Goblin (also Back to the Goblin, New Goblin, Goblin Rebirth, the Goblin Keys, The Goblins and Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin) is an Italian progressive rock band known for their soundtrack work. They frequently collaborate with Dario Argento, most notably creating soundtracks for Profondo Rosso in 1975 and Suspiria in 1977. CD re-releases of their soundtracks have performed well, especially in Germany and Japan. Goblin returned with a series of live concerts in Europe in 2009 and in North America in 2013.
Initially recording as Cherry Five (they had done some live gigs as Oliver), their early work spawned one eponymous progressive rock record, and they were then called in to compose the soundtrack for Profondo Rosso. The band changed their name to Goblin, rewriting most of the score, originally written by Giorgio Gaslini including the famous main theme. The 1975 soundtrack album was a huge hit. After a reshuffle in their line-up, they put out an instrumental progressive rock album Roller, before working with Argento again for 1977’s Suspiria.
Other film soundtracks and a concept album (Il Fantastico Viaggio Del Bagarozzo Mark) followed, then the score for the European version of George A. Romero’s 1978 Dawn of the Dead. In both this and Suspiria’s opening title sequences, they are credited as “The Goblins with Dario Argento”. Tracks 1, 2 and 7 from the European version are also in the American version of the film.
Despite their success, membership continued to be a revolving door, and the band also struggled to maintain their credibility. The remaining members continued to work on further soundtracks, and there was a partial reunification of three of the four band-members for Argento’s Tenebrae (1982) (the album was credited to the three band-members separately, not as Goblin). The last collaboration with the director took place in 2000, with the film Non ho sonno (Sleepless).
Halloween is upon us, and it’s time to fire up the VCR for some primo fright-fests. True lovers of the blood & gore genre know that Italian filmmaker Dario Argento and Pittsburgh’s one and only George Romero are two of the best in the biz, and both turned to the Italian art-rock group Goblin when they needed otherworldly sounds to match their nightmarish visions. Goblin is one of the only rock bands that exclusively recorded soundtracks, and this collection includes some of its most inventive and creepy work. The jazzy, percussive, synth-driven tunes will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s seen Argento’s Profondo Rosso (1975) or Suspiria (1977) or Romero’s classic Dawn of the Dead (1978). That’s a fine triple bill if you have an adventurous video store in the neighborhood, but the music works just as well on its own, especially as background music for your Halloween party, or for a little vampiric necking. (by Jim Derogatis)
Personnel:
Various line ups … look here
Tracklist:
Profondo Rosso 1975:
01. Profondo Rosso (Main Title) (Simonetti/Pignatelli/Martino) 3.43
2 Death Dies – M32 (Original Film Version) (Simonetti/Pignatelli/Martino) 2.44
3 Profondo Rosso – M15 (Simonetti/Pignatelli/Martino) 0.40
4 Profondo Rosso – M31 (Simonetti/Pignatelli/Martino) 1.02
Wampyr (a/k/a Martin) 1976:
05 Wampyr (Finale) (Morante/Simonetti) 1.42
Chi? (Theme From The Original TV Show) 1976:
06. Chi? – Part 1 (Caruso/Baudo) 3.20
07. Chi? – Part 2 (Caruso/Baudo) 3.27
Patrick 1977:
08. Patrick – M32 Bis (Marangolo/Pignatelli/Pennisi) 3.01
09 Patrick – M1 (Marangolo/Pignatelli/Pennisi) 0.56
10 Patrick – M34/34 Bis/35 (Marangolo/Pignatelli/Pennisi) 0.47
Suspiria 1977;
11. Suspiria (Main Title) (Marangolo/Morante/Simonetti/Pignatelli) 5.55
La Via Della Droga 1977:
12. La Via Della Droga – M11V ((Marangolo/Morante/Simonetti/Pignatelli) 2.08
13. La Via Della Droga – M2 (Marangolo/Morante/Simonetti/Pignatelli) 2.00
14 La Via Della Droga – M6 (Marangolo/Morante/Simonetti/Pignatelli) 2.05
15 La Via Della Droga – 31 (Marangolo/Morante/Simonetti/Pignatelli) 4.29
Zombi 1978:
16. L’Alba Dei Morti Viventi (Marangolo/Morante/Simonetti/Pignatelli) 6.04
Buio Omega 1979:
17. Buio Omega – M6 (Marangolo/Pennisi/Pignatelli) 2.33
18 Buio Omega – M25 (Marangolo/Pennisi/Pignatelli) 4.02
19 Buio Omega (Main Title) (Marangolo/Pennisi/Pignatelli) 2.56
St. Helen 1979:
20. St. Helen (Love Theme) (Marangolo/Guarini/Pignatelli) 2.08
Contamination 1980:
21. Contamination – M3 (Marangolo/Pignatelli) 1.40
22. Contamination – M8 (Marangolo/Pignatelli) 1.02
Tenebre 1982:
23. Tenebre (Main Title) (Morante/Simonetti/Pignatelli) 4.35
Notturno 1983:
24. Bass Theme (Pignatelli/Guarini/Marangolo) 3.22
Phenomena 1984:
25. Phenomena – M12 (Pignatelli) 1.01
26. Phenomena – M15 (Alternate Version) (Simonetti) 3.10
La Chiesa 1989:
27. La Chiesa (Pignatelli) 5.25
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