This site was conceived as a side project by a "tekkie" friend of mine who suggested I use my journalistic experience to write about something I love. We bandied about some ideas before settling on this one - largely because I had collected movie soundtracks for much of my life and thought I could write about them. We wanted the site to be user friendly, well-written and reliable.
Over time, I hope to attract other writers keen to contribute to the site, who don't mind foregoing the financial benefits they may be used to in the short-term for something that may, or may not, be profitable further down the line.
The gradual demise of the cd format, re-emergence of vinyl, along with the expansion of blu-ray dvd and downloads translate to an ever-changing market place; despite this, most of us still buy cd's and dvd's and I hope that you will use the Amazon links on this site to buy online.
We have also included mini YouTube video links that accompany the reviews, so that you can listen to your favourite theme music while watching a related trailer or clip from the movie; because film is a visual medium, there seems no better way of presenting it.
Finally, a note on the type of soundtracks featured. Though purists generally view albums such as "Top Gun", "Flashdance" and others like them, as unworthy of coverage on a film soundtrack site, preferring instead to focus on orchestral scores, we have taken the view that these albums have earned their place based on their continued saleability and affection with a large section of cinema-goers. We wanted to reach as broad an audience as possible and have developed the site with this in mind, without forgetting those fans for whom composers such as Bernard Herrmann and Jerry Goldsmith, among many others, are considered on a par with the master composers. We hope you can find your best movie soundtracks on this site.
Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone Soundtrack CD
Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone (U.S title)
2001, Warner Bros.
John Williams.
Atlantic, CD, 2001, 7567-93086-5. Rating:
Though John William’s score to this first Harry Potter adventure remains a safe, melodic confection, packed full of thematic material, it is nevertheless perfect for the movie for which it was composed. Vaguely reminiscent of his work on ‘Witches Of Eastwick’ and ‘Hook’ with plenty of string plucking and brass arrangements conveying the magical world of the wizard, its an enjoyable and playful ride, if a little repetitive. The most familiar cues come early on with both ‘Prologue’, developed more fully as ’Hedwig’s Theme’ and ‘Harry’s Wondrous World’ largely defining the body of the score. The darker elements, of which there are too few, notable in ‘The Arrival Of Baby Harry’ and ‘The Face Of Voldermort’ play a fairly minor role but give the score a bit more bite. The highpoints however, are the exciting ‘The Quidditch Match’ and the, at times, modernistic sounding ‘The Chess Game’, both of which add a new dimension to what is an entertaining, if extremely commercially aware piece of scoring. Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Re-titled in the U.S. as Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone.
Track Listing:
1. Prologue
2. Harry’s Wonderous World
3. The Arrival of Baby Harry
4. Visit to the Zoo and Letters from Hogwarts
5. Diagon Alley and The Gringotts Valut
6. Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters and The Journey to Hogwarts
7. Entry into the Great Hal and The Banquet
8. Mr. Longbottom Flies
9. Hogwarts Forever! and The Moving Stairs
10. The Norwegian Ridgeback and A Change of Season
11. The Quidditch Match
12. Christmas at Hogwarts
13. The Invisibility Cloak and The Library Scene
14. Fluffy’s Harp
15. In the Devil’s Snare and The Flying Keys
16. The Chess Game
17. The Face of Voldemort
18. Leaving Hogwarts
19. Hedwig’s Theme
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Soundtrack Collector's Edition CD
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Collector’s Edition Movie Soundtrack.
1977, Columbia.
John Williams.
Arista, CD, 1998, 07822-19004-2 Rating:
Despite being known for its enduring five note alien greeting, and the tacky disco version included on the original soundtrack album, ‘Close Encounters’ remains a slow-burner when compared to many of John Williams’ blockbuster scores. In some ways this is a good thing; Williams has been accused of being too populist and obvious. Still, fans of Williams’ work for ‘Raiders Of The Lost Ark’ and ‘Jaws’ may find this harder going, largely because the first segment of the film concerns itself with the suggestion, rather than the reality, of alien life, resulting in a score that rings with dissonance and atonality. While this may work in the film, in a stand-alone score it is an obstacle that may put the more casual listener off. The second half presents more definite findings, including some strong action segments, interpolated with suspense cues. The strongest parts of the score however remain ‘Let There Be Light’, in which Williams builds up to a striking opening statement, similar to that of Bernard Herrmann’s ‘Cape Fear’ and the closing suite, including an end title sequence not used in the film. While there may have been a stronger case for leaving out some of the less effective earlier cues in favour of a more concise experience, this Special Edition at least gives the listener value for money; for those who want the choice cuts however, one of John Williams’ own re-recorded suites from the film would provide the essential elements without the, sometimes unnecessary extras. Close Encounters Of The third Kind Special Edition Movie Soundtrack.
Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Opening : Let There Be Light.
2. Navy Planes.
3. Lost Squadron.
4. Roys First Encounter.
5. Encounter At Crecendo Summit.
6. Chasing U.F.O.s.
7. False Alarm.
8. Barrys Kidnapping.
9. The Cover-Up.
10. Stars And Trucks.
11. Forming The Mountain.
12. T.V. Reveals.
13. Roy And Gillian On The Road.
14. The Mountain.
15. Who Are You People?
16. The Escape.
17. The Escape (Alternate Cue).
18. Trucking.
19. Climbing The Mountain.
20. Outstretch Hands.
21. Lightshow.
22. Barnstorming.
23. The Mothership.
24. Wild Signals.
25. The Returnees.
26. The Visitors / Bye / End Titles : The Special Edition.
Jaws.
1976, Universal.
John Williams.
Decca CD, 467 045-2 Rating:
John William’s first score for then budding director Steven Spielberg, with whom he went on to work extensively, ‘Jaws’ earned him an Academy Award and it is easy to see why. Horror, human drama, action and all out adventure feature heavily to fantastic effect. It is difficult to find examples of a score more pivotal to the success of a movie than Jaws. The original soundtrack, released in conjunction with the movie was (as many soundtrack albums are) a re-recording. This new edition includes cues from the original tapes which have been dug up and dusted off to celebrate the films 25th anniversary, along with extensive liner notes and an attractive digi-pack sleeve. ‘Main Title/First Victim’, combines the threatening two note theme with elaborate string and tuba arrangements to convey the approach of the shark and frenetic energy of the swimmer’s death. ‘The Shark Cage Fugue’ captures many of the action/adventure elements, key to the second section of the film, as does ‘Out To Sea’ and ‘The Great Shark Chase’. ‘Montage’ featured in the film as tourists flood into Amity during the fourth of July weekend is uplifting and energetic, themes that were further developed for Jaws 2. Jaws Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Main Title & First Victim
2. The Empty Raft
3. The Pier Incident
4. The Shark Cage Fugue
5. Shark Attack
6. Ben Gardner’s Boat
7. Montage
8. Father & Son
9. Into The Estuary
10. Out To Sea
11. Man Against Beast
12. Quint’s Tale
13. Brody Panics
14. Barrel Off Starboard
15. The Great Shark Chase
16. Three Barrels Under
17. Between Attacks
18. The Shark Approaches
19. Blown To Bits
20. End Titles
Other Versions Available:
Jaws Soundtrack LP
MCA, LP, 1975, MCAD-1660. 1. Main Title
2. Chrissie’s Death
3. Promenade
4. Out To Sea
5. Indianapolis Story
6. Sea Attack No 1
7. One Barrel Chase
8. Preparing The Cage
9. Night Search
10. Underwater Siege
11. Hand To Hand Combat
12. End Titles
