Superman [CD-single]

Superman [CD-single]

Track Listings
1. Superman [Supermix 1]
2. Superman [Supermix 2]
3. Superman [Instrumental]
4. Superman [Acappella]

Superman,Skee-Lo,Scotti Bros.,Hip-Hop

The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Very disappointing, considering what it could have been
  • Always a pleaser
  • JOHN WILLIAMS 40 Years of Film Music
  • Movie Music Magic & Memorabilia
  • John Williams: 40 Years of Outstanding Film Music
 The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie ScoresMovie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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  1. John Williams - Greatest Hits 1969 - 1999
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ASIN: B0000C6K09
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

  1. The Sugarland Express-Main Theme
  2. Jaws-Main Theme
  3. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind-Suite
  4. Raiders Of The Lost Ark-March
  5. Raiders Of The Lost Arc-The Map Room:Dawn
  6. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrail-Adventures On Earth
  7. Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom-Mine Car Chase
  8. Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom-End Credits
  9. Empire Of The Sun-Exsultate Justi
  10. Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade-Indy's First Adventure

Tracks:

  1. Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade-End Credits
  2. Always-Follow Me/Dorinda's Solo Flight
  3. Hook-Main Themes
  4. Jurassic Park-Main Themes
  5. Schindler's List-Main Theme
  6. Amistad-Dry Your Tears, Afrika
  7. Saving Private Ryan-Hymn To The Fallen
  8. A.I. Artificial Intelligence-Where Dreams Are Made
  9. Minority Report
  10. Catch Me If You Can

Tracks:

  1. The Rare Breed-Suite (Universal Emblem/Hilary's Plight/Scottish Romeo/The Hunt)
  2. Jane Eyre-Suite: The Jane Eyre Theme
  3. Jane Eyre-Suite: To Thornfield
  4. Jane Eyre-Suite: Restoration
  5. The Cowboys-Overture
  6. The Poseidon Adventure-Prelude
  7. The Towering Inferno-Main Titles
  8. Family Plot-End Titles
  9. The Fury-Main Titles
  10. Superman-Main Theme
  11. Dracula-Main Titles & Storm
  12. The River-Main Theme & Love Theme
  13. The Witches Of Eastwick- Dance Of The Witches

Tracks:

  1. Born On The Fourth Of July-End Credits
  2. Presumed Innocent-End Titles
  3. JFK-Arlington/End Titles
  4. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone-Hedwig's Theme
  5. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets-Fawkes The Phoenix
  6. Star Wars: A New Hope- Main Theme
  7. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back-Hans Solo And The Princess
  8. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back-The Imperial March
  9. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace- Anakin's Theme
  10. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace-The Flag Parade
  11. Star Wars: Attack Of The Clones-Across The Stars
  12. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace-Duel Of The Fates

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Very disappointing, considering what it could have been.......2007-04-20

Take a look at the running times:

Disc 1: 60 minutes
Disc 2: 50 minutes
Disc 3: 61 minutes
Disc 4: 58 minutes

What gives Silva? There is *MUCH* more John Williams in the silva screen back catalogue by the Prague Philharmonic than what is in this set, and thats not including their entire discs devoted to Star Wars Films, Indiana Jones Trilogy etc. Why isn't Hook "When You're Alone" included on Disc 2? There's room. Why isn't 1941 on Disc 1? There's room. Why isn't Earthquake on Disc 3? There's room. Why isn't Far and Away on disc 4? There's room. Where's the other ten minutes of the Rare Breed suite on disc 3? Why isn't Midway on disc 1? Where are the Land of the Giants, Time Tunnel and Lots In Space tv themes? Etc. Etc. Etc.

C'mon Silva, most of these 4 disc mega boxes released in the past few years are packed to the brim, but not this one, and with new recordings made after this was released (the terminal, munich, geisha, war of the worlds, star wars ep 3, harry potter 3), it only makes sense for a "re-do" in the next couple of years.

Further, with Silva releasing the 100 Greatest Film Themes on six discs in a couple of months, it's only a matter of time before we see the ultimate six disc john williams set.

This isn't a BAD set to own, but it could have been much better and when compared to the Jerry Goldsmith and John Barry sets in this same series, this one is a major letdown.

5 out of 5 stars Always a pleaser.......2007-03-31

I listen to music all day with patients in my dental chair. This one is a winner with everyone. Patients always comment on how they recognize a song. Who doesn't love John Williams? His music transcends time.

5 out of 5 stars JOHN WILLIAMS 40 Years of Film Music.......2007-01-10

This 4 cd pack is an anthology of all John Williams works. From his earlier works "The Poseidon Adventure" and "Jaws" right through "Indiana Jones" and the most recent"Star Wars" prequel movies are included. Williams work in thriller and horror are also included. If you are into soundtracks and love movie music this is an essential buy. The quality of the music is excellent. With ten or more tracks on each cd it's well worth the money.

5 out of 5 stars Movie Music Magic & Memorabilia.......2006-12-13

This four CD set expands on the previously released John Williams Greatest Hits. It's a grand collection of nearly four hours of famous music scores from over forty years. There are many songs never before available in any collection. The short liner notes tell a great tale of musical movie history and include all of his numerous award nominations and wins. Each song (oddly enough) mentions the actors and the director, so fond are John Williams's memories of his work with these people. All of the conductors are mentioned along with specific orchestras, choirs, arrangement and orchestration specialists and even the publishers (contractual, I am sure). The only things missing are his early television scores, such as those for "Lost In Space" (by Johnny Williams back then). But with four discs, one has nothing to complain about and everything to enjoy!

5 out of 5 stars John Williams: 40 Years of Outstanding Film Music.......2006-11-28

I have been a huge fan of John Williams and I have known about his music for years. However, I never actually bought any of his music on CD. I was rather skeptical about purchasing this CD but when it arrived I knew I had made the right choice. The sound quality of the compilation is outstanding. The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra do a great job under the direction of Paul Bateman. The original London Symphony Orchestra CDs of John Williams' Star Wars Trilogy CDs are marginally better but this is still a great CD compilation. If you love ET, Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Harry Potter, you will love this compilation soundtrack. Buy it, listen to these CDs in the car and enjoy every minute of the collection!!!
Sunshine Superman
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Super Sunshine
  • 40 years with this recording
  • An Ineffable Musical Experience
  • Review of the Vinyl LP--AMAZING
  • A mixed bag
 Sunshine Superman
Donovan
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00081MUY0
Release Date: 2005-05-16

Tracks:

  1. Sunshine Superman
  2. Legend Of A Girl Child Linda
  3. Three Kingfishers
  4. Ferris Wheel
  5. Bert's Blues
  6. Season Of The Witch
  7. The Trip
  8. Guinevere
  9. The Fat Angel
  10. Celeste
  11. Breezes Of Patchulie
  12. Museum (First Version)
  13. Superlungs (First Version)
  14. The Land Of Doesn't Have To Be
  15. Sunshine Superman
  16. Good Trip (Demo) (Mono)
  17. House Of Jansch (Demo) (Mono)

Album Description

2005 Digitally remastered re-issue features seven bonus tracks 'Breezes Of Patchulie', 'Museum' (First Version), 'Superlungs' (First Version), 'The Land Of Doesn't Have To', 'Sunshine', 'Good Trip' (Demo), 'House Of Jansch' (Demo). Sunshine Superman marked the coming of psychedelia and utilised the production skills of already established producer, Mickie Most, whose bass heavy style complements Donovan's enigmatic lyrics and their beatnik delivery brilliantly. EMI.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Edition of Donovan P. Leitch's Third Album that Served as his Breakthrough on to the Pop Charts around the World. "Sunshine Superman" Marked the Coming of Psychedelia and Utilized the Production Skills of Already Established Producer Mickie Most, Whose Trademark Bass Heavy Production Style Brilliantly Compliments Donovan's Enigmatic Lyrics and his Beatnik Vocal Delivery. This Special Reissue Includes Six Bonus Tracks: "Breezes of Patchulie", " Museum (First Version)", "Superlungs (First Version)", " the Land of Doesn't have to Be", "Sunshine", "Good Trip (Demo)" and "House of Jansch (Demo)".

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Super Sunshine.......2007-04-01

Well, here's a blast from the past... I've owned the original album for many years (since it came out in 1966, in fact), so was intrigued with the opportunity to pick up a sonically cleaned-up version with no fewer than seven bonus tracks. I still think it's a great work. 'Season of the Witch' is one of the 60s' defining tracks, 'Sunshine Superman' still holds its own as a pop track, and all the rest continue to shine as an ensemble showing the way toward myth-, lore-, and jazz-influenced pop. This was actually quite a creative album, mostly recorded in late 1965 and early 1966 just before similar explorations by the Beatles and others. I've always been a Donovan fan, and this is arguably his best album (and also his most commercially successful, I think). One of the least noticed things about Donovan's music from this period is how he integrated a blues and jazz sound into many of his compositions--this is more evident on "Mellow Yellow", the next issue, but even here one can strongly feel those influences having been absorbed on 'The Trip,' 'Bert's Blues' and 'Three Kingfishers.'

5 out of 5 stars 40 years with this recording .......2007-02-18

I've been listening to this record for 40 years now. It is an amazing, piece of music. I'm glad to see that others have enjoyed it as much as I.

5 out of 5 stars An Ineffable Musical Experience.......2007-01-24

Other reviewers have delineated the technical brilliance of this album. I would not have much to add or subtract from their observations, except to affirm that the clarity of the mix enabled me to hear things I had never heard before, which injected new life into some well-worn tracks. The rest of my comments will be unapologetically subjective, possibly because Donovan has an odd way of reaching each individual at a personal level, though his stance is usually an acerbic but kindly, somewhat detached observer. In the musical firmament of the '60s, Donovan was the Pleiades, the mystic purple star system where faerie visions came and went, suggesting spiritual and sensual doings of an evanescent and yet intense character. No one else was even close. "Purple Haze" was the pile driver version of the grail at the end of that quest. "Sunshine Superman" was the lyrical version. Funny thing is, Donovan's songs still take you there, if you let them. I grew up in the SF Bay Area, and the Flower Power movement (if you could call it a "movement") emerged about the time I got my driver's license. I went in search of it, borrowing my parents' car. (Incidentally, the term "Flower Power" was coined by a reviewer of a Donovan concert who noted the flowers he tossed to the audience.) Maybe I found a little piece of the dream one fine day with a girl who seemed to know the power of silence, but for the most part it was illusion. I wanted to believe, but reality kept conflicting. Then I attended a Donovan concert at the Fillmore. For that two-hour moment, which was actually of infinite duration, it all came true. Like the gateway to the Pied Piper's Kingdom, the door is now nothing but a rock wall, but it is hard to forget having been among the elves for a moment, and the one who played the pipes that transported me there. Donovan's music suggested the beauty possible in a '60s mindset, and no album suggests it better than "Sunshine Superman." Think what a miracle it was to hear so much groundbreaking, diverse, and original music exploding all at once, and here was this guy singing songs that fitted it all perfectly, and yet didn't belong in any one stylistic camp or category at all. This quality of poetic vison and independence from convention still comes through today, surprisingly. Donovan's music brushes off the dust that tried to collect on its robes, and keeps on walkin', shimmering and catching the dreamlight. There is no absolute definitive interpretation of any of the songs. I think that's what you'll like about them. They're like kaleidoscope images that attract different parts of your soul on different days. Some of it is silly, and yet overall there's something profound about it. There are classics on this CD, such as "Sunshine Superman" and "Season of the Witch." But there are some underrated wonders here, too, such as "Bert's Blues," which is kind of a jazz/pop soliloquy on the "To Be or Not To Be" question. I will always be nostalgic for a belief in Peace and Love, even if the dream is deader than JFK, RFK, and MLK. But maybe another place and time? If you were there, you know what I mean. If you weren't, this might be your ticket. And if this isn't a five-star experience, then what is?

5 out of 5 stars Review of the Vinyl LP--AMAZING.......2006-12-25

I note that this has been remastered and has additional songs, but the original vinyl of Donovan's 'Sunshine Superman' is one of the most enjoyable listening experiences in my collection. Donovan was an original, and yet you hear elements of the Beatles and Harry Nilsson in his music as well. It would be classified as psychedilic folk/rock. Yes, the songs play like one long drug trip, but the imagery is extraordinary and allows the listener to legally and vicariously see what some of these sixties musicians saw when they were stoned out of their minds. I really enjoy the Tolkein-esque imagery of the songs and the whimsical, child-like nature of the lyrics. The instrumentation includes all kinds of instruments one found in the late sixties on experimental rock albums, such as sitars and oboes and strings. The resulting sound is lush and accomplished. This is a great album, and though I don't know how the CD versions stack up, the vinyl is awesome and clear.

3 out of 5 stars A mixed bag.......2006-11-12

I bought this album because I remembered it as one of my favorites when I owned it on vinyl... a long time ago. Listening to it again after all these years, though, was not entirely a happy homecoming. Several of the songs ("Sunshine Superman", "Season of the Witch", and "Bert's Blues", among others) really stood the test of time for me and remain classics of the genre, while others just seemed to drag on and on in a fog of monotony. The "unicorns and fairies" flavor of some of the songs, which seemed enchanting and new on the original release, suffer now from decades of plastic figurines and tacky posters in cheap mall stores; it's really impossible to hear them without that filter of kitsch at this point.

Perhaps my least favorite feature of the album, however, is the group of "bonus tracks" at the end; suffice it to say that it's easy to see why these weren't included on the original release. I think the bad taste left in my mouth at the end of the album is in large part due to these cuts, and I probably would have had a much more positive review overall even with the caveats of the first paragraph if not for this feature. In fact, I'm thinking of taking the trouble to burn a copy of the album that ends where the original one did, so that I don't have to remember to turn it off there manually.
Streisand Superman
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A "super" album!
  • jade_7335
  • Superwoman..
  • Esther Hoffman Howard Becomes Streisand Superman!
  • Business goes on as usual for Barbra after A STAR IS BORN
 Streisand Superman
Barbra Streisand
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000025AK
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Superman
  2. Don't Believe What You Read
  3. Baby Me Baby
  4. I Found You Love
  5. Answer Me
  6. My heart Belongs To Me
  7. Cabin Fever
  8. Love Comes From Unexpected Places
  9. New York State Of Mind
  10. Lullaby For Myself

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A "super" album!.......2007-06-25

Barbra recorded and released this album shortly after A Star is Born became one of the most successful albums and movies of her career. Due to that success, she decided to stick to a similar sound the second time around, with a few of these songs even being intended for the film originally. The results is one of her best albums.

Despite the album's clear focus, it is also great in that there is truly something for everybody. Many of the songs on this release seem to represent an archetypal song that Barbra has made as her signature style. There is the great song that seemed almost destined to be a movie theme ("Superman"), the irresistibly catchy pop song that is actually very sexy in its own right ("I Found You Love"), the song that is there to help Barbra make a statement about something she cares about ("Don't Believe What You Read"), her simple but beautifully composed song ("Answer Me"), the unusual cover that becomes a classic in its own right ("New York State of Mind"), and finally the somewhat-schmaltzy-sounding-but-destined-to connect-with-the-public song that became one of her biggest hits ("My Heart Belongs to Me").

What really makes this album stand out, though, is that is one of Barbra's first albums to really express her feelings. She was always expressive in her songs before, but that was usually her playing a part. Every Barbra fan has got to own this album.

5 out of 5 stars jade_7335.......2007-03-22

It may be one of Streisands' earlier albums, but it certainly is one of her best.

5 out of 5 stars Superwoman.........2007-02-08

A great voice in a one of her best albums for the seventies.My heart belongs to me is a very good song but my favourite song is the superman..great vocals..i love it so much,melody and lyrigs are heartfelt..i'm going to dance to it in december when i'm getting married..for sure..

5 out of 5 stars Esther Hoffman Howard Becomes Streisand Superman!.......2006-05-22

1977 - WOW! What a glorious and amazingly prolific year for Ms. Streisand it was. Coming off of the tremendous success of "A Star Is Born", both the film and its stupendously successful album, she blows everyone away with her follow-up endeavor ~ "Streisand Superman", an album that continues to build on her sure and strong grasp of contemporary "pop" which started with 1970's "Stoney End", continued with 1974's "The Way We Were" and "Butterfly", and advanced so magnificently with the aforementioned ASIB. Produced by Gary Klein, "Streisand Superman" was a major force in the year that saw the tremendous success of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours", and Ronstadt's "Simple Dreams" (Gee, how wonderful and diverse pop music was back in the day when the like of all these three could chart in the top five in the same year!). The album opens with one of Streisand's most commanding & sexy recordings which should have been released as a single -"Superman", a grand, superbly sung ode to the strength and power of a "woman in love", continues with such deceptively simple and sensual performances such as "Baby Me Baby" (love the C&W twinge), "I Found You Love", "Answer Me", and the incredibly lyrical and moving "Love Comes From the Most Unexpected Places". "My Heart Belongs to Me" was a deserved major radio hit, and "Lullaby For Myself" speaks volumes on acting through singing, with a very telling lyric about the strengths and vulnerabilities of a woman who wants love in her life. However, the most majestic statement and powerful singing from Streisand just might be her definitive rendition of Joel's "New York State of Mind", which conjures up NYC in all its glory by a still little girl from Brooklyn (whether she wants to believe it or not!). This was the beginning of a new and different phase in Streisand's recording career, which would continue to astound with the commercial monsters of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", and the commercially AND artistically successful "Guilty".
Luigi ~ NYC

4 out of 5 stars Business goes on as usual for Barbra after A STAR IS BORN.......2005-12-12

By the mid-1970s, Barbra Streisand was truly a one-woman media blitz, having conquered television with her highly imaginative specials, Hollywood with films that were almost always guaranteed top grosses at the box office, and finally pop music with one finely-crafted LP after another. Sure, consistency was not always the order of the day with regards to the latter, but you could always count on an affair that was every inch approved by Barbra herself. If that was how she wanted to hear her music, there was no reason why her fans should not either. 1977's STREISAND SUPERMAN was another link in this unbreakable chain.

Most of Barbra's 1970s albums were filled with various covers that were either great reinventions or interesting efforts, depending on the song at hand. SUPERMAN instead relies more on original songs heard here for the first time (Barbra even gets in on the act with credits on 2 songs).

The harder-edged rock sound she had dabbled in while filming her 1976 remake of A STAR IS BORN was sure to be held over onto her next album, and SUPERMAN does not disappoint (some songs were originally intended for the movie itself). For someone as constantly in the public eye as Barbra was back then, the anti-tabloid "Don't Believe What You Read" (which is one of the Barbra co-writes) fits in nicely. While not as fierce as, say, Michael Jackson's "Leave Me Alone", it does rank as one of Barbra's most energetic & defiant songs of her career. "Cabin Fever" seems to be a precursor to Donna Summer's (who of course would record with Barbra 2 years later) "Hot Stuff" & "Bad Girls" with a ballsy salute to not staying inside, but getting out there & doing something, for crying out loud.

In case the tougher side of Barbra was too unbelievable for some (and she was only marginally successful at turning up the volume), SUPERMAN still had plenty of softer treasures to remind us what Barbra always did best. The title track is perhaps too gimmicky to really work, but it still speaks to any listener looking for their own superhero to come rescue them (it probably took a pretty penny for Barbra to get the rights to use the Superman trademark).

Roger Miller's "Baby Me Baby" abandons the sweeping strings of most the album's ballads for a smaller jazz-based backdrop that is Barbra's most sensual number since "Love In The Afternoon". "I Found You Love" finds her strutting gently towards the disco with a tune that would not quite be at home in Studio 54, but believe me, you will feel the need to cut a rug.

The other Barbra co-write "Answer Me" is not really a terrible song, it just simply floats by in the 3 minutes it lasts without leaving much of an impression. Probably the only song on SUPERMAN that does not hold up with the rest (with it co-written by Paul Williams, this is probably the most likely holdover from A STAR IS BORN).

"My Heart Belongs To Me" was the album's big hit, reaching #4 on the Hot 100, along with topping the Adult Contemporary charts, and was truly the best representative of the album for a single. It was also perfect for Barbra's own independent nature with its theme of opening oneself up to love, but never feeling the need to give your heart to only one. Rupert Holmes' "Lullaby For Myself" (a leftover from 1975's LAZY AFTERNOON?) is similar in its reminder to the listener that before you can love anyone, you must love yourself first. With Barbra's passionate delivery of this song, it is clear she has no trouble with that (and I mean that sincerely, not acknowledging her half-deserved reputation for being difficult & perfectionistic).

The best-known covers come near the end of SUPERMAN, and show off the strengths Barbra has always had as an intrepreter. "Love Comes From Unexpected Places" was written by Kim Carnes when she was better known as a songwriter who had only minor success as an artist. This came 7 years before she & Barbra would team up again for "Make No Mistake, He's Mine", and it is said Barbra recording this song helped edge Kim further towards becoming a full-time singer who just happened to write her own material.

Billy Joel was finally making his way to headliner status in 1977 with THE STRANGER, and Barbra helped the cause of getting him there by covering "New York State Of Mind". A lifelong New Yorker herself, I cannot think of anyone else who could have covered this song this well. She may have conquered Hollywood & played to audiences around the world, but Barbra remains forever drawn to the city that is her home. This could have been a can't-miss follow-up single to "My Heart Belongs To Me", but unfortunately remains an album track worth searching after.

While STREISAND SUPERMAN may not have been Barbra's most groundbreaking album or her even most original, the fans appeared to have gotten their money's worth for the album peaked at #3 even with only one single release. It arrived only 7 months after A STAR IS BORN had been released, so Barbra Streisand was definitely a busy woman back then. Who was to say if she was running herself ragged & not taking a break once in a while? But as SUPERMAN shows, even with the workaholic attitude, a Barbra Streisand album could sound similar to the one that came before it, but never ever was it dull.
Superman: The Movie - Original Sound Track
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Superman's Alive!
  • Superman is great!
  • The Man of Steel in music....John Williams!
  • Classic Williams, Classic Movie
  • John Williams, the great!
 Superman: The Movie - Original Sound Track
John Williams , and John Williams
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002KJG
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Theme from Superman (Main Title)
  2. The Planet Krypton
  3. Destruction of Krypton
  4. The Trip to Earth
  5. Love Theme from Superman
  6. Leaving Home
  7. The Fortress of Solitude
  8. The Flying Sequence & Can You Read My Mind
  9. Super Rescues
  10. Superfeats
  11. The March of the Villains
  12. Chasing Rockets
  13. Turning Back the World
  14. End Title

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Superman's Alive!.......2007-07-05

It's John Williams. What more can I write? Anytime a soundtrack song is composed and when you hear it you automatically think of the movie then the composer has done his job. The 1st track is timeless. I am no expert like the other reviewers but this version of the soundtrack suits me fine.

5 out of 5 stars Superman is great!.......2007-03-09

How can you go wrong with the theme to Superman? I run an extra mile when I play this!

4 out of 5 stars The Man of Steel in music....John Williams!.......2006-08-14

As with his masterpiece score for 'Star Wars' the year before, Williams did it again with this amazing score for the Man of Steel's story. His magnificent main title personifies the Superman I remember seeing on screen at age 7, seeing him flying over deserts, rivers, mountains & cities. The only reason this gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because there are some important cues missing, though this was understandable with what they had to work with when this was originally released in 1978. Conspicuous by their absence were the cues from Superman's first night - the helicopter crash on the building's roof which brought the first appearance of our hero, and a triumphant sequence following that rescue in which we watch Superman flying over the buildings of Metropolis.
Williams' composition style is easy to spot in his various scores; even with more recent ones such as 'Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith', it's easy to distinguish a Williams score from the rest.

5 out of 5 stars Classic Williams, Classic Movie.......2006-07-14

Not much to say other than this is classic movie scoring right here. Brilliant themes and melodies make Superman come alive. John William's main theme for Superman is so amazing you seem to actually hear the words 'Superman' in the fanfare. William's love theme for this film is one of his best, with rich sweeping strings and hints of strong supporting brass. Another strong track/cue is the Krypton theme or 'Planet Krypton'. This is my favorite track on the whole cd. It starts off slow with some low brass, then builds and builds until the inevitable climax which is sure to send chills down your back! There are plenty of other enjoyable tracks to be found on this CD, and some which are better just skipped over. One thing is for sure, this is a must own soundtrack for anyone who claims to be a soundtrack collector/listener!!

5 out of 5 stars John Williams, the great!.......2006-07-10

The product is great because the Composer is great.
It is easy to listen to the tracks and the orchestral parts are
quite intricate.
Superman Returns
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A Blending Of New And Old
  • Super, Dynamic Score Full of Energy and Emotion
  • Very good, but missing a couple of biddies
  • Rough Flight
  • The fools that are Rhino...
 Superman Returns

Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
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  5. The Da Vinci Code

ASIN: B000FMGTTE
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Tracks:

  1. Main Titles
  2. Memories
  3. Rough Flight
  4. Little Secrets/Power Of The Sun
  5. Bank Job
  6. How Could YOU Leave Us?
  7. Tell Me Everything
  8. Youe Not One Of Them
  9. Not Like The Train Set
  10. So Long Superman
  11. The People You Care For
  12. I Wanted You To Know
  13. Saving The World
  14. IN THE HANDS OF MORTALS
  15. Reprise / Fly Away

Amazon.com

John Williams's theme for 1978's Superman remains one of the most famous of the '70s, so it's both obvious and a little weird that it would feature so prominently in the score for Superman Returns: Why would director Bryan Singer and composer John Ottman so willfully compare themselves to the earlier movie? Not only does a turbocharged version of Williams's theme ("Main Titles") open the album, but the "Behind the Scenes: Superman Returns Score" featurette that's part of the CD's bonus enhanced section is all about the orchestra performing the 1978 theme. Ottman's own work thus has to unfold in the shadow projected by Williams, which is a bit unfair since, while the new score isn't revolutionary, it delivers all the pomp, triumph, and vaguely atmospheric choirs that are now de rigueur in Hollywood action films. Ottman, of course, is used to dealing with superheroes (he wrote the scores for X2: X-Men United and Fantastic Four ), but this time around he's had to reflect the essentially noble nature of his main character, and so he's come up with themes that reveal even more pomp, pathos, and atmospheric choirs than before. It's not what you'd call subtle, but it does the job. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

Stunning original score for the hotly anticipated Warner Bros. Pictures epic feature film Superman Returns.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A Blending Of New And Old .......2007-05-23

With the return of the Man of Steel to film screens after almost twenty years also came the return of the classic John Williams' themes that made up the musical side of the franchise. Composer John Ottman had some big shoes to fill with this score. I mean, it isn't easy bringing one of the best known film scores of all time into a new era. But Ottman proves himself with this score that not only pays homage to Williams but also adds on to those classic themes.

The score starts with a triumphant return of the Superman theme. The Williams' theme is given a super-charged feel that returns it to all of its past glory. Here is an inkling of what the score sets out to do with the themes from the original films. The Superman theme also appears here and there throughout the score, especially during a rousing moment during the space shuttle sequence (Rough Flight).

The classic love theme from the films is also present and it is here that Ottman really has his best luck with the Williams themes. The theme is much more subdued and even mature, as if to signify the relationship between Superman and Lois in this film. The theme makes appearances during the flying sequence (How Could You Leave Us?) and returns full force in the film's final scene (Reprise / Fly Away).

Another Williams' theme is the Krypton / Fortress of Solitude theme. In fact it is the first piece of music we hear since it appears at the start of the film (but isn't on the soundtrack release). The theme also returns briefly when Lex arrives at the Fortress (Tell Me Everything). There is also the brief appearance of the farm theme as well (Memories). Each of these pieces serves to tie together the franchise of old with the franchise of new.

Ottman's new pieces are the majority of the music and he fills into some big shoes. His rousing action themes (Bank Job, Saving The World) are terrific pieces of action score that, while they don't rival the Williams themes, serve as new additions to the franchise's musical history. Ottman also gives Lex Luthor a new theme as well (replacing the comical theme by Williams) that serves to give the character the menace that actor Kevin Spacey brings to the role.

But the true highlight of Ottman's original pieces is his more emotional pieces. The amazing music for Superman's flying into space after overhearing Lois (You're Not One Of Them) is the perfect example of Ottman's capabilities as a film composer to bring life and emotion to a scene. This theme also makes appearances in other areas of the score especially in the final scene leading to the finale (Reprise / Fly Away) and it is why Ottman is the perfect choice to bring the musical side of Superman back to life.

While the score is not the classic that Superman The Movie was, this score proves that one can mix new with old and get amazing results. Ottman might not be John Williams, but he proves he can fill those shoes and expectations. Superman Returns brings a classic character and a classic score into the 21st Century and lets hope their here to stay.

5 out of 5 stars Super, Dynamic Score Full of Energy and Emotion.......2007-02-21

John Ottman, who is certainly no stranger to the superhero genre, having composed the scores to X-Men 2, Fantastic Four, as well as the upcoming Fantastic Four sequel, outranks them all with Superman Returns. Of course, it is a daunting task to score a film of this calibre, especially picking up the slack of a classic John Williams score. The big question is, did Ottman simply re-use Williams' themes, as Alexander Courage and Ken Thorne did in Superman II, III, and IV or did he integrate the themes into his own original work? Thankfully, he did the latter. I conversed with John Ottman via e-mail about this score well in advance of composing it, in which he told me that the main idea for him was to attempt to match Williams' sound by providing music that would best suit the film. Now having heard it, there is no doubt that he not only matched Williams' sound, but also has his own sound and thematic material in there as well.
It is obvious that Ottman has a passion for Williams' 1979 score. For Superman Returns, Ottman brings back the main theme (of course), the love theme between Superman and Lois Lane ("Can You Read My Mind" theme), and the Krypton theme. For the new themes, Ottman created a sort-of family theme for the Kent family, an ominous theme for Lex Luthor, and an emotional, heart-felt theme for the man of steel.
The Hollywood Studio Symphony's rendition of the classic "Superman March" is flawless with just as much energy as the original LSO recording, if not more. As usual with Ottman these days, the choir has been a big part in his scores and with Superman Returns, this is definitely a huge part. The Kent family theme appears in "Memories", where Clark Kent first learns to fly when he was a young child. Lex Luthor's theme appears in "Not Like the Train Set", which features slithering strings and woodwinds. The action music is pure excitement, as in "Rough Flight", "Bank Job", "The People You Care For", and "Saving the World", all complete with brilliant brass lines and explosive percussion. There is a sense of Williams' writing style in the action music, along with Ottman's unique sensabilities. The emotional theme is the theme that takes up most of the running time, due to the storyline of Clark Kent returning as Superman, trying to put the pieces of his life back together.
With all that said, there could not have been a better score for this film than the one Ottman provided. He proved that he could not only edit the film, but score the film with originality, as well as bringing back a classic. Truly an outstanding addition to the Superman musical franchise.

4 out of 5 stars Very good, but missing a couple of biddies.......2007-01-18

Great opening score. I didn't think so at first, but I truly prefer this one over John Williams '78 score. It's cut down just a little bit though, but it's a bit faster, crisper, and better uses the snare drums - particularly during transitions within the score.

Only a couple of things missing:
1.) The Krypton theme as mentioned earlier
2.) Superman's standing ovation in the baseball stadium and Titan-tron view at the end of Rough Flight. Very uplifting. I almost wanted to stand up and applaud him myself when I saw the movie.

2 out of 5 stars Rough Flight.......2007-01-14

I really loved Ottman's work on "X2" so him taking on "Superman" should have resulted in something special. Unfortunately what we get is less than stellar, and we get to hear a pretty poor treatment of Williams original "Superman" material.

A lot of the music we get is all themes from Williams original score which should have been a good thing, but Ottman decided to update it for the 21st Century, and apparently the best way to do that is to add choir to everything and try to make the music as sappy as possible. The Main Titles is almost note for note Williams' work but fans of Williams will notice how flat it sounds. Williams' march was thick and full, where as Ottman's version is dry and a slightly faster tempo than the Williams version. I know it sounds like something that shouldn't matter, but if you're fan of the original score it just sucks you feels so shallow

One of the many criticism that is usually thrown at Ottman is the fact that you can feel the temp music in his movies and in this score not only do you feel it, but it completely sucks you out of any enjoyment there is to be had since you keep asking yourself which Goldsmith score you first heard a certain cue on the album from. Much like Elfman John Ottman is a huge filmmusic geek and also like Elfman he does little homage to his biggest heroes all the time. Be it the late great Goldsmith, Horner, or in this movie a lot of Williams. There's nothing wrong with doing a tip of the hat to your favorite composers, but when you get so close to them that it becomes difficult to tell where your original score begins and theirs end, that's when we have a problem.

Another thing that bothered me about the score was the overuse of the choir. Every little thing in the movie requires choir which is just silly. When the camera pans from left to right we hear some pretentious boys choir, and when Superman is flying around we hear loud male choir. Ottman used the choir perfectly in "X2" but here he just goes way overboard. The one thing about the choir that drove me nuts was how he infused with the infamous Superman march. It just makes it sound cheesy that you cringe when you hear it. The music he plays when Superman is hovering above the earth, and for the moment when he is recharging also borders on pretentious and melodramatic. Hopefully Ottman will get it right next time

If this is your first musical intro in the world of "Superman" then you'll probably applaud the score, but if you're familiar with Williams brilliant score to the first, then it's best to stay as far away as you can from this. Ottman has seen better days that's for sure

3 out of 5 stars The fools that are Rhino..........2007-01-01

Most of my points have been iterated here already, but hey, repetition improves the breed...
(1). Ottman made the right choice in borrowing, tweaking, and adding to Williams' existing body of work. In much the same way that "Returns" director Bryan Singer continually pays homage to the original 1978 film (e.g., Lois' inability to spell, Clark ultimately resisting his desire to tell Lois the truth about his dual identity, Lois' smoking and Superman's gentle nudging to kick the habit), Ottman makes liberal use of the themes that Williams composed (e.g., the Planet Krypton, The Flying Sequence, and of course, the March). The best track in the lot must be number 6, "How Could You Leave Us?" which takes Williams' "The Flying Sequence" and turns it into the height of pathos. In the first film, Lois and Superman are essentially on their first date, so to speak, and Williams' piece seems to telegraph that - the whole piece is light, airy, and fun. In "Returns," Ottman has altered the cadence of the theme, the instrumentation, and the overall tone, mirroring the latent, but now forbidden, love between Superman and Lois, who is now happily engaged to someone else. I really could listen to this track all day.
(2). Some of the other tracks are really not up to par. In particular, track 3, "Rough Flight," is almost atonal at times, and in the end, completely unmemorable, which is unfortunate, considering that it is supposed to support the best action sequence in the film - Lois' rescue from the Genesis space shuttle. See "The Battle of Hoth" from The Empire Strikes Back for an example of an orchestral track during an frenetic action scene that still manages to develop and maintain clear and memorable themes.
(3). So some tracks are studs, and some duds. If that was The End Of The Story, I could accept that, be happy, and move on. HOWEVER, Rhino, in their infinite wisdom, has treated this release like so many other publishers who seem clueless about soundtracks (e.g., Back to Future III, Apollo 13, Gladiator). Not only are the tracks NOT in chronological order (per the film), the CD does not even contain all the music from the movie! The most egregious and obvious example is the cue "The Planet Krypton," which is the somber trumpet solo that opens "Returns" during the title card. This track, originally written by Williams, is available on the 1978 "Superman" soundtrack, but for whatever reason, Rhino chooses not to include it here. Is it a royalty/legal thing? Is it incompetence? Is it general sycophantic toadying and maliciousness? Who knows? Who cares? Bottom line, the soundtrack is hosed.
In the end, then, 3 stars for the composer, and 0 stars for the publisher. I'm sure we'll see some sort of "Complete Unabridged Score" type product released in the next few years. Until then, though, you'll have to remain happy with this or wait for some intrepid soul to cobble together a bootleg score on UseNet.
It's A Bird ... It's A Plane ... It's Superman (1966 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a super CD!
  • Music Survives The Man Of Steel!
  • Superman The Musical
  • SUPER DUPER!!
  • It's Superman
 It's A Bird ... It's A Plane ... It's Superman (1966 Original Broadway Cast)
Charles Strouse , and Lee Adams
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000027WB
Release Date: 1992-11-24

Tracks:

  1. Act I: Overture - Orchestra/Bob Holiday/Patricia Marand
  2. Act I: Doing Good - Bob Holiday
  3. Act I: We Need Him - Patricia Marand/Jack Cassidy/Bob Holiday/Company
  4. Act I: It's Superman - Patricia Marand
  5. Act I: We Don't Matter At All - Don Chastain/Patricia Marand
  6. Act I: Revenge - Michael O'Sullivan
  7. Act I: The Woman For The Man - Jack Cassidy/Patricia Marand
  8. Act I: You've Got Possibilities - Linda Lavin
  9. Act I: What I've Always Wanted - Patricia Marand
  10. Act I: It's Super Nice - Company
  11. Act I: Entr'acte - Orchestra
  12. Act II: So Long, Big Guy - Jack Cassidy
  13. Act II: The Strongest Man In The World - Bob Holiday
  14. Act II: Ohh, Do You Love You! - Linda Lavin
  15. Act II: You've Got What I Need - Michael O'Sullivan/Jack Cassidy
  16. Act II: It's Superman (Reprise) - Patricia Marand/Bob Holiday/Linda Lavin/Jack Cassidy/The Flying Lings/Don Chastain/Company
  17. Act II: I'm Not Finished Yet - Patricia Marand
  18. Act II: Pow! Bam! Zonk! - Bob Holiday/The Flying Lings
  19. Act II: Finale - Company
  20. Bonus: Dot, Dot, Dot - Charles Strouse/Lee Adams
  21. Bonus: A Woman Alone - Charles Strouse
  22. Bonus: You've Got Possibilities - Charles Strouse
  23. Bonus: Did You See That - Charles Strouse/Lee Adams

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a super CD!.......2007-05-25

It's A Bird ... It's A Plane ... It's Superman (1966 Original Broadway Cast)has long been one of my favorite scores that wasn't a hit. In fact I directed an ill fated production in 1982. Comic stars Jack Cassidy and Linda Lavin out shine the leads of Patricia Marchand and Bob Holiday as Lois Lane and Clark/Superman but it is all a lot of fun.

Linda Lavin's "You've Got Possibilities" is an infectious treat. "It's Superman" is a very catchy Strouse tune. The whole show is a tongue in cheek gem. I especially love the overture.

4 out of 5 stars Music Survives The Man Of Steel!.......2007-05-18

Opening in 1966, the musical "It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman" ran for only 129 performances before disappearing into that great phone booth in the sky. Obviously it wasn't going to be giving "Cats" or "A Chorus Line" a run for their money but, to be honest about it, Superman wasn't really the most promising subject material for an on-stage musical.

Available on CD, the music for the production shows where most of the promise went. Especially in the Overture, which straddles the line between the basic jazzy and the attentively heroic. It makes for good music for changing into one's super-costume, as does the Entr'acte.

The rest of the music settles itself squarely on the talents of the performers, and it can't be denied that at least some effort went into gathering people who could sell songs with their voices. Bob Holiday's rich voice ably connects with the persona of The Man Of Steel undergoing a personal crisis, especially in the number "The Strongest Man In The World". And, in spite of all the competition available onstage, his clear tones can easily be heard in the Finale.

That competition, by the way, includes Lois Lane, here being assayed by Patricia Marand's full-bodied voice warbling its way through numbers such as the wistful "It's Superman" and "What I've Always Wanted". Much better for her, though, are the all-too-brief comedic jibes she exchanges with veteran actor Jack Cassidy during his number "You're The Woman For The Man" (listening to this song one can almost see Cassidy's patented Lothario grin as he tries to put the moves on Lois).

(The CD, by the way, also includes bonus tracks of songs which composers Charles Strouse and Lee Adams wanted for the play but which were subsequently dropped. One of them, "Dot Dot Dot", is worth listening to if only to imagine what Cassidy's voice and character persona could've done with it.)

Other pieces worth listening to include a reprise of "It's Superman" where most of the company hold forth on the subject of everyone's favorite Kryptonian, as well as the number "You've Got Possibilities" which bears mention if only for the fact that, out of all the numbers in the production, it achieved that Holiest Of Holies: eventually being used in a television commercial! And for a quick and undeniably unique lesson in Nobel Prize winners, it'd be difficult to top Michael O'Sullivan's rendition of "Revenge".

Admittedly the overall effect will be of severe interest for those with one foot firmly strolling down old school Broadway. And it won't make people forget the soundtracks of John Williams. But the music deserves to rise above the level of a curiosity and, as part of the overall Superman legend, cannot be entirely ignored.

3 out of 5 stars Superman The Musical.......2007-04-24

This is a weird little oddity to say the least. So let's take the world's greatest superhero and add all the classic musical elements and what do you get: "It's A Bird ... It's A Plane ... It's Superman". The more appropiate title would have been "Superman The Musical". Because that is exactly what this is.

Overall this is your typical Broadway muscial comedy. The music, lyrics, everything points to that fact. Not to mention the fact that the book of the play was written by none other then Superman The Movie screenwriters David Newman and Richard Benton. It seems to be nothing more then pure camp to me. Not that the cast can't sing. They certainly can. But the problem is (at least from listening to the CD and looking at the pictures in the booklet) that Superman is one of those things that never should have been a musical. The story makes even less logical sense then say Superman III (can't find a good plot summary on the internet and the one in the booklet is both copyrighted and too long for me to type)!

It's not bad as a musical. But honestly some of the lyrics make no sense example being Superman in the song "Pow! Bam! Zonk!" going "I could use a t-bone steak / I haven't felt this could sense Krypton knows when". What the heck?!?! This doesn't sound remotly like something Superman should say let along sing! As I said this is a weird little oddity.

Then there is Harold "Hal" Prince the direcotr. Now let's condier some of the lays of his illustrious carrer such as West Side Story, On the Twentieth Century, Evita, and the classic Andrew Llyod Webber version of The Phantom Of The Opera. How in the world did somebody as good as this guy lead up this turkey? After all the musical was by all accounts a dud, lasting only 129 performances.

My opinion is that this was a bad idea badly executed. Is it worth a listen? Sure if you're a die-hard Superman or Broadway fan. Otherwise, you probably want to avoid this.

5 out of 5 stars SUPER DUPER!!.......2007-03-19

I especially LOVE this album because I was a TOTAL Superman freak as a kid, AND my mother provided the wonderful treat of seeing the show, during its very brief run at the Alvin Theatre in New York ; I was 11.
The cast includes Linda Lavin, who played the single mom waitress and title character on TV's Alice from 1976 to 1985. Her character in this show, sensing immense potential in Clark Kent, sings what many would agree is the best song in the show: "You've Got Possibilities."
Jack Cassidy (he was married to Shirley Jones and was the father of the Cassidy kids who, with Jones as the mother, were TVs Partridge Family) plays an interesting permutation of Lex Luthor; he plays to the campy hilt Super nemesis Max Mencken, a jaundiced journalist who's sure he's much more deserving of all the attention Superman gets. He targets the hero's psuper psyche in a way that makes the show refreshingly down to earth in a very funny way ("So Long Big Guy") Cassidy's sweet, pure voice will make your ears smile from head to toe.
Bob Holiday (who now has a non-solitary fortress on the net) is The Man, and his big, booming, beautiful voice is perfect for the part.
Check out the song clips -- to my ears, the music is SUPERlative. Have a party.

5 out of 5 stars It's Superman.......2006-11-05

The CD is realy grate that is if you are a Superman fan. Why I realy lik It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman(1966 Original Broadway Cast)is because it dilivers all kinds of imochons while you listen to it. The other reson I realy like it is beacuse I am a big Superman Fan.
Superman - The Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Original 1978 Recording?
  • AWESOME! John Williams shows again why he's the master of movie scores
  • Is John Williams Superman???
  • Excellent!
  • Hector, about the liner notes...
 Superman - The Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000046PVN
Release Date: 2000-02-15

Tracks:

  1. Prelude and Main Title March
  2. Planet Krypton, The
  3. Destruction of Krypton
  4. Star Ship Escapes
  5. Trip to Earth, The
  6. Growing Up
  7. Death of Jonathan Kent
  8. Leaving Home
  9. Fortress of Solitude, The
  10. Welcome to Metropolis
  11. Lex Luthor's Lair
  12. Big Rescue, The
  13. Super Crime Fighter
  14. Super Rescues
  15. Luther's Luau
  16. Planet Krypton (Alternate), The
  17. Main Title March (Alternate)

Tracks:

  1. Superman March (Alternate)
  2. March of the Villains, The
  3. Terrace, The
  4. Flying Sequence, The
  5. Lois and Clark
  6. Crime of the Century
  7. Sonic Greeting
  8. Misguided Missiles and Kryptonite
  9. Chasing Rockets
  10. Supefeates
  11. Super Dam and Finding Lois
  12. Turning Back the World
  13. Finale and End Title March
  14. Love Theme from Superman
  15. Can You Read My MInd (Alternate performed by Margot Kidder)
  16. Flying Sequence/Can You Read My Mind, The
  17. Can You Read My Mind (Alternate Instrumental)
  18. Theme from Superman (Concert Version)

Amazon.com

Released during the era of leisure suits and pet rocks, the film Superman: The Movie has aged about as well. But the often-clumsy charms of Richard Donner's cartoonish, hit-and-miss take on the Man of Steel was blessed with at least one superlative artistic effort: John Williams's epic score. The composer's Oscar-nominated music (coming on the heels of Star Wars and Close Encounters) was a wall-to-wall heroic symphony, rife with memorable melodies and ominous arrangements. Almost every original cut on this soundtrack appears in an expanded version, supplemented by nearly a dozen previously unreleased cues and alternate takes. Featuring a deluxe slipcase and extensive, new liner notes, this is the definitive release of one of Maestro Williams's greatest scores. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Original 1978 Recording?.......2007-04-04

FIVE STAR FOR MUSIC. 1 STAR FOR AUDIO. Ok I've wanted this recording for almost 4 years. Now I got it. I am a discerning listener. This soundtrack is not the best quality. Tape hiss is very pronounced. You can tell it's taken directly from a cassette recording. I have other digital recordings of this music. They are miles ahead of this cd. Soundtrack is on the Rhino label. What? Rhino is not known for high fidelity. So it is very deceiving for one to buy a cd thinking it's John Williams conducting on a new recording in 1998 or whenever. It's the actual 1978 recording. Now let me unleash my rage. This thing sounds as if it's recorded with a single microphone in a bathroom, at a truck stop. Yes the music is phenomenal. My favorite track is #2 Krypton. I was hoping to discover some new hidden melodies that I've never heard in previous recording (original 1978). Nope. This IS the 1978 recording. So I will be getting the Debney recording just so I can hear what I'm missing. Love the music. Just can't hear it. ALL OF IT! But cool booklet. I can't listen to a booklet. But I got it. Whoopee.

5 out of 5 stars AWESOME! John Williams shows again why he's the master of movie scores.......2006-08-31

After over a year of trying to find a seller of this fine soundtrack, I finally found it! It is high time that the full score was released on CD.
The original soundtrack release from 1978, while still an excellent collection, was sadly lacking in several of the best cues from the film. Most important of these was Track 12 (Disc 1) in which the helicopter crashes on the Daily Planet's roof and dangles precariously above the street. Williams builds on it, introducing Superman's theme into it as Clark Kent runs across the street, then rips open his shirt to reveal the 'S' - the symbol of the House of El - then enters the revolving door & exits as Superman. At the end of this is one of my favorite cues; the Superman theme is played as the Man of Steel appears above Metropolis, flying over the city on the hunt for criminals. 'Crime of the Century' (Track 6, Disc 2) was one of my favorite cues; this one portrayed the missile convoy as it made its way along the freeway, where Luthor staged the accident to get his cronies close enough to sabotage the missiles. There are too many new tracks to list here that should have been included the first time around, just a lack of space precluded this from happening.

5 out of 5 stars Is John Williams Superman???.......2006-08-20

After listening to the CD, John Williams must be Superman. By far, the greatest movie score ever written.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent!.......2006-08-10

Other than the over kill of "Can you read my mind", an excellent collection.

5 out of 5 stars Hector, about the liner notes..........2006-07-14

I have the previous edition, and the notes that came with it were nestled next to the CD in a thick booklet (with a cover of Reeve in front of an American flag) that was large enough for the slipcase cover, but too big to fit into the CD case front. Otherwise, the one-sheet cover that came with your soundtrack is identical to the slipcase version.
The Incredible Film Music Box
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Six Decades of Film Music
  • Excellent collection with fine performances
  • "essential film scores from 1939 to 2004 ~ Incredible Music"
 The Incredible Film Music Box

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by HerrmannAll Works by Herrmann | Herrmann, Bernard | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by MascagniAll Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by ManciniAll Works by Mancini | Mancini, Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by NymanAll Works by Nyman | Nyman, Michael | ( N ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Rota, NinoRota, Nino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by StraussAll Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
VangelisVangelis | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Tone PoemsTone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ItalianItalian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Movie ScoresMovie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Star WarsStar Wars | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Classic Big BandClassic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The Essential Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection
  2. Paramount 90th Anniversary Collection: Scores
  3. Epics: The History of the World According to Hollywood
  4. The Ultimate Movie Music Collection
  5. Jerry Goldsmith: 40 Years of Film Music

ASIN: B0007S687Y
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

  1. Gone With The Wind: Overture
  2. Citizen Kane: Overture
  3. Casablanca: As Time Goes By
  4. It's A Wonderful Life: It's A Wonderful Life
  5. The Third Man: The Harry Lime Theme
  6. The Searchers: Suite
  7. The Bridge On The River Kwai: Colonel Bogey March
  8. Vertigo: Prelude
  9. Touch Of Evil: Main Title
  10. Ben-Hur: Parade Of The Charioteers
  11. North By Northwest: Prelude
  12. Psycho: Suite
  13. The Magnificent Seven: The Magnificent Seven
  14. Lawrence Of Arabia: Overture

Tracks:

  1. To Kill A Mockingbird: Suite
  2. The Great Escape: Main Title
  3. Doctor Zhivago: Main Title & Lara's Theme
  4. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
  5. Once Upon A Time In The West: Jill's Theme
  6. 2001: A Space Odyssey: Also Sprach Zarathustra
  7. Midnight Cowboy: Midnight Cowboy
  8. Get Carter: Main Title
  9. A Clockwork Orange: Ode To Joy
  10. The Godfather: Waltz & Love Theme
  11. Jaws: Jaws
  12. Rocky: Gonna Fly Now
  13. Taxi Driver: Suite
  14. Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope

Tracks:

  1. Superman: Main Theme
  2. Alien: End Title
  3. Raging Bull: Intermezzo From Cavalleria Rusticana
  4. Raiders Of The Lost Ark: Raiders March
  5. Blade Runner: End Titles
  6. E.T.: The Extraterrestrial: Adventures On Earth
  7. Once Upon A Time In America: Deborah's Theme
  8. Back To The Future: Main Theme
  9. Witness: Building The Barn
  10. Aliens: Main Title
  11. Cinema Paradiso: Cinema Paradiso
  12. Glory: Charging Frot Wagner
  13. Dances With Wolves: The John Dunbar Theme
  14. Unforgiven: Claudia's Theme

Tracks:

  1. The Piano: The Heart Asks Pleasure First
  2. Schindler's List: Main Theme
  3. Braveheart: End Credits
  4. Titanic: My Heart Will Go On
  5. Saving Private Ryan: Hymn To The Fallen
  6. American Beauty: Any Other Name
  7. Gladiator: Now We Are Free
  8. Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring: The Fellowship
  9. The Girl With The Pearl Earring: Griet's Theme
  10. Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl: Suite
  11. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban: Suite
  12. Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Letter That Never Came
  13. Finding Neverland: Impossible Opening
  14. The Incredibles: Overture

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Six Decades of Film Music.......2007-05-13

This is film music for the classical music lover. The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra presents excellent arrangements of a number of classic film themes (although several pieces of the 56 film classics selected for this 4 CD set are not orchestral arrangements, but rather specialty arrangements). Besides great film composers such as John Williams, Elmer Bernstein, Ennio Morricone, and James Horner, classical composers such as Richard Strauss and Pietro Mascagni make an appearance. On several of the numbers the Crouch End Festival Chorus adds the human voice to the power of the full symphonic orchestra to create true movie magic. If you like the sound of a full symphony orchestra playing some of the most recognized themes ever written, you'll love these CDs.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent collection with fine performances.......2007-03-28

Silva Screen Records, based in England, has been issuing some fine collections of film scores, more in one box than we have the right to expect. This four-CD box contains scores by many of the best writers, including Max Steiner, Bernard Herrmann, Dimitri Tomkin, Kenneth J. Alford (The Bridge on the River Kwai), Elmer Bernstein, Maurice Jarre, Ennio Marricone, John Barry, Nino Rota, John Williams, James Horner, and more. We can all think of additional film scores we wished were included, but then there's no way this collection could be all-inclusive. The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, supplemented by Crouch End Festival Chorus on some numbers, does a very competent job...The liner notes give the basic information without any commentary, and as far as I can see, contain only one error. Am I wrong or are tracks 9 and 10 on the fourth CD mislabeled? Track 9, which runs 7:33, seems to have the excitement of "Pirates of the Caribbean" (which I did not see) and track 10, which runs 4:22, the more sedate "The Girl with the Pearl Earring (which I also did not see). Listings seem to have them reversed.

5 out of 5 stars "essential film scores from 1939 to 2004 ~ Incredible Music".......2005-05-16

When I think of the "Golden Age" of Hollywood, many composers come to mind...you gave the usher your ticket in the theater and sat down, knowingly you were going to get your moneys worth...when the curtain opened and you heard those first few notes...you sat back, watched and listened as the film score and orchestra worked their magic...now we have the ultimate from Silva Screen Classics "The Incredible Film Music Box", featuring a four disc set of the essential film scores of the past 60 years...covering several decades from 1939 through and up to the present 2004

There are compilations and then there are "Compilations" beginning with a classic that even the youngsters today recognize "GONE WITH THE WIND" (1939) (Max Steiner), sweeping score that captures the tragic history of the South during the Civil War, one great cue after another, it doesn't get any better than this, nominated by the Academy for Best Original Score...and closing on Disc 4 with "THE INCREDIBLES" (2004) (Michael Giacchino), the big hit in computer animation from Walt Disney & Pixar that once again pit Super-Heroes against the forces of evil...our family of five Supers prove crime doesn't pay, but box-office receipts do...gotta love it!

Silva Screen Classics as usual, has put quality into this 4-CD-Set featuring The City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus conducted by Kenneth Alwyn, Bill Ashton, Paul Bateman, James Fitzpatrick, Mario Klemens, Derek Wadsworth, and Nic Raine. Recorded in "Dolby Surround" with the new technology of "HDCD", this is a "film-score-buffs" dream, one to treasure now and years to come.

Some selections are missing, but when you think of what Silva has included, it is impossible to please everyone...was happy to see "TOUCH OF EVIL" (1958) from composer Henry Mancini, as I feel this composer deserves all the recognition that has been overlooked recently in the music world...This collection is aimed directly at the "Serious Film Score" music fans and collectors...Silva is as always, perfect in every way...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 4-CD-Set ~ Silva America 1181 ~ (5/10/2005)
The Ultimate Movie Music Collection
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Relive you movie experiences
 The Ultimate Movie Music Collection
Erich Kunzel
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
CompilationsCompilations | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Orchestral PopOrchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Star WarsStar Wars | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The Incredible Film Music Box
  2. Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
  3. Paramount 90th Anniversary Collection: Scores
  4. Simply the Best Movie Themes
  5. Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000BFH26Y
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

  1. The Imperial March: The Empire Strikes Back
  2. Main Theme: Jurassic Park
  3. Main Title: Shakespeare In Love
  4. Themes: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
  5. Main Title: The Last Of The Mohicans
  6. Theme: The Godfather
  7. Unchained Melody: Ghost
  8. Theme: Goldfinger
  9. We're Losing Him: Somewhere In Time
  10. Space Camp
  11. Opening And Closing Titles: Henry V
  12. Theme: The Thorn Birds
  13. Suite: Moonwalker
  14. The Time Of Your Life: A Bugs Life

Tracks:

  1. Batman Theme: Batman
  2. Bicycle Chase: E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
  3. Suite: Independance Day
  4. Love Theme: Romeo & Juliet
  5. Theme: Back To The Future
  6. End Credits: Contact
  7. Theme: Breakfast At Tiffany's
  8. Main Theme: Star Trek
  9. May It Be And Themes: Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Ring
  10. Love Theme: Cousins
  11. Sean's Theme: Minority Report
  12. I Will Wait From You: The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg
  13. Theme: Rocky
  14. The Sand Volcano: The Mummy
  15. The Raider's March: Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Tracks:

  1. Theme: Mission Impossible
  2. Casablanca Suite
  3. Book Of Days: Far And Away
  4. Love Theme: Superman
  5. Tara's Theme: Gone With The Wind
  6. Don't Mess With: Z
  7. Main Title: The Mask Of Zorro
  8. Finale: Victor / Victoria
  9. Carol Ann's Theme: Poltergeist
  10. Love Theme: Star Wars: Episode ll: Attack Of The Clones
  11. Main Theme: Willow
  12. Main Title: Star Trek ll: The Wrath Of Kahn
  13. MAin Theme: On Golden Pond
  14. Theme: A Summer Place
  15. Theme: Chariots Of Fire

Tracks:

  1. Iceberg!
  2. Back To Titanic
  3. Main Themes: Hook
  4. Theme: Pink Panther
  5. Lara's: Doctor Zhivago
  6. Theme: Love Story
  7. Right Stuff
  8. Theme: Jaws
  9. When You Believe: The Prince Of Egypt
  10. Smile: Modern Times
  11. The Apollo 13 Mission
  12. Re-Entry And Splashdown: Apollo 13
  13. Main Title: Beetlejuice
  14. War: Pearl Harbor
  15. Cavatina: The Deer Hunter
  16. Throne Room And End Title: Star Wars: Episode lV: A New Hope

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Relive you movie experiences.......2006-01-24

This collection of movie themes, will allow you to relive the chilling experiences from practically all (4 CDs)of the great movies. Great movies would not be great without great music. The Cincinnati Pop with Eric Kunzel are unbeatable recordings. Every minute is more beautiful and inspiring to the next. If you love Pops music, this is the begin all, end all.
The Science Fiction Album
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The penultimate collection ...
  • Muisic of the Spheres
  • The Ulllllltimate Sci-Fi Music Collection
  • SciFi Album gift
  • Away From to be a Collectible Peace
 The Science Fiction Album
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Star WarsStar Wars | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Star TrekStar Trek | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Sci-Fi Channel - Sci-Fi's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: Final Frontiers
  2. Fantastic Journey
  3. Sci-Fi Channel - Sci-Fi's Greatest Hits, Vol. 4: Defenders Of Justice
  4. Sci-Fi Channel - Sci-Fi's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2: The Dark Side
  5. The Fantasy Album

ASIN: B000066HE5
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Tracks:

  1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
  2. Aliens
  3. Sound Effect - The Nostromo
  4. Alien
  5. A.I.
  6. Armageddon
  7. Sound Effect - Apollo 13 Lift-off
  8. Apollo 13
  9. Back To The Future
  10. Battle Beyond The Stars
  11. Battlestar Galactica
  12. The Black Hole
  13. Contact
  14. Capricorn One
  15. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
  16. The Day The Earth Stood Still
  17. Dune

Tracks:

  1. Galaxy Quest
  2. Sound Effect - Dogfight in Space
  3. Enemy Mine
  4. Ghostbusters
  5. Gremlins
  6. Heavy Metal
  7. Independence Day
  8. E.T.
  9. Judge Dredd
  10. The Last Starfighter
  11. Lifeforce
  12. Sound Effect - Crash Landing
  13. Lost In Space
  14. Mars Attacks
  15. The Matrix
  16. Predator
  17. The Right Stuff

Tracks:

  1. Moonraker
  2. Robocop
  3. Silent Running
  4. Sound Effect - Alien Organism
  5. Species
  6. Stargate
  7. Starship Troopers
  8. Starman
  9. Star Trek - TV Theme
  10. Star Trek: The Motion Picture End Title
  11. Klingon Attack
  12. Sound Effect - Warp Drive
  13. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
  14. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
  15. Star Trek: Generations
  16. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Tracks:

  1. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
  2. Sound Effect - Transporter Crew
  3. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Theme
  4. Star Trek First Contact
  5. Star Wars
  6. The Empire Strikes Back
  7. The Empire Strikes Back
  8. Return of the Jedi
  9. Sound Effect - Battle Stations
  10. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace - The Flag Parade
  11. Anakin's Theme
  12. The Adventures of Jar Jar
  13. Duel of the Fates
  14. The Time Machine
  15. Things to Come
  16. The Thing From Another World
  17. War of the Worlds
  18. When Worlds Collide
  19. Total Recall
  20. You Only Live Twice
  21. Superman

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The penultimate collection ..........2006-12-07

Generally I agree with Strategos in his ecstatic Spotlight Review above. It is a joy to here some of the most memorable themes and cues from some of the most memorable science fiction and fantasy movies (re)recorded in great sound and in lavish (re)orchestrations, played by renowned classical orchestras, namely the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra, no less.

I have always had a weak spot for (good, or maybe even intelligent) science fiction/fantasy and film music, especially its way of evoking mystery, grandure and wide open spaces. Call it a weakness if you want. But it was maybe really kick started off, for as far as I can remember, with Star Trek. But especially Star Trek II, III and IV - essentially a trilogy - because of their very romantic but very warm, human core, set on the broadest canvasses of unlimited and mysterious outer space. But then there was the music for adding that essential extra dimension of emotion and atmosphere. I am happy that much of the music on this album is from the Star Trek series and films, often equaling or sometimes even outclassing the original recordings.

This kind of music (for the movies) should be seen as an art on its own rights with its own merits and qualities. As such, the musical sequences on these CD's are a beautifully played cross section of some of the most evoking orchestral music for science fiction/fantasy film ever created. And I very much like the nicely blended, wide and deep orchestral soundpicture with enough reverberation to evoke a sense of wide open spaces.
I am quite thrilled by tracks like the evocative music from Dune, truly transporting one to the vastly sands of Arrakis (the music is wonderful, but to my great regret I think the movie itself is a flawed masterpiece at best, alas.). And then there is the very different, goofy music for Ghostbusters (memories of childhood), the spoofy but electrifying music from Mars Attacks (lovingly parodist music, this, with not a little touch of irony) and the happily adventurous, forward driving Theme from Galaxy Quest ('Never give up, never surrender!'), now also used for the internet-based fan-series Star Trek: The Hidden Frontier. On the other side of the spectrum we have the atmospheric music for Enemy Mine (an underestimated 'little' movie), the Theme from The Right Stuff (actually science FACT, not fiction, this film, just like Apollo 13, of course), the eerily attractive music for Species, the original End Title for Alien (not used in the theatrical version of the movie, where it was replaced by music from howard Hanson's Second Symphony), the exquisitely exotic music for Stargate, the sweet and warmly sympathetic, beautifully re-orchestrated, theme for Starman, the title cue for Star Trek: TOS (much more melodiously played than the original! If only a series nowadays could continue to be as thought provoking and as original as Star Trek was during its launch, fourty years ago ...) and a truly overpowering End Titles Suite from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. I especially like the thrillingly grandiloquent rendition here of the music for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. And how nice it is to hear the (thematic) similarities between James Horner's music for The Wrath of Khan, his great break-through as a film music composer, and his (two years) earlier music for Battle Beyond the Stars (which did indeed help him earn the job for writing the music for Star Trek II) ...

But on the 'down side', if one is looking for - for example - the gorgeously expansively played End Titles from Cocoon, it is not included here: one has to acquire the album that 'kicked it all off', so to say, namely 'Space and Beyond', also on Silva Screen. I was very pleased also with the inclusion on that album of some of the music from the series Star Trek: The Next Generation, namely where one of the characters, Tasha Yar, in one of the episodes (Skin of Evil) is saying goodbye to her crewmmates: sweetly sentimental and simple music which I have always wanted to own on CD. I guess that a few cues from the other two sequals ('Alien Invasion: Space and Beyond II' and 'Space3: Beyond the Final Frontier') didn't make it onto this 4 CD collection-album as well, but I guess that it would be the 'better part of the bargain' to opt to buy this 'The Science Fiction Album' instead of buying all three albums separately. Well, of course it is for yourself to ultimately decide what you really want ;-)

If I were to nitpick (which is not easy with such a marvellous project as this one), then I would say that while all music is performed with magnificent grandure and with style, some of it is not performed as crisply and as technically 'on the spot' as some of the original recordings: ensemble is a little slack and the playing somewhat stilted sometimes, losing some of the edge and the originality of the writing. ET and Star Wars spring to mind, but then the soundtracks for Star Wars are traditionally recorded with the magnificent London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro John Williams himself, and these superior recordings (especially the ones for Episode I, II and III) can't really be bettered, IMHO. Likewise for the music from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, I believe that in the end one really has to resort to the ultimate reference, namely the original recording (which is true in many other instances of 'original recordings'), and then the 20th anniversay colector's edition of this soundtrack on Columbia/Legacy (truly unmissable, this veritable classic of sci-fi/film music soundtracks!).

But all in all this 4CD-collection amounts to probably being the penultimate high quality sci-fi music album collection (I certainly know of no other project that comes as close quality as well as quantity wise), with some of the most memorable musical moments from classic to modern sci-fi/fantasy film captured in lavish orchestrations.
Collection-wise: five *stars*. Playing: generally four *stars*, sometimes more. The recording quality: five *stars*. The music (qualified on its own merits as film music) and its (re)orchestrations: generally five *stars*. In the end this is all highly recommended, and certainly not to be missed by science fiction and fantasy film music fans. Klaatu barada nikto.

5 out of 5 stars Muisic of the Spheres.......2006-11-06

You wonderful four disk collection of SF music. It startsa up the the grand master of SF music, 2001: A space Odyssey all the way to Superman. This is all American SF music and several themes I would have liked to have included are not there. All in all though, a collection you will enjoy.

5 out of 5 stars The Ulllllltimate Sci-Fi Music Collection.......2005-10-23

If one person gives great gifts, it's the illustrious Codemaster Talon. I've received a fair number of gifts in my lifetime, but so far, my older sister's take the cake. Take this one for instance. I'm real big on orchestral music, to the point where I listen to them more than any other kind of music. I've got orchestral versions of video game themes, orchestral soundtracks to truck-loads of anime shows (Big O, Escaflowne, and Giant Robo are incredible), and could probably spend the rest of my life just trying to study the nuances of all the classical music I've got. Being such a huge fan of orchestral music, I also have come to believe that orchestra music produced for movies and television is the new classical music (or as someone once said, Mozart would be making music for movies if he were alive today). Being a huge sci-fi fan, that kind of music has always been particularly near and dear to my heart. But were I to buy each and every soundtrack for every sci-fi I liked it would cost quite a bundle, and would include a lot of sub-par music along with the grandiose and fantastic main and memorable themes. That's where this beauty comes in.

The moment I ripped off the shrink-wrap and popped it into my cd player was a moment of great trepidation. Believe me when I tell that I've seen my fair share of sub-par orchestral recording in my lifetime. Very often they are in those big super-packs of music, and suffer from poor direction, improper mastering, and sometime even pathetic orchestration (or worse yet have something sounding like a cheap synthesizer and a kazoo in place of a full orchestra). I needn't have worried though. This sucker is fantastic.

Many people who are not audiophiles will probably miss the point of this cd collection. It is not the original versions of the pieces. It is re-orchestrations, mostly by the phenomenal Prague Symphony Orchestra. Many of these themes didn't sound all that hot in there original versions because they were low budget films or were not recorded in high-fidelity. Here they are given the full treatment, mastered with the most loving care imaginable. Often the version found in these cds is SUPERIOR to the original.

Remember the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey? Of course you do. But how many times have you heard a cheap imitation of the original version from the movie, starting too low in volume and ending too high (and missing the essential pipe-organ that gives it that extra oomph)? Well, this first track in the entire collection is not only everything it should be instrumental and timing-wise, but it also has been oh-so-carefully adjusted during the mastering process so that at no time is the music either too low or too high in volume (surely a benchmark for every other recording ever to be made of the piece).

Or what about the theme from the (at-the-time) uber-creepy The Black Hole? The orchestration of this piece of music goes from tiumphant to terrifying and back again, with a splendor and cleanness that I CERTAINLY don't remember being in the original recording.

Then there's the new version of the theme from Independence Day, complete with a violin solo, a far more electrifying ending climax, and a chorus so thunderous that you feel like applauding at the end. Simply indescribable. Kind of like the MIND-BLOWING rendition of the theme from The Last Star Fighter. This has been one of my favorite themes for a long time now, but I've never heard it played like this. I think the original version of the theme is something like 1 minute long, but this new version doesn't just fade out (HAHAHAHA!!!!) THIS version is THREE minutes long, goes through the main theme THREE times, with the final strains being so triumphant and joyous I could not help but feel an electrifying charge the first dozen or so times (come to think of it, I still feel that way). This is superior to the original in EVERY way. AWESOME.

And let's not forget the incredible new rendition of Stargate with it's heavy use of clarinets (for Egyptian effect!) and a triumphant new ending (completely lacking the chanting from the original version. This version is so different that for the first minute it is very hard to tell that it is in fact Stargate. But then the main theme kicks in, and then you get this incredible flute solo for my favorite part of theme (the whole thing is played slower, but arguably more powerfully than the original). My goodness. At first I found the thing so different I didn't like it. But then I listened to it again. And again. And again.

I could go on and on, talking about the fantastic new rendition of Moon Raker, the ear-popping Battlestar Galactica, the classic Star Trek (First Contact has a minute or two of the theme from Star Trek:The Motion Picture before going into the main theme), or the sweet renditions of music from the Star Wars movies (or the music from E.T.).

I have to mention though that this collection was not picked based merely on what people want, or on what is popular. No, the people who made it obviously thought a GOOD music collection was better than a popular one. That's why you get a heartbreakingly beautiful theme from A.I. instead of the main theme. It's why you get music from movies that you probably never gave a second thought to the music (because the movie was lousy). It's why you get Armageddon, Judge Dredd, and Robocop (who would have guessed their music was so COOL when there was all that crazy action and bad-acting going on on-screen).

I said it before and I'll say it again. This cd-set was mastered with tender-loving-care, and it shows BIG-TIME. High-fidelity the likes of which I have not seen since the days when cds were brand-new in the world. Dolby Surround. Perfectly balanced. BEAUTIUFL orchestrations. About the only thing that makes me scratch my head is the weird sound-effect tracks (Oooookay.....). Other than that, it's PERFECT. Obviously they could not include every sci-fi theme ever (no one can), but this collection is REALLY GOOD. A lot of great themes that got away (forgotten gems :), new versions of old favorites, and under-appreciated classics aplenty, but ALWAYS the full and complete versions with nothing cut-out (the theme from Dune is quite extended).

If you love movie music (and sci-fi movie music in particular) you MUST buy this awesome collection). It is not the original recordings. Almost always the new ones are better (if they aren't better they're just equal). This is what you have been waiting for. I for one am going to be buying quite a few cds from this company in the future. Give your ears the treat they deserve. Buy it NOW.

5 out of 5 stars SciFi Album gift.......2005-07-20

I bought the Science Fiction Album as a gift for my son who is twenty-one years old. He is a musician, and also a huge fan of many SciFi shows and movies. I thought this would be the perfect thing for him and I was right. He loves it!

3 out of 5 stars Away From to be a Collectible Peace.......2004-12-16

If you like Sci-Fi movies and want a compilation of their important scores, this is the CD-set to buy. But let me warn you about that very few songs in the cds are from the original soundtracks. Most of them is re-recorded by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. But the sound quality of cds are very good, because they have HDCD and Dolby Surround labels. This set is away from to be a collectible peace, but it is a good general compilation of favorite Sci-Fi movie scores.

Rap Music:

  1. Sweetheart [CD-single]
  2. Tha Govner's Booty Quake
  3. The Carnival [Explicit Lyrics]
  4. The Chronic [Enhanced] [Explicit Lyrics]
  5. The Chronic [Enhanced] [Explicit Lyrics]
  6. The Outlawed Bass
  7. The Prime Time Rhyme of the Last Poets, Vol. 2 [Explicit Lyrics]
  8. The Proper Dosage [Explicit Lyrics]
  9. True [Explicit Lyrics]
  10. Truth in Disguise

Rap Music

rap music

Recommended Music:

The Words We Say Before We Sleep

C. P. E. Bach & J. Ch. F. Bach: Sacred and Secular Songs

Britten: Phantasy Quartet in Fm Op2; Bliss: Quintet Op44

Country Love [Import]

New World

Blind World

Beyond the Veil: Live at Bobby Jones Gospel XIII [Live]

Berlioz: Harold En Italie

Below the Salt [Import]

Bahia

Canadian Giant [Import]

Best of Ska, Vol. 6

Ahora Me Toca a Mi

Instant Live: House of Blues - San Diego, CA, 3/4/06

Perspective