What Is The Last Score You Listened To? (older scores)

[Jay 45,124]

He just stopped posting one day.  Never gave an explanation why that I saw

[Edmilson 11,597]

5 minutes ago, #SnowyVernalSpringsEternal said:

What happened to Stu?

He quit the forum after a particularly heated discussion that broke forum rules (which I think was deleted by the mods) about the 2023 Oscars. If I recall correctly, it was about that word that people used to say when they finished sleeping but since then became a political hot topic.

[Jay 45,124]

14 minutes ago, Yavar Moradi said:

"Second we have a little bonus for you all. As you know we recorded the Chairman and a suite of rarities. These are all mastered as part of the album. However, Leigh created a little bonus that is not included in the digital or CD versions of the album. He took those bonus tracks and mastered them to fit in with the mastering of the original albums. I.e. if you wanted to include the end title of Rambo II on your album of Rambo II, he mastered it to match that albums mastering. As an example, here is the end title to Rambo II."

 

That's really cool!

[Bespin Copilot 10,512]

For the 38 minute I saw of the movie (and yes, including the collision scene), filmtracks is right on the spot for one time hehe

[Jay 45,124]

How good or bad a film is has nothing to do with how good or bad its score is

[Tallguy 6,897]

54 minutes ago, Jay said:

How good or bad a film is has nothing to do with how good or bad its score is

 

Otherwise Jerry would not have had a career. 

[crocodile 9,516]

 Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi. Great Philip Glass trilogy. Each entry highlights different approach and sound, making all three enjoyable in different ways. Haven't heard all them together in quite some time.

 

Karol

[HunterTech 1,643]

[Kasey Kockroach 2,640]

[Andy 7,129]

Jerry Double

 

The Chairman knocked my socks off!  I was hesitant at first, Goldsmith’s ethnic mode being hit or miss for me.  This is a percussive delight.  Bits of it sound like Planet of the Apes to me.  This recording is sharp and lively.  So glad to have supported it.  I doubt I would’ve enjoyed it as much if I’d listened to an inferior recording of the original performance first. 
 

The bonus tracks are absolutely superb, every one of them.  Game of Their Lives had me smiling with a tear in my eye. 
 

 

Medicine Man was good, but not great for me.  I’d heard bits of the OST before, but as a whole, it felt lacking something.  I did get very strong Dances With Wolves vibes from the theme.  Not sure if it was temped, or if that was just the big score of the time that may have influenced.  Nice theme, and pleasant enough, but overall an average Jerry. 

[HunterTech 1,643]

[filmmusic 3,008]

On 15/01/2026 at 4:14 AM, Andy said:

but overall an average Jerry. 

Haven't listened to it yet (I have listened to the OST, but I don't remember it), but usually an average Jerry is much better than a "masterpiece" of today! 

[Naïve Old Fart 12,650]

I'd take one of Jerry's synth-farts over most modern soundtracks.

[filmmusic 3,008]

25 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

I'd take one of Jerry's synth-farts over most modern soundtracks.

Tell me about it.

As someone said (I was watching some film scores analyses videos of his in youtube - in Greek), we have come today to the point that we hail the "absolute nothing" in film music!

I just finished watching previously Knights of the Round table (1953) with a score by Rozsa.

I bet it would be considered just an average score for the standards of that era.

Yet, if you put it next to an Oscar winner or nominated score of today (yes, I know I give much importance to the Oscars), the latter seems like nothing at all and the former like a masterpiece!

[Andy 7,129]

I remember when the latest Planet of the Apes movie quoted Goldsmith’s The Hunt from the original.  People went Ape over it.  To be fair, I haven’t listened to the entire score, but I can’t be bothered when the original is on my shelf.  But yeah, add one tiny drop of Goldsmith to an average modern score and it creates quite a stir. 

[Jurassic Shark 16,042]

 

[Naïve Old Fart 12,650]

Oh, not this, again? 

[filmmusic 3,008]

On 15/01/2026 at 4:14 AM, Andy said:

Medicine Man was good, but not great for me.  I’d heard bits of the OST before, but as a whole, it felt lacking something.  I did get very strong Dances With Wolves vibes from the theme.  Not sure if it was temped, or if that was just the big score of the time that may have influenced.  Nice theme, and pleasant enough, but overall an average Jerry. 

So, I listened to this.

I see what you mean about being average Jerry. Yeah, maybe it was average for Goldsmith's standards (or general standards of this kind of film music back then).

Still I think it's way better than most modern soundtracks as we've pointed out.

By the way, that theme of "Rae's arrival", yeah, I didn't like that one..

[Edmilson 11,597]

41 minutes ago, filmmusic said:

By the way, that theme of "Rae's arrival", yeah, I didn't like that one..

Not a fan of South American music, heh? 

 

By the way, despite the movie being set in the Amazonian regions of Brazil, that theme has nothing to do with Brazilian music, including that from the area. Seems more like something from the Peruvian Andes or something. But anyway...

 

It's a good score! Yeah, Jerry's synths really date the movie, but the love theme in The Trees is pretty good.  

[filmmusic 3,008]

3 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

Not a fan of South American music, heh? 

I'd say I'm not a fan of fast tempo, happy, simple (or simplistic) themes.

It's the reason I'm not a fan of John Williams's Follow me, from Always either. (I do like the original cue though)

[Tallguy 6,897]

I started trying to listen to Medicine Man while I was running errands. In the driving snow. Just couldn't do it. Put on Sneakers instead.

[Naïve Old Fart 12,650]

Yeah, SNEAKERS is a very wintery score.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 11,808]

I often find myself playing it over the holidays. 

[Marian Schedenig 11,310]

1 hour ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

Yeah, SNEAKERS is a very wintery score.

 

Well, the film does start with a winter scene.

[Jurassic Shark 16,042]

You can't wear sneakers in winter. 

[The Score Cleaner 9,505]

3 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

You can't wear sneakers in winter. 

False. I have seen several Chuck wearers in winter.

[Jurassic Shark 16,042]

Well, it’s cold and impractical during a proper winter.

[Edmilson 11,597]

And @Jurassic Shark knows what he's talking about when he mentions "a proper winter" 

[The Score Cleaner 9,505]

A proper winter stays outside where it belongs.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 11,808]

15 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

 

Well, the film does start with a winter scene.

 

And Christmas gifts!

 

Peace on Earth and goodwill towards all men.

[Naïve Old Fart 12,650]

We are the United States government. We don't do that kind of thing 

[Jay 45,124]

Catching up on last week's listens - all of these are the physical CD editions that I just took the shrinkwrap off of, for this listen:

 

Jerry Goldsmith - Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2022 LLL 2-CD)

 

I've long considered this one of my favorite film scores and one of the greatest film scores of all time... and I guess I do still think that, but I will say on this listen, for the first time that I can recall I got a but antsy listening through the main program for some reason.  There's so much gorgeous music here but... there's so much gorgeous music here!  Ya know?  On this listen I really paid attention to the early versions a lot more than ever before, and found quite a lot to enjoy in there.  Really cool being able to hear how the score got shaped to its final form!

 

 

James Horner - 48 Hrs (2022 Intrada)

 

I've really been digging this score lately with several phone listens, so felt it was time to open up the physical copy and add it to the main part of the shelf!  I forgot that the order of things here has the Busboys songs in between the main Horner score and the Horner alternates (my phone version pushes them to the end and I never listen to them anyway).   Anyway, the actual Horner score and alternates are all awesome, it's so funny every time to hear that figure I associate more with Aliens (Futile Escape) but it still sounds awesome.  Really fun score!

 

Michael Kamen - Die Hard (2018 LLL 3-CD)

 

I saw the film again this Christmas and that finally spurred me to open up this set!  Enough time has passed now since the Varese, then boot, then the old LLL, then fan edits, etc versions that this felt like a fresh listen and its so good to have the ENTIRE score finally in FANTASTIC sound.  Actually, listening on headphones, Kamen did some wild stuff with the synths that really makes them stand out in a cool way.  But damn its great to put all those old versions behind and only now have this one good version that sounds incredible.  Fun score!

 

 

Craig Safan - The Last Starfighter (2022 Intrada)

 

This has always been one of my favorite scores, and it really plays about as well in the old 1990s program as it does this complete program (I don't think I've heard the 1984 OST LP program before, can't remember).  Actually my ears perked up a few times on cool passages that all turned out to be from cues exclusive to the complete programs that weren't on the 1990s program so that was really cool.  This remaster sounds FANTASTIC.  Great score!

[filmmusic 3,008]

 

The Blue Max

Great score (someone in another forum said maybe it's Goldsmith's greatest, although I wouldn't agree having listened to his entire film output).

Well, I don't know what else to say, that's it! I'm no good at describing (either films or music).

By the way, has anyone seen the film? Is it good?

The OOP Twilight Time release is selling for exuberant prices at ebay.

I wonder if a 4k would come, especially this year, which is the film's 60th anniversary.

But I think it's Disney (since it's a FOX film), so I guess we'll never see a 4k of it..

27 minutes ago, Jay said:

James Horner - 48 Hrs (2022 Intrada)

 

I've really been digging this score lately with several phone listens, so felt it was time to open up the physical copy and add it to the main part of the shelf!  I forgot that the order of things here has the Busboys songs in between the main Horner score and the Horner alternates (my phone version pushes them to the end and I never listen to them anyway).   Anyway, the actual Horner score and alternates are all awesome, it's so funny every time to hear that figure I associate more with Aliens (Futile Escape) but it still sounds awesome.  Really fun score!

Haven't heard this! I've only seen the film in the long past, but I don't remember anything of it.

Checking this release, it seems it's quite a short score! 

How is the sequel score? Have you listened to it? Same themes?

[Edmilson 11,597]

58 minutes ago, filmmusic said:

Great score (someone in another forum said maybe it's Goldsmith's greatest, although I wouldn't agree having listened to his entire film output).

What score do you personally consider as Goldsmith's greatest?

[Bespin Copilot 10,512]

It’s said that the original Yavin battle scene in Star Wars was edited to a temp track from The Blue Max.

[Jurassic Shark 16,042]

Who said that? 

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 11,808]

Another topic shifting to Star Wars! @Jay was right.

[Tallguy 6,897]

15 minutes ago, #SnowyVernalSpringsEternal said:

Another topic shifting to Star Wars! @Jay was right.

 

That's OK. On the OT Star Wars thread we're talking about Lord of the Rings. It was ever thus.

[Edmilson 11,597]

Paraphrasing House of Cards: "Everything is about Star Wars, except Star Wars. Star Wars is about Lord of the Rings".

[The Score Cleaner 9,505]

17 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

Paraphrasing House of Cards: "Everything is about Star Wars, except Star Wars. Star Wars is about Lord of the Rings".

"Everything tastes like Star wars, except the Star Wars, Which tastes like Lord of the Rings!"

[filmmusic 3,008]

45 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

What score do you personally consider as Goldsmith's greatest?

Well, it's difficult to pick.

I don't know about greatest, but my own favorite of all is Legend I think.

Then, there is Star Trek, Poltergeist, Total Recall; really don't know what to pick...

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 11,808]

Star Trek: The Motion Picture 

Rambo: First Blood Part II

Basic Instinct 

Under Fire

Planet Of The Apes 

[Edmilson 11,597]

4 minutes ago, filmmusic said:

Well, it's difficult to pick.

I don't know about greatest, but my own favorite of all is Legend I think.

Then, there is Star Trek, Poltergeist, Total Recall; really don't know what to pick...

My personal favorites are Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Total Recall. The scores that introduced me to Jerry. 

 

Even today, I still consider them two of the greatest film scores of all time. And Total Recall might actually be the greatest action score of all time.

[Jay 45,124]

2 hours ago, filmmusic said:

Haven't heard this! I've only seen the film in the long past, but I don't remember anything of it.

Checking this release, it seems it's quite a short score! 

 

Yup very short, but its good and satisfying, especially if you just continue on and listen to all the bonus tracks along with it.

 

2 hours ago, filmmusic said:

How is the sequel score? Have you listened to it? Same themes?

 

It's really not that good.

 

On 22/11/2025 at 11:37 AM, Jay said:

James Horner - 48 Hrs

 

The most recent Intrada release.  This is a fun score that has so much in common with Aliens that I can't help but smile when listening.  I had no idea how much of Aliens came from Horner's prior works until decades after falling in love with that score, but hearing all the origins don't make me love it any less.  Anwyays, this score is fun, and a nice length.

 

 

James Horner - Another 48 Hrs

 

Also the most recent Intrada release.  This one sadly isn't a patch on the original.  Most of it is either reprises of film 1 material with little variation, or new material that really isn't all that interesting.  A rare Horner score where I didn't even walk away with one track I'd want to add to a highlights playlist.  Maybe I'd find one after another listen.

 

[filmmusic 3,008]

43 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

And Total Recall might actually be the greatest action score of all time.

Yeah, I think I could agree to that. I may have said this myself somewhere here.

[Andy 7,129]

 

30 years ago, I found Elliot Goldenthal’s Batman scores to be headache inducing.  After listening to the expansion I’m not sure I’ve changed my position on that. But man ya gotta give the man credit for swinging for the fences. This score does not let up!  Some of his techniques like the blaring high trumpets still grate. But the expansion does give more appreciation for the Two Face theme and the operatic nature of the whole.  This is not relaxing music. But I can’t say it’s thrilling either. The Batman theme (motif?) never really gains enough traction to go anywhere interesting.  The Nygma stuff all sounds like Elfman produced it. Did he? I have to sit down with the liner notes tonight.  I’m glad to revisit this though. It’s loud and obnoxious, but I think that’s the point.  I got a little nostalgic for the Schumacher films after listening.  They really did veer closer to the 1966 Batman, and they added color like a good comic book movie should.  I’m keeping this one for when I feel like music written by a madman. 
 

“Master Dick” 

[HunterTech 1,643]

24 minutes ago, Andy said:

The Nygma stuff all sounds like Elfman produced it. Did he?

 

Nope, but Shirley Walker and some of her DCAU alumni were part of the crew for Forever's score, so that's maybe why it made you think of Elfman.

[Andy 7,129]

Interesting! Is that why some of those high trilling brass blasts made it into WB animated scores of the era like What’s New Scooby Doo? A sort of musical cross pollination?

[Jay 45,124]

Catching up on digital listens from last week

 

Alan Silvestri - Predator (Varese)

 

The best sounding version of this cracking good score.  I still prefer Predator 2, but both are great in different ways.

 

 

Danny Elfman - White Noise

 

I listened to this after a conversation about it earlier in this thread (I think it was this thread anyway).  It's a fun score, not consequential in Elfman's oeuvre by any means, but still worth checking out.  The album starts off slow, actually, you could just start at "Up There" and listen from there until the end.

[Andy 7,129]

2 minutes ago, Jay said:

Alan Silvestri - Predator (Varese)

 

The best sounding version of this cracking good score. 

Interesting. Care to elaborate? What sounds better to your ears over the Intrada(s)?