Harold Faltermeyer
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Harold Faltermeyer | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Hans Hugo Harold Faltermeyer |
Born | Munich, West Germany[1] | 5 October 1952
Genres | Synth-pop[2] |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) | |
Years active | 1978–present |
Labels |
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Website | www |
Hans Hugo Harold Faltermeyer (born 5 October 1952[1]) is a German musician, composer and record producer.
Faltermeyer is best known for composing the "Axel F"[2] theme for the feature film Beverly Hills Cop, an influential synth-pop hit in the 1980s. He also composed the "Top Gun Anthem" for the feature film Top Gun, along with its score, and the music for the Chevy Chase Fletch feature films, Fletch and Fletch Lives. The Beverly Hills Cop and Top Gun projects earned him two Grammy Awards: the first in 1986 for Best Album of original score written for a motion picture or television special, as a co-writer of the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack; and the second in 1987 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance with guitarist Steve Stevens for "Top Gun Anthem" from the Top Gun soundtrack.
As a session musician, arranger and producer, Faltermeyer has worked with numerous international pop stars including Donna Summer, Amanda Lear, Patti LaBelle, Barbra Streisand, Glenn Frey, Blondie, Laura Branigan, La Toya Jackson, Billy Idol, Jennifer Rush, Bonnie Tyler and Pet Shop Boys.
Background
Faltermeyer was born in
Soundtrack work
Alongside a busy schedule as a record producer, he became increasingly involved in soundtrack work on Moroder's scores (
The year after, the Fletch theme expanded on his trademark electronic soundscapes with experimental phase modulated percussion effects woven into the largely analog synth melodies. He also composed the theme song, "Bit by Bit", sung by Stephanie Mills.
The full scores of these films were not released on album. Only a handful of additional score tracks complemented these hits on vinyl: "The Discovery" and "Shoot-out" from
In 1987, Faltermeyer recorded an album called Harold F with vocal tracks featuring various guest singers plus "Axel F" which appears as a bonus track. The song "Bad Guys" is based on the (otherwise unavailable) main theme for Beverly Hills Cop II.
In 1989, Faltermeyer composed soundtrack music on the Fletch sequel Fletch Lives.
In 1990, he co-produced the album Behaviour with Pet Shop Boys at his studio near Munich.[7] The album was released later the same year.
Later career
In Vienna, Faltermeyer and Rainhard Fendrich collaborated on the 2002 musical Wake Up. Faltermeyer also provided the soundtrack for the 2007 computer game Two Worlds. He returned to film scoring for Kevin Smith's 2010 action comedy Cop Out starring Bruce Willis. Faltermeyer's music is also featured in Top Gun: Maverick.[8]
In May 2022 Faltermeyer published his autobiography Where's the Orchestra? My Story as an ebook[9] to coincide with the release of Top Gun: Maverick.[10]
Discography
Film scores
Year | Title | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | Non-Stop Trouble with My Double | Reinhard Schwabenitzky | With Arthur Lauber |
Thief of Hearts | Douglas Day Stewart | ||
Beverly Hills Cop | Martin Brest | ||
1985 | Fletch | Michael Ritchie
| |
1986 | Top Gun | Tony Scott | |
Fire and Ice (Feuer und Eis) | Willy Bogner Jr. | With Hermann Weindorf, one song | |
1987 | Fatal Beauty | Tom Holland | |
Beverly Hills Cop II | Tony Scott | Also co-wrote and produced "Shakedown" | |
The Running Man | Paul Michael Glaser | Deluxe Edition soundtrack released in 2020 | |
Starlight Express | Andrew Lloyd Webber | "The Race is On" | |
1989 | Fletch Lives | Michael Ritchie | |
Tango & Cash | Andrei Konchalovsky | Soundtrack released in 2006 | |
1990 | Blue Blood | Sidney Hayers | TV mini-series, with Hermann Weindorf |
Fire, Ice & Dynamite | Willy Bogner Jr. | ||
1992 | Kuffs | Bruce A. Evans | |
1994 | White Magic | Willy Bogner Jr. | |
Asterix Conquers America | Gerhard Hahn | ||
1995 | Frankie | Christoph Schrewe | TV mini-series |
1997 | The King of St. Pauli | Dieter Wedel | |
Jack Orlando | Toontraxx | Video game | |
2002 | Wake Up | Jorge Navarro Fica | |
2007 | Two Worlds | Reality Pump | Video game |
2010 | Cop Out | Kevin Smith | |
2022 | Top Gun: Maverick | Joseph Kosinski | With Hans Zimmer and Lady Gaga |
Albums
- As songwriter / producer / arranger / musician / remixer
- Amanda Lear: I Am a Photograph (1977)
- Roberta Kelly: Gettin' the Spirit (1978)
- Dee D. Jackson: Cosmic Curves (1978)
- Giorgio Moroder and Chris Bennett: Love's in You, Love's in Me (1978)
- Giorgio Moroder: Battlestar Galactica (1978)
- Giorgio Moroder: E=mc2 (1979)
- Janis Ian: Night Rains (1979)
- Suzi Lane: Ooh La La (1979)
- The Sylvers: Disco Fever (1979)
- The Three Degrees: Three D (1979)
- Donna Summer: Bad Girls (1979)
- Donna Summer: The Wanderer (1980)
- Sparks: Terminal Jive (1980)
- Donna Summer: I'm a Rainbow (1981, shelved until 1996)
- Al Corley: Square Rooms (1984)
- Laura Branigan: Self Control (1984)
- Laura Branigan: Hold Me (1985)
- Richard T. Bear: The Runner (1985)
- E. G. Daily: Wild Child (1985)
- Billy Idol: Whiplash Smile (1986)
- Donna Summer: All Systems Go (1987)
- Jennifer Rush: Heart over Mind (1987)
- Jennifer Rush: Passion (1988)
- Chris Thompson: The Challenge (Face It) (1989)
- Franzisca: Hold the Dream (1990)
- Pet Shop Boys: Behaviour (1990)
- Dominoe: The Key (1990)
- Chris Thompson: Beat of Love (1991)
- Falco: "Jeanny (Remix)" (1991)
- Falco: "Emotional (Remix)" (1991)
- Chaya: Here's to Miracles (1993)
- Marshall & Alexander: Marshall & Alexander (1998)
- Bonnie Tyler: All in One Voice (1999)
Selected singles
- As songwriter / arranger / producer
- Camino De Lobo: "Carmen Disco Suite" (1983)
- Glenn Frey: "The Heat Is On" (1984)
- Patti LaBelle: "Stir It Up" (1984)
- Valerie Claire: "I'm a Model (Tonight's the Night)" (1984)
- Valerie Claire: "Shoot Me Gino" (1985)
- Marietta: "Fire and Ice" (1986)
- John Parr: "Restless Heart (Running Away with You)" (1988) (not available on the Running Man soundtrack album)
- Chris Thompson: "The Challenge (Face It)" (Wimbledon 1989 theme, 7" & CD including instrumental version)
- Artists United for Nature: "Yes We Can" (1989) (7" & CD including instrumental version)
- Kathy Joe Daylor: "With Every Beat of My Heart" (1990)
Solo albums
- Worldhits (1987) (Instrumental disco arrangements of various well-known songs)
- Harold F (1988)
- Harold Faltermeyer featuring Joe Pizzulo: "Olympic Dreams" (1992) (CD single)
Solo singles including instrumental themes
Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications
| ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Pop [11] |
US Adult [11] |
US Dance
[11] |
US R&B [11] |
UK
[12] | |||
1984 | "Axel F" | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 2 | |
"Final Confrontation" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ||
1985 | "Fletch Theme" | ― | ― | ― | ― | 74 | |
1986 | "Formula One" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | |
1987 | "The Race Is On" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | |
1988 | "Must Be Paradise" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | |
"Prophecy" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Collections
- Portrait of Harold Faltermeyer: His Greatest Hits (2003 double CD)
See also
- List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
- List of German Academy Award winners and nominees
- List of Euro disco artists
- List of synthpop artists
References
- ^ a b "Harold Faltermeyer: About". faltermeyer.com/. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "Harold Faltermeyer Biography (1952–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ "Harold Faltermayer (interview)". Daeida Magazine. October 2012. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ Schweiger, Daniel (9 February 2010). "AUDIO: On The Score With Harold Faltermeyer". Film Music Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Music Behind The Scenes, Episode 4 – Humour". CreaTVty Ltd, Take 2 TV Partnerships and NBD Television Ltd. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006.
- ISBN 9780252026201.
- ^ "Harold Faltermeyer to Return for 'Top Gun: Maverick'". Film Music Reporter. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ Faltermeyer, Harold (3 May 2022). Where's the Orchestra? My Story - Kindle edition. Kilauea Music – via Amazon.com.
- ^ Cremona, Patrick (13 May 2022). "Top Gun soundtrack – All the songs in original and Maverick sequel". Radio Times.
- ^ a b c d "Harold Faltermeyer - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "HAROLD FALTERMEYER - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "British certifications". British Phonographic Industry.
Further reading
- Kuffs soundtrack, liner notes (unknown author), Milan 10151-2 (1992 CD).
- Tango & Cash soundtrack, liner notes by Randall D. Larson, La-La Land Records LLLCD 1052 (2006 CD).
- Where's the Orchestra? My Story autobiography by Harold Faltermeyer, by Harold Faltermeyer and Janneck Herre, KILAUEA MUSIC PUBLISHING, 2022 (ebook).
External links
- Harold Faltermeyer at IMDb
- Harold Faltermeyer discography at Discogs