Elmer Bernstein
McQ

LA RECENSIONE

Elmer Bernstein is a composer whose music we all know, perhaps unknowingly. His compositions range from the epic (The Ten Commandments) to the American western (The Magnificent Seven), from TV series (Ellery Quinn) to comedy (Ghostbusters, Trading Places, Airplane! etc.). The list would be endless and would justify the statement made at the beginning of the review.

The soundtrack I propose today is McQ, a film that falls into the police-action genre complete with a cop using rough methods (Inspector Callahan knows well), drug trafficking, and the obligatory chases. In this 1974 film, the cop in question holds the rank of lieutenant, is named McHugh (hence the title), and is played by a hefty John Wayne.

For the full plot, I refer to Google Almighty.

As for the music, the main theme is the one present in the opening track In Seattle, an orchestral funk that is found in various parts of the soundtrack, sometimes slightly revisited (To the Dock, Narco). It goes without saying that it is an absolutely successful and catchy theme.
Incidentally, we can listen to fragments of library music, big band orchestration, lounge (Garden Party), psychedelic beat (Rosey), and much more.

All this to say that McQ is a truly enjoyable, varied album that mixes multiple genres without embarrassing the listener and can be enjoyed without necessarily having seen the namesake film beforehand.