Close Encounters of the Third Kind - La-La Land MUSIC Discussion

[Disco Stu 10720]

Sure, I'll concede the distinction.  Either way, the LLL Disc 1 is a Perfect Album.

[SyncMan 118]

...And after all those years, Spielberg is still holding on to not having that "wish-upon-a-star" melody in the end credits of his movie.

 

In this recording of the CE3K-Live-to-Projection concert from last year in England (cue this to the 34-second mark), the original end-credits arrangement is not used.

 

Although this concert didn't use the hacked-up version from the theatrical cut either, this arrangement we're hearing does use material from the score we've heard just moments before and it ends with the concert-suite arrangement.

[Holko 5489]

For some reason he had the proper credits in the Special Ed, but not the Director's Ed which the LTPs use.

It is weird how this one just splices Contact right back then goes back to the recorded credits ending.

[karelm 1939]

The live to picture uses the 40th anniversary print, not the director’s cut, no?

[Jay 19029]

The Live to Projection concert uses the 1998 cut.  The 40th anniversary theatrical re-release in theaters two years also used the 1998 cut.

[Naïve Old Fart 4904]

That would make it the 20th anniversary print. 

[bollemanneke 1805]

I don't know if this has arleady been discussed, but the LLL press release stated that disc one's program was guided by the discovery that Williams wanted the album to be 2 LPs. So does that mean disc 1 IS that LP program, or did MM include things that weren't supposed to be on those LPs?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10237]

The second.

[bollemanneke 1805]

So I guess there's no way to end up with the original LP idea?

[Amer 1155]

2 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

So I guess there's no way to end up with the original LP idea?

I think the album was planned as a 2LP set with almost the entire score or near to it. I think Mattesino's presentation on disc 1 is following that program, but we cant be too sure. I will have to read the booklet again and listen to it again as well.CE3K is in my top 5 Williams list.

[Corellian2019 237]

Yes, according to MM's liner notes, Disc 1 "takes its lead from that original intent", meaning the 74-minute double LP

[rough cut 901]

I think it’ll be impossible to say for sure what would’ve been a 2 LP program, since it never happened.

 

It’ll be one of those musical ideas forever lost in time, and the industry and fans will try forever to recreate them as they “could have been”...

 

...like The Beach Boys’s Smile, Prince’s Dream Factory or Marvin Gaye’s You’re The Man...

 

...but the truth is, we’ll never know.

[Corellian2019 237]

Luckily "You're The Man" was released this March 

[The Five Tones 289]

You're the Man was released, but it is a stretch to call it an album. Almost all tracks appeared on earlier comps or DEs and in no way does it hold together as a concept of any kind (never mind evidencing the self-contained sonic universe of an album tracked over a limited set of dates in a fixed recording environment e.g. almost all JW scores). That said, I'm glad it was released and I certainly had it on repeat. I reached for it just now in my "on hand" collection.

[rough cut 901]

Yup, that.

[Naïve Old Fart 4904]

17 hours ago, Amer said:

I think the album was planned as a 2LP set with almost the entire score or near to it.

You are right, Amer. I remember reading that CE3K would be a 2LP set. When it got changed to one LP, and who made the decision to reduce it, it don't know.

 

 

17 hours ago, Amer said:

CE3K is in my top 5 Williams list.

That's four places too low.

[The Illustrious Jerry 2888]

THE GIFT OF MUSIC AND LIGHT: Close Encounters of the Third Kind 40th Anniversary Remastered Edition (La La Land Records)

A few weeks ago I took advantage of LLL's thoughtful 30%-off sale, nabbing two sets, one of which was Close Encounters of the Third Kind. CE3K has been on my list for a while, and I was happy to add it to my collection of expanded sets, which up until now consisted only of E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (a real ace, in case you didn't know already!). 

 

I spent many afternoons gazing longingly at the order page, and in good time my package arrived in fine condition (not perfect per se, but I'm not one to complain). There was a slight fold, a crease, if you will, in the liner notes. I've placed the booklet in the pages of an old dictionary as one might have done when pressing leaves in primary school (anyone?). All the same, what little problem there was has now been corrected. No major scratches, cracks or "missing teeth" to report. 

 

Any confusion as to the presentation of the score is soon dispelled upon reading MM's explanation. Each disc, quite simply, provides a unique and equally worthy listening experience. I was reminded of a quote from @Jay that I read when I was still a "lurker", which read something like, "Just pop in disc one and hit play, and pop in disc two and hit play". MM says the same thing, in so many words. With these wise reassurances, as I can always count on from such great people, I did exactly this, and I have no qualms with the arrangement.

 

Disc 1 is an immediate favourite, bringing out the awe, mystery, and majesty of Williams score in a new and coherent way. I was reminded of the two distinct contrasts that make up the bulk of the entire score: modern orchestral effects (i.e. dense layering, dissonance), and wondrous melodic ideas. The score is a real masterclass in combining these two points towards the greatest of results, nowhere more evident than in the finale on the latter half of the disc. 

 

MM briefly runs through each of the themes/motifs of the film in an informative and easy-to-read way. That being said, the production of the liner notes, the front and back cover, and the discs is, as always, of the highest quality, displaying an astute attention to detail from the artwork to the tiniest print. 

 

All in all, it didn't take long for me to realize that this set is of a ridiculously high quality. I never doubted the team at LLL, but perhaps I had forgotten just how good they are at what they do. Once again, I have considerable appreciation and gratitude for the label, their collaborators, and the network of film score fans that keep them running (yes YOU!). Together we allow the magic of music to enter into each of our lives in a uniquely rewarding way. Thank you!

[King Mark 2673]

I rearranged all the tracks to have the most complete Chrono edit as possible (guide somewhere on this thread I think). I play this set a lot , more than most other LLL expansions

[The Big Man 7615]

The LLL playlist is fine as it is.

[Holko 5489]

It's good. But a lot of things are better in chrono, like the inclusion of Watching the Skies, 5 notes source bits as buildup, no repetition with Helicopter stuck to False Alarm, the lovely Stars and Trucks instead of that crappy edit, etc.

[Jurassic Shark 6544]

Well, as this is your default opinion, it's not very valuable.

[The Big Man 7615]

He'll see red if one friggin nanosecond is outside of strict chronological order. 

[Holko 5489]

Go fuck yourself.

[Jurassic Shark 6544]

1 minute ago, Þekþiþm said:

He'll see red if one friggin nanosecond is outside of strict chronological order. 

 

Even the silence between tracks has to be chronological.

[Brundlefly 1806]

2 minutes ago, Þekþiþm said:

He'll see red if one friggin nanosecond is outside of strict chronological order. 

Meanwhile, I see red, when modern releases fuck the listening experience in the ass just in order to be chronological and provide clean endings of every goddamn cue.

[The Big Man 7615]

10 minutes ago, Holko said:

Go fuck yourself.

 

I'm proven right again!

[Falco 2398]

5 hours ago, Þekþiþm said:

 

I'm proven right again!

How?

[Demondm810 284]

This release is so so good.  I've listened to Close Encounters more since this release than any times prior.  Incredible work.  

[Jay 19029]

I listened to the 1998 release a lot when I first got it, which was the first peak of my film scoredom when I was first discovering the magic of film scores in general.  Then I really didn't listen to it that often for almost 20 years until this came out, and the amazing new sound quality and new presentation really made me fall in love with the score all over again in a new way.  It's a masterpiece.

[crumbs 8681]

I listened to random disc 2 tracks earlier, some of them were quite jarring after becoming accustomed to tracks on disc 1.

 

Was confused when the end of The Returnees (disc 1) appeared at the end of I Can't Believe It's Real (disc 2)... but I accept this isn't a score or film I'm totally familiar with, so presumably the former is just another example of JW's "listening experience" cue combos (I didn't check the liner notes for an explanation).

[Jay 19029]

"I Can't Believe It's Real" is a track from the 1977 OST LP, which combined 11M2/12M1 The Mountain with 16M3 The Pilots Return, with edits

 

"The Returnees" is 16M3 The Pilots Return in its own track with no edits.

[crumbs 8681]

Thanks Jay, explains that one. 

[Edmilson 1950]

Listened to it yesterday, following the chronological order on Jay's spreadsheet.

[stravinsky 144]

I'm ashamed to say I played this excellent set again today for the first time in a couple of years. I've hardly listened to it. I can't believe its nearly three years since release. 

       What impressed me again today were the three "Source Music" Orchestral cues on Disc 2. The first sounding like a lost Main Title to some Ernest Gold-esque Biblical Epic that was never made. The second terrific action cue pre-echoes Williams work on Superman a year later. Plus a joy to hear Williams "Stalling Around" in the cartoon music. 

       Just more testament to Williams' great versatility really. Also I love the idea of what feels like two completely separate scores for the same movie spread over two discs. 

 

 

 

[Jay 19029]

Just now, stravinsky said:

Also I love the idea of what feels like two completely separate scores for the same movie spread over two discs. 

 

Hehe, yea

[stravinsky 144]

Im pissed off because my profile photo appears on my profile but not next to my name in the threads. 

 

 

[Jay 19029]

You uploaded it to the Cover Image area, instead of the Profile Photo area. It's the button on the left

[Datameister 1117]

3 hours ago, stravinsky said:

I'm ashamed to say I played this excellent set again today for the first time in a couple of years. I've hardly listened to it. I can't believe its nearly three years since release. 

       What impressed me again today were the three "Source Music" Orchestral cues on Disc 2. The first sounding like a lost Main Title to some Ernest Gold-esque Biblical Epic that was never made. The second terrific action cue pre-echoes Williams work on Superman a year later. Plus a joy to hear Williams "Stalling Around" in the cartoon music. 

       Just more testament to Williams' great versatility really. Also I love the idea of what feels like two completely separate scores for the same movie spread over two discs. 

 

 

 

 

Yeah the source music is a great inclusion.

 

I must admit I don't think I've listened to the album itself since I first received it - I appreciate the care that went into the creative split between the discs, but I still prefer to listen to my own mostly chronological sequencing.

[Holko 5489]

10 hours ago, stravinsky said:

The first sounding like a lost Main Title to some Ernest Gold-esque Biblical Epic that was never made.

It actually makes me sad that JW never got to do a Rózsaesque genre of epic!

[stravinsky 144]

9 hours ago, Jay said:

You uploaded it to the Cover Image area, instead of the Profile Photo area. It's the button on the left

 

Thankyou for your help Jay. And your estimable knowledge. In general. 

3 minutes ago, Holko said:

It actually makes me sad that JW never got to do a Rózsaesque genre of epic!

 

I guess the Genre had long died out by the 70s but imagine what Williams would have done with such a movie!