Dollars

Music by Quincy Jones

 

 

 

 

 

For the heist adventure Dollars (1971) directed by Richard Brooks, Quincy Jones wrote one of his most eccentric and humorous soundtracks. Brooks and Jones had worked together on excellent In Cold Blood (1967), but here the climate is much lighter.

The score opens with the cynical greedy worship in Money Is, a rock with Little Richard singing the wonder that is to have the pockets stuffed by Jacksons and Lincolns. The trail alternates suspense tracks and includes lots of humor as in the rhythmic Snow Creatures. In moments almost experimental, as the satirical vocal Rubber Duck and the country violin in Redeye Runnin 'Train (simulating a train in acceleration), the work is unparalleled in film music or even the composer´s work. Dollars resembles the music for The Getaway (1972) in instrumental form: bass harmonics and syncopated rhythms are quite similar in the two tracks, but not the orientation to humor. The work of the vocal group Don Elliot Voices adds a lot to the musical inventiveness. Other highlights are, Money Runner – instrumental version of Money Is – the perfect romanticism of Shady Lady (with saxophone and electric piano) and the blues Passin 'the Buck. The option to experimental is crowned with Brook's 50c Tour suite alternating short passages of diverse personalities in baroque lines, bossa nova rhythms, zithers and incidental suspense. Unfortunately only a few excerpts from that suite suite are heard on the final cut opening sequence of the movie. The team of musicians include guitarist Eric Gale, bassist Ray Brown and organist Billy Preston. Dollars takes place as one of the most inventive and funny works of the composer.