The promo CD from way back when featured the same songs. This looks like it’s essentially a legitimate version of those contents.
Looks can be deceiving. The promo was comprised of incorrect takes, while this release uses the final polished takes. And while they have the same number of tracks the promo split apart "The Shape Of Things To Come" and "Stealing Christmas" while omitting "Grinch Back On Mt. Crumpit."
Was this "promo" you guys are talking about the album program that Horner wanted to release as the score album, before the powers that be decided to just give him a short amount of space on a song compilation instead? Kind of like the Apollo 13 situation?
Or was this "promo" something cobbled together back in the day without his input?
Was this "promo" you guys are talking about the album program that Horner wanted to release as the score album, before the powers that be decided to just give him a short amount of space on a song compilation instead? Kind of like the Apollo 13 situation?
Or was this "promo" someone cobbled together back in the day without his input?
Or do we have no idea what its origins are?
It's tough to tell the provenance of unofficial releases. I think it might have been an Oscar promo that got out into the wild, but don't quote me on that.
The “Big Heist” cue was much more subdued on that promo compared to the wild and funnier version of it on the OST. That will be cool to hear those horse-like brass trills as the OST never sounded very good. It was compressed and boosted to sound like the songs on that thing. What the hell was it with Ron Howard films and these kinds of score / song / dialogue nightmares back then…
We mainly stuck with the album master for the previously released material. With that in mind, we have restored some short sections that were cut from the OST versions and provide "Stealing Christmas" without Anthony Hopkins's voiceover.
That first song seems tolerable to me in a score, as in it's short and woven in at a low enough volume. Are the others like that?
Christmas, Why Can’t I Find You? is a quiet song sung by Cindy-Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) that is verbatim to what’s in the film.
You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch is basically verbatim to what’s in the film as sung / growled / coughed up by Grinch (Jim Carrey)
Welcome Christmas is part of a larger orchestral cue sung by most of the cast. Its handled well enough as a listen.
All of these were on the original soundtrack album.
Thanks. I like the samples quite a bit. I was afraid the music would be too fluffy but it's got a gothic fairy tale vibe, reminds me a little of Goldenthal's Batman Forever in fact, but at an easier, smoother pace. I won't brave the film but I may get this with my Black Friday order. Either way it's great to see the 2022 Horner downpour continue.
I won't brave the film but I may get this with my Black Friday order. Either way it's great to see the 2022 Horner downpour continue.
Just my humble opinion but I wouldn’t wait until Black Friday. These releases seem to go quickly out of stock then takes months before they’re restocked.
I will admit, this is the first new release soundtrack in the last three, four... maybe five years? that I've felt compelled to buy immediately upon release, despite being poor and broke. The movie came out when I was 9, almost 10, and was often played at home (willingly or not) when the DVD format was still relatively new; so there's a little bit of nostalgia factor here. Not my first choice for a holiday movie but it's not god-awful either. Horner was the best choice for the film. Thanks LLL
I won't brave the film but I may get this with my Black Friday order. Either way it's great to see the 2022 Horner downpour continue.
Just my humble opinion but I wouldn’t wait until Black Friday. These releases seem to go quickly out of stock then takes months before they’re restocked.
Shipping considerations being what they are, I'll have to risk it.
I won't brave the film but I may get this with my Black Friday order. Either way it's great to see the 2022 Horner downpour continue.
Just my humble opinion but I wouldn’t wait until Black Friday. These releases seem to go quickly out of stock then takes months before they’re restocked.
Shipping considerations being what they are, I'll have to risk it.
Love all these Horner expansions, and nice to see a holiday-themed release. The songs are tolerable, but I would have loved it if would they had included versions without vocals as bonus tracks. But I'm anxious to give this one a listen. Ordered!
Looks can be deceiving. The promo was comprised of incorrect takes, while this release uses the final polished takes. And while they have the same number of tracks the promo split apart "The Shape Of Things To Come" and "Stealing Christmas" while omitting "Grinch Back On Mt. Crumpit."
Neil
When you said this, man you weren't kidding.
There are so many subtle (and not so subtle) differences that the old promo is truly its own thing and this new release stands firmly on its own.
A ton of 'blink and you'll miss it' type differences one might not pick up on unless they know the score inside and out....which being a Horner score is kind of my thing. I'm really surprised by how unique this is.
I like the off-kilter back cover as well. I found the Taylor Momsen interview referenced in the liner notes (no source, but Google was easy enough.)
It was nice to hear she mentioned Horner by name and not just 'the composer'.
