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Chris Neal (screen composer)

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Chris Neal
Neal in 2011.
Born
Christopher Hugh Neal

1946 (age 77–78)
NationalityAustralian
EducationNorth Sydney Boys High School Sydney University
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • screen composer
Years active1963-present
SpouseMary Neal
Children2

Christopher Hugh Neal (born 1946) is an Australian musician, songwriter, record producer and television and film music composer.[1] His scores include Buddies, Bodyline, The Shiralee, Turtle Beach and Farscape.

Neal's screen composer credits date from the late 1970s and include The Shiralee, Bodyline, Buddies, Rebel, Archer, Shadow of The Cobra and Emerald City.[2]

During the 1980s, Neal scored several films from the "Winners" series of telemovies, produced by Patricia Edgar of the Australian Children's Television Foundation. Five Times Dizzy, produced by Tom Jeffrey followed soon after. These projects kickstarted what would be a recurring part of his career; scoring and writing songs for children's television dramas including Johnson and Friends,[3] Lift-Off,[4] Kaboodle, Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers[5] and more.[2] Neal's songs and music were also featured in stage shows based on "Johnson and Friends", and in 1995-1996, Neal wrote the music for "Lift Off Live"; a stage musical based on the "Lift-Off" television series.[6]

Feature film and television projects continued through the 1990s and 2000s, including Pacific Drive, Foreign Exchange and many more.

Film and television credits

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Source:[2]

Discography

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  • "Man-Child" (1972) - musical cast recording.
  • "Winds of Isis" (1974) - solo progressive rock album.
  • "The Newcastle Song" (1974) (Bob Hudson) [as Producer]
  • "Darwin Opera House Appeal" (1975) [as co producer]
  • "The Marshall Bros." (1975) [as Producer]
  • "Benny and the Jets" (1975) [as Producer]
  • "Rak Off Normie" (1975) (Maureen Elkner) [as Producer and writer]
  • "The Word Was Gough" (1975) [as Producer and writer]
  • "Tasmanian Military Tattoo" (1976) [as Producer]
  • "Picnic at Hanging Rock" (1976) (Nolan/Buddle Quartet) [as Producer]
  • "Steph. 'n' Us" 1977 (Stéphane Grappelli) [as Engineer]
  • "Great Hits of Scotland" (1977) (John McDonald) [as Producer]
  • "Francis Butler" (1978) [as Producer]
  • "Hokum Ensemble" (1978) [as Producer]
  • "Rod Boucher" (1980) [as Producer]
  • "Crosstalk" (1981) - movie soundtrack.
  • "Buddies" (1984) - movie soundtrack.
  • "Turtle Beach" (1991) - movie soundtrack.
  • "An Afternoon with Johnson and Friends" (1992) - children's album based on a popular television series.
  • Seven soundtrack recordings for "Lift Off" ranging from 1992-1995 - children's television soundtracks.
  • "Heartland" (1994) - television soundtrack.
  • "Johnson and Friends - Making Music" (1994) - children's television soundtrack.
  • "Lift-Off Live - Songs from the Musical" (1995) - children's musical cast recording.
  • "Songs from Li'l Elvis Jones and the Truckstoppers" (1998) - children's television soundtrack.
  • "Farscape" (2001) - television soundtrack.
  • "Themes" (2005) - a compilation of popular movie and television themes.
  • "Cooling Pond" (2008) - independent project, co written and produced with collaborator Ian Davidson.
  • "Songs For an Empty Street" (2018) - alternative/indie rock album under the name Sirclo.[7]
  • "High Time - Songs from the Musical" (2021) - concept album for a cancelled stage musical project, released under the name Sirclo and Friends.[8]
  • "70s Unreleased" (2021) - a collection of unreleased songs from the 1970s, released under the name Sirclo.[9]
  • "Not Robinson Crusoe" (2021) - a collection of blues/rock songs released under the name Riff Gun.[10]
  • "Winds of Isis - Remastered" (2021) - a remastered re-release of the prog rock classic from 1974.
  • "Metropolis 1980" (2021) - A remastered compilation consisting of the majority of the score for the cult classic film 'Metropolis'.

References

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  1. ^ Sounds Australian: Australian Music Centre Journal 1990 INTERVIEW From Midi to 80-Piece Orchestras: Chris Neal, Film Composer Michael Atherton "Chris Neal is a leading feature film composer. He studied classical piano and theory, jazz and orchestration"
  2. ^ a b c "Chris Neal | Composer, Music Department, Sound Department". IMDb. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  3. ^ "JOHNSON & FRIENDS". www.tvmem.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  4. ^ "LIFT-OFF". www.tvmem.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Li'L ELVIS JONES AND THE TRUCKSTOPPERS". www.tvmem.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Trove". trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  7. ^ Songs For An Empty Street, 25 September 2018, retrieved 14 December 2023
  8. ^ High Time, 18 January 2021, retrieved 14 December 2023
  9. ^ 70s Unreleased, 3 February 2021, retrieved 14 December 2023
  10. ^ "Not Robinson Crusoe, by Riff Gun". Riff Gun. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
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