Not everyone can pay thirty bucks for thirty minutes of music, but a buck a minute pales in comparison with what some rabid collectors of hard-to-find (and less-than-acceptable-sounding) bootlegs often pay.

These two recent XRCD releases by JVC, Charade and Breakfast at Tiffany's, aren't as much for the rabid collector as they are the connoisseur of fine film music. These luxury items are for those who can afford them, not those who are looking to spend mega bucks for otherwise unavailable music.

The albums do not present any more music than found on the original vinyl albums released in the early 60s. What makes them special is JVC's pursuit of digital audio perfection. Listening to the end results of JVC's extensive methodologies in controlling every aspect of the CD mastering and manufacturing chain unanimously proves most standard CDs manufactured for good old, no-frills CD players are not even close to reaching their potential. These XRCD soundtracks offer "clearer definition, more accurate imaging and higher audio quality than any compact disc before," just as the manufacturer claims. Remember, the masters for these specific Mancini recordings are from the 60s - we're left to imagine what a soundtrack recorded in the year 2001 would sound like if given JVC's treatment. Unfortunately, the costs involved with completely controlling mastering and manufacturing a CD from A to Z is expensive - a proposition most record labels are unable to pursue due in part (or whole) to the bottom line.

Charade (XRCD)

Breakfast at Tiffany's (XRCD)