In striking contrast, the score to Mandingo is paired with an earlier Jarre effort from 1971 — the premiere release of his light and jazzy score for the Neil Simon-penned comedy Plaza Suite. Plaza Suite consists of three acts, each starring a different couple and set in Suite 719 of Manhattan’s historic Plaza Hotel. There is no interaction between the stories, although all touch on themes of marriage or fidelity. While the characters in each story were different, Walter Matthau played the male lead in all three, while the female leads were played by Lee Grant, Barbara Harris and Maureen Stapleton.
Brief as his musical contribution is, Jarre manages to infuse each segment with its own distinctive character. Story one begins with an air of stylish elegance and ends with a melancholy passage of disillusionment. Story two is bookended by a swinging, synth-infused number that dovetails humorously with Jesse’s self-important swagger and somewhat ridiculous mod toupée. In between, however, is a solo flute appropriate to the two lonely souls looking for solace in one another’s company. Finally, the wedding segment receives a mellow ballroom waltz, alongside tongue-in-cheek riffs on Richard Wagner’s famous “Bridal Chorus” from the opera Lohengrin.
Mandingo was newly remixed from the 16-track 2″ masters, which survived in excellent condition. For Plaza Suite, four cues were taken from a set of ½″ three-track masters, recorded in early 1971 at Goldwyn Studios. The remaining two cues have been carefully restored from a mono source.
Track Listing
1. Born in This Time (03:26) Muddy Waters, vocal
2. The Dinner Table/Pearl’s Bath/Reading Lesson (05:28)
3. Meet Mr. Wallace (01:15)
4. Ellen’s Seduction (01:53)
5. First Meeting No. 1/First Meeting No. 2 (01:22)
6. Wedding Day (02:08)
7. Blanche Comes Home (02:33)
8. Display of Strength (02:23)
9. Blanche’s Problems (03:04)
10. Ellen Pleads (03:45)
11. After Cicero’s Hanging/Sickness (01:59)
12. The Fight (01:06)
13. The Earrings (00:48)
14. A Gift for Blanche (01:11)
15. To the Market (01:27) Muddy Waters, vocal
16. Prelude to the Love Scene (01:22)
17. Blanche and Mede (04:31)
18. Ellen Is Jealous (01:25)
19. Death Potion (01:18)
20. End Credits (01:35) Muddy Waters, vocal
Total Score Time: 44:41
24. Main Title (Theme From Plaza Suite) (02:31)
25. Theme IV (Theme From Plaza Suite) (00:51)
26. Exit Sam—Enter Jesse (01:58)
27. Exit Jesse—Enter Hubley and Wedding March (02:25)
28. Baroque Room Waltz (01:19)
29. Finale & Bows (Theme From Plaza Suite) (02:43)
Total Score Time: 11:58
