Where Were You in '82?

by Lukas Kendall

Oh, these polls are so much fun. 1962 was such an embarrassment of riches, it was all but impossible to pick the single best score. Another outstanding year was 1982. Get a load of what you heard at the movies 17 years ago...

Blade Runner (Vangelis): One of the all-time greatest electronic scores. He also did Missing that year.

The Challenge (Jerry Goldsmith): Great Oriental action score, all but forgotten today.

Conan the Barbarian (Basil Poledouris): An opera for Arnold.

The Dark Crystal (Trevor Jones): Top-notch fantasy score.

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (Miklos Rozsa): His last score.

E.T. (John Williams): 'nuff said.

First Blood (Jerry Goldsmith): John Rambo I.

48 Hours (James Horner): Influential.

Frances (John Barry): He also did Hammett that year.

Monsignor (John Williams): His "other" score that year.

Poltergeist (Jerry Goldsmith): 'nuff said.

The Road Warrior (Brian May): Great "driving" music.

The Secret of NIMH (Jerry Goldsmith): A stupendous animated score.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (James Horner): A sweeping symphonic score that put Horner on the map.

The Thing (Ennio Morricone): Done in a John Carpenter style, appropriately.

Tron (Wendy Carlos): Landmark orchestra/synths fusion from a pioneer of electronic music.

The Year of Living Dangerously (Maurice Jarre): He also did Firefox that year.

Unlike the last polls, I am putting everything up for voting, even though, let's face it, Frances isn't going to be #1. I'm sure I've still left something off, and also, it's possible something like The Road Warrior came out before 1982 in Australia. Well, I'm sure someone will let me know. Thanks to Paul MacLean and also Jon and Al Kaplan for suggesting the poll. Please vote!

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