Here we go again! Online petition for a full release of TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN score by Steve Jablonsky

Two years ago, an online petition drive spun out of this very blog and may or may not have convinced The Powers That Be to release a CD of Steve Jablonsky's amazing score for the motion picture Transformers.

In 2009, Warner Bros./Reprise did release a CD of Jablonsky's score for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. And everything was cool this time, right?

Well...

A LOT of folks have written in here over the past few weeks about how much of Jablonsky's score for the new movie is missing from the current CD release. And we know for certain that there were plans to publish the full score (or a much bigger chunk of it than we have now anyway) but now, those plans have been officially dashed. It's currently not set to happen.

But now, a warrior has arisen "to light our darkest hour"!

Mike Casteel, a fellow fan of Transformers and Steve Jablonsky, has started a NEW online petition dedicated to getting a full score CD of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. It just went live tonight... but we all know how fast the last one drew support, aye? Let's hope and pray that Mike's will get even more! And I'm heartily asking EVERYONE who signed the one from two years ago to please sign this new one.

Have faith, friends. I believe that there will be a release of this CD, if there is substantial enough support and we nicely convey that. And from what I've seen on this end, the support is definitely there! So be a good fan of Transformers and Steve Jablonsky and everyone else at Remote Control who worked on this score, and sign the petition today!

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ANOTHER petition for TRANSFORMERS: THE SCORE?! Movement afoot to re-release album

By Primus, I never thought that we'd be going through this again. But, it looks like we will! :-)

If you've been reading this blog for awhile, then you're no doubt familiar with the hijinks (among numerous others) that happened this past year regarding the movie Transformers and it's amazing orchestral score by composer Steve Jablonsky. After seeing the movie I went looking for the score's CD in stores. It wasn't available. I made sure to write about it on this blog that I was looking forward to a release of Jablonsky's Transformers score. Lots of people were looking for it too and began coming to this blog, seeking any information for it. Almost on a lark, I set up an online petition requesting that the Powers That Be release the score. And it got slammed! Some drama ensued and I tried to chronicle it here. In the end, Warner Bros. Records published Transformers: The Score on October 9th, 2007. It sold very well on Amazon and became highly sought-after in stores. And for a time, everyone was happy...

Okay well...

It now looks like the victory was short-lived, because Transformers: The Score is no longer being published. At least in hard-copy CD. It's still available as a music download via Amazon and iTunes. But that's not good enough and the demand is still enormous for the Transformers score CD.

How enormous? Right now I'm looking on eBay: there are currently 20 bids for a copy of Transformers: The Score and it's now up to $83. During the past few months I've seen other copies of the CD that have likewise sold at astronomical prices.

So now, once again, there is... another online petition for the release of Transformers: The Score!

I've gladly signed this one, but otherwise I'm not involved in this petition. But I do wish them all the best, because this is a movie soundtrack that stands as tall as any other, and it deserves to have some more enduring space on the music rack in stores or wherever. Months later, and I'm still listening to Transformers: The Score quite a lot! And who knows: maybe Warner Bros. Records is still working on that 2-disc set that we've heard rumored about. If so, I can accept that. But if that's not in the works, then they should seriously consider re-issuing the original Transformers: The Score.

So... ya wanna sign? Because you know that you should. It's your choice, but not really.

Click here to sign

the Transformers: The Score

re-issue petition.

Thanks to Benechia for the heads-up!

"Transform and roll out..." them CDs! :-)

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TRANSFORMERS score album update: Sony sez they ain't involved

It's been a week now since the last update regarding the drive to see an album released containing Steve Jablonsky's wonderful score from the movie Transformers. Don't take that to mean that things have been quiet on that front though. Far from it: the past seven days have seen a flurry of activity and investigating and conflicting rumors that some good people have been working hard to cut through. Most of this has had to do with it being thought that Sony Music had the rights to publish the score. And that's what a lot of people have been telling me over the past couple of weeks.

Among the biggest breakthroughs that have happened in this matter came about because of Marco van Bergen: an intrepid young film-maker (click here for the website for his movie Zero Hour) and journalist based in the Netherlands. Marco's been making some tremendous inroads in getting the word spread about the Transformers score petition. Well earlier today he received what may be the most substantive info yet straight from the sources at Sony Music. And that word is ... that Sony Music isn't in charge of the score at all, apparently! Here's what they sent Marco:

Hi Marco, unfortunately I don't have any information on this record as it is not a Sony BMG release. There might have been some confusion with the recent release of the Transformers Movie 20th Anniversary Edition soundtrack (the animated movie) since Sony BMG had put that record out.

SonyMusicStore Customer Service
www.SonyMusicStore.com
"Your Source For Music And More!"

Okay so ... who is in charge of the score? Is it indeed, as some have said, Warner Records: the company that released the Transformers "soundtrack" (it's not a real soundtrack) album?

I don't know, but I'm going to be spending part of the next few days trying to find out. In the meantime, it might be worth bearing in mind that Transformers should hit the $300 million dollar mark in box office earnings by the end of this week. It's now the #4 highest-grossing movie of 2007. The Transformers score petition also received it's 3,000th signature earlier this evening. It sure seems that whoever has the rights to release a good album of Jablonsky's score for Transformers, is sitting on a gold mine that's just waiting to be tapped into. Let's hope they do it soon! :-)

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So I called Sony Music about Jablonsky's TRANSFORMERS score ...

The online petition to show support for an album of the Transformers score by Steve Jablonsky is now up to 1,821 signatures. It will probably be over two thousand by this time tomorrow.

So I thought it was a good a time as any to call Sony Music, since everything is indicating that they are the ones who would be releasing this thing. And my intention was only to ask about when approximately we could be seeing this in stores. My e-mail box has been flooded with inquiries in the past several days from people about this: there was the feeling that I owed them some kind of substantive update with info straight from the source.

Well, I called up Sony BMG Music at (212)833-8000. A woman's recorded voice gave me a list of options to choose from. I hit "4", to speak to an operator at Sony BMG Music.

That put me through to a fella who asked me "how may I direct your call". I told him that I was calling to ask about the status of the Transformers score CD. He told me in a rather tired voice that there is no plan to release it at this time and that "I believe that I've spoken to you before about this." Now this was the very first time in my life that I've called Sony Music, and so far as I know it's only the second call I've ever made to any recording label (the first was several years ago when I was working to set up an interview with a musical artist). I told this guy that it couldn't have been me that he had spoken to, that this was my first time calling Sony Music. I don't know who it was but I can't help but have the sense that they have been contacted quite a bit about this.

Like I said, I only called to try and get an estimated release date. I wasn't expected to hear, again, that there are "no plans at this time" to release the orchestral score from the Transformers movie.

In the past week we've heard from a number of sources that an album is coming and "soon", and then we've heard from the music studio itself that an album is not coming anytime soon. So which is right?

If I hear anything else about this, I'll let y'all know.

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Chandra Cogburn: TRANSFORMERS score "coming out soon"!

Some great news to report from the effort to see a Transformers orchestral score CD be made available!

First, the petition showing support for Steve Jablonsky's Transformers score has gone from 438 signatures on Monday afternoon, to 787 right now on Wednesday evening. I realize that some are saying that "online petitions don't work" but all the same, this is a pretty strong barometer of how much demand there is to see this album released.

The second bit of news is even more heartening. I sent an e-mail to Chandra Cogburn, who was one of the composers who worked on Transformers. I told her that the work she and the others did on this score was amazing and that there is a very large demand for an album of it. This is what Miss Cogburn said when she wrote back:

Hello Chris,

There will be an album of Transformers score coming out soon. I do not know the details, as I am not working on it. Thanks so much for appreciating the music, and all our hard work!

Best,
Chandra Cogburn

This is also what Chris Barry was told this week when he also asked about a Transformers score.

My gut feeling is that we are going to see this score released, and probably before the DVD of Transformers comes out around late fall. I can only assume that once the DVD is out that there will be an even larger demand for this score.

Anyway, there's the latest from the "give us that great Transformers score" front! Will report more as it happens.

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TRANSFORMERS Jablonsky score album update: Lot of stuff flying around

Here's the petition that was set up last week, asking for an album be released of Steve Jablonsky's magnificent score from the movie Transformers. If you loved the music in this movie too (and we're talking about the orchestral soundtrack) and haven't already, please feel free to sign it. At last count there were 438 signatures.

Since reporting last week about Sony Music saying that there are "no immediate plans" to release a CD of the Transformers score, a lot of people have been making inquiries with various parties about this. Fellow seeker-of-the-score Chris Barry has made the following compilation of answers that have been coming out about a score release:

1. Lorne Balfe (composed some additional music on Transformers) said: "There is talk of a score for transformers coming out but it will be at least another 2 months!"

2. Mel Wesson (ambient music designer for Transformers) said: That's a question a lot of people are asking but to tell the truth I have no idea what's happening with the album. It would surprise me if the score wasn't released, although people tell
me soundtrack albums without high profile songs seldom sell that well. That said it's a big movie, there's a market for the score and I'm sure it'll be available at some stage.

3. Frank Macchia (responsible for percussion/choir orchestration on Transformers) said: I have not heard that there will be a score release of Steve's music to Transformers. It's possible that down the road a CD will come out, but I do not know of any CD presently planned.

4. SonyMusicStore Customer Service said: At this time, there are no immediate plans regarding the release of the Transformers soundtrack score.

It's a good thing to know, at least, that the right folks who have been involved with Transformers's music do understand that there is quite a heavy demand for this score. By the way, when talking about a "Jablonsky Transformers score album", I hope that this includes every composer's contribution to this amazing soundtrack, if at all possible.

And in case you haven't seen Transformers yet (and you really should 'cuz it's a terrific movie), here's an example of why so many people want to own this soundtrack so much. I've no idea how long it'll be up on YouTube but someone has posted the "Autobots descent" scene. Here it is, in all it's glory:

I'm going to be contacting Sony Music pretty soon (can't today 'cuz there's a few things on my plate that need attention and I want to allow for however much time is needed to convey our desire on this) and will report back, hopefully with some encouraging word. In the meantime, keep spreading the word about the petition and encouraging people to sign it. Even if this is just a fraction of the people who want to buy a Transformers score CD, every signature is still going to help the cause immensely.

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Sony Music: "No immediate plans" to release Jablonsky TRANSFORMERS score

A few days go I started an online petition to show support for an album release of Steve Jablonsky's amazing orchestral score from Transformers. At the time I intended for the petition to reach whoever was responsible for Transformers's marketing, and I thought that this should include Warner Records, since that's the label that produced the Transformers "soundtrack" with music "inspired by" the movie. I was acting under the impression that Warner Records would be the outfit that would release the CD(s) of the actual score.

(By the way, I've watched the Transformers "soundtrack" sales rank on Amazon go from #22 this past Saturday to #282 today, just 5 days later. A lot of people are buying this CD thinking it's the Jablonsky score, and some are returning it once they realize this isn't the score at all. And word about that is getting around fast.)

Well, apparently it's not Warner Records at all, but that it's Sony Music that will be responsible for what happens with a commercial release of the Jablonsky Transformers score. And the word from them is ... it might not be "in the works" right now after all.

Here's what user "Zophael" on the Superhero Hype! Boards got as a reply from Sony Music when he asked about the album ...

At this time, there are no immediate plans regarding the release of the Transformers soundtrack score.

SonyMusicStore Customer Service

I'm going to keep the petition going (click here if you haven't signed it already and would like to). Whenever's a good time to do so, I'm going to forward these names and comments to Sony Music. But I'm thinking that maybe it would be good to go for a direct appeal at this point also.

Here's the Sony Music website's feedback form where you can write to them from your desk.

There is also this mailing address that I found. It's for Sony Music Online Services, but I imagine any mail about a Transformers score would probably get forwarded to the appropriate department ...

Sony Music Online Services
550 Madison Ave, 24th Fl
New York, NY 10022-3211

There is also this phone number for Sony BMG Music Entertainment. I'm going to try to give them a call tomorrow and see what's the status on the Jablonsky Transformers score ...

Sony BMG Music Entertainment
212.833.8000

If you write or call, remember: be nice! We very much want to have Steve Jablonsky's awe-inspiring score from Transformers in our music collections. So we need to impress upon Sony Music that they stand to make serious money by releasing this as a top-quality album, crafted with as much care and attention as any other epic movie's soundtrack.

Let's show 'em how much we want 'em to "transform and roll out" them CDs! :-)

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Online petition for CD of Jablonsky's TRANSFORMERS score

I just set up the Transformers score by Steve Jablonsky CD online petition.

Why?

Here are some of the comments that people have made on this post and on its followup in recent days ...

"I love original score to movies and Transformers caught my ear as soon as the movie got 20 minutes in. Im hoping they release an original score soundtrack, if they don't, it would be a crime."

"Yup, I absolutely LOVED the score and I'm dying for it to come out! I've seen the movie twice, and I would absolutely go again just to listen to the score!"

"i saw it 3 times and the last two where just to listen to the score. i am a very big movie score kind of guy and i have to say it was the best on e out of any that i have heard in any movie. It set the mood and struck the emotional attachment to what was going on during the movie better than any score iv heard. i would put it up there with brave heart and Gettysburg. i definitely will be buying it when it come out"

"I hope the reason they are taking so long releasing it, is that they are perfecting it. Although, it was soooo wicked in the movie, its good enough!!!The autobots arrival scene gave me chills..."

"I'll put my vote in for the score as well, and my money. If it comes out I'll buy it."

"I got here doing the same thing, Looking for the score. The movie was awesome, seen it twice and the Score is EPIC."

"I know! I from sweden im also looking for the Score to transformers 2007."

"I agree with all of you 100% The score was fanominal. Particualy the Autobots arrival and Bumblebee's capture. I've seen the movie about five times now, and everytime i hear that music i get a lump in my throat. Truely amazeing, I can't wait."

"I've seen the movie 4 times myself and I absolutely love it. I too wish to have the true score of the movie. The soundtrack they released is okay, but the score would be awesome. I love the parts when the Autobots arrive and when the military men are fighting Scorponuk. Here's hoping."

"i agree the score in this movie is off the chain
i really hope they come out with the score soundtrack"

At least three people have told me personally that part of the reason they have gone back to watch Transformers again, is to hear the orchestral soundtrack by Steve Jablonsky.

This blog continues to get slammed with hits that, when I check the logs, are from folks who are doing Google searches for variations of "transformers", "score", "jablonsky", "cd" and the like. In fact, I would say that right now, out of the several hundred visits this blog currently gets per day, maybe 60-80 percent are from people looking for information - any at all - on a Transformers score album.

I can't say enough how much it looks like from this end that there is a demand for this CD.

Now, we know from SoundtrackNet that a score album is "in the works", and no doubt that I'm joining a lot of people who are thankful to hear that. So yeah I know: what's the point of petitioning for something that's supposed to be coming out anyway?

The purpose of this petition is to underline how much we really do want this outstanding orchestral score. As much as we enjoy having the soundtracks of the Star Wars movies and The Lord of the Rings in our collections, we would love to have Steve Jablonsky's score for Transformers among them. And we not only want this album, but we believe that this is a score that deserves a lot of care and attention be lavished on its production.

Here's the link to the petition again. Feel free to sign and pass it around, if you feel so led :-)

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Petition is afoot and state statutes: The latest from the Ron Price fiasco

There is now a petition being circulated throughout Rockingham County (note: file is in Acrobat format) calling for the removal of Ron Price from the school board.

And Penny Owens, one of the unsuccessful candidates for school board, has found what is apparently the North Carolina statute calling for removal of a school board member on grounds of immoral conduct:

§ 115C‑39. Removal of board members; suspension of duties by State Board. (a) In case the State Board of Education has sufficient evidence that any member of a local board of education is not capable of discharging, or is not discharging, the duties of his office as required by law, or is guilty of immoral or disreputable conduct, the State Board of Education shall notify the chairman of such board of education, unless such chairman is the offending member, in which case all other members of such board shall be notified. Upon receipt of such notice there shall be a meeting of said board of education for the purpose of investigating the charges, and if the charges are found to be true, such board shall declare the office vacant: Provided, that the offending member shall be given proper notice of the hearing and that record of the findings of the other members shall be recorded in the minutes of such board of education. (b) In the event the State Board of Education has appointed an interim superintendent under G.S. 115C‑105.39 and the State Board determines that the local board of education has failed to cooperate with the interim superintendent, the State Board shall have the authority to suspend any of the powers and duties of the local board and to act on its behalf under G.S. 115C‑105.39. (1955, c. 1372, art. 5, s. 13; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 716, s. 5.)

Click here for more info.

Not long ago someone suggested to me that maybe we are making too much of this, because - and this is something I was entirely unaware of for the past few weeks - many of the signs that Ron Price was picking up were in close proximity to the Teamsters hall on Highway 14. And that if he did have malicious intent in mind, that Price should have known it would be insanity to attempt to sabotage a Democrat candidate's campaign in sight of the Teamsters (who were without any exception that I know of pulling hard for all the Democrat candidates).

Here's my thing about that though, and Ron Price is far from the only one I would level this charge at: all the same, Price did put the priorities of furthering his political party over principle (i.e. doing the right thing and having DOT take care of the problem). And I have extremely little patience and tolerance - maybe even none at all - when it comes to people who think of their party first and being considerate toward others second.

Maybe that's just incumbent to the political independent in me, and maybe this isn't how things work in "the real world"...

...But nonetheless: There is right, there is wrong, and it isn't that hard to tell the difference between the two.

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