Customer Reviews

The Reivers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

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John Williams score of the reivers is the finest film score ever. It completely sets the mood for this wonderful little film. I saw John Williams very briefly on the street on London several years ago. I had only time to yell "thanks for the Reivers score". He waved and smiled, He knew too.

I caught the film on the bottom half of a double bill in 1973 with the forgettable Don Murray cop flick "Deadly Hero" and from the opening title theme with the incredibly soothing voice-over of Burgess Meredith to the end credit roll this is a WORK OF GENIUS. Yes, Copland's influence is stressed throughout but it remains a towering and original achievement and more than worthy of it's oscar nomination. I ran out after returning the next evening to see it again (probably McQueen's best work too) and instantly became a lifelong Williams fan after being introduced to his work as a 7 year oold at sleep-away camp in 1967 watching a rotten 16mm print of "The Rare Breed" and later that summer "The Plainsman" and being mesmerized by his incredible talent for eliciting visceral thrills- I'm having trouble expressing myself because of the way his music touched me then, and now. All I can say his growing up watching his incredible theme work for Irwin Allen's weekly serials and waiting anxiously just to see the name "Johnny" williams at the end credits... well.... how many more out there were similarly affected years before the "Jaws" phenomenon? If you were- you have my undying respect and credit. This score resonate as refreshingly on the 1000th listen as the first. ENJOY! And bless you J.W.

No one can say the score by John Williams for this soundtrack sounds like any other he has composed; it is quite original, very Southern, and simply delightful. The original 1000-copy, limited-edition release of this OST by Varese Sarabande around 1990 was so rare it is a relief to have it re-released by Columbia for the rest of us to enjoy!

This CD goes on my list of Top 10 Soundtracks. It contains an unusual number of good tracks. The music is more than reminiscent of Copeland. But since I like Copeland, that's a big plus.

In the 1969 got John Williams his first great opportunity to show how good he is. And he shows it with this soundtrack. You must have it!