The Greatest Story Ever Told: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] [Soundtrack]

Alfred Newman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 25, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B00000AEQ9
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,304 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Jesus Of Nazareth

2. A Prophecy

3. A Voice In The Wilderness

4. Come Unto Me

5. The Great Journey

6. A Time Of Wonders

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Overture-Main Title

2. And The World Was God/Trumpets Announce The Dawn/The Three Magi

3. The Nativity/The Infant Massacre

4. Flight Into Egypt

5. Ophel Quarters

6. Hosanna

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Entre'act

2. Judas And Caiaphas/Judas Leaves Caiaphas

3. Garden Of Gethsemane/Aram, The First Witness

4. I Am the Son Of God/Jesus Before Pilate/Crown Of Thorns

5. Via Dolorosa

6. Resurrection And Ascension

See all 7 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Of breathtaking beauty, April 29, 2000

By 

M. van Hasselt (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Greatest Story Ever Told: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] (Audio CD)

I was at first apprehensive to buy this set, as I own the original LP, which -as beautiful as it is- is a re-recording in mono. This set I feared would just be a polished digital version of that LP, augmented with some laserdisc/DVD-soundtrack derived cues (people who own a copy of the ALdebaran Productions 3+ hours soundtrack CD set of Ben-Hur will know what I'm talking about: it's very disconcerting to have a sudden stereo-to mono shift in mid-track...not to mention truly barbaric fade-outs, cut-ins and cut-offs...and I also paid a LOT of money for THAT one).

However, I was pursuaded by the review below to try this set anyway, and OH MY GOD! It's worth EVERY PENNY! It contains not only the originally released soundtrack (the afore-mentioned re-recording) in glorious stereophonic sound, but two (TWO!) discs containing the original movie soundtrack cuts never ever heard before (as far as I know). These were apparently saved by famous Hollywood choral director Ken Darby (a long-time associate and friend of Alfred Newman) and God bless him for it!.

The tracks have been lovingly rearranged in a symphonic segue in brilliant stereo sound.

This collection gives a great insight in the original intention of Newman as the tracks flow flawlessly one into another to create an amazing musical tapestry of introspection and quiet grandeur, far more a unity than in the original release. That this quiet power comes off so clearly is even more remarkable considering the movie itself (in my opinion) is gargantuan and patchy at best. Newman's score (by far the best part of it) is in complete and utter juxtaposition to it.

(Collector's note: compare this score to Miklos Rozsa's 'King Of Kings' -unfortunately not (yet?) available through Amazon- for a completely different, musical as well as spiritual, take on Jesus)

A lovely last surprise: this set is a multimedia project: it even contains the original movie trailer! If this isn't getting your money's worth, I don't know what is.

Highly, HIGHLY recommended.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Alfred Newman Masterpiece! Praises to Ryko!!, August 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Greatest Story Ever Told: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] (Audio CD)

Finally, we have Alfred Newman's beautiful score for GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD on CD. And not only do we have a reissue of the soundtrack as it appeared on a United Artists LP in 1965, but we also have on two extra CDs the score as Newman envisioned it, complete with his wonderful Hallelujahs. As most readers may know, George Stevens butchered Newman's score by cutting and recutting the film, asking for rewrites, and insisting on the inclusion of Verdi's "Requiem" and Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus." Poor Newman was in declining health and yet had to endure this kind of desecration of his artistic creation. The selections on Discs 2 and 3 have floated about for years on tape among collectors, and there was even a 2CD set released as a bootleg (horribly distorted but very valuable for collectors). Now, however, we may rejoice in these pristine recordings. Along with the Rhino edition of Miklós Rózsa's masterpiece, BEN-HUR, this is one of the finest items to come along in years. Get your copy now. Support Ryko's marvelous work so that maybe we'll get even more discs like this one!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alfred Newman's Final Masterpiece! Great restoration!, April 2, 2000

By 

Joe NY - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Greatest Story Ever Told: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] (Audio CD)

Although Alfred Newman would go on to score other movies (and win a final Oscar for CAMELOT), THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD is perhaps his last great effort. This great RYKO set includes 3 CDs, One features the original LP soundtrack released by United Artists records, which was in itself a re-recording (about 40 min). Two other CDs contain Newman's actual movie soundtrack recordings (totaling some 95 min). Newman's recordings were often tampered with, and in some cases, replaced by Director George Stevens. This set presents Newman's music as he recorded it. It is a magnificant, moving work which no movie music lover should be without. One small complaint, as with other RYKO releases,the booklet is actually a large fold out, cumbersome to read. I prefer liner notes which are presented in "book" form. Regardless, this is one of the top soundtrack restorations of recent years. It should be supported by all movie music fans. A high water mark in movie soundtrack restorations, lets hope more quality releases like this are available in the future.