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John Williams's finest film music track of all time - what would you select as his top 10?


Lewya

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Agree with “Adventure on Earth” for the #1 spot.

 

1 hour ago, Taikomochi said:

Jedi Steps and Finale

 

This for an honorable mention, though I much prefer Lockhart’s recording of “Finale” over the film version … but I guess the composition per se still deserves a vote.

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1. The Imperial March

2. Star Wars Main Theme

3. Adventures On Earth

4. Hedwig's Theme

5. Jurassic Park Main Theme

6. Raider's March

7. Jaws Main Theme

8. Across The Stars

9. Duel of the Fates

10. Home Alone - Somewhere in My Memory

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On 7/2/2018 at 9:47 PM, publicist said:

The Early Days

Also a good pick, probably the same as me on Born. What about a top 10?

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Gillian's Vision from The Fury

The Battle of Endor Part III from ROTJ

The Visitors/Bye/End Credits from CE3K

Dracula's Death from Dracula

Indy's Very First Adventure from TLC

Abandoned in the Woods from A.I.

Cadillac of the Skies from EOTS

Hatching Baby Raptor from Jurassic Park

The People's House from Lincoln

The Farewell from Nixon

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You and your ranking. Give it a rest, why don't you? You must be exhausted, with all that ranking?!

 

 

Although the score wouldn't even be in my all-time top-twenty JWs, I do think that ADVENTURES ON EARTH epitomises everything that is John Williams - the good, and the bad. 

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29 minutes ago, Richard said:

Although the score wouldn't even be in my all-time top-twenty JWs, I do think that ADVENTURES ON EARTH epitomises everything that is John Williams - the good, and the bad. 

What bad?  Every note there is perfect.

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6 minutes ago, Steve McQueen said:

What bad?  Every note there is perfect.

 

Maybe he means his sometimes puzzling choices when adapting cues for concert arrangements, since that's using the plural "Adventures" and not the singular "Adventure" of the OST.

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1 hour ago, TGP said:

Stored Memories and Monica's Theme, if it has to be one single track.

 

I vote this one as well. The highest point of one of the greatest scores.

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Rescuing Sarah

 

And in no particular order:

T-Rex Rescue and Finale

Barry's Kidnapping

The Mecha World

Return to the City

Desert Chase

The Motorcade

The Early Days

Visitor in San Diego

I Could Have Done More

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3 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

 

Maybe he means his sometimes puzzling choices when adapting cues for concert arrangements, since that's using the plural "Adventures" and not the singular "Adventure" of the OST.

The concert arrangement is one of his most satisfying, to me.  He took his excellent film cue and rearranged it in an equally excellent symphonic structure.

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18 minutes ago, Steve McQueen said:

The concert arrangement is one of his most satisfying, to me.  He took his excellent film cue and rearranged it in an equally excellent symphonic structure.

 

Once I had the “wrongness” of it pointed out to me I could never un-hear it no matter how I tried to convince myself it didn’t bother me.  I’d rather listen to “The Rescue and Bike Chase” / “The Departure” or the OST recording.

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5 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

 

Once I had the “wrongness” of it pointed out to me I could never un-hear it no matter how I tried to convince myself it didn’t bother me.  I’d rather listen to “The Rescue and Bike Chase” / “The Departure” or the OST recording.

Could you point out this "wrongness" to me?  

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10 minutes ago, Steve McQueen said:

Could you point out this "wrongness" to me?  

 

From the part where the Keys theme comes in at 3:10 to when the bikes lift off the ground (sans triangle :P)

 

Same part in the concert adaptation at 3:07

 

 

It fades off into the goodbye scene music instead of erupting into the joy of the most exuberant expression of the Flying Theme.

 

Maybe it truly doesn't bother you, in which case I am filled with envy.

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I can't possibly pick one top favorite, so here are 10 of my favorites (in no order):

 

"Prologue" (JFK)

"The Meeting in Sicily" (MONSIGNOR)

"The Seduction of Suki and the Ballroom Scene" (THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK)

"Kelso in Barstow" (1941)

"Fawkes the Phoenix" (HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS)

"For Gillian" (THE FURY)

"Remembering Childhood" (HOOK)

"The Plane" (EMPIRE OF THE SUN)

"End Titles: "If We Were in Love"" (IF WE WERE IN LOVE)

"Journey to the Island" (JURASSIC PARK)

 

 

 

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Adventures on Earth is his finest work. 

Rey's Theme is his best of the 21st century

Parade of the Slave Children

Princess Leia's theme

Superman Love Theme

One Barrel Chase

Ben's Death and Attack of the Tie Fighters

Star Wars Main title from Star Wars 1977

Superman Main Title

Jaws Main title.

 

Runner"s up. So many but The Conversation CE3

Hedwigs Theme

Towering Inferno Main Title

Planting the Charges.

Rebel Fleet and End Titles.

Jedi Steps

Lost World

Short Rounds Theme

Duel of the Fates

Marion's Theme

 

 

 

Honorable mention to two tv tracks Lost In Space season 1 theme and Lost in Space season 3 .

 

 

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38 minutes ago, Breadstick Basilisk said:

 

Do you refer to the soundtrack version or the concert version (the one he recorded w/ Boston Pops)?

Regardless if it is Adventure or Adventures I prefer the original soundtrack recording version from 1982. As I have said before and I posted before it is John's ticket to heaven. It makes God weep.

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1 minute ago, Stefancos said:

When John goes to heaven, God will thank him for E.T.

Indeed hell even Satan will thank him it's that good

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9 hours ago, Steve McQueen said:

What bad?  Every note there is perfect.

 

What I mean by that, is that ADVENTURES ON EARTH is often cited by JW's detractors as an example of all that is wrong with his music: overblown, overstated, and "top-heavy".

Personally, don't care about that. I just like to listen to the track.

 

 

6 minutes ago, Stefancos said:

When John goes to heaven, God will thank him for E.T.

 

If JW gets to Heaven, he will thank God, for letting him in.

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1 minute ago, Richard said:

top-heavy

 

A simple yet brilliant device

he uses time and time again to evoke flight!

 

3 minutes ago, Richard said:

If JW gets to Heavenhe will thank God, for letting him in.

 

God's been chillin' with musicians like Scatman and 2-Pac, I think He'd welcome new company!

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I think Tupac is wearing short sleeves and a wishing he had a cold one where he is at.

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Off the top of my head, not necessarily in this order....

 

Journey to the Island 

Adventure on Earth

Theme from Schindler's List 

Hymn to the Fallen 

Duel of the Fates 

Harry's Wondrous World 

Indy's Very First Adventure 

Abandoned in the Woods 

The Jungle Chase 

The Land Race 

 

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