Backstairs at the White House

Dragon's Domain Records, to be distributed through buysoundtrax.com, presents Backstage at the White House, featuring music composed by Morton Stevens for the 1979 television miniseries directed by Michael O'Herlihy, developed for television by Gwen Bagni and Paul Dubov. The cast included Leslie Uggams, Olivia Cole, Louis Gossett Jr., Robert Hooks, Bill Overton, David Downing Celeste Holm, Lee Grant, Larry Gates, Jan Sterling, Eileen Heckart, John Anderson, Harry Morgan, Estelle Parsons, Barbara Barrie, Andrew Duggan, Leslie Nielsen, Hari Rhodes, George Kennedy, Ed Flanders, Victor Buono, Barry Sullivan, Paul Winfield and Robert Vaughn.

The music for Backstage at the White House was crafted by composer extraordinaire Morton Stevens. Stevens gained industry-wide recognition for his work as the composer for the mega-hit television seriesHawaii Five-O, which boasted one of the most recognizable themes in the history of television. Stevens' music for Backstage at the White House is a veritable journey through six decades of period-accurate American folk music, with a European romantic twist. The modest-sized orchestra helps to create a close intimacy between the characters on screen and the audience. The main theme, often expressed in the upper strings, is peppered throughout the entirety of the series. The individual presidential administrations are scored as if each were its own "episode" within the larger framework of the narrative. There are individual themes and motifs representing the Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower families. Along the way, Stevens' music evolves throughout the various administrations, mirroring the ongoing maturation of the United States as a nation.

Dragon's Domain Records presents the premiere release of Backstage at the White House, featuring music composed by Morton Stevens. The liner notes are written by author and composer Brian Satterwhite. The music has been mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland.

The music is presented on two CDs. When the score for Backstage at the White House was recorded , it was common for studios or networks to house the master tapes wherever storage space was available, even if proven detrimental to the materials over time. There was no foresight in preserving these reels for posterity. Many recordings during this period (especially for television) have not survived the passage of time. Magnetic tape warps and will eventually disintegrate if not properly stored in precise conditions. Several tracks of Backstage at the White House weathered significant damage which can be heard in the final transfer. Effort was taken to mend the damaged reels and digitally remove as much of the unwanted artifacts as possible. However, a handful of tracks were scarred beyond repair and are properly labeled as "Damaged" on this album presentation.