Beta Band
Verve Remixed - Christmas

A cult group (meaning they have never sold anything!), The Beta Band has alway had great critical acclaim and has acquired a group of loyal fans.

This combo hails from Edinburgh, a city known for his Georgian architecture and its rainy mornings, when it's not drizzling. Their sound distinguishes themselves from their Scottish peers with a sense of hypnotic trance which could inspire respect in a life assurance salesman.

"Dry the Rain" is taken from their first EP, later placed side by side their successors, under the creative name of "The Three EPs". A superb track, which represents the group at its summit; experimental, without being too navel-gazing, acoustic and electrifying. This single also represents their height of fame as it feature in the soundtrack of the film High-Fidelity, a romantic comedy where John Cusak plays John Cusak (a modern man, handsome and sensitive).

The film could not have had a better sound track.

The Beta Band "Dry the Rain" from "The Three E.P.'s" (1998, Regal)

Here Comes Johnny!
John Keating Music - Johnny Keating

Scottish composer, who was a regular on the Hollywood social scene at the end of the 60s, Johnny Keating worked a lot in cinema and composed for such famous artists as Sammy Davis Junior and Tony Bennett. In other words, he didn't have to watch "The Godfather" to learn about the Mafia.

This track "Theme from Sam Benedict" shows his talent as a composer. The brassy gimmick and surf-rock guitar give me the urge to go to the bar.

Johnny Keating - "Theme From Sam Benedict" (1962)