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For Dana: What are the Must-Have scores for any film music collection

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Author	Topic: For Dana: What are the Must-Have scores for any film music collection

Lou Goldberg Oscar® Winner	Old topic rewrapped. When I suggested in another post that certain scores were Must-Haves for any film music collection that was proud of itself, Dana Wilcox asked me what I thought the Must-Have scores were. Others got on my case for my absolutist stance, so I'll add a belated IMHO. I'm still working out a list, but in the meantime, I thought I'd try and bring the question forward to everyone. I don't know if Dana is just curious or really needs suggestions, but hopefully this topic will get enough replies for him to get an answer. So, if you were going to start some absolute newbie on a collection, what scores would you say "had" to be there, AND additionally, what do you think is the smallest size a collection can be and still be a working representation of film music's best for somebody?
posted 03-06-2002 11:03 PM PT (US)

Camillu Oscar® Winner	Star Wars E.T. Jurassic Park Ben-Hur Braveheart? Raiders of the Lost Ark It's hard to label a score a 'must-have'...very few make the mark.
posted 03-06-2002 11:16 PM PT (US)

BMikeJ Oscar® Winner	I would recommend all of the Charles Gerhardt compilations from RCA and a number of compilations from Silva Screen. I know you and I probably won't agree on my latter suggestion there, Lou. I suggest these titles as a means of introducing listeners to the different composers out there and expose them to the great grand history of film music. After new listeners have heard these albums, then they can start tracking down individual composers whose style they like.
posted 03-06-2002 11:35 PM PT (US)

monkey Oscar® Winner	These are a few ones I really can`t live without: Cutthroat Island The Thin Red Line Basic Instinct Under Fire And my current favorite: The Mists of Avalon I know most of these (if any) are considered as essential, but they happen to be my favorites. NP: The Mists of Avalon ***/***
posted 03-07-2002 05:25 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	I can't really decide on Must-Haves. There are many Must-Haves that heavily depend on a certain taste, or some that certainly aren't the right point to start your collection (Alienł or POTA is pretty hardcore for newbies ). On the other hand, compilations are great for starters, while I usually avoid them nowadays and get the full works right away if I like them. (I do of course agree that the Gerhardt discs are essential). For me, it worked this way: I started with Williams' Star Wars trilogy, then collected lots of Williams and a few other scores I enjoyed, and built my collection from there - after some time, I added 70s/80s Goldsmith, but it took me some time to really start enjoying his later scores. So, I'd say many discs that are great for starters aren't Must-Haves on the long run. And many CDs that are essential in a bigger collection aren't the right ones to start. Dana: I believe I still owe you an e-mail? Sorry for this, I have to dig it out on the old computer! NP: A.I. - Promo (John Williams)
posted 03-07-2002 07:55 AM PT (US)

El Cid Oscar® Winner	My question, asked in jest, was "how many?" (Since you listed a whole bunch of rather esoteric scores as must-haves - suggesting that your must-have list was HUGE!) Anyway, I'll take a stab at answering. Of course, I haven't heard everything, and I don't claim to be an expert, just a garden variety enthusiast. John Williams - Star Wars - Superman - Raiders - E.T. Miklos Rozsa: - El Cid - Ben Hur - Quo Vadis Bernard Herrmann: - Psycho - Vertigo Elmer Bernstein: - Magnificent Seven Jerry Goldsmith: - Star Trek: TMP Basil P.: - Conan James Horner: - Star Trek II Vaughan Williams: - Scott of the Antarctic (aka Symphony #7) Wow, short list! I even omit major composers completely. But that's the whole point of a 'must-have' list: to leave things out. And my list leaves out a lot. :-) [Message edited by El Cid on 03-07-2002]
posted 03-07-2002 09:39 AM PT (US)

Dinko Oscar® Winner	Easy question, easy answer: If it's a film score, you gotta have it. You gotta have Prokofiev's Alex Nevsky, Steiner's Gone with the Wind and King Kong. Not have those, not a film score fan (by my own personal definitions of course).
posted 03-07-2002 10:34 AM PT (US)

JJH Oscar® Winner	Spartacus Ben-Hur The Greatest Story Ever Told The Egyptian Henry V (Walton's and Doyle's) Vertigo Psycho CE3K Star Wars The Searchers
posted 03-07-2002 11:18 AM PT (US)

JEC Oscar® Winner	Best Years of Our Lives Raintree County Home From The Hill Blue Max Magnificent 7
posted 03-07-2002 12:22 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	I have to admit that Camillu's list is the only one that can be found in my collection in it's entirety...
posted 03-07-2002 04:19 PM PT (US)

Timmer Oscar® Winner	Rather than repeat what has been said I'll add: John Barry Goldfinger OHMSS Deadfall Petulia Body Heat Jerry Goldsmith Chinatown Under Fire Final Conflict Legend Philipp Sarde Tess Quest For Fire Ghost Story Jerome Moross The Big Country (THE massive MUST HAVE!) NP : The Scythian Suite - Prokofiev p.s. El Cid, good mention on RVW's 'Antartica', 8 + minutes of his original score is available on British Film Music volume 1, sound quality isn't always great but this is a must have. As for Symphony # 7 I like Haitink's version best! Tim
posted 03-07-2002 04:59 PM PT (US)

Camillu Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Marian Schedenig: I have to admit that Camillu's list is the only one that can be found in my collection in it's entirety... Same here!
posted 03-08-2002 12:38 AM PT (US)

Lou Goldberg Oscar® Winner	This is a partial list but here goes for starts. I thought of this in terms of scores I really couldn't live without but also in terms of what should be in a self-respecting basic repetoire kind of collection whether they were favorites of mine or not. I also thought in terms of scores and not albums but limited the score list to things one can obtain on CD as opposed to scores only available on old LPs. The Big Country The Wild Bunch Lost Horizon (1937) The Blue Max Air Power Things To Come Henry V (1944/46) The Spirit of St. Louis Ben-Hur Lust For Life Goldfinger Dances With Wolves Star Wars Jaws The Roots of Heaven Lawrence of Arabia Vertigo The Day The Earth Stood Still Alexander Nevsky Two English Girls Scott of the Antarctic Louisiana Story The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Spartacus The Ten Commandments Where Eagles Dare The Sea Hawk 8 1/2 King Kong (1933) The 4 Musketeers Ice Station Zebra Victory at Sea There are of course others I'm sure I've neglected in this round but these titles would make a great collection just of and by themselves.
posted 03-10-2002 03:03 AM PT (US)

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