THE WITCHES (unreleased score by Stanley Myers) (LOSSLESS) (FLAC)

For Nicholas Roeg’s fantasy film of 1989 (with Angelica Huston hamming it up as a witch intent on turning children into rodents) Stanley Myers provided a short but delightful score. Sadly, Myers would die just 4 years later and the score would remain unreleased. Then about 2 years ago a CD showed up at auction (listed as a "promo") and I managed to obtain a copy.

There are 11 tracks totaling only 14 minutes! Yet there is also music on the disc not included in the film. The wonderful main title, for example, is twice as long as what is heard in the film. Thus we know this was not recorded off the DVD. Since no album was ever issued, we also know it's not an LP-to-CD transfer. There appears to be overall tape hiss. Anyone who has additional information is encouraged to add comments.

Audio Quality: very good stereo sound. No dialog or sfx.
Tau Analyzer and EAC both indicated this recording is lossless.
Ripped to FLAC with XLD.
Artwork, like shown below, is included in the link.

Link is in spoiler...



Password = crybaby

LINK = https://1fichier.com/?72u5mqtb7z

NOTE: This CD contains unreleased music. As of the upload date it had not been registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Anyone with sufficient cause can request I remove it from this site by contacting me by PM or by entering a reply. Thank you.

OMG OMG OMG OMG THANK YOU SO SO MUCH! Is this really all he recorded for the film? By the way, Rapidshare seems to be down. It started off downloading really slow before it cancels, now I can't even access the page.

rapidshare seems to be down

working now , just slow


thanks for this rare score though!!

Thank You for this.

On a side-note, I've been downloading a 150mb file from them all day. It just got to 100 mb and aborted, and will now have to restart from the begining.

Your Witches file is now 6th in a queue of 6 Rapidshare files awaiting download.

O_O

I love you right now.

Thanks for this rare item! :)

RAPIDSHARE:
As the one who posted this score, I'm sorry about the problems with RS. MediaFire is apparently having the same issues. As I wrote in another Thread, I still think RS is a good choice, primarily because they are in Switzerland and not likely to be easily affected by the USA's over-the-top SOPA/PIPA or by ACTA (which Switzerland refused to sign, as is). Not being a member of the EU also means they don't have to abide by unfair rules coming from Europe. If a lot of people decide to use RS, it would obviously be beneficial for people to join, instead of being a free-user. As a paid subscriber I do not have any of the download problems I'm reading about. Hopefully things will get smoother as RS (and MF) get accustomed to their increase in traffic. Or else they'll just use that as another incentive to get people to subscribe. All of my upcoming posts will have RS links. Sorry if that doesn't work well for some of you!

THE WITCHES:
I've always loved the Main Title and was surprised to hear an extended version on the CD. I rented the DVD just to be sure I hadn't missed it before, but the first half of the Main Title (1st track) was not used in the film. What I did not do, however, is watch the movie to see if there was music in the film not included on this CD. Maybe one of you who has the film could give us an update.

yespa ... not your fault.... no problem , mines downloaded now looking forward to hearing it ... thanks

Thanks for the share. Does anyone have a clue as to what the track names are? I'm of no help as I've never even seen or heard of this film....

Thanks for the share. Does anyone have a clue as to what the track names are? I'm of no help as I've never even seen or heard of this film....

Since the score was never released, there are no official track names. But track 1 is definitely the "Main Titles" and track 11 is the "End Credits." "The Witches" is quite an enjoyable fantasy film and you should rent the DVD and see it. When you hear something in the movie that's on the CD you can give it a name based on what's on-screen. And then let all of us know too!

I've seen the movie countless times as a kid and adult so I'll post the track names after I hear it.

Wonderful share : many thanks !

Never saw or heard about the movie, but I just love rare "releases"...

thanks

I'm intrigued to see it now simply based on the score. I'll definitely rent it.

This movie has reminded me of another movie from when I was a kid. I'm in my 20's, so the movie isn't that old. If I remember right, its a H�nsel & Gretel - like movie. I vaguely remember the end when they stick the witch in the oven and her house blows up. It's probably from the 80's/90's if that helps. Anyone know what I'm talking about??

Now that you've shared this here and now, can it still be considered super rare and unreleased?

Is a secret still a secret once everyone knows about it?

This isn't complete nor is it nearly as interesting as I remembered. The main titles and end credits are the highlights of this score but are unfortunately way too short while the rest of the cues are mostly forgettable but thanks once again for this marvelous rarity.

thanks never thougt there is a unreleased promo

Thanks :)

Thank you for this unusual score.

Oh my gosh! It's CHRISTMAS MORNING! Thank you! I made a DVD rip of the score years ago, but it was riddled with sound effects. Thanks for this! Can't wait to hear. THANK YOU! And I find it surprising codyap09 says the music is 'forgettable.' But, were're all different. I remember liking the majority of the score.

EDIT: It was asked we comment if the CD is 'missing' music from the film. Sadly, it is. And it's missing a ton.

The short sting as The Grand High Witch (as a woman) steps out of her cab.
The music as Luke explores the hotel.

There is a lot of music in the scene in which Luke finds himself at the 'Witch Meeting.' It's a long scene. And, the CD only has a 38 second cue, in which Luke is turned into a mouse. (This is the tail end of the meeting scene.) It's missing the music used during the meeting (especially the cue in which Bruno turns into a mouse), and the music that plays when Luke tries to escape.

It's also missing music when Luke puts the 'formula 86' into the soup. There's a very nice cue when a witch sips from the soup and turns into a mouse. The cue is not here. The CD only has a short cue which seems to be incomplete--- it comes in the middle of the music, where The Grand High Witch turns into a mouse. This music again, is near the end of a long part of the film that has a lot of music.

And, also from memory, the music as Luke is transformed back into a human.

I can report on this, because The Meeting and The Witches eating the soup contained the best music, in my opinion.

However, if THIS CD exists, we can hope the other cues are out there somewhere. Even still, I am happy this surfaced and thanks so much for sharing it.

TRACK LIST:

1. Main Title
2. A Real Witch --- (Grandma explains how to tell if a woman is a witch, and explains about an unlucky girl named Erica who fell victim to one.)
3. ?
4. Lukes' Parents ---- (Luke and Grandma grieve over the fact that Luke's parents were in a car accident. )
5. The Woman in Black---- (A woman in black offers Luke a chocolate bar, and tries to lure him down from the tree house.)
6. ?
7. Luke Transforms into a Mouse. ---- (Luke's transformation from boy to mouse.)
8. Back to Grandma --- (As Mice, Bruno and Luke race to get back to Grandma's hotel room.)
9. Where's Formula 86? --- (As a mouse, Luke frantically searches the Grand High Witches hotel room for her magic formula.)
10. The Grand High Witch! --- (As the dining room at the hotel is in chaos, The Grand High Witch begins to feel the effects of the potion and turns into a mouse herself.)
11. End Titles.

I'd like to make an observation!

The last track isn't the end credits per se (that's just the second half of the opening credits looped twice), this is the Finale when Luke is turned back into a boy.

Thank You so much for this :)

(Now to go wait 37 hours for RS to give it to me :P )

Oh my gosh! It's CHRISTMAS MORNING! Thank you! I made a DVD rip of the score years ago, but it was riddled with sound effects. Thanks for this! Can't wait to hear. THANK YOU! And I find it surprising codyap09 says the music is 'forgettable.'

Don't get me wrong when I say that the rest is forgettable. I love this score, it's just unfortunate that the best tracks from the film are not included. Most of the tracks come and go so quick it doesn't really leave much room to leave much of a lasting impression and not to mention the subpar sound quality makes it difficult to even enjoy the main and end titles. I've attempted to clean them up but to no luck. I will admit that the main title theme is just as addicting now as it was 22 years ago. I will also admit that while waiting for the file to download I was continuously humming the theme to myself. It's a great and fun theme. But 80's and 90's scores are gaining in popularity so I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere down the line this got the official album release it deserves.

Thanks.

I remember watching the film but really liking only the Main Title, which I still think is one of the best ever written for this type of movie. The End Title I recall just being a reprise. I guess I wasn't too impressed with what came between those two, so was thrilled to get this CD (even at 14 minutes) just for the Main Title. As some of you have noticed, on the CD the Main Title begins with about a minute of music not heard in the film, or at least not part of the Main Title. I wonder if that music was used somewhere else in the film?

Thanks!

this film still makes me giggle like a foolish epileptic. they dont make kids films like this anymore...very funny and exciting movie

This is a bootleg and it is missing a lot of music.

TRACK LIST:

1. Main Title
2. A Real Witch --- (Grandma explains how to tell if a woman is a witch, and explains about an unlucky girl named Erica who fell victim to one.)
3. ?
4. Lukes' Parents ---- (Luke and Grandma grieve over the fact that Luke's parents were in a car accident. )
5. The Woman in Black---- (A woman in black offers Luke a chocolate bar, and tries to lure him down from the tree house.)
6. ?
7. Luke Transforms into a Mouse. ---- (Luke's transformation from boy to mouse.)
8. Back to Grandma --- (As Mice, Bruno and Luke race to get back to Grandma's hotel room.)
9. Where's Formula 86? --- (As a mouse, Luke frantically searches the Grand High Witches hotel room for her magic formula.)
10. The Grand High Witch! --- (As the dining room at the hotel is in chaos, The Grand High Witch begins to feel the effects of the potion and turns into a mouse herself.)
11. End Titles.

Thans for the tracklist.

Title number 3 is played at the end of the film, when grandma sings the song "It doesn't matter who you are..."

Title number 6 at Lukes birthday and grandma suddenly doesn't feel well.

Greetings

Thanks you so much!!! I remember having rented the VHS when I was younger

Thank you very much yepsa. :)

Thanks.

[]

thanks :)

Many thanks!

thank you

All right!!!!!!

Rapidshare is still twitchy today, if someone could post another link for this, I would greatly appreciate it. My download keeps getting interrupted.

Thanks, William

Could somebody post this score in MP3 please???? I don't know how to do Flac and I really would like to have this score!!! Thanks!

Could somebody post this score in MP3 please???? I don't know how to do Flac and I really would like to have this score!!! Thanks!

There are plenty of FREE software packages on the Internet to convert FLAC to MP3.

Or do you not know how to do Google, either ?.

Convert audio and video to MP3 (http://audio.online-convert.com/convert-to-mp3)


this one is very reliable for FLAC - MP3 conversion

regarding comment on this recording's "subpar sound quality" ...

I beg to differ. Tape hiss and reverb aside, there is no way the sound quality of this recording is below average ("sub-par"). I suppose it depends on what you are comparing it to, but listening to it in Aiff, AAC and Mp3 through my headphones the sound is much better than most bootlegs/promos I encounter.

regarding comment that the "best tracks from the film are not included"...

I beg to differ. Every person I know who wanted this score wanted it primarily for the main title, easily the most memorable tune. And here it is, in an extended version no less.

regarding the comment that the "main titles...are unfortunately way too short" ...

I beg to differ. "Way too short" are the under 30-second tracks you get with scoring sessions. 2:21 is not especially generous, but is a respectable time.

Be happy!

Here is yepsa's file re-uploaded in a password protected shell...

http://www.peeje.com/files/359300710/sec.env.d121.rar.html

Password: Orion999

The file within still has yepsa's original password.

This is posted in response to Williamtaylor1969, who I know is still having Rapidshare issues.

RAPIDSHARE HATERS:
At the start of this Thread I added a new download link with Peeje. Hopefully this will solve the many frustrations you've been having with RS. Peeje is new to me---so let me know if you have problems there as well. Thanks!
Yepsa

I know that bishtyboshty very kindly created a new link using Peeje as well (see above), but I thought it would be wise to have the item in my own account too so I can better keep track of it.

Thank you for this interesting album and all the efforts.

Thanks, Bishty, for posting the other link. Much appreciated. And thanks to Yepsa for sharing this score with us. Really great find.

I also created a back cover with track listings, just for fun.






William

thanks

Thanks Yepsa, and thanks for the Back Cover William.

I didn't like both of the backcovers and made my own:

Directupload.net - Ddbehe6fp.png (http://s1.directupload.net/file/d/2822/dbehe6fp_png.htm)

Hope you like it too. :)

Your selections are truly impressive...

---------- Post added at 12:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:26 PM ----------

Mr Taylor
alas your back cover is missing...

---------- Post added at 12:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:33 PM ----------

karawanserei (Loreena's fan?) nicely done

Thank you so much! I love this score so much, I can only hope there will be an official release some day...

karawanserei (Loreena's fan?) nicely done

Thank you very much. :) what do you mean with Loreena's fan?

Thanks for this! I remember renting the VHS from the library! I found it sad, for some reason- but I liked it nonetheless.

Will definitely have to watch it again!

thank you:)

PCM

Excellent

Thank you very much. :) what do you mean with Loreena's fan?
well, your nick told me so
www.quinlanroad.com/explorethemusic/anancientmuse.asp?id=558
loreena mckennitt caravanserai - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=loreena+mckennitt+caravansera i&oq=loreena+mckennitt+cara&aq=0&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_l=youtube.1.0.0l4.10127.10491.0.12124.2.2.0.0.0 .0.166.266.0j2.2.0...0.0.kOIAGOg28-o)

Thank you very much for this rarity!!!

OMG Thank you!

Thank You for this rare upload Yepsa

Perhaps You didn�t noted, but the covers included are from another score, the John William movie

thank you

Perhaps You didn�t noted, but the covers included are from another score, the John William movie

My error! The correct artwork (as shown in the 1st post) is now included in the download link.

Stanley Myers was a remarkable, unsung talent. Would love to have his music from STONES FOR IBARRA and DREAMCHILD.

I didn't like both of the backcovers and made my own:

Directupload.net - Ddbehe6fp.png (http://s1.directupload.net/file/d/2822/dbehe6fp_png.htm)

Hope you like it too. :)


YES, I do!!! :)

MUCH better than mine! And that photobucket site is CRAP! They already deleted my picture! W T F ?????

Thanks Karawanserei!

William

You are welcome Williamtaylor1969.

now this outstanding score has the cover it deserves. ;) thanks for our collaboration. :)

I haven't look at any of the newer covers some people added here, but the artwork that accompanies the links I provided is for the Stanley Myers score: That's Angelica Houston from "The Witches" on the cover and the back. If you are referring to artwork posted here by someone else, mention them by name here, or send a PM to them so they can fix it. Thanks!

Hi Yepsa, I was reffering to the covers included with the score on the download link.

My mistake,
That are scans for both scores, the John Williams Score and the Stanley Myers score

And...
Yes, other covers that match this release are provided in the post.

This score is excelent!
Cool Upload

regarding the covers included with the score on the download link. My mistake....

No, Kobalski----you are correct!!! Please see my updated reply in #63 above.

Woohoo!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!! I Don't Have it !!!

Thank you.

Se agradece muchisimo.

Thank you so much for this

Thanks so much! :)

This score is Awesome!

Yay, thank you so much!

I made this cover, hope you all like it :)

I do wish a more complete release would surface. :(

thank you

Thank you :)

Thank you share!

Thank, yepsa.

Where are the other musics? i need them

Where are the other musics? i need them

I'm not sure what you mean. Please clarify.

Great upload! The data may be in a "lossless" format, but it does not really sound that way, unfortunately. Closer to sub 100kbps. Still, gorgeous music!

Thank you!

Thank you!!

Thank you very much!

thanks :)

Many thanks!

Thank you

Thank you very much!

thanks yepsa

thank you yepsa! why don't they make movies like this anymore? so sad...

Thank you! This is great!

I hope a full release is available one of these days!

Thank you, yepsa!

Yepsa: thanks so much for uploading this score! Best regards.

Yepsa, I can't thank you enough. I've been wishing for this soundtrack for years and didn't think any version had been released. You've made me extremely happy! Thanks so much for your selflessness in acquiring this rare gem and making it available to others.

Hopefully, somewhere, the music from the meeting will eventually surface. And who can forget that amazing theme when the chef witch sips the soup?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9VMxVCdBYo

good moive good music

I came across a "fan edit" on the internet today. Supposedly, it had a 5.1 audio mix. The sound was much improved over the retail DVD. However, when I did my thing, the audio was not separated as needed to grab the music. Shoot.

Thank you very much for this!!! I wathced that movie as a child in the cinema and was looking for the music since then. ;)

Thank you for the share!

Many, many thanks for this CD. I have been after this for years. It's perfect and crystal clear. Again thank you very much, there's a personal story behind this music so you can't know how much this means to me.
THE WITCHES (unreleased score by Stanley Myers) (LOSSLESS) (FLAC)

For Nicholas Roeg�s fantasy film of 1989 (with Angelica Huston hamming it up as a witch intent on turning children into rodents) Stanley Myers provided a short but delightful score. Sadly, Myers would die just 4 years later and the score would remain unreleased. Then about 2 years ago a CD showed up at auction (listed as a "promo") and I managed to obtain a copy.

There are 11 tracks totaling only 14 minutes! Yet there is also music on the disc not included in the film. The wonderful main title, for example, is twice as long as what is heard in the film. Thus we know this was not recorded off the DVD. Since no album was ever issued, we also know it's not an LP-to-CD transfer. There appears to be overall tape hiss. Anyone who has additional information is encouraged to add comments.

Audio Quality: very good stereo sound. No dialog or sfx.
Tau Analyzer and EAC both indicated this recording is lossless.
Ripped to FLAC with XLD.
Artwork, like shown below, is included in the link.

Link is in spoiler...



Password = crybaby

LINK = https://mega.co.nz/#!YZ9FzBzD!Rud-GmOg8ty1vgvxhz3h5QIoo9RB6019qwEKC4oFeKg

NOTE: This CD contains unreleased music. As of the upload date it had not been registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Anyone with sufficient cause can request I remove it from this site by contacting me by PM or by entering a reply. Thank you.

Thank you very much!

Thank you very much

Thank you for this!

Thank you for your excellent share.

Thanks!!

Thank you very much!

Gracias

Thank you ! Great main titles track !

Thanks

You can find a restored version of this score in lossless HERE (Thread 201346)

Thank you so much for this, yepsa!!!... What a memories!!!... :)

Thanks!!

Many thanks yepsa!

Thank you very much for sharing!
I love this movie :)!!

Thanks!

Thanks!

The link has died. Could you re-upload it?

Thank you kindly.

Thank you again - liked it very much

Thank you

Thank you!!!

thx!

Your contributions are terrific! Thanks so much yepsa!

Could i please get the link?
Thank you

Well - that was a fun journey. Never saw the film. Will be on the lookout now. Thank you!!

Cheers! brill

Thank You

Thank you very much!

Nice! Thank you!

Where do i go to click on it? Thank you

Where do i go to click on it? Thank you

The original link is in the "spoiler" of the very first post. A "newer" version can be found in post #114.

Thxs for this upload :)