Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

3. Charlemagne PalestineOnce Upon a Time in America

This is exactly the area I was brought up in and, it’s not such a perfect retelling, but that’s the story of the Jewish mafia. There’s a book that came out about 15 years ago, called the Kosher Nostra and it’s the same story that Sergio Leone did, basically about the Jewish mafia of Brooklyn. It’s filmed a lot in the area that I eventually lived it for almost 30 years called Dumbo, which is down under Manhattan Bridge overpass.

How do you feel about the Morricone score?

Well, I always loved Morricone. I mean, Morricone’s scores were always amazing because he was also a member of this very avant-garde music ensemble that made very "beep beep bip boop" music, which I find incomprehensible to listen to sometimes, I mean like Milton Babbitt. He made all these great things with humming and singing and it was fabulous and sensual and stuff. So I mean, I love lots of his scores, and this is not necessarily my favourite, but the film is long, as you say.

PreviousNext Record

The Quietus Digest

Sign up for our free Friday email newsletter.

Support The Quietus

Our journalism is funded by our readers. Become a subscriber today to help champion our writing, plus enjoy bonus essays, podcasts, playlists and music downloads.

Support & Subscribe Today