Customer Reviews

The Best Of Mission: Impossible Then And Now - Music From The Original Television Soundtracks

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This excellent collection of tracks and stings from the series suffers from one complaint: MORE! While encompassing the major themes from both the new and old series (including the frequently neglected 1970-1973 seasons) in good quality and selection, it lacks some of the more distinctive themes from the later years of the old series (particularly egregious is that "The Killer" only has some of the themes included; the pulse-pounding climax theme is horrifyingly absent). The live recording of the Mission theme is also somewhat badly recorded. However, the Peter Graves interview is a must for any M:I fan, and this is the only place you'll get the thumping bang-boom of the excellently synthesized new series. Moreover, what themes of the old series are here, are fabulous. If you like the series, buy this album.

Crescendo has done their usual good job in assembling this material. Unlike Lalo Schifrin's "Music from" album, which was really a "Music as originally composed for" album that in some cases bore little relation to what was used on the show, this disc was apparently made from the same tapes that went into the actual TV show soundtrack.

One interesting effect of that: The recording for the original series was done in *monaural!* So that's what this disc is, until you get to the tracks for the 90's series. Oh well.

The track lineup comprises a number of "suites" of music cues from various episodes, some short, some long. Together the tracks form a good representative sample of the actual, on-screen music of M:I over the years. Furthermore they fit together well in a sequence, leaving with you the impression that you were actually listening to a few episodes; you somehow just missed the dialog.

There is an interesting interview with Peter Graves (conducted before the execrable Tom Cruise movies) and a horribly recorded take of Lalo Schifrin conducting a symphony orchestra in the M:I theme. Both IMO are wasted track space that should have gone to more selections of authentic M:I music. Because of them, if I could have given this disc 4.5 stars, I would have; as it is, they don't detract enough to take a '5' down to a '4'.

If you were a fan of the original series -- and who wasn't? -- this disc is just too much fun not to have. There will be a run on it when the original series comes out on DVD this year. Buy it now.

If you like the 60's tv series the it's a given you will not be dissapointed by the cd. Also there is a very very ultra cool live version of the theme. Simply magic.

I came across this cd here on amazon,i thought i'm sick of the mission impossible theme.but bought it anyway because it was so cheap. after listening i found 5-6 instrumental tracks that were just so cool.the original theme is mixed in with flute,piano and i was amazed at how much i liked it.the price is well worth it.i just wish it was remastered.

I love Lalo Schifrin's music for Mission: Impossible, so I'm at a loss to explain why I find the Schifrin portion of this CD so tedious. Maybe it's because most of the tracks are variations on either the title music theme or the eight-note-mode Mission "march." Then again, music that works beautifully as background doesn't necessarily make for good listening apart from the action it's designed to underscore. I'm not sure. But it's great to have the opening and closing "title" music, though where's the revamped theme that appeared in the fifth season?

The 1988 music is a waste of CD space--thumping and crashing noises, primarily. The interview with Peter Graves is interesting, and the sound quality throughout is great. Your mission is to decide whether or not these few virtures merit a purchase.