Home Alone 2

[Pieter Boelen 1,032]

Every few days I will post a thread on a random score from my collection that we can discuss and rate. I made a playlist on my computer with one track of each score I've got, so by using the random play option, I'll be able to post a truly random score each time. Hopefully this will allow us to discuss some scores that would otherwise never be discussed. Also we can record the rating so that we can create a full list of the ratings given to scores by JWFan.com.

Today's score is Home Alone 2 by John Williams. Are you familiar with it? What do you like about it? What don't you like about it? How do do you think it works in the film? What are your favourite tracks?

So far JWFan has rated:

See Soundtrack Ratings by JWFan.com.

This web page contains the ratings from all my previous polls as well as those of Blumenkohl's.

Final ratings are converted to a 1-10 rating for both rating systems so that they can be compared.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

5 stars! One of his masterpieces as far as I'm concerned (and I'm not one to throw the term around lightly), albeit of a different nature than some of his more obvious ones.

EDIT: Oops, I mistakenly thought this was about the original score, rather than the sequel. Good score with several wonderful new highlights, but relies too much on identical arrangements and lifts from the first score. I'd amend my rating to 3 stars if I could.

[Melange 448]

Pleasant in the film, but I wasn't moved to buy the soundtrack. Home Alone is sufficient for me.

[Joe Brausam 231]

4 Stars.

The two disc edition is very enjoyable and I love having the complete score to a film that I would never have expected to have a complete release - at least not so soon. That being said, it can get dull or repetitive in some spots so I can't give it 5 stars.

[John Crichton 4]

Williams' least inspired sequel score. I'll go ahead and go with 3 stars because anything lower just seems too cruel.

[MrScratch 296]

A rehashed score with enough original material to make it worth owning. 3 stars

[Ollie 1,375]

I think I gave this at least 4 stars, might have been 4.5.

I really enjoy this score and I think it's more than just a re-hash of the first one, at least what we've heard of the first one.

In fact it may have one of the best Christmas songs written for a film; Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.

[MSM 194]

4.5

A brilliant comedy score by Williams with lots of wonderfully orchestrated "snow music" which I love. I like to see it as a predecessor to Hook and Jurassic Park and Sorcerer's Stone also. This is all judging from the 2-cd set though, maybe the 1 cd is a worse representation?

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

Wow. I totally read "Home Alone" instead of "Home Alone 2" when I first posted. Err, never mind....

[Red 75]

3 stars. Not a bad score by any means, but mostly just a rehash of the first IMO. It certainly has it's moments, though.

[Marian Schedenig 11,603]

4.5. Seems just a tad high compared to some other 4.5 and 5 star scores, but surely the first score is worth 4 stars, and this one has to get the additional 0.5.

[Pieter Boelen 1,032]

I'll alter your vote in the Excel file, Ray.

Also, perhaps I should start posting cover pictures in the poll threads. That's the second time a person is confused about it being a sequel score.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

5

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

Also, perhaps I should start posting cover pictures in the poll threads. That's the second time a person is confused about it being a sequel score.

No, I should just learn how to read! It's clear enough.

[John Crichton 4]

No, I should just learn how to read!

Then how do you type your posts?

[Pieter Boelen 1,032]

Other people's mistakes in this respect cause me confusion in filling my Excel sheet. I'd rather not be confused, so I'd better not confuse people.

[indy4 160]

4 stars. It's a great score, despite the rehashes.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I find it better than the original because it carries over those original themes plus it has new ones. Also, not to mention the fantastic Varese Club release.

[odnurega1 0]

I voted 4.5 Stars. I absolutely love the score, and listen to it at times other than Christmas, mostly!

[Trent Hoyt 13]

The Varese release alone is worth 4.5 stars.

[Ollie 1,375]

I'd still like a remastered and expanded version of the original, minus all the Christmas songs that are on the original album.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

No, I should just learn how to read!

Then how do you type your posts?

I dictate to my manservant.

[Pieter Boelen 1,032]

4,5 from me. Very, very good indeed. I especially like the instrumental Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.

[Luke Skywalker 2,364]

4.5

-0.5 because it relies too much in Part One.

[Henry B 51]

I find it better than the original because it carries over those original themes plus it has new ones.

Kind of like Zimmer's entire repertoire.

[John Crichton 4]

No, I should just learn how to read!

Then how do you type your posts?

I dictate to my manservant.

Ah. I was wondering why you kept Sturgis around.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I find it better than the original because it carries over those original themes plus it has new ones.

Kind of like Zimmer's entire repertoire.

Hey, it's his music, if he wants to reuse it, that's fine by me. And don't pretend no other composer does it, cause every single composer ever has. Besides, it's not even a conscious thing. Zimmer's not going, "Hmm, let me take this from this score and that from this and put them together and have a whole new one!" It's true that in some cases it's deliberate, because he wants to expand on a theme he couldn't previously do what he wanted with it. Or maybe just the theme is damn good.

[Maglorfin 219]

Definitely 5 stars. As perfect a JW score as can be found. Sometimes, it even seems to me that it's better than the original, of course also thanks to Varese Sarabande's glorious reissue.

[Richard P 5,246]

I only tend to listen to it during the Winter, but it has some truly magical material that takes me right back. I find it an easier listen than the original album because it's less fragmented by Christmas songs (which I have nothing against, but it's Johnny T. I've come to hear).

4 stars from me.

[Neimoidian 15]

I am not very familiar with it. I only know it from the movie, which I haven't seen for cople of years. From what I remember, the score was - to some extent - a rehash of old tunes. The NY themes were very good, though.

[Tydirium 1,573]

Has anyone else noticed that in the US, the standard OST of this score has apparently been a “partial album” on iTunes for years, with only one track available? Seems to be only one track available on Apple Music, too, as well as other streaming services. Interestingly enough, if I change the country, the entire album is available across multiple services (even available to purchase on Qobuz, outside the US), so I’m wondering if this is in error. I’m tempted to reach out to let someone know, but not sure who I would contact (assuming I could even get through to anyone)?

[BB-8 6,116]

16 years later...

[pete 1,322]

I was just listening to this walking around on Christmas Eve. I love so many tracks, especially the joyful Christmassy music like The Plaza Hotel and Duncan's Toy Store - actually I just split those tracks to have the more cheerful parts as their own tracks. And Arrival in New York - I prefer the shorter version on the orignal soundtrack. And the We Overslept piece, expanded upon from the versions in the first film. And of course Merry Christmas both the instrumental and chorus versions are my go-to Christmas morning songs!  I just wish Preparing the Trap was its own track. I like Christmas Star, but I don't see how musically it works connected to it. And I can't really split the two cleanly. That's my only gripe. 

[Marian Schedenig 11,603]

8 hours ago, pete said:

And the We Overslept piece, expanded upon from the versions in the first film.

 

Three bits of context that made me appreciate certain moments in the score even more after re-watching the film recently (and there aren't many more reasons to watch it than these):

 

We Overslept Again is pretty much the same as in the first film as long as the film still tries to maintain the expectation that Kevin is about to be left at home again. Only after that is cleared up and we see him getting lost at the airport and boarding the wrong flight does Williams introduce his new variation.

 

The reason for the little trumpet fanfare in Duncan's Toy Store (0:10 in this video):

 

The 911 chords at 1:20 in Down the Rope/Into the Park - they sync up exactly with Kevin dialing 911 on a payphone:

 

[Brando 2,761]

12 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

The 911 chords at 1:20 in Down the Rope/Into the Park - they sync up exactly with Kevin dialing 911 on a payphone:

This is a super teeny tiny moment in the entire score but it always stands out to me.

[Maurizio 6,913]

I don't know where to put it and if it's of interest to anyone, but the original score album of Home Alone 2 was (re)uploaded just last Friday to all major music streaming platforms with a new © and (P) attributed to Hollywood Records, Inc. (the previous one was Fox Records)

 

https://music.apple.com/it/album/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york-original-score/1853914817

https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/album/4CHAKVRCt7OLk4nzx1h2Sm?si=BWlrDGATQV-FUuUSmu4tTA

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mCg8btLvnL6asx_a_xhdzT5NxvUJ0zzrg&si=Ep-JJ13_VtPqeZYG

https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york-john-williams/gdwjs2vjjc5rc

 

For some reason, the previously available version was all blanked out save for the "Finale" track.

 

To my ears, it sounds exactly the same as the 1992 Fox master, but it's nice that the score is finally widely available on streaming.

[Jay 45,820]

2 hours ago, Maurizio said:

I don't know where to put it and if it's of interest to anyone, but the original score album of Home Alone 2 was (re)uploaded just last Friday to all major music streaming platforms with a new © and (P) attributed to Hollywood Records, Inc. (the previous one was Fox Records)

 

https://music.apple.com/it/album/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york-original-score/1853914817

https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/album/4CHAKVRCt7OLk4nzx1h2Sm?si=BWlrDGATQV-FUuUSmu4tTA

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mCg8btLvnL6asx_a_xhdzT5NxvUJ0zzrg&si=Ep-JJ13_VtPqeZYG

https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york-john-williams/gdwjs2vjjc5rc

 

For some reason, the previously available version was all blanked out save for the "Finale" track.

 

To my ears, it sounds exactly the same as the 1992 Fox master, but it's nice that the score is finally widely available on streaming.

 

I love that the 20th logo lives on forever on the cover!

[Jurassic Shark 16,363]

 

[Xander Harris 9,558]

On 01/12/2025 at 11:20 AM, Jay said:

 

I love that the 20th logo lives on forever on the cover!

 

And those two big grey rectangles 

 

Eh, Home Alone 2 is good, although repetitive. The main theme plays so often in the finale in the complete version and by that time, it's already been a long listen. I'd buy it if it were reissued but as it stands it's just a bit too expensive on the black market. The Varese Deluxe Edition was an early expanded JW CD set I bought on the net.

 

I actually think the album is a pretty good presentation.

[Bryant Burnette 789]

I was listening to this score earlier today while driving!  Seems like it gets better every year.

[Naïve Old Fart 12,889]

A must better score.

The film is redundant.

[Escape_Velocity 77]

This seems like a good place to bring this up, but does anyone know if there’s an unreleased HLSE for “Christmas Star”?

 

There are Boston Pops programs as far back as 1992 that list the piece being performed. Makes me wonder if Williams made a full SATB arrangement for Christmas Star like he did the other songs. 

[pete 1,322]

39 minutes ago, Escape_Velocity said:

This seems like a good place to bring this up, but does anyone know if there’s an unreleased HLSE for “Christmas Star”?

 

There are Boston Pops programs as far back as 1992 that list the piece being performed. Makes me wonder if Williams made a full SATB arrangement for Christmas Star like he did the other songs. 

 

HLSE and SATB? Is that code???

[Xander Harris 9,558]

The original score is tighter and more sincere

 

I really don’t like the songs in this one. Horner’s has a nice melody.

[scoreman36 194]

Christmas Star is a beautiful composition - definitely my favourite of the HA ‘carols’. Never liked Star Of Bethlehem that much as a standalone piece, although it works really well in the score. 
 

Although the brass coda to Star Of Bethlehem is up there with the best - amazing!

[johnmillions 158]

2 hours ago, pete said:

 

HLSE and SATB? Is that code???

SATB is Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass. Basically for mixed choir. I don't know the other acronym. 

[Escape_Velocity 77]

2 hours ago, pete said:

 

HLSE and SATB? Is that code???

SATB is Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Bass. 
 

For the concert versions of Somewhere in my Memory and Star of Bethlehem, Williams took the original children’s chorus and expanded it out to a full adult chorus of SATB voices. He recorded it on the Boston Pops “Joy to the World” album and on Home Alone 2’s score album.

 

HLSE is Hal Leonard Signature Edition

 

These are the released official concert pieces by John Williams (in addition to recent collection from Joanne Kane music). You can find his official suites and arrangements from films there. I use the term as a shorthand for anything officially by Williams for concert, which I probably shouldn’t. 
 

I guess the heart of my question is whether or not there’s a full adult chorus concert version of Christmas Star out there that’s gone unrecorded and unreleased. 

[Rachael Foley 10,028]

Has anyone tried using mvsep's Matchering on this with the first one, to try and improve the sound?

On 08/12/2025 at 3:02 PM, Naïve Old Fart said:

A must better score.

The film is redundant.

The score is better, the source music is not.

[bollemanneke 4,321]

The score contains brilliant new material and shameful, bordering on clumsy, rehashing of the first one (Preparing the Trap is inexcusably bad). And the performances/acoustics are mostly clearly inferior too.

[Marian Schedenig 11,603]

20 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

The score contains brilliant new material and shameful, bordering on clumsy, rehashing of the first one (Preparing the Trap is inexcusably bad). And the performances/acoustics are mostly clearly inferior too.

 

It has the best version of Star of Bethlehem, JW's probably best source music arrangement of non-original music (the Adeste fideles part of Christmas at Carnegie Hall), and I think I prefer this version of Setting the Trap.