Criminal records

Film and TV music is all about evoking moods and for me apart from Spy music, you can't beat a bit of crime music to get the old pulse pounding. Here's a couple of primo examples of the genre.

Representing movie and television crime drama recorded between 1954 and 1964, Music in the First Degree features compositions by Elmer Bernstein, Henry Mancini, Count Basie, Leonard Bernstein, David Amram and performers like Shorty Rogers, Stan Kenton and Quincy Jones. It's a bold and brassy affair that bursts from the speakers with little gems from familiar and forgotten crime related affairs like, The Wild One, The Man With The Golden Arm, Johnny Staccato, Touch Of Evil, Sweet Smell Of Success, Peter Gunn, Mike Hammer and The Naked City. Mix yourself a mean martini or a manhattan and let this collection take you into custody.

The wah-wah infested 1970's are represented here by Funky Songs for Private Eyes by German multi-instrumentalist Ambros Seelos. It's a blistering blend of previously unreleased funk and big band grooviness. With a lineup of musicians from the USA, Belgium and South Africa, the band encompasses a myriad variety of musical styles including groovy, easy, funky, jazzy and big band. Take down this band's particulars.