Customer Reviews

Rodgers: More Victory at Sea

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

... it was so bad. The "remixing" of the embedded sound effects by Nathaniel S. Johnson is flat and amateurish. The music (still the original music from the series) would have been far better served WITHOUT the new sound effects. The only thing that I can surmise from this release, is that RCA no longer had the original master tape containing the ORIGINAL sound effects. But then, the original sound effects came from the US Navy archives... a little research could have probably located them. Instead of taking this extra step, Johnson decided to add a recording of his trip to the pet store... I believe even Tweety Bird made an appearance. Most of the new effects will make you laugh... that is, if you are not crying from the butchering of this soundtrack. That "ka-thunk" you keep hearing is Richard Rogers turning over in his grave. I still have the original Victory at Sea, Volume III, but it has the scars of almost 30 years of use. Even so, the vinyl version will get my preferences over this "effort" by RCA. I don't WANT to pass on this album. I want RCA to do it CORRECTLY. This release should be an embarassment to RCA.

"Pathetic," anemic," and "emasculated" are words to describe this sorrowful remastering. Anyone who remembers the original, powerful 33rpm recording will be disappointed with this CD. What ruins this CD is the perceptible reduction in the audio, making the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra sound more like front music in Tin Pan Alley. The other problem is the castration of the sound effects. Gone are the roar of big guns from "Allies on the March," for example. Also oddly lacking are the fighter aircraft sounds from "Marianas Turkey Shoot," the multiple horns and whistles from "Ship That Pass," etc.,etc.,etc. Suffice to say those of us who remember the original...please pass on this CD, not worth a bucket of warm spit by comparison.

What a shame to tone down to original embedded effects, the passion that the effects brought to those of us with combat experience is lost in the new version, (especially when an orchesta only version is available in the original "Victory at Sea" album). The development of the score to a rousing crescendo is as uplifting as ever.

I'll have to judge by the other comments I've read on this(these) soundtrack albums. I don't think remixing should have been done to these beautiful pieces of work. They should have kept it in the original format and that is RCA Red Seal. I still have my 3 volumes on vinyl and Volume 3 is still on the RCA Red Seal label. The other 2 volumes are good but not as good as the original. Maybe we can get onto RCA and have them re-release the original versions of these 3 beautiful volumes of music as they were originally released. After reading the comments on these CDs, I'm not wasting my time or money on them. I'll hold on to my vinyl copies. I also have them taped so I can listen to them whenever I want since I no longer have a turntable. :-(

What an utter disappointment. I've got the originals on vinyl, and this sad excuse for a reissue was not worth the money I spent. Most of the sound effects from the original have been left out, and the final 10-minute-plus piece, "Symphonic Scenario", bears not even a passing resemblance to the original. Don't waste your time and money.

I have the first 2 volumes on LP's and was very excited to see volume 1 remastered in Dolby surround. When I recieved it, I realized it was different, but came to appreciate the great sound. I came back to order volume 2, but while listening to the samples, I could not find the originals - it was because the effects had been omitted and also some selections seem to be missing or distorted. Why can't they just remaster and leave the masters alone! Wish I had volume 3 on record!

Why, why is it so difficult to reissue the originals, in full? The music is wonderful--well, if you're a fan, you know that already--but the sound effects really are laughably bad. And as the sound effects were integral to the atmosphere of several tracks, it really does matter. Now, instead of the jungle sounds that accompanied the original track, you get to listen to some house sparrows chirping and flitting cheerfully from tree to tree, as if you were sailing toy boats in the park instead of slogging through the jungles of New Guinea. If the original sound effects are missing, minimal effort from RCA could have secured at least reasonably realistic substitutes. Instead, we get this pathetic garbage. Really a shame. That second star is only because the original music is so good.

I remember watching the "Victory At Sea" episodes with my father when they were first aired on TV in the '50s. A number of years ago my wife gave me the VHS version of the TV program, which I have watched many times. I enjoy the show, I enjoy the music. A couple of years ago I received the Volume 1 and 2 of the sound track on CD from the same lovely lady. I play these often and I think they are great music.

As I have never listened to the original vinyl releases of these sound tracks, I can't make a comparison.

For me, If I want to hear the sound effects with the music, I'll watch the videos. If I want to hear just the music, I have the CDs.

I understand those that have listened to the old vinyl sound tracks and are familiar with them and are disappointed with the CDs that have eliminated the sound effects which was part of their memory. You can have a copy of an original song by a group, but if it is re-released 10 years later by a few of the group with some new members, it never sounds the same.

Perhaps record companies can do what soda companies do. Soda companies offer a variety of options, Regular and Diet and more. Perhaps the record companies can offer "The Real Sound Track As Issued" and "Music Only".

So if you are looking for CD quality of the old vinyl issue as it was issued with sound effects, you may be disappointed.

If you are looking for some great music from the TV show and aren't concerned about the sound effects, this CD is a must.

I think the problem with this recording is not the sound effects, as other reviewers have stated. Rather, it's that Rodgers had nine tracks' worth of Victory at Sea in him (the first nine of the original CD), but was forced by the demands of the TV series to go on writing. The results here are from fair to pretty good; they remind me of some of the lesser symphonic efforts of Haydn, Dvorak, and Prokofiev, in comparison to their masterpieces.

Buy Volume 1!

Based on some negative reviews, I was nearly discouraged from buying this disc. However, the positive reviewers put the sound effects in perspective and focused on Rodgers and Bennett's wonderful musical collaboration. I went ahead and purchased this CD and would like to report that it is a fine companion to the original.

I owned the original vinyl volumes of `Victory at Sea' and always thought the effects on Vol. 3 were overblown. I was very glad to hear Mr. Johnson's excellent new mix tone down the effects and focus on the wonderful orchestra. The minimalized effects are well integrated. This CD expands on the first by introducing several new themes.

If you enjoyed the first Victory at Sea disc, go ahead and treat your self to the rest of Richard Rodger's brilliant score.