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Which Ben-Hur?

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Author	Topic: Which Ben-Hur?

Darth Fart Standard Userer	Which Ben-Hur should I pick up? Isn't there a few versions out there? I think I saw the Rhino edition. I passed and got 13th Warrior.
posted 08-22-2000 06:11 AM PT (US)

Rang Standard Userer	I have the Sony Music release (on two tapes; I'm pretty sure it was issued on CD, too), which I think is a rerecording, and the Rhino 2CD set. I'm sure there are other releases, but both of these are fantastic. However, I'd recommend the Rhino because it's the OST, and I think the Sony release is OOP (though well worth tracking down if interested).
posted 08-22-2000 10:09 AM PT (US)

PeterK FishChip	Not to mention the excellent sound quality on the Rhino release! Unbelievable! Play Rhino's Ben Hur alongside Rhino's North by Northwest and, based on quality of the recordings, you'd never guess the recordings were made in the same year. Ah well! PeterK NP - "Fight Club"
posted 08-22-2000 10:33 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	The Rhino set is fantastic. Plus, it has one of the best booklets for a film score! NP: Powder (JG)
posted 08-22-2000 10:59 AM PT (US)

Eric Paddon Standard Userer	The Rhino set is a must have, as it is a topnotch presentation of IMO the greatest score of all time. The Sony CD set, which combines the two separate LP rerecordings into chronological order (with the film track Overture, Main Title and Entr'acte thrown in as well) is good too. There is also a three CD boot set that I have seen at Footlight that alleges to have a whole host of unused outtake cues too, but I imagine the sound is less than stellar on that.
posted 08-22-2000 02:14 PM PT (US)

Marcelo Ferreyra Standard Userer	Yer The 2 CD Rhino set is fantastic. But beware, because there is also a Rhino release of a single CD that I saw a couple of months ago. The 2 CD set comes in a bigh box, the single is just a plain CD.
posted 08-22-2000 02:25 PM PT (US)

robin4 Standard Userer	I just saw at CDNow.com that Silva is releasing a Ben-Hur 2CD set on Sept. 26. Any news on this?
posted 08-22-2000 02:28 PM PT (US)

Chris Kinsinger Standard Userer	I'll add my echo...the Rhino 2-CD set is the greatest! In Movie Music Heaven ALL film scores would be presented this way!
posted 08-22-2000 08:55 PM PT (US)

Swashbuckler Standard Userer	I think Silva's release is not the score for the silent film version of Ben Hur. Just thought I'd chime in with praise for the 2 CD Ben Hur set from Rhino. If you don't buy this album I'll go to your house and shave your cats. It's that good.
posted 08-22-2000 09:17 PM PT (US)

Swashbuckler Standard Userer	I hope everyone takes that in the humorous way that I meant it.
posted 08-22-2000 09:18 PM PT (US)

JJH Standard Userer	Ben-Hur is my favorite film and film score of all-time. I will say this once: get the 2CD Rhino set, dammit. If you do have it, why aren't you listening to it now? NP -- Ben-hur of course.
posted 08-22-2000 09:40 PM PT (US)

Eric Paddon Standard Userer	Actually, there is a score to the silent film, recently added in 1988 I believe when the film was restored, and that has had a CD release. Rozsa also conducted a small rerecording of some cues in 1977, which was released on Decca and on a now out of print CD in 1985. I was lucky to find the last copy of that at Footlight, but have still not found the elusive "Quo Vadis" rerecording done at the same time, and which also had a Decca release. (Hey Varese, when are you going to add Rozsa to the list of composers you do re-recordings for? We need Quo Vadis and The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes!)
posted 08-22-2000 11:57 PM PT (US)

Nicolai P. Zwar Standard Userer	The Rhino 2-CD set of Miklos Rozsa's BEN HUR is one of the finest soundtrack releases of all times. Superb presentation and excellent remastering job of one of the all time greatest film scores. The Rhino set is on the expensive side, but it is worth it. Rhino also released a mid-priced one CD version of the score, but unless you are really strapped for cash you should go for the "big one". I have heard though that the Rhino 2-CD set is OOP already. Is that true?
posted 08-23-2000 12:27 AM PT (US)

Darth Fart Standard Userer	What's the difference between the 2 sets? I'd rather go for the normal jewel case one unless the expensive has more cues??
posted 08-23-2000 04:50 AM PT (US)

Eric Paddon Standard Userer	If by the "jewel case" you mean the smaller Rhino one, you'd really be gypping yourself. The two CD set has the entire score of the film tracks and they're an absolute must. If you mean the out of print Sony one with the LP versions, then you should get both that and the Rhino.
posted 08-23-2000 08:05 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	CDNow lists it for $28.99: http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=171609542/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/ddcn=SD-8122+72197+2 At the time I ordered mine, when the Austrian Shilling/US Dollar conversion rate was more to my advantage than now, this was about ATS 300 (Austrian Shillings); now it's ATS 450 - still just twice the price of a "normal" score CD, which usually is ATS 220 to 250, depending on the store. Not that expensive, if you ask me, particularly if you consider that at the time at which I got it for ATS 300, I had seen it in Vienna only once, and that was for ATS 600! And considering what you get for your money, the album is certainly worth it's price! NP: Candide Overture (Leonard Bernstein)
posted 08-24-2000 08:57 AM PT (US)

Nicolai P. Zwar Standard Userer	Wow, what I find almost unbelievable is that not only does CD now apparently list the entire orchestra that's performing, but you can also track single performers and see where else they performed. What kind of a super feature is that and how do they get that kind of information?
posted 08-24-2000 11:19 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	Wow, I didn't realize this. However, they obviuously got the list from the album's booklet, and as most (score) CDs don't list the performers, this search system will be pretty incomplete. Even CDNow's title search is inaccurate. Try searching for Secret of N.I.M.H. and you won't find it, but they have it!
posted 08-25-2000 03:58 AM PT (US)

JEC Standard Userer	Rhino also released a 2CD of GWTW, with the same packaging scheme. How is the sound quality?
posted 08-25-2000 07:05 AM PT (US)

Swashbuckler Standard Userer	Eric, that "not" was the product of bad editing. I'll leave it there because I'm commenting on it here. Nicolai, I guess that the original contracting sheets were available. Other film scores this was done with: John Williams' Star Wars, Eric Serra's The Fifth Element...
posted 08-26-2000 12:23 AM PT (US)

Nicolai P. Zwar Standard Userer	It is pretty stunning the way you can check up on other CDs - say - the tuba player also performed on. Probably Marian is right though, and it may not be that complete. Still... it's keeewwwl... [This message has been edited by Nicolai P. Zwar (edited 27 August 2000).]
posted 08-27-2000 12:27 PM PT (US)

Marcelo Ferreyra Standard Userer	To JFC: The release of GWTW it not have the same excelent sound of BH, but the recording also in older. When I'd got th 2CD set of GWTW, I'd give away the Polydor release. But later I'd realize that it had a better sound. Any way, ce la vie. But the 2 CD set is marvelous anyway, just to have the original complete recording. But the one that I usually lisen to is the Gerhardt re-recording. That is superb.
posted 08-27-2000 09:31 PM PT (US)

sabbey Standard Userer	In case any of you are wondering about the new Ben-Hur set at CDNOW! It is The Essential Miklos Rozsa set, such as their Goldsmith and Williams ones. Regards, Sean Robert Abbey [This message has been edited by sabbey (edited 31 August 2000).]
posted 08-31-2000 07:43 PM PT (US)

PeterK FishChip	Unfortunately, Rhino discontinued their 2CD Ben Hur as of last week. I tried ordering more for the store and nope.... it's still out there at a few retailers, so if you've been putting off this great release, better get it soon. Unless, of course, you love to pay high collector prices for things!
posted 11-17-2008 11:45 AM PT (US)

tjguitar Standard Userer	Dont suppose they're issuing a superior set
posted 11-22-2008 11:02 PM PT (US)

PeterK FishChip	It's becoming more and more clear to me that Rhino decimated most of its CD soundtrack catalog on Nov 5. I doubt they're opting for new and expanded versions because of this... more like downgrading to download only. http://www.moviemusic.com/search/label.asp?id=52
posted 11-26-2008 11:56 AM PT (US)

tjguitar Standard Userer	I guess download-only is better than nothing. Still, it's a shame that Ben-Hur seems to really be gone. Maybe a FSM super-deluxe Ben-Hur release in a few years? On the other hand, HOW THE WEST WAS WON was unvailible for several months, but seemed to be put back in print (at least at Amazon) at some point this year.
posted 12-29-2008 11:58 PM PT (US)

OneBuckFilms Non-Standard Userer	You might want to hunt the second hand market for the Rhino 2CD set of Ben-Hur. One of the best presentations of one of the all time greatest film scores ever created. There is also a lengthy 1CD version of Ben-Hur that I also picked up, before I realized the 2CD/Booklet version existed. If you are in the LA area, you might want to check out Amoeba Music if MovieMusic.com doesn't sell it. Whatever price you pay, it is worth every cent.
posted 01-04-2009 02:08 PM PT (US)

OneBuckFilms Non-Standard Userer	Another source: http://www.rhino.com/store/ProductDetail.lasso?Number=72197 I hope they have a copy in stock. Good luck ...
posted 01-04-2009 02:22 PM PT (US)

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