Could it be? Something about John Williams that fans do not adore with
all of their hearts? Something about John Williams that actually makes
fans angry?
Oh my. Read on.
I have to say that John Williams' scores tend to be better served
by being ordered chronologically, and as complete as possible. I cite the
expanded "Star Wars," "Raiders," "Close Encounters"
and, most recently, "Superman," as proof. Each album works much
better than its predecessors (although Arista's "Star Wars" box
set still has much to recommend it) precisely because the alterations made
for listening purposes were taken away.
Let's be blunt, here. Williams re-arranges his scores to make them
more palatable for the lay person. The lay person probably doesn't appreciate
this, as, if they buy a soundtrack album, they'll play it twice or three
times at the most and it will collect dust ever after (that's why garage
sale soundtrack LPs are usually in such good condition).
His fans, however, for the most part, find his albums deficient
because they alter the scores, and, as a result, often destroys the flow
of the score, or may omit dramatic development.
To reiterate: John Williams caters to the desires of those who don't
care, while continuously annoying his fans.
I will grant you that "The Phantom Menace" is a particularly
irksome example, as much of the album features such moments as "Jar-Jar's
Introduction" at the expense of such cues as the one when Anakin leaves
home, and has tracks that are a complete mishmash from all over the film
("Qui-Gon's Noble End" gets my "Inner City" award as
most confusing track), and contains a blatant mistake ("The Arrival
at Naboo" is really "The Arrival at Coruscant," and, as
a result, appears twice on the album). It is, quite simply, a botched job.
The score deserves much better than this (and I think that the deficient
album has colored many people's reaction to this score, as what is heard
in the film is quite interesting, not to mention moving).
While I understand fully the brutal marketplace environment soundtrack
albums are being released in, I sincerely believe that Sony would not have
had too much trouble moving a LCD set of this particular score given the
performance of RCA Victor's releases.
Either way, "The Phantom Menace's" score could have been
represented much better on disc. Trust me, no one would complain if there
was less Jar-Jar music on it.
Does Williams need an "intervention"? Is this really a big
deal? Write in with your thoughts!
