DRACULA - 2018 Varese Deluxe Edition Produced by Mike Matessino

[publicist 4,643]

Obviously no, but i also wouldn't listen to Michael Giacchino scores,,so who's accounting for taste?

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

I don't have taste, dude. I've watched The Unborn 2 three times. I'm beyond redemption. I meant I was curious on YOUR choice (as, again, I'll be listening to both anyway)! 

 

[publicist 4,643]

I think i have made my choice abundantly clear long before you asked.

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

Still, I took your "if you hate the Dracula theme, the complete score isn't for you" as an ominous warning! 

Again, I've never heard this score before in either form, so I have no bias of any sort myself.

[publicist 4,643]

You sure will be able to dig up one cue on YT to form an opinion, will you?

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

Indeed, but I wanted to go in blind...or deaf in this case, I suppose. The Fury's one of my all-time favorites in the Williams catalog, so I'm excited to delve into its cousin. 

 

Though for the record, I do vastly prefer The Fury's OST (but am grateful and happy to have the LLL set anyway).

[publicist 4,643]

So what difference does it make? Just listen to cd 2 only if one minute more of that theme make your ears bleed.

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

Maybe that was intentional! Bleeding is exactly what Dracula would desire, yes?

[Bespin 8,475]

🤔

[Pieter Boelen 740]

Quick question: Is the OST assembly thoroughly different from the complete score?

[Bespin 8,475]

2 minutes ago, Pieter_Boelen said:

Quick question: Is the OST assembly thoroughly different from the complete score?

 

Yes Jay told us that it's not always the same takes that where used for the OST edits.

 

That's why Mike Matessino was not able to reconstruct the OST from the complete score elements.

[MrScratch 294]

Got mine this afternoon!

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

4 hours ago, Bespin said:

 

Yes Jay told us that it's not always the same takes that where used for the OST edits.

 

That's why Mike Matessino was not able to reconstruct the OST from the complete score elements.

 

So my old Varese OST still has value!

[Jay 37,281]

5 hours ago, Pieter_Boelen said:

Quick question: Is the OST assembly thoroughly different from the complete score?

 

I don't know how to answer this question.  It depends on what you really mean by "thoroughly different"; I'm not really sure how to interpret that.

 

The OST LP was 39 minutes and featured 2 versions of the same cue within it, is EXTREMELY non-chronological (with cues from the ending appearing right away at the beginning, and cues from the beginning right before the finale), and omits some themes you can only hear in the complete score.  The new complete score main program is 66 minutes and is much more chronological, showcasing everything Williams came up with for this project in a very nice way.

 

Personally, I think the new 66 minute main program is a far superior way to enjoy this score than the old 39 minutes OST LP program, but obviously you should listen to both and decide for yourself, shouldn't you?

[Faleel 5,333]

47 minutes ago, Norma's Corpse said:

 

So my old Varese OST still has value!

The second disc of this release is the same takes as your old Varese disc.

[Jay 37,281]

1 hour ago, Norma's Corpse said:

 

So my old Varese OST still has value!

 

Not really.  Something weird happened when they put the OST program on CD back then, it doesn't sound right.  The sound is muffled and pinched.

For the new Varese DE, they took the original 1979 analog LP master than they used in Britain to make the British pressings of the LP, transferred that, and used that for Disc 2 of this set.  It sounds much better than the old Varese CD, and is literally the exact same takes, edits, and mix throughout, just finally sounding the way it was meant to be heard.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Sorry was half asleep.

 

EDIT: UGGHHHHH I'm sick of people ninjaing me!!!

[Pieter Boelen 740]

2 hours ago, Jay said:

I don't know how to answer this question.  It depends on what you really mean by "thoroughly different"; I'm not really sure how to interpret that.

For me personally, I don't really care about "alternates" unless they're really very different.

I can't hear the difference between different takes either. And I'm no big fan of having the same material double.

If that makes any sense...

 

2 hours ago, Jay said:

Personally, I think the new 66 minute main program is a far superior way to enjoy this score than the old 39 minutes OST LP program, but obviously you should listen to both and decide for yourself, shouldn't you?

Ye olde "severe lack of time" strikes again.

 

But, my main reason for asking is because I like to keep my digital collection as clean as possible and wonder if I need to keep the OST assembly in it.

[Bespin 8,475]

4 hours ago, Pieter_Boelen said:

For me personally, I don't really care about "alternates" unless they're really very different.

I can't hear the difference between different takes either. And I'm no big fan of having the same material double.

If that makes any sense...

 

I rarely listen to the "ADDITIONAL TRACKS" of an expanded set, I put them in another folder to make sure they don't play at the end of the score, when I listen to them! hehe

 

This is funny, because I compare all the tracks of Charles Aznavour and Roy Orbison.  I listen to two WAV files at the same time in Audacity, to spot the alternate tracks and the different takes of a song.

 

Maybe it's why I can't do it for John Williams too, that's too much for me! And I trust Mike Matessino and @Jay about that.

 

Maybe one day, I will have fun to do that with John Williams's music too!

[Luke Skywalker 1,792]

On 11/9/2018 at 9:52 PM, Jay said:

TL;DR:

 

1-13 Night Journeys (Film Version) 5:20 = portions of the Original and the Revised (no choir)
1-26 The Love Scene (Extended Version) 4:40 = the Revised

 

2-5 Night Journeys 5:12 = the Original (with choir)
2-6 The Love Scene 2:09 = the ENDING ONLY of the Revised

Thanks for clarifying this. I see a problem then. Its true we have all the music but since there are two different sources for the score and original LP, with a different mastering or sound mix... We don't have the full original night journeys (sans choir, I know) sourced from the complete score tapes. So if one uses the track from the LP program, is there a noticeable change in sound quality and mixing?

[aescalle 122]

The Vampire is arrived today in Paris Charles De Gaulle aiport... Can't wait to recieve it!

Can expect it home for tuesday or wenesday, maybe. 😜

[Bespin 8,475]

Mine is now in Miami, slowly coming to me!

[Luke Skywalker 1,792]

So... listening o the tracks.... I hear the choir in both versions of night journeys?????

 

EDIT: LOL NOPE. I had selected both files and dropped them in cooledit and somehow it opened both together, one as left and other as right channel. never hapened to me before.. i must have done something strange

[Bespin 8,475]

stop taking drugs!

[Lockdown 238]

Are these cues present?

 

2m3 Pre-Dinner Music

4m3 Mina's Death

5m2 On the Road

6m3 Disorder in the Asylum

[Holko 9,499]

Mina's Death is in For Mina if I remember correctly. Is Pre-Dinner Music one of the source cues? If yes, unfortunately those are not on this set.

[Lockdown 238]

I think it may have been a source cue based off of the title alone, but I still think it is Williams material. I understand why 3m2 and 3m4 are missing though.

 

3m2 La Cumparsita (comp. Gerardo Matos Rodriguez)

3m4 Weiner Wald (comp. Johann Strauss)

[Holko 9,499]

Pub did a track-by-trak breakdown on the previous page, read that for possible info on those cues.

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

This has been a pleasant surprise! Ya’ll had me worried with the “repetitive” comments! I had gotten the impression the Dracula theme would be loudly blasted every few seconds on every cue! 

Okay, not really, but still, expectations were surpassed. The OST was a nice playlist if one just wants a little taste of this score’s scrumptiousness rather than the whole banquet, but I felt it definitely needed some breathing room. 

Whereas the whole thing really builds a darkly enchanting lusciously lustful atmosphere that held my attention all the way through. I’m sure some cues can be trimmed later for the sake of losing some fat, but overall it’s a magnificent towering gothic melodrama. I might love The Fury more for its simplicity, but this one was some captivating night listening as well.

[Jay 37,281]

17 minutes ago, Lockdown said:

Are these cues present?

 

2m3 Pre-Dinner Music

4m3 Mina's Death

5m2 On the Road

6m3 Disorder in the Asylum

 

There is no source music in the set. All of score cues absolutely are.

[Omen II 1,235]

1 hour ago, Lockdown said:

I think it may have been a source cue based off of the title alone, but I still think it is Williams material.

 

 

It's a long time since I have seen the film, but I remember that one of the pieces of music heard is the Sicilienne from Pelléas et Mélisande by Gabriel Fauré.  Could that be the piece of pre-dinner music to which you are referring?

 

 

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

Sadly seems as though disc 1 came with a scratch, leaving “Capture of Lucy” to skip a bit when I played on the living room stereo (rather than the car as I heard it previously). Hope I can fix it.  

[A. A. Ron 1,738]

Got my copy yesterday -- what a lovely little package! Just a delight of a release.

 

Also saw the film for the first time today. It was alright. It's not surprising, but I felt John's score hugely elevated the picture overall.

[Taikomochi 1,136]

Varese seems to have flubbed the shipping on my set, and didn't send it accidentally.  They printed the label, which generated the tracking info, but didn't actually put it in the mail.  They said they are overnighting one tonight, but it's still a bummer since I paid for the expedited shipping, which it now appears was worthless.  I'd be more forgiving, but this is actually the second time in a row this has happened with them.  Oh well, at least I will (probably) get my set tomorrow.

[12-Mile Reef 123]

I’m really enjoying this, it sounds absolutely terrific and such a great to get so much new music froths period! That said I unfortunately have a glitch at 3:31 on the first track of disc one, do I just have a bad disc or is anyone else hearing this? Just want to know if I need to order a replacement disc, many thanks.

 

[Chewy 2,374]

Rip your CD using EAC and you'll know if your rip is correct (would mean that your CD is ok) or if your rip has errors.

[Incanus 5,713]

7 hours ago, Taikomochi said:

Varese seems to have flubbed the shipping on my set, and didn't send it accidentally.  They printed the label, which generated the tracking info, but didn't actually put it in the mail.  They said they are overnighting one tonight, but it's still a bummer since I paid for the expedited shipping, which it now appears was worthless.  I'd be more forgiving, but this is actually the second time in a row this has happened with them.  Oh well, at least I will (probably) get my set tomorrow.

My copy arrived at Helsinki airport last night but knowing the snail pace of our postal service it will be here next Monday. And I live about 20 km from the said airport.

[Jurassic Shark 12,024]

9 minutes ago, Incanus said:

My copy arrived at Helsinki airport last night but knowing the snail pace of our postal service it will be here next Monday. And I live about 20 km from the said airport.

 

Amen brother. I once sent a package to some rural place in Finland using express shipping - the fastest possible shipping method which costs about 100 Euros - and it took five days to get there. 

 

[aescalle 122]

7 hours ago, Taikomochi said:

Varese seems to have flubbed the shipping on my set, and didn't send it accidentally.  They printed the label, which generated the tracking info, but didn't actually put it in the mail.  They said they are overnighting one tonight, but it's still a bummer since I paid for the expedited shipping, which it now appears was worthless.  I'd be more forgiving, but this is actually the second time in a row this has happened with them.  Oh well, at least I will (probably) get my set tomorrow.

Same for me with the last "The Cowboy" Deluxe Edition.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

To all those who now have the DRACULA 2-cd set:

 

a) you're all bastards. I can't even afford the postage, let alone the CD

 

b) how does the remastered OST sound?

[aescalle 122]

41 minutes ago, Richard said:

To all those who now have the DRACULA 2-cd set:

 

a) you're all bastards. I can't even afford the postage, let alone the CD

 

b) how does the remastered OST sound?

Take your time and read all the dedicated post friend...

[Jurassic Shark 12,024]

1 hour ago, Richard said:

a) you're all bastards.

 

 

1 hour ago, aescalle said:

b) how does the remastered OST sound?

 

A significant improvement over the OST CD. Less muddy lows, and the frequency spectrum is greatly extented upwards. Now it doesn't sound like your stereo is confined in a coffin when listening to the OST.

[12-Mile Reef 123]

12 hours ago, John Chambers said:

I’m really enjoying this, it sounds absolutely terrific and such a great to get so much new music froths period! That said I unfortunately have a glitch at 3:31 on the first track of disc one, do I just have a bad disc or is anyone else hearing this? Just want to know if I need to order a replacement disc, many thanks.

 

11 hours ago, Chewy said:

Rip your CD using EAC and you'll know if your rip is correct (would mean that your CD is ok) or if your rip has errors.

 

So it appears that this is an issue inherent to the original recording, it appears quietly on the right channel on both disc 2 and on the original album release. it's just much more prominent and on both channels in the main film score presentation. It sounds like a recording error to me or is it something heard on the stage? Really satisfied and enjoying this release but just curious as to what this is.

[Incanus 5,713]

1 hour ago, Jurassic Shark said:

A significant improvement over the OST CD. Less muddy lows, and the frequency spectrum is greatly extented upwards. Now it doesn't sound like your stereo is confined in a coffin when listening to the OST.

But I thought it was the concept of the whole album to sound like it was coming out of a coffin! From beyond! 

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

2 hours ago, Richard said:

To all those who now have the DRACULA 2-cd set:

 

a) you're all bastards. I can't even afford the postage, let alone the CD

 

b) how does the remastered OST sound?

 

This!

[Omen II 1,235]

I was eagerly awaiting my lovely new Dracula: The Motion Picture CD twofer by John Williams today but instead returned home from work to find the dreaded grey 'Fee to Pay' card from Royal Mail, surely a visitation more terrifying than that of the Transylvanian count himself.  The scoundrels have levied an extra £14.20 customs charge, including an £8 'handling charge' (🤯) for the privilege of gleefully kicking my package around the floor of the delivery office for an extra day or two.

 

Royal Mail should change the wording on the card from "Unfortunately we can't deliver your item because there is a fee to pay" to "Fortunately we won't deliver your item until you give us some beer money, you streak of piss."  Oh well, what can you do?

[rough cut 1,714]

Ugh...

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

12 hours ago, Richard said:

To all those who now have the DRACULA 2-cd set:

 

a) you're all bastards. I can't even afford the postage, let alone the CD

 

b) how does the remastered OST sound?

From what I'm hearing of the original, it's definitely a huge improvement, though I found disc 1 sounds even better.

[Frank Vincent 226]

Got mine today. Excellent release. Sound quality and Jim Titus' artwork are great.

[King Mark 3,625]

2 hours ago, Omen II said:

🤯

 

Royal Mail should change the wording on the card from "Unfortunately we can't deliver your item because there is a fee to pay" to "Fortunately we won't deliver your item until you give us some beer money, you streak of piss."  Oh well, what can you do?

I hate customs

 

i think they make up rules and fees when they feel like it