Somehow I bought this set some time ago and completely failed to finish putting it all into iTunes (don't judge ;-) However, I'm seeing that quite a number of the albums duplicate previous and/or subsequent releases. Is anyone able to shed some light on how the following compare to other release in terms of sound quality/completeness? Just trying to figure if I should stick with what I have or replace with what's contained in the MGM set. Thanks in advance!
Crisis - I have both the Citadel release (that comes with Lydia) and the Varese Encore (that comes with Fedora). I think the Citadel release has the same amount of music (given it's a short score there's no excuse!) so I'm guessing there's little between them.
All the Brothers Were Valiant - I have the Citadel release. I see that the FSM disc combines some cues differently (which doesn't bother me particularly) so just curious if there's much improvement in sound or content.
El Cid - Leaving aside the superb Tadlow re-recording, I have the 11 track release form Chapter III. I seem to recall that most of their releases were fairly cheap and cheerful repackages of prior releases without much in the way of remastering. I don't know if the Chapter III album is the Graunke recording featured on the FSM set but if it is, the Chapter III album seems to be missing Honor & Sorrow/The Court of Ferdinand.
The VIPs - Again, I think it's the Chapter III release I have and it appears to match the FSM set. I imagine the FSM set has better sound!
That said, I'll summarize: For Crisis, you will want to keep both the FSM program (which is the premiere of the original film recording, albeit sadly not complete) *and either the Citadel or Varese*, which is a separate later recording.
For All the Brothers Were Valiant, and The VIPs and El Cid LP recordings, the FSM should replace whatever you had before. I believe it does improve on the sound of earlier editions (I don't think All the Brothers was even officially licensed), and for El Cid it does include that extra cue. From the liner notes online: "This track appeared only on some early pressings of the MGM Records LP and later on a British Polydor reissue. Its existence was not mentioned in the liner notes or label of either release and the reason for its exclusion from the MGM disc remains a mystery. It is possible that Rózsa was dissatisfied with the performance of the viola soloist, or there may have been a financial or technical reason for limiting the number of tracks. The track is clearly not the recording used in the film, but its exact source is unknown. No master was available, so the 1993 Cloud Nine Records release, Great Epic Film Scores (CNS 5006)—which included it as “Pride and Sorrow” amid selections from Bronston films El Cid, 55 Days at Peking, The Fall of the Roman Empire and The Magnificent Showman (aka Circus World)—has been used as a source, with pitch-correction to counter deterioration."
Somehow I bought this set some time ago and completely failed to finish putting it all into iTunes (don't judge ;-) However, I'm seeing that quite a number of the albums duplicate previous and/or subsequent releases. Is anyone able to shed some light on how the following compare to other release in terms of sound quality/completeness? Just trying to figure if I should stick with what I have or replace with what's contained in the MGM set. Thanks in advance!
Crisis - I have both the Citadel release (that comes with Lydia) and the Varese Encore (that comes with Fedora). I think the Citadel release has the same amount of music (given it's a short score there's no excuse!) so I'm guessing there's little between them.
All the Brothers Were Valiant - I have the Citadel release. I see that the FSM disc combines some cues differently (which doesn't bother me particularly) so just curious if there's much improvement in sound or content.
El Cid - Leaving aside the superb Tadlow re-recording, I have the 11 track release form Chapter III. I seem to recall that most of their releases were fairly cheap and cheerful repackages of prior releases without much in the way of remastering. I don't know if the Chapter III album is the Graunke recording featured on the FSM set but if it is, the Chapter III album seems to be missing Honor & Sorrow/The Court of Ferdinand.
The VIPs - Again, I think it's the Chapter III release I have and it appears to match the FSM set. I imagine the FSM set has better sound!
Thank you, Tom, for your interest in this release. As for CRISIS, the Citadel and Varese tracks were a re-recording (albeit made under the composer's supervision); the FSM tracks come from the original MGM film recordings and include more music. The Prometheus version of ALL THE BROTHERS WERE VALIANT included only the score Rozsa recorded in May 1953; FSM added the extensive revisions made and recorded by John Green that were ultimately used in the film.
The "extra" track for EL CID was included on some early pressings of the original MGM Records LP but dropped before it went into general release. As I recall, it showed up on the British LP reissue, but was not included by Chapter III. The Chapter III issue of THE V.I.P.s is the same as on the FSM, but, as with EL CID, the mastering by Doug Schwartz is superior.
Many thanks Yavar and Frank for the details; I had read some of the liner notes but clearly needed to pay more attention! I shall enjoy exploring this set ahead of the Tadlow King of Kings.
I believe so. The Treasury also contains a real curio: the Rome recording of the Prayer for which somebody actually got the the text wrong! That version, with Italian-accented singers, was released on some early pressings before it was replaced by a smooth-sounding Hollywood chorale.
I believe so. The Treasury also contains a real curio: the Rome recording of the Prayer for which somebody actually got the the text wrong! That version, with Italian-accented singers, was released on some early pressings before it was replaced by a smooth-sounding Hollywood chorale. It may have been a "Hollywood chorale," John, but they were recorded in London!
In view of the recent Brent Armstrong Sales, I'am looking forward to finally acquiring this marvelous set. Unfortunately I was unable to acquire a copy when the last batch was made and later miraculously another box was found at SAE but then couldn't afford it so I missed this entirely but finally I hope to acquire this soon. Its a major chunk off my year budget and the fcy conversion will hit me like a hammer! [Heck! And the wife doesn't need to know ]
Congrats on securing this gem, Amer! It was and is certainly high on my own want list, but there was no way I could afford it. Not then, not now. Same with the Bernstein box.
There is some very slight overlap between the contents of the 'Miklós Rózsa Treasury' box and 'Elmer Bernstein's Film Music Collection' box, and lots of the music is available elsewhere (and in better quality, too), but both contain enough rare music that they're worth getting. If you're rich, that is. Does anyone here own BOTH?
There is some very slight overlap between the contents of the 'Miklós Rózsa Treasury' box and 'Elmer Bernstein's Film Music Collection' box... Does anyone here own BOTH?
The Bernstein box is a grand tour in a classic car through a breathtaking landscape. The Rózsa box is an exploration through a fantastic castle full of grand halls, treasure chambers, and secret passages.
