counters to no avail. they did have some of those kpm albums, but that would have been settling and i must NOT settle, i must FIND my holy grail!

"the imperfection of memory"

so, i was kinda sorta way off in my memory of these comps, but i did actually manage to find them!

status breaks
status breaks volume two

there seems to be a couple sound library cuts on them, but it's mostly rare funk 45s. still dope as all get out, though.

Nick Ingman - throng

does actually someone really like the middle part after 1:15m? it sounds so displaced and as much i am trying to like, it makes me cringe. the groove itself is classic.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEAHRwCpW3G

i would like someone to do an exploration of the remarks on library tracks, and how 50 years ago they were all like 'uptempo movement' and then later they became 'Driving drum groove and slick brass propel this motivating, self-assured cue; with funky synth-bass, vibrant Hammond organ intermissions, light percussion and warm, trumpet-solo-led breakdown at 1:44.'

also rip alan hawkshaw

the problem with using library music for your movies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGzz3hh1jHc

Is this the only thread marking Hawkshaw's passing? RIP my dude, you were an excellent composer.

He was feted for several posts on the rolling obituary thread