How could I have not mentioned Star Trek? My mind has been so focused on records, radio and other musical influences that Star Trek seems to have slipped my mind. I guess Star Trek may not seem like an obvious musical influence. Oddly enough, it was some cable channel surfing last night that reminded me. Star Trek – The Motion Picture was on one of the movie channels. Was it a coincidence that in My Musical Evolution the soundtrack to Star Trek The Motion Picture fits right here?
I feel like I have been fascinated with Star Trek my entire life. I was 19 months old when Star Trek first aired. I’m pretty sure I didn’t see it then. What I do remember was seeing at 3:30 or something weekdays, after school.
At first my mother was opposed to Star Trek based soley on Spock’s devilish appearance but she must have gotten over it because by the time I spent my first summer in Vermont, I had Star Trek action figures. Gotta give it up for the guy at the toy factory that decided to market dolls for boys as action figures.
I was at the Academy when Star Trek came out. Sure it may have been less than stellar critically. The uniforms might have been heavily influenced by the remnants of the disco era, but it was Star Trek. Even then I recognized that the long sweeping glory shots of the new Enterprise where there for the true fans of the series who hadn’t seen the Enterprise for a decade. Even now, that gratuitous flyby of the Enterprise in space dock is still something I like to watch.
In keeping with the pre-VCR days, I did the next best thing and bought the soundtrack. I was disapppoined that the original TV theme wasn’t included in some way. That being said, of all of the orchestral soundtrack recordings I have, this one is the one that I play most often. Track number 3 Cloud being my favorite. I mention that because that track has an ambient New Age feel to it that will be a big turning point in 10 years.
Main Title
Klingon Battle
Cloud
Enterprise
Ilia’s Theme