La-La Land Records re-issues John Williams' Jane Eyre OST May 22nd 2012

[Wojo 2,458]

It's not a pop-in-the-car-and-listen-during-your-commute score.

Very few seem to be anymore. I tried to listen to Conan the other day driving home, but a combination of hunger, dehydration, heat, and exhaustion were making my brain wander across the Hyborean wastes, so I had to listen to some hard rock to stay focused.

[Marian Schedenig 11,695]

Just got Jane Eyre today. There's a marked difference in sound compared to the Silva release. In general, the sound stage has more width and a bit more depth. Some apparent unclean moments here and there in the higher registers at louder moments, but they probably were there before and are just more apparent now. At times I hear bits of instrumentation I've never noticed before.

Clearly a must have for Williams fans who don't have an older release, and seemingly also a worthy upgrade for those that do. It may not sell its 2,000 units quickly, but it would have deserved 5,000 easily.

[crocodile 9,724]

So... in short... not essential if you've got the Silva Screen disc?

Karol

[Marian Schedenig 11,695]

I've only listened to it once so far, and I compared just bits of two tracks directly. It's not essential if you have a previous release, but depending on how much you value sound quality, the upgrade may be worth it. I'm happy I got the new one.

[Hlao-roo 390]

So... in short... not essential if you've got the Silva Screen disc?

Karol

I imagine it'd be were it a top ten Williams score for you, but then I suppose you wouldn't be asking.

At least that's how I would gauge it.

[Jay 46,244]

The booklet is incredible. I wish every Williams score could get this classy of a treatment

[Marian Schedenig 11,695]

Truth.

And that photo of Williams looks like some Chinese guy from the Mao era. And he has hair. Must be a double.

[Joe Brausam 234]

The booklet is incredible. I wish every Williams score could get this classy of a treatment

I agree, it's great!

[Incanus 5,890]

I hope this release lasts for a little while since I can't afford it right now. You make it sound pretty terrific guys.

[KittBash 361]

Got my copy today, Must say the sound issues in the highs are there, as mentioned, but really this score is so beautiful I really don't care.

Besides those sounds issues mentioned before the stereo separation in particular is very pleasing.

Was listening to it in the car on the way home from work and it sounded great.

As always Jim Titus' work is a highlight of the release

Now Back to the music!

[crocodile 9,724]

So... in short... not essential if you've got the Silva Screen disc?

Karol

I imagine it'd be were it a top ten Williams score for you, but then I suppose you wouldn't be asking.

At least that's how I would gauge it.

It's one of the best scores from the composers, no question in my mind. But I've still got the other album. Who knows, I might get this ST: TMP and Rosemary's Baby from LLL in one order.

Karol

[Maurizio 6,913]

I did a quick comparison in a WAV editor between the LLL release and the 1999 Silva release--the LLL release seems to run at a slight faster pitch. Anyone else noticed?

[LaloCoyoacan 51]

If this is the same music from the lp and the previous cd, why does this say arranged? Arranged would be the one that it's in Pops Britannia (after JW copied the music by ear); or what am I missing?

[Josh500 1,620]

Okay, I got this last week.

Since I don't have the original release, this was a must-have for me. And I don't regret it. Fantastic score (and CD presentation).

[Incanus 5,890]

I am glad you had a chance to get it and that you like it Josh. It was one of those JW scores that I just went nuts for on the first listen and it has been my favourite ever since. The album presentation is indeed a terrific one.

[Josh500 1,620]

It's way too short, of course, but what the hell! If the original tapes were lost, this is the best we could wish and hope for!

[Incanus 5,890]

Of course I would love to hear more of this music if possible but as an album experience it is a pretty terrific one.

[filmmusic 3,269]

Does anyone know how many units are left from this?

[Jay 46,244]

La-La Land tends to give notice for anything with less than 400 copies left, so I'd assume more than that

[filmmusic 3,269]

La-La Land tends to give notice for anything with less than 400 copies left, so I'd assume more than that

Oh, ok thanks.

just wanted to be sure that I didn't miss any announcement.

[indy4 160]

Just got a chance to listen to this--fabulous. It's one I used to be very familiar with, but recently I've just been listening to the great concert suite. There's some great material that isn't included in the suite. I also didn't know that so much of the OST was not written for any specific scene.

[crocodile 9,724]

This is going out of print in a couple of weeks a will be on sale for only $9.98 starting from tonight (according to the e-mail from LLL). Time to get it then.

Karol

[filmmusic 3,269]

Again, this is supposed to have better audio than the previous release?

Is the difference very evident?

[Jay 46,244]

Was this answer not satisfactory?

Just got Jane Eyre today. There's a marked difference in sound compared to the Silva release. In general, the sound stage has more width and a bit more depth. Some apparent unclean moments here and there in the higher registers at louder moments, but they probably were there before and are just more apparent now. At times I hear bits of instrumentation I've never noticed before.

Clearly a must have for Williams fans who don't have an older release, and seemingly also a worthy upgrade for those that do. It may not sell its 2,000 units quickly, but it would have deserved 5,000 easily.

Or this one?

To my ears the new release sounds much clearer, for example there is some instrumentation in a few tracks that I did not really notice when listening to the Silva Screen 1999 release. The liner notes are very interesting too (I had no idea that Williams was originally lined up to score Kidnapped, for example), so although I hardly ever 'double dip' on a score just for improved sound quality, there is enough going for the La-La Land release to warrant a purchase if you have the funds and if it is a score that you enjoy.

[filmmusic 3,269]

Ok, thanks. I didn't check other posts..

I don't understand how this goes OOP in a couple of weeks.

I thought something goes OOP when all the copies are sold!?

[Luke Skywalker 2,385]

For a second, i thought this was the Williams May release this year.

I was completely pissed off for another re-issue . (If the title had put complete) than it would have been awesome news... (i know the recording is lost, though)

[Jay 46,244]

I don't understand how this goes OOP in a couple of weeks.

I thought something goes OOP when all the copies are sold!?

Titles go out of print for 2 reasons

1. All copies get sold

2. The label's license to sell the score expires.

Sometimes it's a combination of the two - IE, They got a license to sell 3,000 copies, but have only printed up 1,500 and sales have stalled a few years later and they still have 100 copies of that original 1,500 run left in stock. Rather than waiting for those to sell out and then ordering another 500 or whatever, if they think more won't sell, or won't sell in time before their license expires in the future, they might just pull the plug and be done with it. That's what happened with LLL's Planet of the Apes (Elfman)

[filmmusic 3,269]

I don't understand how this goes OOP in a couple of weeks.

I thought something goes OOP when all the copies are sold!?

Titles go out of print for 2 reasons

1. All copies get sold

2. The label's license to sell the score expires.

Sometimes it's a combination of the two - IE, They got a license to sell 3,000 copies, but have only printed up 1,500 and sales have stalled a few years later and they still have 100 copies of that original 1,500 run left in stock. Rather than waiting for those to sell out and then ordering another 500 or whatever, if they think more won't sell, or won't sell in time before their license expires in the future, they might just pull the plug and be done with it. That's what happened with LLL's Planet of the Apes (Elfman)

So, i better get it then.

Oh, I know. I could couple it with the Batman box. (although I'm not sure if I get the correct disc or not)

[Jay 46,244]

I think you should. The new booklet is really, really great, and of course the score is wonderful - and sounds better than ever.

Also, once it goes OOP, you can sell your Silva version for probably $20

[crocodile 9,724]

OK ordered.

Karol

[Wojo 2,458]

Jane Eyre is probably my most listened to recently released JW album.

[Incanus 5,890]

OK I'll double dip on this one then. For the sake of sound quality and liner notes.

Shame that the tapes are lost to time. One can only hope Tadlow or someone else could reconstruct and record the music in the same way they did for Rota's Romeo & Juliet.

[Jill Sandwich 11,166]

I think you should. The new booklet is really, really great, and of course the score is wonderful - and sounds better than ever.

Also, once it goes OOP, you can sell your Silva version for probably $20

I hold on to all older versions. In fact, I've been collecting a lot of OSTs lately even when I have the expanded or complete versions.

[Trent B 354]

I think you should. The new booklet is really, really great, and of course the score is wonderful - and sounds better than ever.

Also, once it goes OOP, you can sell your Silva version for probably $20

I hold on to all older versions. In fact, I've been collecting a lot of OSTs lately even when I have the expanded or complete versions.

The only original releases I've held onto are Star Trek Insurrection, TNG Encounter At Farpoint, and The Matrix.

If the OST is with the expanded release or the expanded release makes the OST obsolete then I will get rid of it.

Oh I also do have the Artisan Anthology of the Star Wars Trilogy.

[Jill Sandwich 11,166]

Even though I have all the latest editions of the Star Trek movie scores, I bought the TMP and TVH OSTs just to complete my OST collection.

[Jay 46,244]

75 Forever Young are left

90 Jane Eyre are left

MV

[Incanus 5,890]

The new release does have to my ears only slightly improved sound quality but the package and liners are very classy and with that price it is a bargain.

[Jay 46,244]

yea, the packaging and notes are fantastic

[Incanus 5,890]

yea, the packaging and notes are fantastic

Only thing in the notes that is a bit misleading is that they quote Williams for saying that the sheet music was destroyed in a fire. I am sure the sheet music was destroyed by burning (or dumping it somewhere) but it was done at the behest of the studio insurance people who were worried about the possible fire hazard of having those manuscripts in a storage facility and had them destroyed. There was no dramatic fire that destroyed the music.

Unless JW remembers incorrectly as Thor suspected.

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

So he is remembering incorrectly, unless he is remembering incorrectly?

[Incanus 5,890]

So he is remembering incorrectly, unless he is remembering incorrectly?

Well the liners make it sound like he is saying the sheet music was destroyed in a fire. Which it wasn't.

Sadly neither the sheet music nor the original sessions are available to us. The score might not be much longer in complete form but it would have been wonderful to hear.

Anyway the OST album is a great concept album and some of his best drama writing oozing lyrical romance and tragedy.

[Marian Schedenig 11,695]

So he is remembering incorrectly, unless he is remembering incorrectly?

No, Williams is lying, unless he is remembering incorrectly.

[Luke Skywalker 2,385]

But john Williams keeps his scores in book-binding...

I think there was an old documentary about him that showed shelves of these scores-books, ans one of them was jane eyre.

[Jay 46,244]

Nope

I don't think even Williams has the Heidi sheets. There's a picture somewhere where you can see his shelf with his 60s manuscripts, and the binders go right from Fitzwilly to The Reivers.

I went back and found those pictures, in this documentary:

Skip to 3:55, and you'll see that my memory was a bit fuzzy. Here's what we see:

Diamond Head (1963)

Gidget Goes To Rome (1963)

Not With My Wife You Don't (1966)

Pete 'n' Tillie (1972)

A Guide For The Married Man (1967)

John Goldfarb Please Come Home (1965)

The Reivers (1969)

How To Steal A Million (1966)

Superman (1978)

?????

Return of the Jedi (1983)

Monsignor (1982)

The River (1984)

Stanley & Iris (1989)

The Accidental Tourist (1988)

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

As you can see, the scores are out of chronological order, so HEIDI could theoretically be filed elsewhere. However, the fate of JANE EYRE is not a promising indicator, as it was the same era, same studio, same production company, etc.

[Maurizio 6,913]

If I remember correctly, JW wrote Jane Eyre while staying in London, so maybe the sketches were lost during some moving trip back and forth. As for the full conductor score and orchestral parts, it was not uncommon back then for studios to get rid of those, or simply to not archive them properly.

Williams himself said in an interview that his own personal archive is "a huge clutter" and it's very likely he never had the right amount of time to keep it properly organized. He has however an assistant working as librarian and it seems some of his sketches are now archived at Jo Ann Kane Music Service.

[Incanus 5,890]

Hmmmm I wonder if I could get a position as JWs librarian. I am fully qualified information specialist. I would make sure everything is in order and catalogued.

[crocodile 9,724]

Send him your CV.

Karol

[Thor 9,362]

I think Karen Smith holds that position indefinitely. Tim Burden (mahler3) interviewed her a couple of years ago for FSM. Worth checking out.

I had a long chat with Williams' previous PA in Krakow last year -- Nancy Knutsen. Lovely woman, but she stressed how shielded he is these days and that I probably wouldn't have any luck getting through his entourage (interview requests etc.) no matter how hard I tried. That was discouraging.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

Who the fuck are the Knutsens?

[BloodBoal 8,711]