Customer Reviews

The Very Best of Ennio Morricone

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a fine compilation of Morricone's movie themes that contains several tracks for soundtracks that are difficult to find these days (such as "Hamlet" and "Frantic"), as well as his more famous compositions ("The Mission" and the forever repeated "The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly").

All the tracks are original recordings, except one. For some unknown reason, the title track of "For a Few Dollars More" is represented by a substandard arrangement by the Geoff Love Orchestra. Considering that "For a Few Dollars More" is one of those tracks that is not often compiled, finding this version instead of the original was a significant disappointment.

And although it doesn't detract from the music, the track "Chi Mai" is listed variously as being from "The Life and Times of David Llyod George" and "Maddelena." A few quick internet searches revealed it was used in both, as well as "Le Professionel" (which is where I knew it from). It would have been nice to have this little discrepency explained.

I was very happy to finally find this compilation but I was truly disappointed to find out that the second track "for a few dollars more" was not the original "whistled" version that I grew up loving. Instead they chose to put an orchestral version. I do not know how they, at Virgin Records, let that happen, it seems an invitation to buy another disc. The rest of the tracks are the really great music from Morricone that we are used to listen.

When I ordered this product it was not available in the States, so I was pleased to find it shipped from the UK. Very worth the bit of extra postage. I played it constantly for the first week I had it. Am now playing it just once per week, but still find the music and arrangements inspired, inspiring and way above the normal selections one finds of Morricone in collections. Top quality all the way.

Truly the best of Ennio Morricone's music: very exciting, diverse and colorful, this CD is a great value. If you like Morricone's music, you'll probably love Arye Geiman - a yet unknown, but young and promising composer, whose music is also very melodic.
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I recently learned that Ennio Morricone had written some songs that I dearly loved. However, when I purchased the CD, I thought the music was grainy - like it was recorded off of an old soundtrack. I have heard better renditions.

The inspired melodic vein of Ennio Morricone is simply out of this world. He possesses that coveted gift of diving into the core of every score with such depth of feeling and whole understanding of the material, without concessions of sentimental effects. Acquire it and convince by yourself. He is among the great composers of the genre of easy to listen music.

I consider Ennio Morricone to be, hands down, the most versatile and capable composer of all time. Who else has written a myriad of scores in every genre imaginable (always with an original twist uniquely his and yet impossible to define), and has been consistently putting out quality work for 5 decades? Impossible to touch if you ask me.

With Spaghetti Western favorites such as "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" and "A Fistful of Dollars" (be aware that "For a Few Dollars More" is a jazz version arranged by another artist and not the original version from the film), along with well-known classics such as "Chi Mai," "Gabriel's Oboe," and "Cinema Paradiso," this CD is a great introduction to the legendary Italian Maestro. It also includes lesser-known tracks near the end, such as the "Moses Theme," "Frantic" and the incredible "A Heart Beats In Space" (featuring a heartbeat sound at the beginning and end), and many rare alternate versions of tracks (including my favorite versions of the famous "Sicilian Clan" and "Giu la Testa" themes, all arranged by Morricone of course), making this an all-around winner for anyone interested in the Maestro's incredible work. Recommended.

A good cd but could have used a few more of the classics. Some of the renditions are not from the movies but are different versions. All in all, a good cd.

Envie de procéder à l'achat d'autres CDs couvrant plus particulièrement ses fameux thèmes de Western. Le CD aurait pu en inclure davantage, d'ailleurs. Suis néanmoins satisfaite de mon choix.

I'm never disappointed and this product contains many of my favorites from Morricone. It is amazing!