That's one of the best film scores of Jerry Goldsmith, no doubt. The movie came out at about the time I started to go out and spend whatever little money I had on music and particularly film scores. I had recently heard John Williams' STAR WARS and Jerry Goldsmith's STAR TREK - THE MOTION PICTURE because friends lend me copies (I was familiar with the movies, but did not know one could listen to film scores apart from the movie!), and I particularly zoomed in on Goldsmith. STAR TREK - THE MOTION PICTURE was like the music I had always wanted to hear. When I first noticed FIRST BLOOD, it was the escape sequence when Rambo escapes the police office and captures the motorcycle (a clip promoting the movie came on TV), that harrowing and triumphant music was composed by... Jerry Goldsmith. Of course, who else. I saw ever Goldsmith scored movie ever since (and most of the once he scored before). FIRST BLOOD remains one of my all time favorite film scores ever.
FIRST BLOOD is among my top Goldsmith scores. It's one that I come back to again and again and again and never get tired of the equally lush and aggressive recording. The NPO is really cooking on this performance and the recording has a wonderful ambience that really accents the films' expansive Canadian location.
Two things that stand out to me—I remember catching the film the first time on WGN really late at night when I was a pre-teen. The scene where the National Guard are searching the river bank was scored with really strong, heavy percussion. I was learning to play drums at the time and the score immediately grabbed my attention because it was such a prominent part of the scene. That was not the first time I was aware of Goldsmith but it was definitely a formative moment in my appreciation of his work.
The other thing is that wild brass in “The Razor”—the way Goldsmith emulates a caged animal breaking free with the chomping electronics and percussion that finally resolves into a momentous propulsion of brass, like a wild beast stomping around and getting off a really triumphant roar. It’s brilliant musical imagery.
FIRST BLOOD is among my top Goldsmith scores. It's one that I come back to again and again and again and never get tired of the equally lush and aggressive recording. The NPO is really cooking on this performance and the recording has a wonderful ambience that really accents the films' expansive Canadian location.
Two things that stand out to me—I remember catching the film the first time on WGN really late at night when I was a pre-teen. The scene where the National Guard are searching the river bank was scored with really strong, heavy percussion. I was learning to play drums at the time and the score immediately grabbed my attention because it was such a prominent part of the scene. That was not the first time I was aware of Goldsmith but it was definitely a formative moment in my appreciation of his work.
The other thing is that wild brass in “The Razor”—the way Goldsmith emulates a caged animal breaking free with the chomping electronics and percussion that finally resolves into a momentous propulsion of brass, like a wild beast stomping around and getting off a really triumphant roar. It’s brilliant musical imagery.
That effect also heard on JAWS 3-D , Alan Parker was at scoring sessions of "First Blood"
Yes, my Top 10 Favourite JG scores are comprised A LOT from films he scored around this period.
In addition to FIRST BLOOD (which would be in my Top 10) I would also add... TWILIGHT ZONE - THE MOVIE. THE FINAL CONFLICT. RAGGEDY MAN. POLTERGEIST. THE CHALLENGE.
FIRST BLOOD is a marvellous score and the film is bloody great too.
Jerry actually just couldn't understand my french firstname (Thierry) so it came out of his pen with a "D" instead of a "T"!! Rather unique memorabilia to say the least....
Quelle idée aussi de se prénommer Thierry... Tu ne pouvais pas t'appeler Laurent, comme tout vrai fan de Jerry Goldsmith ? Belle collection en tout cas !
I'm pretty sure First Blood is the movie I've seen the most times (at least 80 times if not more). I've read the book numerous times as well. It is a fantastic story with a great character. The score remains an all time favourite because of its contrast between lyrical thematic work and exciting action material. I've been hoping that Omni Music Publishing or Chris Siddall Music would release the full orchestral study score but the conductor's score is lost and so it would take finding Jerry's short score and a lot of listening to the reference material to present an accurate publication. For fun, I began doing it myself last spring.
For the love of RAMBO and JERRY GOLDSMITH I like this foreign alternate cover for FIRST BLOOD soundtrack but diiferent city background used. A powerhouse of a score and film$ with unforgettable and rousing themes. To be trumped twice with Part II & 3. Was one of my early record purchases from the TER Record label as was Part 2. 3 was issued by Scotti Brothers label.
And now enjoy the expansions from INTRADA & QUARTET RECORDS!
A lot of people forget (and younger fans are unaware) that when First Blood originally ran in American theaters, there was no accompanying soundtrack album release. There was no release of The Secret of NIMH score (from the same year) either.
I remember being sorely disappointed by the non-appearance of both scores, but alas, that's just the way it was back then. The Final Conflict, Raggedy Man and The Challenge also went unreleased. It was only after First Blood (and NIMH) were released overseas six months later that an album appeared. (Of course we had to wait five years for The Final Conflict to be released, a decade for Raggedy Man, and over twenty years for The Challenge)!
I don't remember such a LP/OST time delay, but then the UK albums probably corresponded with their UK cinema releases* (sometimes as long as 6-12 months later between USA/UK when there was only morse code and telegrams to communicate). But both TER albums for FIRST BLOOD & NIMH were hungrily devoured by me upon purchase. Those other classic scores by JG from that period would indeed have to wait, although I taped them off the videos onto cassette and got to know them that way until the cavalry arrived.
Belle collection en tout cas ! 
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