Marvin Pulvers

Marvin Hamlisch's first feature film score – written while he was still a college student – remains one of the great debuts in soundtrack history: a work of remarkable maturity, 1968's The Swimmer is rich in contrast and scope, communicating the film's uncommon emotional complexity in stunningly clear detail. Hamlisch proves a master of both style and mood, shifting effortlessly from the poignant simplicity of the main theme to the effervescent jazz cut "Easy Four/Bubbles" to the soaring orchestral flourishes of "Hurdles." Like the new generation of filmmakers who redefined American cinema in the late '60s and early '70s, Hamlisch achieves a note-perfect balance between tradition and innovation, acknowledging the past masters of movie music even as he expands the parameters of the form. Film Score Monthly's superlative reissue includes excellent liner notes and a series of stills from the film. Highly recommended.

English guitar legend Hank Marvin inspired a generation of British post-war guitarists with his smooth, plectrum-based guitar lines. Backing Cliff Richard with his band The Shadows, Hank's guitar playing inspired The Beatles and a generation of British groups starting out in the 1960s. This album sees Hank performing a plethora of songs from the big screen, both recent and vintage. All are flawlessly executed with the smooth melodic perfection that audiences have come to expect from Hank. This album contains a wide range of material–"The Sound of Silence" from The Graduate, "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic, "How Deep Is Your Love?" from Saturday Night Fever and "A Kiss From A Rose" from Batman Forever. Hank purists will enjoy the James Bond Medley containing the James Bond theme, plus music from You Only Live Twice, From Russia With Love and On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

The average fan is better off with Anthology, which covers almost all of Marvin Gaye's true classics. But for those who want the hits and then some, and have the budget and interest to go further, this four-CD box set is an excellent retrospective of his career. The 89 tracks include all the chart hits (both on his own and with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, and Diana Ross) and many interesting B-sides, album tracks, and misses…