Alien [SOUNDTRACK]

Jerry Goldsmith (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 20, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Intrada
• Run Time: 126 minutes
• ASIN: B0010OWLI4
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,669 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
One of the most requested soundtrack restorations released at last. Earlier this year, Intrada issued the premiere release of Alex North's original recording of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, a score legendary for being replaced entirely from the film with preexisting music. The treatment of Jerry Goldsmith's score to Ridley Scott's ALIEN is legendary in its own right, and for very similar reasons. For this monster film set in deep space, Goldsmith composed one of his most complex scores, relying on acoustic instruments to deliver the chilling, otherworldly atmosphere of the alien ship and its monstrous occupants. It was akin to his approach to PLANET OF THE APES, where Goldsmith eschewed electronics in favor of unique acoustic instruments to illustrate the foreboding landscape and upside down society. To achieve this effect in ALIEN, Goldsmith augmented the National Philharmonic Orchestra with didjeridu, serpent, and conch shell, with additional eerie effects courtesy of the echoplex, a process Goldsmith deployed previously to great effect in his score to PATTON. The result -- a masterful sci-fi/horror score that would influence genre movie scores for years to come. Despite Goldsmith's artistic genius in creating a striking sci-fi score, the filmmakers severely tampered with his music. Much of the music was removed from the film or employed in scenes for which it was not intended. Several cues from Goldsmith's early score to FREUD were tracked in. Worse yet, his sublime main title, emphasizing the mystery and vastness of space, went unused. Under duress, Goldsmith, rescored the main title for a starker, more minimalist piece which is heard in the film. While Goldsmith wrote an end title featuring the same main theme in all its glory, it too was removed from the film in favor of a selection from Howard Hanson's Symphony Number 2. What is heard in the film is not Goldsmith's musical vision for ALIEN. A soundtrack LP released at the time of the film featured 35-minutes of highlights from Goldsmith's score, presenting it more as he intended, with the original main and end titles in tact. Sound quality of this release was dry and compressed, and there was still much music both used and unused that did not make it to the album. Now, nearly thirty years after the film's release in 1979, with the generous cooperation of Universal Music Group and 20th Century Fox, Intrada presents the complete original score as Goldsmith intended, rounded out with all the alternates and rewrites, providing everything Goldsmith recorded for ALIEN. The album was remixed from the recently discovered 1" multi-track masters, bringing a new depth, detail, and crispness not heard in previous releases. Michael Matessino spent many painstaking weeks to deliver the striking results here, and also penning some of the most comprehensive liner notes written for a soundtrack, chronicling the saga of the genesis of the ALIEN score and its final results. This release is the final word on the complete ALIEN score, giving it the exposure and attention it has always deserved and giving admirers the album they have been craving for years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Version of the Score, January 13, 2008

By	James Rockhill (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The original vinyl recording was not all that great, but the sound was decent despite the pops and clicks. Silva Screen's digital remastering had very little presence to it all. Finally, this new set from Intrada offers the music in excellent sound, with extensive annotations.

The first disc contains the entire original score, with alternative versions requested by the director and studio. The second disc reproduces the version prepared for the original soundtrack album with a few more alternative tracks.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jerry Goldsmith's best score., February 27, 2008

By	WRN "eyebone" (madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews

I love this score. I love this movie. I nearly passed out when I heard this was being released.

This 2 CD set has everything. The first disc is the complete 57 minute score, followed by 7 rescored alternate cues that are about 20 minutes long. The second disc is the original 1979 album recreated using the new remastered elements. This is about 35 minutes long. This is followed by 13 minutes of bonus tracks comprising the film version of the Main Title, 1 alternate take, 3 demo excerpts, 1 track of unused inserts and a piece of Mozart source music from the film.

So all together there is over 2 hours of music here! I have to say here that the 20th Anniversary Edition of the Alien movie had the complete isolated score...although a few of the songs are out of order and i suspect a few are missing. So buy the movie if you are also interested in seeing the images with the music. I also have a review of that Alien movie here on Amazon that features timings of where these tracks can be found in the movie.

So if you are a Goldsmith fan you have no doubt heard about this already. If not, buy it immediately!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A word of warning: NOT as "complete" as you might think..., April 29, 2008

By	S. BARRY "jimmer72" (EAST LONGMEADOW, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is more of an "FYI" than a full-on review... for anyone who thinks they're getting the "whole shebang" with this 2-disc set (which consists of the original 1979 LP soundtrack; the complete original score written by Jerry Goldsmith; rescored alternate cues; and bonus tracks), one big piece of the whole ALIEN score is still missing, and could have easily filled a THIRD disc...

What's missing is the score AS IT APPEARS IN THE ORIGINAL 1979 RELEASE... meaning, if you've grown attached over the years to the musical cues that were notoriously swiped from 1962's FREUD, as well as Howard Hanson's "Symphony No. 2" (played after the demise of the alien and again over the End Credits), be aware that these pieces are NOT--repeat, NOT--on this 2-disc set (probably due to copyright/studio ownership issues).

Other than that, yes, it's fantastic, but the "Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" moniker is more than a little misleading. Completists take note!