I just re-discovered this movie this year with the awesome Kino Blu-ray. After watching it again I was really bummed that I had missed out on that original CD. I was actually going to go and try to find one on the second market. So happy to hear about this. Can’t wait to get it.
John Williams and Clint Eastwood worked together only once, for the mountain climbing film The Eiger Sanction. Host Jeff Commings is joined by Brian Martell, who counts this film score as his favorite pre-Star Wars score by Williams. The two chuckle at the outdated clichés and the obvious Bond parodies and ripoffs before lauding George Kennedy's scene-stealing performance. There's also some great music in the film, too, including an inspiring fanfare for the famous Totem Pole rock formation and some perfectly orchestrated chilling music during the icy climb of the title mountain. And if you think you had to go to great lengths to obtain a copy of that must-have John Williams album, you haven't heard Brian's journey to find this score on album in the 1980s!
Coming August 10 from Intrada Records: THE EIGER SANCTION Expanded Soundtrack by John Williams. Composed for Clint Eastwood's 1975 alpine thriller, the score is one of Maestro Williams' lesser-known gems from the pre-JAWS era. Intrada's new release will feature music never before heard either in the film and the original MCA soundtrack album.
Stay tuned for a very special preview coming soon on The Legacy of John Williams!-Maurizio Caschetto
Having never seen the film, without any context the soundtrack always threw me for a loop. I mean, what was he going for with the easy listening and the Baroque? Even so, the score never held much interest for me.
Excellent. Eclectic, but brilliant. Williams covers so many moods for a film that is quite icy, if you'll pardon the pun, in its characters as well as its settings. From cool jazz and terrifying suspense to classical baroque and gorgeous symphonic grandeur, there's something for everyone to love in this thrilling score...if you like quality music, that is. And what a Main Theme! It oozes class and quality. Can't wait to hear the new music and improved sonics. It's a Win.
I suppose that licensing was probably not that easy as there are two production companies involved for EIGER SANCTION: Malpaso + Universal. This could be the reason that it took so long to get this expanded CD version released.
Possibly, but that didn't seem to hold up the releases of the Malpaso-Universal productions of:
HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER (2012) COOGAN'S BLUFF (2012) JOE KIDD (2013)
Since THE EIGER SANCTION was previously on LP, the delay may have been with Universal Music Group rather than Universal Studios. Likewise with TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA (2020). UMG had to be involved with it, unlike the three earlier releases, where no LPs previously existed.
I wonder what they did about the album rerecording (assuming it's included), since the master was probably destroyed in the Universal fire like "E.T.", "Jaws", and "Dracula".
I suppose that licensing was probably not that easy as there are two production companies involved for EIGER SANCTION: Malpaso + Universal. This could be the reason that it took so long to get this expanded CD version released.
Possibly, but that didn't seem to hold up the releases of the Malpaso-Universal productions of:
HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER (2012) COOGAN'S BLUFF (2012) JOE KIDD (2013)
Since THE EIGER SANCTION was previously on LP, the delay may have been with Universal Music Group rather than Universal Studios. Likewise with TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA (2020). UMG had to be involved with it, unlike the three earlier releases, where no LPs previously existed.
Yep, Malpaso is Eastwood's personal company, I don't think they were a financier or anything, so I wouldn't think that would be an obstacle. However I'm sure we'll learn the backstory in one of the upcoming interviews.
Enormously excited for this to arrive, it's a stunning score. "Training with George" is one of my favorite Williams cues:
Back in his era of preparation fugues, which he also used in Jaws and Black Sunday, among others.
Nice to see the labels releasing these great titles (and re-issues) one after another. After last years' doldrums we're getting the stuff we want. Intrada, LLL, Varese and Quartet....thank you!
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