Syd Dale, Legend of Library

Trurl — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 08:11:42 -0800

There is no questioning Syd Dale's [mid-60s UK NSFW] place amongst the legends of library music. ... his lavish big band inspired compositions were quickly brought to the public's attention through their use in countless t.v. shows and advertisements. Much of his work could be as classed as easy listening however Dale was also adept at incorporating elements of funk and spy jazz.* [The music of the 1967 Spider-Man animated TV series - to which he so memorably contributed - has been discussed previously.] He possessed a particular genius for writing memorable melodies that, while often complex, were always designed for the ear to follow. He excelled at marrying them to modern rhythms (usually funk-based), and coupled with his rich, colourful style of orchestration, gave his music a unique and distinctive sound. Whether he was writing a hard-hitting theme for a detective or documentary series, a delicate underscore for a romantic interlude, a period piece or a humorous ‘throwaway’ number, the common factor uniting them all were his lavish, flamboyant arrangements.

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Syd Dale, Legend of Library