Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Jeff Commings
Take a musical journey through the 60-year career of film composer John Williams!
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Nov 20, 20191h 0m
Episode 50 - Superman
The 50th episode of "The Baton" is here! And what better way to mark the occasion than a discussion of one of the most popular film scores in history. Possibly the only part of making "Superman" that went without a major hitch was the composition and recording of the iconic score. This was just 18 months after John Williams' score for "Star Wars" showed his mastery of creating music for characters that found its way into the mainstream. Host Jeff Commings is joined by Doug Grieve, a trombone player who talks about the composition of the music for the opening titles and the introduction to the planet Krypton. In this opening six minutes of the film, Williams creates music that excites, mystifies and exalts, all with the use of carefully selected musical intervals. Learn more about this super score on this episode of "The Baton."
- Nov 13, 201929 min
Episode 49 - Jaws 2
John Williams made his first foray into sequel territory with "Jaws 2," writing a score that gave us brief reprises of his iconic shark theme but relied mostly on a different tone throughout. Mostly, his music offers a new emotional connection to the terrible incident happening on Amity Island and helps a film that had as many troubles as its predecessor. Host Jeff Commings talks about the long road to get the film made, including Steven Spielberg's thoughts on returning to direct. Learn more about the major differences between the sequel and the original film, not the least of which is the higher death toll in "Jaws 2."
- Nov 6, 201953 min
Episode 48 - The Fury
John Williams had an unusual assignment for his first score of 1978: Write a score for "The Fury" exactly as the late Bernard Herrmann would have composed it. Williams agreed to do so out of honor to his friend, who died about 18 months earlier, and to director Brian De Palma, who had a great relationship with Herrmann on "Obsession." Host Jeff Commings brings on co-host Maurizio Caschetto to break down the Herrmann similarities in the score, as well as the moments that allowed Williams to bring in his personal touch. The two examine the standout scene in which Amy Irving's Gillian escapes the institute supposedly trying to help her control her psychic powers, as well as the touch of horror music written for the literally explosive finale.
- Oct 30, 201936 min
Episode 47 - Close Encounters of the Third Kind
John Williams closed out 1977 on top of the pyramid in Hollywood. He was involved in two of the three highest-grossing films in the United States, and wrote scores for them that brought more attention to symphonic film scores. His final film of 1977, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," required him to participate in pre-production to find a five-note signal that would serve as communication between Earthlings and the aliens. His underscore is full of great themes, including a nod to the "Dies Irae" melody and sweet angelic voices to signify the alien mystery. Host Jeff Commings details the long journey Williams took to complete this project, which began in early 1976 and continued to summer 1980 for a three-minute piece for the controversial mothership interior scene in the Special Edition.
- Oct 23, 20191h 17m
Episode 46 - Star Wars
This episode of "The Baton" is all about "Star Wars" and its monumental score by John Williams. Settle in as host Jeff Commings talks with Sir Clive Gillinson, who played cello on the original 1977 soundtrack. He relives some memories of playing the music and why Williams made such an impression on the London Symphony Orchestra that he returned to conduct multiple scores with the group. Also on the show is a discussion of the effectiveness of the main theme by Chris Hatt, who talks about the musical notes that make the score sound familiar and yet a bit unpredictable. Commings and Hatt also discuss their favorite scenes in the movie and resurrect the once-popular "Star Wars Disco" hit from 1977.
- Oct 16, 201955 min
Episode 45 - Black Sunday
John Williams closed out a very busy 1976 with his compositions for the score to the thriller "Black Sunday," which would get a delayed release until spring 1977. Host Jeff Commings is joined by Siddique Hussain, who counts the score as one of his favorites from the Maestro in the time between "Jaws" and "Star Wars." He cites some thematic material and musical styles used in the score that will make stronger appearances in future films, including "Star Wars." Since the film did not fare well at the box office, and critics were divided on the movie, Williams' score got lost in the mix of his two other 1977 compositions. Thanks to a CD released by Film Score Monthly -- and this podcast episode -- you can enjoy the finer points of this score!
- Oct 9, 201925 min
Episode 44 - Midway
John Williams got back into the war genre with the film "Midway," writing just 32 minutes of score for a 132-minute film. In this case, most of the movie features battle scenes that producer Walter Mirisch wanted to feel very realistic, which meant the appearance of music was not appropriate -- at least for Mirisch. "Midway" was the first score Williams wrote after his landmark work on "Jaws," and a couple of months after a disastrous production of the "Thomas and the King" musical on the London stage. This score features a march that is a staple at concerts … and sounds very, very familiar to host Jeff Commings. Join him as he discusses the creation of the score and the brief musical cues that standout in a film that did well at the box office but didn't get much recognition beyond that.
- Oct 2, 201935 min
Episode 43 - The Missouri Breaks
"The Missouri Breaks" is arguably the worst film to feature a John Williams score ... at least up to that point in his 17 years as a film composer. Though it starred Oscar-winning actors Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson, it was a misfire from the start, with Brando going off the rails in terms of acting choices, and Nicholson looking unfit for a Western. John Williams took on the challenge of using music to keep the film on track, but Williams himself takes some eccentric choices. The primary derivation Williams took was using a very small ensemble for his score instead of an orchestra filled with dozens of musicians. The score is dominated by harmonica and guitar, with a love theme that desperately needed strings. The film has gained a cult following. Does the score deserve the same? Host Jeff Commings believes it's on par with the other 1967 scores by Williams: decent but forgettable. Take a listen to the music and judge for yourself.
Get The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
The Soundtrack Show
A deep dive into film, TV, video game, and theater soundtracks and scores.
Twenty Thousand Hertz
Explores the hidden histories and design behind iconic sounds, from movie effects to jingles and animal communication.
Stories Behind the Songs
Frank LaSpina
Inside Jaws
Audible
Classical Breakdown
A music expert explores classical compositions through interviews, analysis, and behind-the-scenes insights.
Bizarre Albums
Tony Thaxton
Professor of Rock
Music historian Adam Reader examines the origins and stories of classic rock songs through interviews and detailed episode explorations.
You Must Remember This
Explores hidden and forgotten stories from Hollywood’s first century, uncovering the truth behind myths, scandals, and iconic figures.
Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
Musicians and music insiders recount the stories behind iconic songs, bands, and pivotal moments in rock, pop, soul, country, and hip-hop.
The Force Talk
Star Wars Theory
American History Hit
Examines key events in American history, from colonial conflicts to civil rights, through expert interviews and detailed storytelling.
John Campea Show
John Campea and guests discuss movie news, TV, sports, and current events.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Jeff Commings.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey release new episodes?
The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey cover?
The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey covers topics including History, Music, Film, TV & Film. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting The Baton: A John Williams Musical Journey summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.