So, what have you got, or are planning on getting this month!

The newest scores I have picked up are,

The Best of Final Fantasy 1994-1999 - Nobuo Uematsu
First Blood - Jerry Goldsmith
Lassie - Basil Poledouris
The Last of the Mohicans (Varèse) - Trevor Jones/Randy Edelman
Urban Legends: Final Cut - John Ottman
The Watcher - Marco Beltrami

I might get Howard Shore's score to The Cell as well.

Regards,
Sean Robert Abbey

I also found Graeme Revell's score to the film Phoenix.A little known score that deserved more attention.It is a very dark score.The first track has a blues and rock beat,with guitar and harmonica.My favorite track is near the end of the disc,track 18.It features a soft melody played on piano and strings accompanied by a soft wordless female vocal.A few parts of the score remind of Revell's music for the movie Strange Days.It is beginning to grow on me as I listen to it more and more.It is the type of score that requires more than one listen to begin to appreciate it.An interesting little gem,that is worth picking up in my opinion if you see it used.

Small Soldiers-JG
The Edge - JG
Gone in 60 Seconds-Rabin
13th Warrior - JG
The Mummy - JG
Tomorrow Never Dies Expanded-Arnold
Sommersby-Elfman

good stuff, man

quote:

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Originally posted by Probable:
Sabbey - it was nice to see one of Uematsu's collections on your list. I love the music he's written for the FF series and have been trying to find a place where I can order some of the orchestral recordings of his work(a lot of it is only available imported from Japan). Is that collection good?

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• Dark City
  
• Carlito's Way
  
• North by Northwest

And today, I found some scores at the flea market (last year I got a great Decca Herrmann album there), all quite cheap:

• Die Hard 2 (Michael Kamen) - Wasn't too impressed by it in the movie, but I figured it may be worth the price. Surprised that Don Davis is among the orchestrators. I LOVE Sibelius' Finlandia, but Kamen's version isn't too good. I only have an old (but good) mono recording on CD; I once found an absolutely great (both in performance and sound quality) recording on Napster. I'd love to get this one on CD, but I have NO idea who the performers are.
  
• The Elephant Man (John Morris) - After getting Spaceballs, I started a John Morris thread some time ago, and this was one of the resulting recommendations.
  
• The Dark Half (Christopher Young) - Never heard it (never even heard about it), but I figured the low price is worth the risk to get some more Young music.
  
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Morey/Churchill/Harline/Smith) - I didn't like the songs, but from what I remember, parts of the score were really good, so I took the chance. Haven't played it yet, and the album looks a bit confusing; I just hope there's the score on it. But as it runs for nearly 74 minutes, it can't be all songs.
  

None of which is meant to take away from Michael Kamen, who has done some really wonderful stuff all by himself. Anyway, he's hardly the only composer to "farm out" stuff (Bill Conti got his start as a ghostwriter in Italy, though he's cagey about which titles he did.)

I was looking forward to what you'd write about The Dark Half. I've played it once so far, so I can't really comment on it yet. Sounded good, at least. It's the next score in my CD changer, after the one I'm currently playing, so I'll know more soon.

The Challenge and while I was at it,

quote:

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Originally posted by Probable:
Sabbey - it was nice to see one of Uematsu's collections on your list. I love the music he's written for the FF series and have been trying to find a place where I can order some of the orchestral recordings of his work(a lot of it is only available imported from Japan). Is that collection good?

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First off, there are some really great scores available for Final Fantasy! I would recommend, the following,

FF VI: Grand Finale
FF VII: Reunion Tracks
FF VIII: Arranged Version
FF VIII: Piano Collection
FF: Symphonic Suite

I would also suggest looking for any of the other arranged discs that are available. I'd Check out AnimeNation for an good selection of them, the prices are an bit high! Better than most though!

And last, the new domestic disc is pretty much okay. It's a lot better than most have said IMO. However, Liberi Fatali from FF VIII, is completely off and is rather awful in comparison. The rest sounds okay to my ears.

At $10, I don't think it will replace the actual OST', but it should be an good starting disc, for those who don't want to try the scores, at import prices! I think of it as being more of an re-recording than anything else!

BTW, I hear that an new domestic CD entitled Project Majestic Mix will be released sometime soon, which should be even better!

Either way, all of those should be good choices in the meantime. An few other choices would be,

Biohazard 1-3, plus the Orchestra Album "Resident Evil"
Chrono Cross
Chrono Trigger
Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight "Castlevania"
Dragon Quest
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Hyrule Symphony
Parasite Eve 1&2
Rockman "Megaman"
Ys V Orchestra Version

Regards,
Sean Robert Abbey

quote:

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Originally posted by Marian Schedenig:

NP: The Dark Half (Christopher Young)NP: The Dark Half (Christopher Young)

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I just placed an order for it myself, and I am looking forward to it. If you don't mind me asking, how is it?

quote:

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Originally posted by Marian Schedenig:
Sean, does this Final Fantasy album contain the instrumental/choral pieces you once sent me? And is it expensive?

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It has an few of them! Though, it is not those exact versions. Even though it is cheaper, I would highly suggest purchasing the Final Fantasy VII: Reunion Tracks CD instead.

That version is the one you are talking about, and is so much better than the other disc! Even though the other, is only $10, it is an good place to start, but not as an alternative! IMO that is!

Regards,
Sean Robert Abbey

My current list of new scores is,

Bat-21 - Christopher Young
The Cell - Howard Shore
The Dark Half - Christopher Young
Dogma - Howard Shore
Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight or the U.S. title - "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" - Michiru Yamane

And currently on order,

Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture BGM Collection - Toshihiko Sahashi
The Fugitive - James Newton Howard
Film Music of Christopher Young
Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying - Don Davis

Regards,
Sean Robert Abbey

As for The Dark Half, you'll have probably heard it yourself by now; I've played it 2 or 3 times, but still can't say much about it. It's one of those scores which require quite a lot of attention to "get into" them, and I just don't have the time at the moment to sit down and only listen to the music. Too much work. Grr.

Last of the Mohicans, re-recording
Peyton Place, Franz Waxman, Varese re-recording.

both are excellent CDs!

M:I-2 Hans Zimmer
The American President - Marc Shaiman
Anna and the King - George Fenton
Batman Returns - Danny Elfman
Godzilla - David Arnold and others

Questions -

JJ - Is there a lot missing in the Varese Mousehunt release?

Marian - I saw North by Northwest at my local store last week but was put off becuase it had around 60 (!) very short tracks. Is this the release you have (I believe it's a remastered edition) and is it good?

Anyone - I got Batman Returns from a UsedCD store. It has track titles on the CD and then also on a small piece of paper which was inside the liner notes. Is this supposed to be like this?

Thanks

NP - American President

quote:

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Is there a lot missing in the Varese Mousehunt release

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I have no idea; don't have it. never really thought to get it.

NP -- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, John Williams.

Jeron

The Varese Mouse Hunt is either barely 30 minutes or just under 30 minutes. The boot is 2 discs (right?). This is just a guess, but it looks longer by one disc.

• NP: Leonard Bernstein: Chichester Psalms, Symphony #1 "Jeremiah", Symphony #2 "The Age of Anxiety" (Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Jeunesse Chor, Bernstein)
  

...I really should stop buying so many CDs. I don't even find the time to listen to them any more.

Starship Troopers Expanded - Poledouris
Small Soldiers Complete - Goldsmith
Battle Beyond The Stars - Horner
The Fugitive Complete - James Newton Howard

On order:
Last of The Mohicans Rerecording
Rudy DVD

quote:

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Originally posted by John Dunham:
Starship Troopers Expanded - Poledouris
Small Soldiers Complete - Goldsmith

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Make that Small Soldiers Expanded... It's a messy (recording sessions? maybe.) boot like Mousehunt 2CD, as is Starship Troopers. Someone out there is producing VERY lousy boots, and I'm starting to think they're doing it on purpose. For example, ST 2CD, SS 2CD, and MH 2CD all have three things in common: There are duplicated tracks, the tracks are all totally out of order (although this may be part of the first thing; having them out of order makes it hard to tell there are so many duplicates), and they are all just over 80 minutes. (I.E., 87, 89, 85, etc.) I think they deliberately are making these things so they can market them as "2CD complete" boots, thus the duplicated tracks to make them longer, the many short cues make it seem like the CDs have more on them than they do, and the 2CD thing supports that as well. Basically, somebody's scamming score fans, intentionally.
I was able to edit together a complete Mousehunt, but it's pretty obvious that the whole scores of Small Soldiers and Starship Troopers are not on here... on well. (sorry for the rant, I just got a little annoyed.)

Jeron

quote:

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Originally posted by Marian Schedenig:
Thanks, Sean, I'll have to get that disc someday (I've got so many new scores at the moment that I really shouldn't go out and buy anything new immediately ).

As for The Dark Half, you'll have probably heard it yourself by now; I've played it 2 or 3 times, but still can't say much about it. It's one of those scores which require quite a lot of attention to "get into" them, and I just don't have the time at the moment to sit down and only listen to the music. Too much work. Grr.

NP: Logan's Run (Jerry Goldsmith)

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No problem! Though it is worth every dollar!

As for The Dark Half, believe it or not, I have not actually listened to it yet. Perhaps later today!

I did listen to Dracula X though. Let me tell you, if you are a fan of VG scores, you must get this disc as well. The problem is, it is the same price as FFVII: Reunion tracks, $25. Just too many to choose, huh? Trust me, I know how you feel!

Either way, enjoy your music! And that goes to everyone else as well.

Regards,
Sean Robert Abbey

quote:

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Originally posted by Jeron:
Well John, that's just what you have to expect when you purchase a bootleg. Quality control isn't a priority. I've been a victim myself... and as a result, I'm a much more cautious buyer now.
Jeron [Message edited by Jeron on 10-09-2000]

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That's why I don't purchase them, I only get CDRs. I don't need to own an original mess. (And, as we all know, CDR trading is cheap, cheap, cheap. )

Well, I'll just have to go through the movie like I did with Mousehunt and make up a full score. Or, at least, as much of it as I've got. I'm not optamistic about the complete version, especially considering that some tracks from the Varese CD are even missing.

I picked up the Varese reissue of First Blood.
Also, got Jurassic Park and Lost World DVDs from Best buy! Yay! ($27.99 for the both of them.)

Last of the Mohicans (Varese Sarabande)
SOOOOOOOO much better than the original

My Dog Skip

The 13th Warrior rejected

The Mummy Complete

The Matrix Complete

Pee Wee's Big Adventure

Nightmare Before Christmas

Incognito

Mouse Hunt Complete

Bram Stoker's Dracula

Groundhog Day

Liar Liar

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation DVD

Shanghai Noon DVD

---------------------------------------------
Now bring on The Phantom Menace Ultimate Edition and The Legend of Bagger Vance and I'm one happy camper.

NP- Nothing. I have a headache

Chrono Cross, the best game music i've ever heard. I cant wait tell they (if they do that is) release an orchestral verison.

But you all SHOULD know this, that I love the game so much

--Kyppy
Writer/AVID Editor

quote:

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Originally posted by Crono/Kyp:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by Probable:
[b]
Biohazard 1-3, plus the Orchestra Album "Resident Evil"
Chrono Cross
Chrono Trigger
Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight "Castlevania"
Dragon Quest
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Hyrule Symphony
Parasite Eve 1&2
Rockman "Megaman"
Ys V Orchestra Version
[Message edited by sabbey on 10-07-2000]<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE>

Chrono Cross, the best game music i've ever heard. I cant wait tell they (if they do that is) release an orchestral verison.

But you all SHOULD know this, that I love the game so much

--Kyppy
Writer/AVID Editor

[Message edited by Crono/Kyp on 10-12-2000][/B]

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I have only heard an portion but, I would love to buy that and Chrono Trigger. Unfortunately, an bit too expensive at the moment!

Any other VG scores you'd like care to recommend?

• Glasworks (Philip Glass) - found it cheap
  
• The Arthaus Musik DVD VIDEO Sampler (DVD with excerpts of classical video DVDs; I always wanted to have a classical concert on DVD, but never found one that was interesting and reasonably priced. This sampler was really cheap, so at least I now have an idea how these discs look and sound like)

Buying CDs has become an addiction. It was hard to resist picking up the Dragonheart sequel score along with those mentioned above.

Dinosaur (James Newton Howard): People have raved about this, but I found the hand of Lebo M distracting. Too reminiscent of The Lion King and even The Ghost And Darkness...

Mission To Mars (Ennio Morricone): I, like many, thought that the film was a disaster, and was in two minds about whether or not to heap some blame on the score. But on CD it has enough gloriously rapturous moments to make it a good listen. Still have to get into the lengthy misterioso bits.

The Patriot (John Williams): Seemed a bit average at first, but JW absolutely demands multiple listens, and even when he's average, he's head and shoulders above the norm. That said, this will probably turn out to be a lesser work in his curriculum.