Goldsmith fans must not miss this title. Because it shows the incredible range of what the composer could do for a film, even when it is a medium-weight sci-fi spectacle.
What I enjoyed most about this cd is that it showed me parts of the the score that I thought were sound effects were ACTUALLY music by Goldsmith. It also illuminates music that is very different from what appeared on the LP.
It was a marvelously innovative score in many ways. That old MGM lp caught the "orchestral gloss" of the score, adding that little "Disco Logan" thingy tacked on for the 1976 masses, of which I was one. It left off so many serial compositions that reeked of pure early Goldsmith. This is another case of a score designed for something better than it represented.
What I enjoyed most about this cd is that it showed me parts of the the score that I thought were sound effects were ACTUALLY music by Goldsmith.
There's an effect like that in STAR TREK:TMP. In the movie you just think, "That's the sound V'Ger makes." You don't realize how much your music man is adding to the show.
A more obscure example is the wonderful sound that composer Joe Harnell came up with for the evil "Alex 7000" computer in an episode of THE BIONIC WOMAN.
I had this CD, but sold it off not too long ago. Mostly because I didn't care for the complete and chronological presentation. I much rather prefer the LP program. However, the sound quality and presentation otherwise were top-notch.
It's one of those very few times where I prefer the re-recording. The original sounds like a mike test in comparison.
The music is very 70's Goldsmith though broad big and very fitting of the films of those age and the atmosphere they had. Like the disaster films and Heston Sci-fi films. It just had that look to it and John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith took care of the sound department to make it the complete package that still impresses and influences me to this day.
This has been a favorite ever since I tracked down the bay Cities CD reissue of the original album back in 1996, but admittedly the sound quality was a bit lacking. The FSM release has such improved sound that even if you only liked the original album tracks and wanted to play only those, then it's worth having the FSM edition.
Some of the purely electronic tracks can grate a bit, but I love the "Flameout/Fatal Games" combo and the cool tones of "The Assignment", plus you get all that great orchestral material, whether in only strings & percussion or with the added depth of big brass... so much to enjoy in this one.
