Now I am a big Williams fan and I was wondering if any of these scores would be worth getting. I haven't seen the movies and I don't have any time to go and rent them. Any help is appreciated.

I would say a definite yes to "The Reivers"; a wonderful score, and I think I recollect reading that it was hearing this score that convinced Spielberg to hire Williams for "The Sugarland Express," thereby starting their long relationship.

I have "The River" on LP and would describe it as enjoyable but not great; but if you're a big Williams fan, you'll probably want to have it.

I've never heard or seen "Jane Eyre," and my memory of the "Eiger Sanction" score isn't sharp enough to give you an opinion.

yes PeterD is right, The Reivers and actually The Cowboys were two scores that started the Williams/Spielber collaboration.

Jane Eyre is a lovely score for a TV movie. It is quite known that John Williams is very fond of this one. He stated several times that it is one of his absolute favorites if not his favortie period. You will not be dissapointed.

The Eiger Sanction is in the same style as Earthquake and many other scores Williams composed during that period. It has a lot of Jazz traids and a very good theme. If you are a Williams fan, it's worth getting. If you don't like that style too much, stay away from it.

Here is where I differ with PeterD. I think The River is one of Williams' best. In fact it is one of my favorite, and I was estatic when I found it by accident as a cd. I have had the tape for the longest time. It has a great theme and a cue that is so beautiful and emotional it gives me goosebumps. It's not a large symphonic score but very well done. I love this one.

My advise, get them all. But if you want to save money, leave the Eiger Sanction out. But get 'em all.

Hope this helped.

Scott

If anyone else has anything to say about these scores, let me know.

PeterD, I do have the FSM cd of "Poseidon Adventure." I bought it as soon as it was available.

There follows an anectode with this. About 10 years ago I composed, with my limited musical faculties, a piano theme that I thought was pretty nice. Then, about 6 years later, I purchased the EIGER CD, and was shocked to hear the resemblance of the beautiful opening piano theme (in the "Main Titles") and my own theme, composed years earlier without knowledge of the EIGER one.

The other three are wonderful, most especially "The Reivers" -- John Williams' first REAL dramatic movie score of great quality, invention and beauty -- and his Emmy award-winning score to "Jane Eyre" is a magnificent thing.

No thinking film music collector should be without either of them. No John Williams fan should rest until each was in his collection. Happily both are still available. In fact, Silva reissued "Jane Eyre" last year.

All of these contains (in my very biased) opinion some real jems by Mr. Willaims.

As a matter of Fact Volume 3 of "Lost In Space" has just come out with Williams score to "My Name,Mr. Nobody" which in many ways is the forrunner of his score to "Jane Eyre" (Another CD that no serious soundtrack fan should be without).

Have you taken a chance on these discs?

Any Opinions?