SpiritOf77

My copy arrived today (I'm in the UK), and it's been a very happy day for me. I didn't see the movie on its release (and have never seen it since), but I remember standing in the HMV store on Oxford Street in London, inspecting the original soundtrack release, sighing, and putting it back in the rack because I just couldn't afford it. The Japanese CD and the first Intrada release came and went (money again), but I knew the time would come. And now here I am, 36 years later, listening to majestic JW music that I've never heard before... it's like stepping back in time, and having it at last feels almost like sending a gift to that 22-year-old kid in the record store. (Yet another gift, of course, from the maestro.) This music is fantastic, the presentation is great, and I couldn't be more pleased

Nobody shouting up for Barenboim? I was lucky enough to be at his Ring cycle at the BBC Proms last July and he was... well, I actually can't tell you how good he was. Beyond my powers of description.

First of all, Jason, thanks so much for your editing guide. I've been using it a lot over the past few days to put together my own assembly. It's so generous of you take the time and trouble to do this for us. Second: WOW. I lack some of the tinier pieces of the puzzle needed to make a definitive rendering (if there is such a thing), but having fitted what I can together it's close enough - and what was already one of my favourite JW scores has stepped up several places in my list. To experience the (almost) complete tapestry unfolding at last is stunning. In particular the whole Ultimate War sequence; on the OST it wasn't one of my favourite tracks - I found it bombastic and abrupt. But with its missing sections restored (with the horrid volume dips and peaks levelled out - I've spent quite a bit of time on that), and in the context of the sweep of the whole score, it suddenly makes complete sense. It's a thing of wonder - such invention, and detail, and colour, and verve - it's joyous. Right now, I'm a very happy man.

Excellent interview, Jason, and one that I think will put a lot of people's minds at rest. Thank you.

the thing is williams has a 'wicked' sense of humility that makes him embarrased when he revisits his works. He is completely wrong, though... So, George Lucas is completely entitled to what he does with the SW films, then? Or some 'common good' preservation should be applied? If he's embarrassed, he's embarrassed. I have to respect that. Re Mr Lucas and SW - yes, he is entitled to do what he's done, of course, for the same reasons. I don't know how you'd begin to apply a 'common good' preservation - who would decide when it was to be invoked? No, I'm sure it has to be left to the artist.

Hello Friends, I'm a new member from the UK, thrilled enough by the prospect of a rounded, expanded release of Hook to actually get off my ass (or 'arse' as we say over here) and join this forum. I've been a dedicated JW fan for 36 years now; and while I'm not one of those who has to have absolutely every second of any given score before I'm satisfied, I can certainly understand those who are - after all, we're lucky enough to be living right slap bang in the Williams era, so why wouldn't we want to soak up every note that we can? That said, I find it strange that some posters are expressing their disappointment in Mr Williams' involvement in this release, and his requests to withhold certain cues. This is his work, after all! As a creative artist, he has every right, I believe, to ask for his work to be presented in a way that reflects his wishes.However much we might want lock, stock and barrel, it's not up to us. We might not agree with his choices, but we have to respect them. Really, after all the years of pleasure he's given us, doesn't he deserve that?