So, yes, why aren't these on CD, hmmm? Well?! A bit of a Goldsmith fest with a few of his finest and most enjoyable efforts that could do with releasing or expanding:
Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Jerry Goldsmith
The existing expanded edition is a very fine album, gratefully received after years of the original album only being available as an expensive and incomplete, import. However, it's a seminal Goldsmith score and one that is not only brilliant music, but kept the film it was written for afloat (in space?). Like its distant relatives by John Williams for George Lucas' space opera, the music tells the story on its own. You can sit and listen, imaging Kirk, Spock, McCoy et al staring at amazing, but slow moving visual effects for minutes on end. There are also some alternate takes on certain cues to be heard, most notably The Enterprise, which was written before the now famous main theme was written and originally sounded quite different (if equally grand and impressive) as the cue that now goes down as one of Goldsmith's finest ever. Some expansion of his more recent Trek scores would be nice, but The Motion Picture is where it's at, an epic that needs an epic treatment.
Gremlins - Jerry Goldsmith
Director Joe Dante and Jerry Goldsmith had a terrific working relationship and Gremlins still remains their most memorable collaboration. Gremlins 2 got a fine 40 minutes on disc, but to date the original has received short shrift in a handful of cues on the original album (and currently going for an eye watering $75 second hand on Amazon, perhaps there are people mistakenly thinking it's the full score). The fine 7 minute suite from one of the composer's early self conducted compilations features some of the best music, notably the eerie prologue, the witty Late for Work music and, of course, the Gremlin rag. However, there's plenty missing, notably the creepy interpolation of Jingle Bells as one of the lead characters describes how her father got trapped in the chimney dressing up as Santa. For a comedy score, it's surprisingly touching in places but one of his most memorable and off the wall efforts.
Small Soldiers - Jerry Goldsmith
Joe Dante never quite recaptured the success of Gremlins with his later films, despite their evident quality, but he still got the chance to make plenty of entertaining suburban, subversive fantasies. Small Soldiers didn't quite perform fully to expectations but was a great antidote to Toy Story as a tale of real toys coming to life through technology and going all Cylon by attacking their creators. Released during the dark days of the 30 minute soundtrack album, there's plenty of great material left off the official album which gives the whole thing a broader scope. Goldsmith's action always seems more enjoyable when there's some kind of hook, in this case, that it's a kids' movie. Plus he always went that extra mile for his friend Dante and it's no exception here.
Small Soldiers - Jerry Goldsmith
Joe Dante never quite recaptured the success of Gremlins with his later films, despite their evident quality, but he still got the chance to make plenty of entertaining suburban, subversive fantasies. Small Soldiers didn't quite perform fully to expectations but was a great antidote to Toy Story as a tale of real toys coming to life through technology and going all Cylon by attacking their creators. Released during the dark days of the 30 minute soundtrack album, there's plenty of great material left off the official album which gives the whole thing a broader scope. Goldsmith's action always seems more enjoyable when there's some kind of hook, in this case, that it's a kids' movie. Plus he always went that extra mile for his friend Dante and it's no exception here.
Mulan - Jerry Goldsmith
I remember being quite disappointed when Mulan was released. I even remember the day I got it, I was moving out of my second year accommodation at university. Bloody hell I feel old. After all the hype of it being Goldsmith's first score for a big Disney animation, the album was quietly underwhelming. Then again, for the paltry five cues (the sixth is a suite largely made up of the song melodies, albeit arranged by Goldsmith) it's perhaps not that surprising that it wasn't a score to remember. However, for anyone who's been crafty enough to track down the Academy promo (nominated, but yet again, he didn't win - alas, alas) will know that is truly is an alternately gorgeous and barnstorming score. Goldsmith scores it as though it were a serious, epic drama and it's all the better for all that. All it needs now is an epic release, but again, it's Disney, so what are the chances? Bugger all probably. Alas, alas.
I remember being quite disappointed when Mulan was released. I even remember the day I got it, I was moving out of my second year accommodation at university. Bloody hell I feel old. After all the hype of it being Goldsmith's first score for a big Disney animation, the album was quietly underwhelming. Then again, for the paltry five cues (the sixth is a suite largely made up of the song melodies, albeit arranged by Goldsmith) it's perhaps not that surprising that it wasn't a score to remember. However, for anyone who's been crafty enough to track down the Academy promo (nominated, but yet again, he didn't win - alas, alas) will know that is truly is an alternately gorgeous and barnstorming score. Goldsmith scores it as though it were a serious, epic drama and it's all the better for all that. All it needs now is an epic release, but again, it's Disney, so what are the chances? Bugger all probably. Alas, alas.
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