Exodus (soundtrack)
Encyclopedia
Exodus is a soundtrack album by Ernest Gold with the Sinfonia of London
from the 1961 film Exodus
directed by Otto Preminger
.
The main theme from the film ("Theme of Exodus") has been widely remixed and covered by many artists such as Ferrante and Teicher, whose version went No. 2 on the Billboard Singles Chart. Other versions were recorded by Mantovani
, Bob Fleming (Moacyr Silva´s nickname - his recording is featured on his album Mr. Sax), Peter Nero, Connie Francis, and the Duprees, who sang the theme with lyrics written by Pat Boone
. Hard rock guitarist Leslie West
performed the song with his earliest band the Vagrants
and also in subsequent bands. Other artists included piano player Anthony Burger
for the Homecoming titled "I Do Believe", a disco version titled "Exo-Disco" by Huey Lewis
& the American Express, a remix by techno-crossover pianist Maksim Mrvica
, and it has even been used as the sample for the T.I.
song "Bankhead". The original version was used as a theme song for professional wrestler Mr. Perfect
. Trey Spruance
of the Secret Chiefs 3
rescored the theme for "surf band and orchestra" on the album 2004 Book of Horizons
. The Chopsticks (a Hong Kong female duo, made up of Sandra Lang
(仙杜拉) & Amina (亞美娜)), covered this as a medley song with "Hava Nagila
" on their 1971 LP 《All Of A Sudden》issue. Furthermore, Howard Stern
tends to use it for comedic effect when discussing aspects of Jewish life.
Side 2
Academy Awards
Grammy Award
Sinfonia of London
The Sinfonia of London is a session orchestra based in London, England. Muir Mathieson, the director of music for Rank Films, founded the ensemble in 1955 specifically for the recording of film music...
from the 1961 film Exodus
Exodus (film)
Exodus is a 1960 epic war film made by Alpha and Carlyle Productions and distributed by United Artists. Produced and directed by Otto Preminger, the film was based on the 1958 novel Exodus, by Leon Uris. The screenplay was written by Dalton Trumbo, which represented the breaking of the Hollywood...
directed by Otto Preminger
Otto Preminger
Otto Ludwig Preminger was an Austro–Hungarian-American theatre and film director.After moving from the theatre to Hollywood, he directed over 35 feature films in a five-decade career. He rose to prominence for stylish film noir mysteries such as Laura and Fallen Angel...
.
The main theme from the film ("Theme of Exodus") has been widely remixed and covered by many artists such as Ferrante and Teicher, whose version went No. 2 on the Billboard Singles Chart. Other versions were recorded by Mantovani
Mantovani
Annunzio Paolo Mantovani known as Mantovani, was an Anglo-Italian conductor and light orchestra-styled entertainer with a cascading strings musical signature. The book British Hit Singles & Albums states that he was "Britain's most successful album act before The Beatles .....
, Bob Fleming (Moacyr Silva´s nickname - his recording is featured on his album Mr. Sax), Peter Nero, Connie Francis, and the Duprees, who sang the theme with lyrics written by Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
. Hard rock guitarist Leslie West
Leslie West
Leslie West is an American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter.-Biography:Originally named Leslie Weinstein, West was born in New York City, grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and in East Meadow, Forest Hills and Lawrence. After his parents divorced, he changed his surname to West...
performed the song with his earliest band the Vagrants
The Vagrants
The Vagrants were a Long Island-based rock and blue-eyed soul group from the 1960s. The group was composed of Peter Sabatino on vocals, harmonica, and tambourine, Leslie West on vocals and guitar, Larry West on vocals and bass guitar, Jerry Storch on organ, and Roger Mansour on drums.- Rise to...
and also in subsequent bands. Other artists included piano player Anthony Burger
Anthony Burger
Anthony John Burger was an American musician and singer, most closely associated with Southern Gospel music.-Early life:...
for the Homecoming titled "I Do Believe", a disco version titled "Exo-Disco" by Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis is an American musician, songwriter and occasional actor.Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band's songs...
& the American Express, a remix by techno-crossover pianist Maksim Mrvica
Maksim Mrvica
Maksim Mrvica is a Croatian pianist. He plays classical crossover music.- History :Mrvica was born in Šibenik, Croatia. He took up piano lessons from the age of nine from Marija Sekso and gave his first public performance in the same year. Just three years later he gave his first concert...
, and it has even been used as the sample for the T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
song "Bankhead". The original version was used as a theme song for professional wrestler Mr. Perfect
Curt Hennig
Curtis Michael "Curt" Hennig , also known by the ring name Mr. Perfect, was an American professional wrestler, manager and color commentator who worked for, among other promotions, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World...
. Trey Spruance
Trey Spruance
Preston Lea Spruance III or "Trey Spruance" is an American composer, producer, and musician, perhaps best known as the leader of the multi-genre outfit Secret Chiefs 3 and for his work as guitarist and keyboardist with Mr. Bungle...
of the Secret Chiefs 3
Secret Chiefs 3
Secret Chiefs 3 is an instrumental rock group led by guitarist/composer Trey Spruance . Their studio recordings and tours have featured different line-ups, as the group performs a wide range of musical styles including surf rock, Persian, Arab, Indian, death metal, film music, electronic music,...
rescored the theme for "surf band and orchestra" on the album 2004 Book of Horizons
Book of Horizons
-Personnel:* Trey Spruance — guitars , keyboards , percussion , santur, rabab, banjo, saz, sheng, synthesizer, sampler, soundscape, Foley sound effects, electroacoustic treatment, vocals, producer, engineer* Mike...
. The Chopsticks (a Hong Kong female duo, made up of Sandra Lang
Sandra Lang
Sandra Lang is a former Taishan Cantopop singer, active in the 1970s. - Career :During the late 1960s Sandra Lang's career began under the HK English pop group named The Chopsticks. The group did not last long, as Lang soon went solo for TVB....
(仙杜拉) & Amina (亞美娜)), covered this as a medley song with "Hava Nagila
Hava Nagila
"Hava Nagila" is a Hebrew folk song that has become a staple of band performers at Jewish weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.-History:...
" on their 1971 LP 《All Of A Sudden》issue. Furthermore, Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
tends to use it for comedic effect when discussing aspects of Jewish life.
Track listing
Side 1- "Theme of Exodus"
- "Summer in Cyprus"
- "Escape"
- "Ari"
- "Karen"
- "Valley of Jezreel"
- "Fight For Survival"
Side 2
- "In Jerusalem"
- "The Brothers"
- "Conspiracy"
- "Prison Break"
- "Dawn"
- "Fight for Peace"
Academy AwardsAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
- The music score, written by Ernest Gold, won the Academy Award for Best Original ScoreAcademy Award for Original Music ScoreThe Academy Award for Original Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer.-Superlatives:...
at the 1960 Oscars33rd Academy AwardsThe 33rd Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 1960, were held on April 17, 1961 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California...
.
Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
- Ernest Gold won Best Soundtrack AlbumGrammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual MediaThe Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media has been awarded since 1960. Until 2001 the award was presented to the composer of the music alone. From 2001 to 2006, the producer and engineers shared in this award...
and Song of the YearGrammy Award for Song of the YearThe Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
at the Grammy Awards of 1961Grammy Awards of 1961The third Grammy Awards were held on April 13, 1961. They recognized musical accomplishments by the performers for the year 1960. Bob Newhart and Henry Mancini each won three awards.-Award winners:*Record of the Year...
for the soundtrack and theme to Exodus respectively. It is the only instrumental song to ever receive that award to date. Oddly, the first notes of the great dramatic theme are identical to the opening theme of a somewhat obscure orchestral piece by Quincy Porter, New England Episodes, premiered in 1958 in Washington, DC.
- The world premiere of the complete film score with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Nic Raine from Tadlow Music received a Sammy Award for Best Newly Recorded Vintage Film Score of 2009.
Soundtrack chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Billboard Pop Albums (Billboard 200) (mono and stereo) | 1 |