Author
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Topic: Best John Williams Compliation / SONY or SILVA?
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TimT
Oscar® Winner
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I'm interested in getting one of the two current John Williams compliations.
John Williams: Greatest Hits 1969-1999 from Sony Classical and Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Essential John Williams Film Music Collectionfrom Silva ScreenNow I'd like some opinions on which one is the best choice. Thanks
[Message edited by TimT on 06-11-2001]
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posted 06-11-2001 07:52 AM PT (US) ip
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dgoldwas
Oscar® Winner
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Well, the Silva release contains all re-recordings; the Sony release contains all original recordings.That aside, they're both a bit different in what they chose to present. My personal choice was the Sony release, because I prefer the original performances. Dan
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posted 06-11-2001 08:14 AM PT (US) ip
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Luscious Lazlo
Oscar® Winner
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By all means, get the semi-quirky obscurantist Silva Screen compilation. The Sony compilation contains a preponderance of dull & obvious populist tracks.
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posted 06-11-2001 08:20 AM PT (US) ip
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TimT
Oscar® Winner
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quote:
Originally posted by Luscious Lazlo:
By all means, get the semi-quirky obscurantist Silva Screen compilation. The Sony compilation contains a preponderance of dull & obvious populist tracks.
What?!
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posted 06-11-2001 08:36 AM PT (US) ip
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Luscious Lazlo
Oscar® Winner
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In other words, I'd rather hear the BLACK SUNDAY suite than the STAR WARS stuff.On the other hand, Silva Screen made the mistake of including a JFK track called "Arlington". Don't get me wrong. JFK is a fine score. Except for "Arlington", a boring elegiac track in the style of Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings".
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posted 06-11-2001 08:49 AM PT (US) ip
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PeterK
FishChip
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TimT, Don't believe the hype. The Sony release has its share of re-recordings - half of the compilation was recorded at Boston's Symphony Hall. This doesn't mean it's the lesser of the two, though. I would take Symphony Hall's re-recordings over the CIty of Prague Philharmonic any day. Sony's is a great comp, hands down, if you don't have many of Williams' Greatest Hits.
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posted 06-11-2001 09:49 AM PT (US) ip
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Big Bear
unregistered
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Sony, definitely.
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posted 06-11-2001 10:09 AM PT (US) ip
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dgoldwas
Oscar® Winner
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Whoops. I was wrong about the SOny recording being "original". Sorry about that. (I don't have the CD in front of me!)but I liked the performances better on the Sony than the Silva, and I'll stand by that statement!  Dan
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posted 06-11-2001 10:34 AM PT (US) ip
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Marian Schedenig
Oscar® Winner
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I didn't know there are re-recordings on the Sony compilation. In general, I don't really like "real" compilations (=compilations that only contain tracks from other albums). If I like the music on it, I'll end up buying most of the complete CDs anyway. I suppose the Silva album might not be the greatest recording?Anyway, I'd go with Williams' own Boston Pops recordings of concert adaptions, like The Spielberg/Williams Collaboration: The Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra on that one is absolutely amazing. I hear the Hook tracks on one of the later albums are magnificent as well. NP: Aaron Copland: Piano Sonata (Peter Lawson)
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posted 06-11-2001 10:44 AM PT (US) ip
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jonathan_little
Oscar® Winner
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I like the disc "By Request: The Best of John Williams and the Boston Pops" which is on the Phillips label.It's from the late '80s, so don't expect to hear Jurassic Park on there, but it does have The Mission (NBC News Theme) and a suite of The Cowboys which are quite good.
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posted 06-11-2001 11:02 AM PT (US) ip
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JJH
Oscar® Winner
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having heard BOTH, I can recommend them both.
The Sony is a compilation with some OST tracks, and re-recordings, as stated above.but, I give Silva the edge here for a few things:
1. the Black Sunday suite is great
2. The Rare Breed is only heard on the Silva I believe, and it's a completely enjoyable 18 minutes.
3. sound quality on the Silva is better overall.
After what I consider to be a bad overall Goldsmith performance (especially the Trek suite), I was quite impressed with the Williams, though I have to agree with the criticism of the JFK selection (is the prologue all that bad?). (their Horner and Jarre ain't all that bad either)
NOTE TO FORD:
I have answered exactly why I dislike the Goldsmith 3 separate times now over the last several years. No emails about it.
thank you.
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posted 06-11-2001 01:17 PM PT (US) ip
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Shaun Rutherford
Oscar® Winner
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Yeah, the Sony has original recordings of most (or all) the scores they released (Saving Private Ryan and JFK also appear in their original forms, licensed from their respective labels). Other than having neat packaging, I wasn't too big on the disc. I'm a re-recording prude, I admit. Unless it's Gerhardt, and then I'm as happy as a little guhl. Shaun
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posted 06-11-2001 04:10 PM PT (US) ip
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TimT
Oscar® Winner
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Well I guess, I'll get the Sony one.
As for Silva I have no problem with them, other than the fact that they recycle tracks alot. If you own the Warriors of the Silver Screen and the Ben-Hur Essential Rosza comp. then you know what I mean.However since I have the Jarre, Goldsmith and Rosza comps already on Silva the Williams one might not be a bad idea. I didn't even know there was a Horner compliation!! Whats that one like? Too repetitive?
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posted 06-11-2001 06:06 PM PT (US) ip
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dgoldwas
Oscar® Winner
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A comparison on all the Horner compilation albums can be found at
http://www.filmmusic.com/features/article/?id=5 It's oooold, but it still applies somewhat. Dan
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posted 06-11-2001 06:13 PM PT (US) ip
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Timmer
Oscar® Winner
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I saw today...Music for Michael Caine Films on Silva, amongst the gems here are THE SWARM 'The Bee's Arrive' by John Barry?!...cool huh! 
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posted 06-11-2001 06:16 PM PT (US) ip
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jonathan_little
Oscar® Winner
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John Barry, eh?Who ever said that all of his music sounds alike? 
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posted 06-11-2001 10:10 PM PT (US) ip
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