[News] Video Game Composers List v3!

Hamu-Sumo: Here's a warning concerning Tommy's credits: for some projects, he wasn't the only composer, although it doesn't seem to be indicated on his website. You'd have to be careful for those. An example would be Evil Dead: Hail to the King, having been co-composed by Todd Dennis, Chris Rickwood, and Jack Wall.

I was planning to build a section on Tommy for my own site (VGM Rush) in the near future, and seeing that you're currently working on a credit list, I guess I could jump in and we could help each other out.

Tommy: It is a great pleasure to see you around here communicating with VGM fans; it's not something every composer would do. I've always been a fan of your work, especially the material you created in the period when your Greatest Hits CDs came out (i.e. the rock and electronic sound that accompanied the ripped jeans and keyboard guitar ). The Earthworm Jim tunes are actually among the most-played tracks on my MP3 player! As much as you've become a target many game music fans try to shoot down every time a conversation brings up Western composers or live shows topics, I can always find my way through the bitching and get back to the enjoyment of your musical talent. Some argue that you might not be the absolute best game composer out there, and, in all honesty, it would be hard not to concur as well from my point of view. But, who is this one and only best composer, a name everyone would have to agree on? I have ideas of the most popular ones, yet I'm certain there are VGM enthusiasts out there who don't dig them as much as the majority, and in most cases, people can also appreciate music that wasn't composed by the "one and only best." All in all, you might indeed not be THE best composer, but your music is still definitely rockin' my world!

Concerning the Earthworm Jim soundtracks, the official credits have always been nebulous. For the SNES and Genesis games, music is credited to Mark Steven Miller, who also did additional arrangement for the CD versions, along with Mical Pedriana. Yet, composition for the CD releases is by "Tommy Tallarico Studios," which you are obviously part of (), but there might have been other people involved who would have worked for your studio. In the liner notes of the EW Anthology album, Tony Bernetich and Christopher Beck are credited for "Additional Music & Orchestration." Furthermore, there is also mention of a co-guitarist, Bijan Johnson. What I'd be interested to know is to what extent these other people have been involved in the creation of the music (if possible, what have they exactly done for each concerned tracks)?

I might have other questions related to credits, but I'll first do some more research and contact you afterwards if there are still unclear details.

Thanks for your time and generosity of getting in touch with the community here. I'm looking forward to meeting you in person on February 8 in Montréal!

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Rimo

Hamu-Sumo: Here's a warning concerning Tommy's credits: for some projects, he wasn't the only composer, although it doesn't seem to be indicated on his website. You'd have to be careful for those. An example would be Evil Dead: Hail to the King, having been co-composed by Todd Dennis, Chris Rickwood, and Jack Wall.

I was planning to build a section on Tommy for my own site (VGM Rush) in the near future, and seeing that you're currently working on a credit list, I guess I could jump in and we could help each other out.

Tommy: It is a great pleasure to see you around here communicating with VGM fans; it's not something every composer would do. I've always been a fan of your work, especially the material you created in the period when your Greatest Hits CDs came out (i.e. the rock and electronic sound that accompanied the ripped jeans and keyboard guitar ). The Earthworm Jim tunes are actually among the most-played tracks on my MP3 player! As much as you've become a target many game music fans try to shoot down every time a conversation brings up Western composers or live shows topics, I can always find my way through the bitching and get back to the enjoyment of your musical talent. Some argue that you might not be the absolute best game composer out there, and, in all honesty, it would be hard not to concur as well from my point of view. But, who is this one and only best composer, a name everyone would have to agree on? I have ideas of the most popular ones, yet I'm certain there are VGM enthusiasts out there who don't dig them as much as the majority, and in most cases, people can also appreciate music that wasn't composed by the "one and only best." All in all, you might indeed not be THE best composer, but your music is still definitely rockin' my world!

Concerning the Earthworm Jim soundtracks, the official credits have always been nebulous. For the SNES and Genesis games, music is credited to Mark Steven Miller, who also did additional arrangement for the CD versions, along with Mical Pedriana. Yet, composition for the CD releases is by "Tommy Tallarico Studios," which you are obviously part of (), but there might have been other people involved who would have worked for your studio. In the liner notes of the EW Anthology album, Tony Bernetich and Christopher Beck are credited for "Additional Music & Orchestration." Furthermore, there is also mention of a co-guitarist, Bijan Johnson. What I'd be interested to know is to what extent these other people have been involved in the creation of the music (if possible, what have they exactly done for each concerned tracks)?

I might have other questions related to credits, but I'll first do some more research and contact you afterwards if there are still unclear details.

Thanks for your time and generosity of getting in touch with the community here. I'm looking forward to meeting you in person on February 8 in Montréal!

Hi Rimo,

Thanks for the kind words about my music. It's cool knowing that people listen to my music outside of the game. It's always been one of my goals when creating game music.

I personally don't consider myself the "greatest" game composer out there, so thank-you for even considering the mention of my name in that sentence.
Maybe I'm one of the more talked about game composers in the world because of all the games I've worked on, all of the organizations I've been involved with, all of the tv shows and concerts I've created/produced/hosted, etc. But that is due more to all of the hard work and passion I have for the industry and less to do with actual talent and composing ability.

Music is so personal that it would be crazy to even try to dub someone as the "greatest". You certainly can't do it with something like Rock-n-Roll. Was it Elvis? The Beatles? Led Zepplin? Rolling Stones? How about Classical music... Was it Beethoven? Mozart? Bach? Who knows... and who cares. They ALL made amazing music! In my opinion, people are going to listen to whatever turns them on emotionally. Some people may like my music as the "greatest" and others may dislike it. Take Country music for example. Some people LOVE it and others LOATHE it! I'm fine either way. My reason to compose music has never been to become the "greatest". I try to do the best of my ability to please myself and hope that it will touch others as well.

In regards to the credits question...

I've always loved collaborating with different composers and musicians throughout my career. And I've always given credit to all of the people who have worked with me (unlike most composers).

So if there are ever any questions as to which games people helped me out with... by all means just inquire. With so many different projects, styles and ways to write music it would be crazy to attempt every style and every instrument for every game. I'd much rather work and learn with the top people in the specific field and bring them into the mix. In terms of orchestral music... there are composers, arrangers, orchestrators, copyists, producers, etc. I like to give ALL of those wonderfully talented people the credit they deserve. Even if they only worked on one piece of music or even if they only orchestrated my work. Almost every game & film composer I've ever met uses a group of people as well... but most probably don't usually give as much credit as I have done.

I personally love helping people break into the industry for the first time and know that by putting their names on the credit that it will help them out a lot. Again... something most composers don't do. But if you ask young, talented and established game composers such as Chris Rickwood, Cris Velasco, Sascha Dikyasian, Sam Hulick, Shane Kneip, Todd Dennis, Emmanuel Frattiani, Laurie Robinson, etc... they would all tell you who was the first to ever hire them for a game and who made sure they received credit for their work. Something very RARE in any competitive entertainment & music field. But I've always enjoyed helping others which is why I founded the non-profit organization... G.A.N.G. (Game Audio Network Guild) - Game Audio Network Guild - Promoting Excellence in Interactive Audio.


In regards to your questions about Earthworm Jim....

We put Mark Miller's name on the credits because I was still working at Virgin when the game was being worked on (but was secrectly working on EWJ on the side). At the time we didn't want to upset anyone at Virgin so we put Mark's name (who is a great friend of mine... ToeJam & Earl baby!!) on the project. Mark actually did help to convert the Sega Genesis work I was doing to the SNES.

Because of the style of music, sounds, approach, samples, etc... everyone in the industry and press kinda knew it was me. So after I left Virgin and started my own company (Tommy Tallarico Studios, Inc.) people wanted to know the "real" story so I let everyone know it was actually me.

The other guys you mentioned (and who I give credit to) did the following...


Mical Pedriana - helped to orchestrate 3 or 4 of the electronica-style tunes (i.e. drum beats & synths). (EWJ 1)

Tony Bernetich - helped me orchestrate the banjo instrumentation and the ragtime piano piece. (EWJ 1)

Christopher Beck - worked with me on writing the "Anything But Tangerines" organ stuff (from EWJ 2)

Bijan Johnson - played guitar on the "Anything But Tangerines" tune (Sega-CD and album version)


Thanks again for the questions and interest! Look forward to meeting you in February!!


Tommy

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Rimo: Thank you for the information! I'm not surprised. It's about one month ago as Charlotte McMillan wrote an eMail to tell me that one track from Advent Rising OST are made by her, calling "Poeta".

And sure we can work together on this but I'm sure you have more information for me as I for you.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Hamu-Sumo

Rimo: Thank you for the information! I'm not surprised. It's about one month ago as Charlotte McMillan wrote an eMail to tell me that one track from Advent Rising OST are made by her, calling "Poeta".

And sure we can work together on this but I'm sure you have more information for me as I for you.

Actually, 3 people helped me work on parts of that track. I was the author of the piece/motif and then Charlotte, Emmanuel Frattiani & Laurie Robinson came in and did the arranging and orchestration. They are all very talented composers!


Tommy

I was speaking idiomatically.

Good to know. Will update that thing.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?