Customer Reviews

Medicine Man: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This 1992 release from Varese Sarabande featuring a score composed, conducted and produced by Jerry Goldsmith - "MEDICINE MAN". Goldsmith conducting the National Philharmonic Orchestra of London gives us what we've come to expcect from this talented composer - strong themes, right balance of familar and unusual instruments and the beauty of melody that leaves you smack-dab in the middle of a beautiful rain-forest.

A couple of stand outs - "RAE'S ARRIVAL" opening track is strong with the use of kettle drums, very effective - "THE HARVEST" featuring guitar, synthesized pan pipes, followed by lush strings with a soothing, yet catchy rhythmic beat is just wonderful.

Highlights, there are two - "TREES" a rapturous theme so haunting it lingers in your inner memories - "A MEAL AND A BATH" is the final track weaving all the themes into one glorious tapestry, leaving you with a satisfied and glowing effect.

Recommend this album to all Goldsmith fans and film score collectors, who will enjoy and recognize this awesome piece of work as nothing less than "Classic!" Goldsmith with this five star rating is just what the doctor ordered - "good medicine".

Total Time: 50:12 on 14 Tracks/ Varese Sarabande - VSD 5350 (1992)

Medicine Man is among Jerry Goldsmith's great film score in a career that what filled with highly innovative and original music written for the screen. The music is descriptive of the place - the rainforests of the Amazon - and the score is graced with a hauntingly beautiful melody (first heard in "Campbell and the Children") that Mr. Goldsmith elaborated extensively in the film and is one of the most memorable themes written for a film. The melody is further taken up in "The Trees" and makes an appearance in different variations in subsequent tracks.

The opening music ( "Rae's Arrival") is a joyous piece of Calypso music and the same buoyant spirit returns in "The Harvest" and "Mountain High." Tracks like "Mocara" and "The Injection" are characterized by ominous music and anticipation for the mood of the film. Medicine Man, like many of Jerry Goldsmith's scores, shows the composers interest in using different musical styles and instruments to weave a tapestry of sounds that uniquely describes the place, story and characters. This is a great score and if you are a fan of Jerry Goldsmith's music you should have a copy.

There are but two film soundtracks in this house, and this is the other one. Having avoided the soundtrack genre for the usual reason of its requiring seeing the film [sometimes more than once to confirm where the music fits in], this unique CD is a worthwhile purchase in its own right. Goldsmith has made uncountable film and TV programme soundtracks. Few of them are failures in any sense, but nearly all require the visuals for fulfilling listening. This CD is the exception. He's brought fresh musical styles in evoking a variety of moods in this disk. Clearly, he was inspired by native American melodies in this production, but how "accurate" is renditions is irrelevant. He can bring us to heights of joy or depths of despair by the sounds of the music alone. For that we must all applaud him. Try this disk. Then, be certain to watch the film - its message is too important to ignore.

Although a somewhat mediocre film, the soundtrack is breathtaking. With so many beautiful melodies, it will take you away to a serene and tropical utopia. I highly recommend this to all lovers of original soundtracks.

First off, I am a BIG Williams and Horner fan but also own soundtracks by Edelman, Silvestri, Arnold, Debney, Barry and (of course) Goldsmith. Even though I enjoy greatly the works of Williams and Horner, I tend to find a large amount of similarity in style between their individual scores. This is good, and makes it easier for me to associate the music in a movie with the composer. But after a while I start to think, don't these guys ever try anything REALLY different?! Enter "Medicine Man", a unique, different, yet at the same time enjoyable, score. The first time I listened to this I wasn't too impressed, undoubtedly because of my ear being trained to like "normal" soundtracks. The second time (after knowing what to expect) I really got into it! Great exotic sounds and several enjoyable themes carry this score well from start to finish. Although I would rate most of the Willams and Horner scores I've heard higher than this one, I still would recommend this as a refreshing addition to your collection.

You can always count on Jerry Goldsmith to come up with beautiful melodies, and this selection has them on continual display. Playing time is generous as well. Check out especially "Trees." Gorgeous. If you've had a lousy day at work or wherever, come home, turn out the lights, and put this music on. It will take you away better than the old "Calgon" ads promised!

This CD is a favorite, as is the movie.
I love the theme, and the movie was so inspiring that we actually went to Brazil.

This soundtrack is so good that whenever I hear it, I relive scenes from the movie. I guess that what a great soundtrack is suppose to do. Not only make a good movie better, but it stands on it's own as a CD. I would love this CD whether I'd seen the movie or not.

When i`ve first listned to this cd i did`nt care that much. It wasn`t until some weeks later when i heard it on a friends more powerful stereo that I understood how great it really was. When i got home (in the middle of the night) i turned all the lights off, lay down on the sofa and just listened. I strongly recomed this cd.

I just love this cd. I love the soundtrack more than the movie, it's soooo relaxing, I listen to it all the time, when I'm studing, traveling or when I just need to unwind........it's great !!