Restaurant music from "The Responsibility Seat"

Hi All :)

Recently I was travelling in Italy on business, when the strangest thing happened early one morning...

...There was I innocently eating my breakfast, half asleep (I'm not a morning person), gradually evolving into a human being with every sip of my coffee... when a distant intangible cool wave of realism began to wash over me... something seemingly familiar began to stir the sleeping synapses in my brain.

The music... erm... sounds familiar?

Suddenly I was awake! It's the restaurant music from "The Responsibility Seat!!!...". The couple at the next table looked at me with some surprised concern on their faces.

I quickly finished up the meal, and dashed over to reception. "Mi scusi. Potete dirmi che cosa è la riproduzione della musica? ... or roughly, "Excuse me. Can you tell me what music is playing?"

"Oh, it's just a CD of background musak", enunciated in perfect RP English."I'm sorry.It's dreadful isn't it."

"No, no... well, yes, I suppose it is. But, it's really important I know what it is." I burbled.

She looked at me inscrutably but very politely obviously thinking I was nuts, then glanced over at the PA. "It's from a stack of unlabelled CD's. Is it important?

I thought about explaining the context to my question. "No, it's okay. It'sjust some music that's important to me for sentimental reasons."

"Your fist love? Ah, that's sweet" ...

"Well something like that. Can I borrow the CD - just for 10 minutes..."

"I'll have to ask the manager when he gets in later this morning."

"But, I'm leaving for the airport within the hour."

"I'm sorry", she shrugged.

...

I never did get a chance to speak with the manager. Some work stuff came up, and I was at the airport before it dawned on me.

I'll be there again in July. So, I'll keep you posted.

Best to all :)

Griff

> It's the restaurant music from "The Responsibility
> Seat!!!...".

Hi Marc,

Yes, it's the background music heard when Commander Straker and Jo Frazer are sitting at a table at a local (to Harlington-Straker Film Studios/SHADO HQ) restaurant (the same place that Gay Ellis and Mark Bradley are seen dining at in Computer Affair, and also seen in a few other episodes).

The music starts about 26 minutes into the episode, and ends at about 27:15.

I should say that I am almost certain that this music is not Barry Gray's work, but I would love to find out who was the composer. Hopefully, I might have more information next month, or at least a full version of the music. Wish me luck in Bologna.

Thanks,

Griff

--- In [hidden email], "Marc Martin" <marc@...> wrote:
>
> > It's the restaurant music from "The Responsibility
> > Seat!!!...".
>
> From RESPONSIBILITY SEAT, and not DALOTEK AFFAIR? Would
> that be when Straker was alone, but looking for Jo Fraser?
>
> Marc
>

Hi Marc,

I suppose the next question is:

What is the music from to 31:44 to 32.53 as heard in Straker's dining room?

It is in a different style to the piece in my earlier email, but it's possible it is the same composer.

I suppose both pieces of music are 'stock' background music. I know there are companies that specialise in selling backing/background music/musak to hotels/shops/restaurants etc. Maybe this was bought in "off the shelf" and included in the show. I can't think of any of Barry's tracks that would havebeen suitable (I think these are fairly intimate and poignant moments) in these scenes.

Best,

Griff

> What is the music from to 31:44 to 32.53 as heard in Straker's dining
> room? It is in a different style to the piece in my earlier email, but
> it's possible it is the same composer.

Yes, I don't know what either of those 2 pieces of music are. Sometimes
Barry Gray did record "radio" music in a different style than we are
used to, but I don't think these are Barry Gray pieces.

Good luck in trying to find out what they are!

Marc

Hi Marc,

Thanks.

Yes, it was a surreal experience hearing that music piped around the restaurant and hotel reception area, especially as it was in a dining area and seems appropriate. I half expected Ed Straker and Jo Frazer to walk round a corner any second!

The music in UFO was just a brief extract, as the music did go on for quitea time, and did repeat the main theme in variations.

Damn cross with myself now for not "ceasing the moment", but I was a littlegroggy.

I'll certainly do a better job next month. I have stayed at this place quite a few times, certainly enough to have a little leverage.

Regards,

Griff

--- In [hidden email], "Marc Martin" <marc@...> wrote:
>
> > It's the restaurant music from "The Responsibility
> > Seat!!!...".
>
> From RESPONSIBILITY SEAT, and not DALOTEK AFFAIR? Would
> that be when Straker was alone, but looking for Jo Fraser?
>
> Marc