Customer Reviews

The Magnificent Westerns

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

 

 

This collection of four compact discs are worth their weight in GOLD --- "The Magnificent Westerns", is the Ultimate Collection of Western Films & TV Themes --- The "Classic Western" is never-ending---always at the forefront of the Film Industry---whenever our film-makers run out of projects and ideas, they bring back "The Western"---fresh and never wandering far from the camera's eye or the composers pen---Silva Screen has been a leader in the "Compilation Department", so is it any wonder they release some hard-to-find scores---never fear my trail pardners---here they are!

Featuring The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Paul Bateman, James Fitzpatrick, Nic Raine and the Crouch End Festival Chorus ---perform 56 selections from classic oater blockbuster films and television---most complete collection ever assembled, over four hours of symphonic suites with full orchestra all individually wrapped-up into one neat package

THE ALAMO (Dimitri Tiomkin)
THE BIG COUNTRY (Jerome Moross)
BLAZING SADDLES (John Morris)
BONANZA (Ray Evans/Jay Livingston)
THE COMANCHEROS (Elmer Bernstein)
THE COWBOYS (John Williams)
DANCES WITH WOLVES (John Barry)
DUEL IN THE SUN (Dimitri Diomkin)
EL CONDOR (Maurice Jarre)
A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (Ennio Morricone)
A FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE (Ennio Morricone)
FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (Ennio Morricone)
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND HE UGLY (Ennio Morricone)
GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL (Dimitri Tiomkin)
GUNS FOR SAN SEBASTIAN (Ennio Morricone)
THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL (Elmer Bernstein)
HANG 'EM HIGH (Dominic Frontiere)
HEAVEN'S GATE (adapted David Mansfield)
HIGH NOON (Dimitri Tiomkin/Ned Washington)
HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER (Dee Barton)
HOW THE WEST WAS WON (Alfred Newman)
THE HIGH CHAPARRAL (David Rose)
THE JAYHAWKERS (Jerome Moross)
THE LONE RANGER (William Tell Overture - Rossini)
LONESOME DOVE (Basil Poledouris)
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (Elmer Bernstein)
MONTE WALSH (John Barry)
MY NAME IS NOBODY (Ennio Morricone)
NEVADA SMITH (Alfred Newman)
NIGHT PASSAGE (Dimitri Tiomkin)
OLD GRINGO (Lee Holdridge)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (Ennio Morricone)
THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES (Jerry Fielding)
THE PROFESSIONALS (Maurice Jarre)
RAWHIDE (Dimintri tiomkin)
THE RARE BREED (John Williams)
RED RIVER (Dimitri Tiomkin)
RIO BRAVO (Dimitri Tiomkin)
THE SCALPHUNTERS (Elmer Bernstein)
THE SEARCHERS (Max Steiner)
SHANE (Victor Young)
SILVERADO (Bruce Broughton)
THE SHOOTIST (Elmer Bernstein)
THE SONS OF KATI ELDER (Elmer Bernstein)
STAGECOACH (Richard Hageman)
TRUE GRIT (Elmer Bernstein)
TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA (Ennio Morricone)
UNFORGIVEN (Clint Eastwood)
THE UNFORGIVEN (Dimitri Tiomkin)
VIVA ZAPATA (Alex North)
THE VIRGINIAN (Percy Faith)
VILLA RIDES (Maurice Jarre)
WAGON TRAIN (Jerome Moross)
THE WILD BUNCH (Jerry Fielding)
WILD ROVERS (Jerry Goldsmith)
WYATT EARP (James Newton)

Silva Screen Records has brought film music to another level in soundtracks, flawless from the very first note to the last, pure perfection---there is no other label I know of today that could come close to what they have done in film score/soundtrack albums---All in all, this outstanding and moving box set with awesome material will have film music collectors crying for more--- This has to be the essential and definitive in Western-Folk-Lore score compilations, and I should know, this has been my thing as long as I can remember---Who can forget our western heroes - John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, Clint Eastwood, Sam Elliott, Tom Selleck and Gregory Peck. The City of Prague Philharmonic conducted by Paul Bateman, James Fitzpatrick, Nic Raine and Derek Wadsworth have done an outstanding job re-creating the old west with prairies and openess you feel when watching your favorite western film.

There you have it Buckaroo's---as we drive our herd to Abilene with Nic Raine(conductor) and The City Of Prague Philharmonic riding point, making sure no stragglers are left behind, we must meet our deadline at the rail head---James Fitzpatrick (producer) and Reynold da Silva (executive producer), David Stoner & Peter Compton (release co-ordinators), Rick Clark (mastering) and Damien Doherty (artwork)---giving us a fair price for our beef, this is how the West was, and through the recordings of Silva Screen Records it rides again---so "film-score-buffs", lean back in the saddle and watch the sun come up over the prairie skies---we're back when our country was just coming of age---Wagons Ho!

Total Time: 4-CD-Set ~ Silva Screen Records SILCD 1202 ~ (2/07/2006)

Just so it's clear "I KNOW THESE AREN"T ORIGINAL ARTIST"! Now that said this is a great compilation of the music of great Westerns on TV and movies. The orchestra does an above average job of imitating the original scores. You will have to listen with super quality headphones for hours to distinguish the subtle differences. If you are that "a" retentive then by all means find the original scores and pay far more to compile this collection. Otherwise suffice that this is a bargain for the number of songs and the caliber of the recreation of the movie scores.

CA Luster

These CD's are are constant companions that I listen to on my way to work in the morning...Nic Raine and his orchestra do a superb job rendering the themes, but some of the vocals, especially the one for Rawhide, make me yearn for the originals. All in all, it's a great set, definetely worth the money for a 40-50something baby boomer.

This album is great, but here's what you need to know about it:

-All of the music is performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. It's not from any of the original sources. So the Bonanza theme song is not exactly the same as what you hear in the TV show opening. And the guy singing the song from High Noon is good, but it's not the same guy who sings the song in the movie. Just be aware that this is a compilation of the music, but not from the original sources.

-Some great Western songs are missing. For example, they have a great medley of the music from "The Searchers", one of the greatest Westerns ever made, and the medley really makes any fan of the movie appreciate how well done the score was, but it does NOT include the actual theme song from "The Searchers" (What Makes a Man to Wander?).

-It includes some themes that could just as well have been left off. I know, that's my personal opinion, but not every track on this set is a winner.

So long as you know that, it's a fun album.

Great rendition of western movie themes from one of the finest orchestras in Europe. This is an excellent value! Highly recommended for Western movie buffs

Having always enjoyed westerns and their music this is a wonderful collection. I am a John Wayne fan and there is a nice selection of music from his films. There is also music from movies you don't usually get in a collection. This was a purchase that proved to be worthwhile.

Please note if you are considering buying that these are not the original movie soundtracks, these are an orchestra re-recording the music. If, like me, you like the original thing, then this is not for you.

I've only listened to 1 song from this CD, so feel free to mark this review negatively. But the other "one-star" review here on Amazon should be heeded -- these are re-recordings. The song I listened to (on Pandora) is entitled "Once Upon a Time in the West" and is based on tunes from that soundtrack. But the actual first half is from the piece "As a Judgment" and the second half is based on the film's overture. Both halves are re-done, and while not horrible, have lost a lot of power. The original As a Judgment, in particular, is a masterpiece so buy the original soundtrack! If you don't know these songs, you may be safe buying this CD because you won't be disappointed by the comparison. Still, I wonder how badly the other tunes have been mangled when re-recorded? I wouldn't take the risk of buying this CD unless I'd heard it entirely (not just Amazon samples).

If you like this type of music this is the best and more comprehensive selection. Well done!

Great music on one cd. I would have given it a 5 but I didn't like the vocals. Would be much better if all had been just music. Delivery of cd fast and as advertised.