Rocky: Original Motion Picture Score is a soundtrack album for the 1976 American film Rocky, composed by Bill Conti. It was released on vinyl in the United States on November 12, 1976, by United Artists Records, followed by a CD release by EMI Records on November 7, 1988. The soundtrack is notable for its inclusion of "Gonna Fly Now", the theme song from Rocky.
| Rocky: Original Motion Picture Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | November 12, 1976[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 31:25 | |||
| Label | United Artists Records EMI Records/Capitol Records (reissue) | |||
| Rocky soundtrack chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rocky | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Filmtracks.com |  [4] |
Overview
editAlthough the Conti version of "Gonna Fly Now" is the most recognizable arrangement, a cover of the song performed by legendary trumpeter Maynard Ferguson on his Conquistador album prior to the release of the motion picture soundtrack actually outsold the soundtrack itself.[5] The version of Conti's "Gonna Fly Now" released on later records and CDs differs from the version used in the film. The vocals and guitars are much more emphasized in the film than on the versions released. The "movie version" has yet to be officially released.[citation needed] Parts of the song contain phases of the old german soldier song "Fehrbelliner Reitermarsch".
Track listing
editAll music by Bill Conti.
- "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky)" (vocals: DeEtta Little/Nelson Pigford) – 2:48
- "Philadelphia Morning" – 2:22
- "Going the Distance" – 2:40
- "Reflections" – 3:19
- "Marines' Hymn/Yankee Doodle" (Jacques Offenbach/Thomas Holcomb/Traditional, arranged by Conti) – 1:45
- "Take You Back (Street Corner Song from Rocky)" (vocals: Valentine)(written by F. Stallone, Jr.) – 1:49
- "First Date" – 1:54
- "You Take My Heart Away" (vocals: DeEtta Little/Nelson Pigford) – 4:46
- "Fanfare for Rocky" – 2:34
- "Butkus" – 2:12
- "Alone in the Ring" – 1:09
- "The Final Bell" – 1:56
- "Rocky's Reward" – 2:03
Personnel
edit- Composer, conductor, orchestrator, producer - Bill Conti
- Recording engineer - Ami Hadani
Performers (uncredited):[6]
- The Hollywood Studio Symphony
- Trumpet - Malcolm McNab, Tony Terran, Graham Young, Maurice Harris, Robert DiVall, Uan Rasey
- Horn - Vincent DeRosa, Richard Perissi, Arthur Maebe, Gale Robinson
- Trombone - Dick Nash, Lloyd Ulyate
- Bass trombone - George Roberts
- Tuba - Tommy Johnson
Chart positions
edit| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 38 |
| US Billboard 200[8] | 4 |
| US Top R&B Albums (Billboard)[8] | 32 |
Additional music
editAdditional music featured in Rocky:
| Title | Musician(s) | Key scenes/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| "Summer Madness"[9] | Kool & the Gang | Plays when Rocky returns to his home after his match against Spider Rico. |
References
edit- ^ "Motion Pictures January–June 1976: Third Series, Parts 12–13". Catalog of Copyright Entries. 30 (1). The Library of Congress. 1977. ISSN 0090-8371.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (November 6, 2019). "The Number Ones: Bill Conti's "Gonna Fly Now (Theme From Rocky)"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
...Conti's music for Rocky is just magnificent...it's got the Philadelphia soul of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff baked into its lush funk-guitar squelches and bongo ripples and dramatic strings.
- ^ Monger, James Christopher. "Rocky [Original Motion Picture Score]". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ^ "Rocky (Bill Conti) – Editorial Review". Filmtracks.com. Filmtracks Publications. December 11, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ^ Liner notes of the Conquistador album
- ^ "Re: [Hornlist] Delightfully BRASSY!". www.mail-archive.com. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 282. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b Rocky (Original Motion Picture Score) - Bill Conti - Awards. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Accessed on August 9, 2013.
- ^ "Kool and the Gang – History". Kool and the Gang Official Site. Red Light Management. Archived from the original on December 9, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.