I was a teenager during the middle '70's when I first saw the film Ice Station Zebra presented with great fanfare as a television premiere event on the ABC Sunday Night movie. Though I found the film extraordinarily interesting visually, it was just a bit too long for the plot to sustain my attention, but Michel Legrand's score made me sit up in my seat (no kidding!), wide-eared with real wonder at the vitality, sensuousness and expressiveness of the music. It was colorful, inventive, heroic, suspenseful, thrilling, and even playful at times. It was one of the scores that woke me up to the pleasure and excitement of listening to orchestral music written for films in the grand Hollywood style. I appreciate it even more, now, as an adult. It is obvious to me that Mr. Legrand was deeply inspired by the opportunity and the challenge. There is a sense of joy and adventure in his compositions, as though making music to accompany the bold and dynamic on-screen visuals was a literal dream come true. I'll never get tired of listening to this one.

By the way, speaking of French film composers named "Michel", does anyone know if there are any plans to release the late Michel Colombier's score for Colossus: The Forbin Project?