The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Morricone) 3 CD set released by Quartet Records

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

Quartet Records, in collaboration with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Capitol Records and Universal Music Enterprises, is proud to present a mammoth 3-CD expanded edition of Ennio Morricone’s iconic score for the no-less iconic 1966 epic western by Sergio Leone: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach.   THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY features what is probably the most instantly recognizable and famous of Morricone’s themes. But there is much more to admire in this score, such as the inventive motifs, formation of thematic material and adroit orchestrations (which the Maestro considered possibly even more important than the act of composition). The composer created his own genre and utilized the recording studio as an instrument in achieving his vision by layering trumpets and varying echo to create a sense of depth.   This score is a kaleidoscope of nature call-and-response symbols, agonized shouts, grunting male chorus, epic wordless female voice, haunting harmonica, spiritual bugling trumpets, tolling chimes, vivid surf-rock Fender guitar, and sounds imitating gunfire. It is stylized yet cinematic. It is avant-garde yet embraces traditional film scoring—with some cues scored reverently for trumpet, harmonica, strings and chorus.   The original 34-minute album has seen countless releases on LP and CD since 1966. An expanded 55-minute CD edition was released in 2001, but it was still far from including all the material that Morricone had conceived for the film. For this new Quartet release we have included all this material thanks to newly discovered original recording sessions vaulted in mono at MGM, which also include a large number of alternates, revised cues and music that was ultimately not included in the film. The original album has been included on Disc 3 for its historical value, although it has been remastered for the first time from the first-generation stereo master tapes.   The entire collection has been painstakingly restored and mastered by Chris Malone. The package includes a richly illustrated 24-page booklet with liner notes by Tim Greiving, who offers a detailed analysis of the film and score, including quotes from an exclusive interview with Clint Eastwood given especially for this release. This album is a loving tribute to the memory and impressive legacy of one of the greatest geniuses in film music history: Maestro Ennio Morricone.   DISC 1. The Film Score 1. Prologo / Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (titoli) (2:47) 2. Il brutto / Il tramonto (1:21) 3. Morte di Stevens (0:55) 4. Morte di Baker / Il cattivo (0:27) 5. Una taglia sulla testa / Un angelo biondo (0:52) 6. Fuga a cavallo (0:45) 7. Il buono / Il biondo abbandona Tuco nel deserto (0:37) 8. La confessione di Maria (1:14) 9. Il ponte di corde (0:50) 10. Tuco fa la colletta (1:05) 11. Suspense (1:14) 12. I tre desperados / Una cannonata provvindenziale (1:10) 13. Il forte (2:21) 14. All’inseguimento del biondo (2:25) 15. Il deserto (5:16) 16. Il deserto secondo (2:39) 17. Lo stivale (0:59) 18. La carrozza dei fantasmi (2:07) 19. Biondo… non morire! (0:56) 20. La missione di San Antonio / Il mio miglior nemico veglia su di me (2:23) 21. Incontro con Padre Ramirez / Perdonami fratello / Ti aiuterà a difenderti (2:38) 22. Il Canyon dei Morti / Dio è con noi (0:26) 23. Marcetta prima / Marcetta seconda (2:45) 24. Il campo di prigionia di Betterville (1:25) 25. La storia di un soldato (5:34) 26. Un treno per la forca / Partenza del treno militare (1:56) 27. Tuco e Wallace (La storia di un soldato) (3:52) 28. Tuco scappa / Arrivo nella cittadina / Fine di una spia (1:16) 29. Il bandito monco (2:52) 30. Inseguilo! (0:56) 31. Il bagnoschiuma di Tuco (0:46) 32. Due contro cinque / Verso duecentomilla dollari (4:06)   DISC 2. The Film Score (Cont.) 1. Il capitano nordista (3:12) 2. Due assalti al giorno (2:08) 3. Il capitano e’ ferito (1:20) 4. Marcetta senza speranza (1:51) 5. L’ esplosione del ponte (0:48) 6. Morte di un soldato (3:17) 7. L’estasi dell’oro (3:23) 8. In due scaverete più presto! / Il triello (2:50) 9. Il triello seconda parte (2:20) 10. Non e’ uno scherzo, e’una corda / Nella linea del mirino / Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (0:56) 11. Finale (2:01) Bonus Tracks 12. Titoli (Versione film con cannonata) (2:46) 13. La storia di un soldato (Orchestral Version) (2:54) 14. Il tramonto (Alternate) (0:58) 15. Morte di Stevens (Alternate) (0:54) 16. Fuga a cavallo (Film Version) (0:45) 17. Intermezzo musicale (0:23) 18. Il forte (Alternate) (0:56) 19. Marcetta (Alternate) (2:44) 20. Organo (0:16) 21. Organo secondo (1:33) 22. L’estasi dell’oro (Mono Album Mix) (3:23) 23. Il triello (Alternate) (3:15) 24. Il triello / Il triello seconda parte (Extended Version) (7:13) 25. La storia di un soldato (Alternate) (3:56) 26. Lo stivale (Extended Sustain) (2:17) 27. Uahuah & effetti (2:04) 28. La storia di un soldato (Extended Stereo Version) (7:29) 29. Il triello (Alternate – Stereo Mix) (3:15) 30. La storia di un soldato (Extended Version) (3:55) 31. Titoli (Versione film con cannonata – Stereo Mix) (2:47)   DISC 3. Original Soundtrack Album 1. Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (2:42) 2. Il tramonto (1:16) 3. Il forte (2:23) 4. Il deserto (5:18) 5. La carrozza dei fantasmi (2:08) 6. Marcetta (2:50) 7. La storia di un soldato (3:54) 8. Marcetta senza speranza (1:52) 9. Morte di un soldato (3:10) 10. L’estasi dell’oro (3:24) 11. Il triello (4:57)

[Koray Savas 2,251]

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

Funny that I've been hoping for an expanded and remastered release of TGTBTU recently, and now it materialized out of the blue!

[Naïve Old Fart 9,511]

This is the soundtrack release of the year. I can't think of anything of more importance, or of greater historical value.

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

That's right.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

That particular score that, bewilderingly, everyone else you've met seems to know and recall.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

It's a grail I didn't know I had.  Instant buy!

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

I'm totally OK with the complete score being in mono, and I hope people won't refrain from purchasing because of that. But I do wonder what's the story about the three stereo bonus tracks.

 

The remastered album is incredible. They've even fixed the microseconds of "missing tape" at the beginning of the main title.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Just now, Jurassic Shark said:

The remastered album is incredible

 

Yes, the first-generation remaster of the OST is almost worth the price all by itself.

[Holko 9,516]

4 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

I'm totally OK with the complete score being in mono, and I hope people won't refrain from purchasing because of that.

I'm more worried about the quality, obvious by a comparison of the correct film program and OST samples. I'll have to listen to the whole thing to decide I guess.

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

Just now, Holko said:

I'm more worried about the quality, obvious by a comparison of the correct film program and OST samples. I'll have to listen to the whole thing to decide I guess.

 

If you're OK with the sound quality of the non-OST tracks of the GDM release, I wouldn't be worried. 

 

 

[Bespin 8,480]

We should start a new poll: which one are you, the good, the bad or the ugly? 🤣

[Jay 37,336]

For some reason the tracklist wasn't posted into the main thread so here it is

 

DISC 1. The Film Score

1. Prologo / Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (titoli) (2:47)

2. Il brutto / Il tramonto (1:21)

3. Morte di Stevens (0:55)

4. Morte di Baker / Il cattivo (0:27)

5. Una taglia sulla testa / Un angelo biondo (0:52)

6. Fuga a cavallo (0:45)

7. Il buono / Il biondo abbandona Tuco nel deserto (0:37)

8. La confessione di Maria (1:14)

9. Il ponte di corde (0:50)

10. Tuco fa la colletta (1:05)

11. Suspense (1:14)

12. I tre desperados / Una cannonata provvindenziale (1:10)

13. Il forte (2:21)

14. All’inseguimento del biondo (2:25)

15. Il deserto (5:16)

16. Il deserto secondo (2:39)

17. Lo stivale (0:59)

18. La carrozza dei fantasmi (2:07)

19. Biondo… non morire! (0:56)

20. La missione di San Antonio / Il mio miglior nemico veglia su di me (2:23)

21. Incontro con Padre Ramirez / Perdonami fratello / Ti aiuterà a difenderti (2:38)

22. Il Canyon dei Morti / Dio è con noi (0:26)

23. Marcetta prima / Marcetta seconda (2:45)

24. Il campo di prigionia di Betterville (1:25)

25. La storia di un soldato (5:34)

26. Un treno per la forca / Partenza del treno militare (1:56)

27. Tuco e Wallace (La storia di un soldato) (3:52)

28. Tuco scappa / Arrivo nella cittadina / Fine di una spia (1:16)

29. Il bandito monco (2:52)

30. Inseguilo! (0:56)

31. Il bagnoschiuma di Tuco (0:46)

32. Due contro cinque / Verso duecentomilla dollari (4:06)

 

DISC 2. The Film Score (Cont.)

1. Il capitano nordista (3:12)

2. Due assalti al giorno (2:08)

3. Il capitano e’ ferito (1:20)

4. Marcetta senza speranza (1:51)

5. L’ esplosione del ponte (0:48)

6. Morte di un soldato (3:17)

7. L’estasi dell’oro (3:23)

8. In due scaverete più presto! / Il triello (2:50)

9. Il triello seconda parte (2:20)

10. Non e’ uno scherzo, e’una corda / Nella linea del mirino / Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (0:56)

11. Finale (2:01)

 

Bonus Tracks

12. Titoli (Versione film con cannonata) (2:46)

13. La storia di un soldato (Orchestral Version) (2:54)

14. Il tramonto (Alternate) (0:58)

15. Morte di Stevens (Alternate) (0:54)

16. Fuga a cavallo (Film Version) (0:45)

17. Intermezzo musicale (0:23)

18. Il forte (Alternate) (0:56)

19. Marcetta (Alternate) (2:44)

20. Organo (0:16)

21. Organo secondo (1:33)

22. L’estasi dell’oro (Mono Album Mix) (3:23)

23. Il triello (Alternate) (3:15)

24. Il triello / Il triello seconda parte (Extended Version) (7:13)

25. La storia di un soldato (Alternate) (3:56)

26. Lo stivale (Extended Sustain) (2:17)

27. Uahuah & effetti (2:04)

28. La storia di un soldato (Extended Stereo Version) (7:29)

29. Il triello (Alternate – Stereo Mix) (3:15)

30. La storia di un soldato (Extended Version) (3:55)

31. Titoli (Versione film con cannonata – Stereo Mix) (2:47)

 

DISC 3. Original Soundtrack Album

1. Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (2:42)

2. Il tramonto (1:16)

3. Il forte (2:23)

4. Il deserto (5:18)

5. La carrozza dei fantasmi (2:08)

6. Marcetta (2:50)

7. La storia di un soldato (3:54)

8. Marcetta senza speranza (1:52)

9. Morte di un soldato (3:10)

10. L’estasi dell’oro (3:24)

11. Il triello (4:57)

[Disco Stu 15,495]

And I just got a glimpse of the shipping cost for US residents direct from Quartet. Definitely buying these from Screen Archives!

[Holko 9,516]

8 minutes ago, Jay said:

DISC 3. Original Soundtrack Album

1. Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (2:42)

2. Il tramonto (1:16)

3. Il forte (2:23)

4. Il deserto (5:18)

5. La carrozza dei fantasmi (2:08)

6. Marcetta (2:50)

7. La storia di un soldato (3:54)

8. Marcetta senza speranza (1:52)

9. Morte di un soldato (3:10)

10. L’estasi dell’oro (3:24)

11. Il triello (4:57)

Interestingly, the sample URLs have the English titles.

 

 

 

Wait, did I forget to post my first reaction/feelings here? Ah, well then...

 

FUCKIN' A, Quartet!

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

24 minutes ago, Jay said:

For some reason the tracklist wasn't posted into the main thread

 

That's because I copied the info from the email. But now it's fixed, with links to the audio excerpts!

 

19 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

And I just got a glimpse of the shipping cost for US residents direct from Quartet. Definitely buying these from Screen Archives!

 

It's €13.40 within Europe.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

1 hour ago, Disco Stu said:

And I just got a glimpse of the shipping cost for US residents direct from Quartet. Definitely buying these from Screen Archives!

Screen Archives is insane too. I ordered this and Midnight Cowboy and it’s $15 for shipping. 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

3 minutes ago, Koray Savas said:

Screen Archives is insane too. I ordered this and Midnight Cowboy and it’s $15 for shipping. 

 

[Jay 37,336]

We have to accept that this hobby of ours gets more expensive every year

[Romão 2,274]

Now you know what us Europeans have to go through with the shipping costs. I wish all labels could ship from different parts of the world

[publicist 4,643]

Will anyone ever really listen to 8 hours of GBU music? The mind boggles.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

10 minutes ago, Romão said:

Now you know what us Europeans have to go through with the shipping costs. I wish all labels could ship from different parts of the world

Screen Archives is located in Virginia, Stu’s home state and adjacent to mine. It is what it is. 

[Jay 37,336]

16 minutes ago, publicist said:

Will anyone ever really listen to 8 hours of GBU music? The mind boggles.

 

I don't know what that means.  The main program is 85 minutes long.  If you choose too, you can then listen to 54 minutes of bonus tracks, or just turn the player off when the main program ends.

 

Or if you choose you, you can listen to the 34 minute stereo OST album instead.

 

29,95€ is a completely reasonable price for what you get here.

 

Some people sure love exaggerating things.

[Romão 2,274]

14 minutes ago, Koray Savas said:

Screen Archives is located in Virginia, Stu’s home state and adjacent to mine. It is what it is. 

 I get you. Plus the extra cd charge for multiple cd sets doesn't help

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

Math was never Pub's strong suit.

[publicist 4,643]

Whatever, 40€ saved.

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

It's actually €43.39 with shipping.

[Thor 7,490]

3 hours ago, publicist said:

Will anyone ever really listen to 8 hours of GBU music? The mind boggles.

 

Agree with this sentiment. Obviously, "8 hours" was a rhetorical exaggeration, not a literal description. Personally, I have the 50th anniversary edition, and I've been meaning to replace it with the shorter and more focussed OST. Or at least re-program the cues to fit that programme. That's all I ever need from this.

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

13 minutes ago, Thor said:

 

Agree with this sentiment. Obviously, "8 hours" was a rhetorical exaggeration, not a literal description. Personally, I have the 50th anniversary edition, and I've been meaning to replace it with the shorter and more focussed OST. Or at least re-program the cues to fit that programme. That's all I ever need from this.

 

But there's no 50th anniversary edition of this score. Are you thinking of Once Upon a Time in the West?

[Thor 7,490]

4 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

But there's no 50th anniversary edition of this score. Are you thinking of Once Upon a Time in the West?

 

Right you are. Had my wires crossed there for a moment.

 

But my GOOD, BAD, UGLY is 60 overlong minutes too. So the same applies here -- looking to re-arrange it into the OST programme.

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

6 minutes ago, Thor said:

 

Right you are. Had my wires crossed there for a moment.

 

But my GOOD, BAD, UGLY is 60 overlong minutes too. So the same applies here -- looking to re-arrange it into the OST programme.

 

The GDM release is 59 minutes and the EMI release is 55 minutes, if I remember correctly. The OST is great, but it has none of the different variations on the main theme.

[gkgyver 1,645]

Because of the OP, Google makes me choose between German and Italian, and is translating this thread automatically into German. WTH? 

[Jay 37,336]

5 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

And I just got a glimpse of the shipping cost for US residents direct from Quartet. Definitely buying these from Screen Archives!

 

4 hours ago, Koray Savas said:

Screen Archives is insane too. I ordered this and Midnight Cowboy and it’s $15 for shipping. 

 

4 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

 

US residents might want to order from Intrada rather than Screen Archives to save on shipping

 

http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12330/.f

http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12333/.f

http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12331/.f

http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12332/.f

[Thor 7,490]

8 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

The GDM release is 59 minutes and the EMI release is 55 minutes, if I remember correctly. The OST is great, but it has none of the different variations on the main theme.

 

Yeah, I know, but Morricone often has too many variations of his theme(s), so I'm fine with the more succinct selection on the OST. I'm told it's fairly easy to re-program this one into the OST programme.

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

5 minutes ago, Thor said:

 

Yeah, I know, but Morricone often has too many variations of his theme(s), so I'm fine with the more succinct selection on the OST. I'm told it's fairly easy to re-program this one into the OST programme.

 

I think all the OST tracks are intact on both the GDM and the EMI, since that's about the only ones in stereo.

[Brundlefly 2,385]

Hopefully, Quartet will get to do the Dollars scores too.

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

32 minutes ago, Thor said:

 

Yeah, I know, but Morricone often has too many variations of his theme(s), so I'm fine with the more succinct selection on the OST. I'm told it's fairly easy to re-program this one into the OST programme.

 

Btw, the OST of the dollar films and Once Upon a Time are collected on this nice release. It practically screams Thor!

 

[Thor 7,490]

I'm aware of that release, but I have all of those separately.

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

16 minutes ago, Brundlefly said:

Hopefully, Quartet will get to do the Dollars scores too.

 

Yeah, I'm especilly hoping that Dollars finally gets a good release.

 

42 minutes ago, Thor said:

Yeah, I know, but Morricone often has too many variations of his theme(s)

 

That might be, but I'd say it's a loss to have none of them.

[Thor 7,490]

The OST has none of them?

[Deacon Blues 65]

7 hours ago, publicist said:

Will anyone ever really listen to 8 hours of GBU music? The mind boggles.

I will.

[Richard Penna 3,679]

3 hours ago, Thor said:

 

Right you are. Had my wires crossed there for a moment.

 

But my GOOD, BAD, UGLY is 60 overlong minutes too. So the same applies here -- looking to re-arrange it into the OST programme.

 

It's not often that I agree with you, but this is one of those times. I have whatever album is 55 mins long, and I probably listen to about half of that in practice.

 

I occasionally put it on in the car, but it's usually not too long before I'm thinking 'that theme again?' and want to switch to something else. The main theme is a classic, and the bits to which I do listen are beautiful, but there's too much of it.

 

Same largely goes for Once Upon a Time in the West. The highlights (40 mins in my case) are downright fantastic, but it doesn't sustain for the whole score.

 

(Haven't seen either film - I feel that's an important caveat)

[Koray Savas 2,251]

6 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Yeah, I'm especilly hoping that Dollars finally gets a good release.

From what I understand, the elements for For A Few Dollars More are lost or damaged. Hopefully one day something is unearthed that allows a proper release to happen. 

[bruce marshall 1,315]

9 hours ago, Thor said:

 

Agree with this sentiment. Obviously, "8 hours" was a rhetorical exaggeration, not a literal description. Personally, I have the 50th anniversary edition, and I've been meaning to replace it with the shorter and more focussed OST. Or at least re-program the cues to fit that programme. That's all I ever need from this.

The GDM is a fantastic listen because it was supervised by EM.

IT has the OST embedded on the program. The.mono isn't fantastic Soundwise, but adds some great cues ( that Th or doesn't want to listen to)

I have the COMPLETE score in mono. It's not a great listen and doesn't add much musically.

I called this the " greatest score ever written for a motion picture", and I stand by that comment.

You can read my in-depth analysis including the " lost liner notes in FILM SCORE MONTLY.

Link is in my profile.

Good listenin' pardners!

P.s.

Thor, I do remove 2-3 tracks from the GDM that are repetitive.

[bruce marshall 1,315]

This bodes well for an expanded FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE

That's the one that REALLY needs expanding

[Yavar Moradi 2,593]

30 minutes ago, bruce marshall said:

This bodes well for an expanded FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE

That's the one that REALLY needs expanding

 

Agreed and hope you're right.

 

Yavar

[bruce marshall 1,315]

I posted the playlist somewhere on this site but can't find it. App sixty six minutes.

[bruce marshall 1,315]

5 hours ago, Koray Savas said:

From what I understand, the elements for For A Few Dollars More are lost or damaged. Hopefully one day something is unearthed that allows a proper release to happen. 

Not true.

I have a version created recently.

A couple of tracks are wobbly but the mono sound is excellent- better than GBU.

12 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

The GDM release is 59 minutes and the EMI release is 55 minutes, if I remember correctly. The OST is great, but it has none of the different variations on the main theme.

They are slightly different programs.

GDM has the longer, film version of the song in the concentration camp.

Plus the extended version of the climactic gun fight.

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

1 hour ago, bruce marshall said:

A couple of tracks are wobbly but the mono sound is excellent- better than GBU.

 

They're able to do get rid of wobbling with today's technology, at least to some extent.

 

1 hour ago, bruce marshall said:

They are slightly different programs.

GDM has the longer, film version of the song in the concentration camp.

Plus the extended version of the climactic gun fight.

 

I know. Plus different instrument in one track.

[Brundlefly 2,385]

6 hours ago, bruce marshall said:

This bodes well for an expanded FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE

That's the one that REALLY needs expanding

Yes! And I'm hoping for a remaster Secret of the Sahara (and possibly a reissued Sahara) too.