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Dragon's Domain Records presents THE SHIRLEY WALKER COLLECTION, VOLUME 1, a compilation of two scores from legendary film and television composer Shirley Walker's extensive filmography.
Airing on television in 1995, THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN ZOOM IN OUTER SPACE was directed by Max Tash, written by Brian Levant, Rick Copp and David A. Goodman, starring Daniel Riordan, Liz Vassey, Ron Perlman, Gia Carides, Duane Davis, Gregory Smith, Nichelle Nichols, Rick Copp, Lloyd Berry, David Mylrea, Sarah Strange, Bill Croft, Ken Kirzinger and Michael Donovan.
In much the same vein as GALAXY QUEST, colorful visuals and a playful tone abound, affectionately celebrating the traditions of the space-hero characters of 1950s sci-fi TV in this campy television pilot film... Captain Zoom (Riordan) is the fictional intergalactic hero of a popular 1953 DuMont Network television program. He's portrayed with all the cheerful bravado and humor one frequently associates with the heroes of our childhood — an affectionate homage to earlier science-fiction entertainment. The costume design, bright colors and exaggerated gadgets recall the spirit of the 1966 BATMAN television series but on the scale of the classic space serials FLASH GORDON and BUCK ROGERS. At the same time, the narrative emphasizes themes of friendship, belief in oneself and the power of imagination.
The musical score by Shirley Walker for THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN ZOOM IN OUTER SPACE adds energy and emotional warmth to the adventure while also playing up the campy, exaggerated acting. Walker brings a lively orchestral-sounding approach to the project. She blends bold, heroic themes with playful musical gestures that match the film's light family-adventure tone. Brass fanfares accompany Captain Zoom's triumphant moments, while lighter motifs support the film's child-like sense of wonder.
Presented on television across two nights in 1997, ASTEROID was directed by Bradford May, written by Robbyn Burger and Scott Sturgeon, starring Michael Biehn, Annabella Sciorra, Zach Charles, Don Franklin, Carlos Gomez, Michael Weatherly, Jensen Daggett, Anne-Marie Johnson, Frank McRae, Anthony Zerbe and Dennis Arndt as the President.
ASTEROID follows astronomer Dr. Lily McKee (Sciorra) who works at the National Observatory in Boulder, Colorado, monitoring near-Earth objects. During a routine survey of the sky, she detects the Fletcher comet whose trajectory indicates a potential approach near Earth on the Fourth of July. She later realizes that the comet has drawn several asteroids out of their orbits in the asteroid belt, but two in particular — Helios and Eros — are on a collision course with Earth and large enough to cause catastrophic damage. Helios is projected to hit with a force 1,000x greater than the Hiroshima A-bomb, but the far larger Eros is more dangerous, with the potential of wiping out all life on the planet.
Military and government agencies soon become involved as the danger grows. FEMA Director Jack Wallach (Biehn) is tasked with coordinating evacuation efforts and responding to the crisis. Wallach becomes a central figure in the unfolding drama as authorities attempt to calculate the asteroid's path and protect the population. The film shifts between scenes of scientific investigation, government deliberation, and the personal stories of individuals caught in the looming disaster. As Eros nears Earth, scientists explore possible ways to divert or destroy it...
Shirley Walker's score for ASTEROID plays a significant role in shaping the film's dramatic tone, combining a powerful electronic feel with suspenseful textures that underscore the approaching danger from space. Low brass and percussion create a sense of impending catastrophe, while urgent rhythmic passages accompany scenes of scientific discovery and emergency response.
Shirley Walker (April 10, 1945 – November 30, 2006) was an influential American film and television composer and conductor, recognized as a pioneer for women in Hollywood. She was one of the first female composers to gain solo score credit on a major film. Walker won two Emmy Awards, and the ASCAP Shirley Walker Award was established in her honor in 2014. Walker's film career began in 1979 with APOCALYPSE NOW, where she played synthesizers and later orchestrated scores for films like THE BLACK STALLION. She excelled as an orchestrator, conductor and composer, working with notable figures like Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer. Walker scored various productions, including WILLARD and the first three FINAL DESTINATION films, and TV series like FALCON CREST and THE FLASH. While working with Danny Elfman, she mentored Hans Zimmer and orchestrated several of his film scores. Walker was a prominent composer for several animated series in the DC Animated Universe, including BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES and BATMAN BEYOND. She worked closely with Danny Elfman, served as the conductor for the film BATMAN, and composed much of the music for BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, creating a recognizable musical tone for the franchise. Her themes continued to be used in JUSTICE LEAGUE and JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED.
Dragon's Domain Records presents THE SHIRLEY WALKER COLLECTION: VOLUME 1, featuring the premiere release of music composed by Shirley Walker for THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN ZOOM IN OUTER SPACE and ASTEROID, mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland. The booklet contains liner notes written by Scott Davis.
- BSX
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