Jerry Goldsmith's THE SAND PEBBLES (1966) - NEW! 2022 Intrada edition

[Jay 37,373]

Jerry Goldsmith
Label: Intrada INT 7170
Film Date: 1966
Album Date: 2022
Time: 1:56:18
Tracks: 51
Price: $24.99

 

Complete 2-CD presentation of all-time classic Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack from legendary Robert Wise film with Steve McQueen (in his only Oscar-nominated performance), Richard Attenborough, Candice Bergen. Newly re-mixed, re-mastered from original multi-track stereo elements vaulted at 20th Century Fox, 2-CD set features everything in stereo (including stereo CD premiere of "Repel Boarders") plus several previously unreleased cues, numerous never-before-heard alternates as well as Lionel Newman-recorded source music heard in important brothel scenes where Maily (Marayat Andriane) is introduced.

 

Score itself has truly interesting architecture: Goldsmith creates not one but two distinct main themes, yet draws each from the same first four notes! Go one direction, get his military theme for titular gunboat, go the other direction, get his famous major-key love theme for Jake (McQueen), Shirley (Bergen). In addition, composer creates haunting minor-key secondary theme for Frenchie (Attenborough), Maily. Highlights are many but getting spotlight is premiere release of brief all-important cue where Jake first sees "San Pablo" on docks at night. It is here Goldsmith introduces his four widely-spaced notes on French horn, launching military theme that anchors score. Another highlight is premiere release of aggressive, action-oriented alternate for "Commence Firing". Sequence was re-scored, toned down for final production. Both versions are presented here.

 

Strong liner notes by Julie Kirgo, background details by co-producer Michael Matessino, overall supervision by Nick Redman plus both original artwork campaign, 1966 album cover art round out exciting package. Lionel Newman conducts. A genuine film score classic!

 

TRACK LIST
 

CD 1
01. Overture (Original Version) (2:53)
02. Main Title (2:56)
03. Getting Acquainted (3:52)
04. The San Pablo (1:02)
05. Hello, Engine (1:24)
06. Trial Run – Part I (0:24)
07. Trial Run – Part II (0:22)
08. Death Of A Coolie (0:57)
09. Maily Appears (1:07)
10. The Student (0:40)
11. Repel Boarders (2:39)
12. Chang-Sha Dock (2:04)
13. Death Of A Thousand Cuts (4:07)
14. Not In Vain (0:59)
15. Chang-Sha (Entr’acte) (1:02)
16. Overture (2:17)
17. Unfriendly Welcome (0:53)
18. My Secret (4:00)
19. Jake And Shirley (4:22)
20. A Matter Of Ideals (2:01)
21. The Wedding (6:10)
22. Coolies Jump Ship (1:50)
23. Restless Months (4:35)
24. Frenchie’s Death (2:18)
25. Maily’s Abduction (2:49)
26. Worried Captain (0:33)
27. Final Mission/Commence Firing (6:11)
28. Fire Aft! (2:13)
29. Almost Home–Part I (1:46)
30. Night Mission (0:34)
31. The Sniper (0:58)
32. End Title (Almost Home–Part II) (0:59)
33. Cast Credits (Almost Home–Part III) (0:38)
34. And We Were Lovers (Exit Music) (2:39)
CD 1 Total Time: 76:28

 

CD 2
THE EXTRAS – ALTERNATES
01. Trial Run–Part I (Alternate) (0:25)
02. Trial Run–Part II (Alternate) (0:25)
03. A Crushing Affair (Music & Effects) (1:35)
04. Unfriendly Welcome (Alternate) (0:48)
05. Jake And Shirley (Alternate Ending) (0:40)
06. Restless Months (Alternate) (4:37)
07. Final Mission (Unedited) (3:36)
08. Commence Firing (Alternate) (2:14)
09. Final Mission/Commence Firing (Alternate–Assembled) (6:10)
10. Almost Home (Edited Version) (3:01)
11. Chinese Love Theme (2:27)
Total Alternates Time: 26:56

 

THE EXTRAS – SOURCE MUSIC
12. Toot Toot Tootsie (2:03)
13. Five Foot Two (1:25)
14. Stumbling (1:48)
15. Sleepy Time Gal (3:25)
16. I’ll See You In My Dreams (1:59)
17. Linger Awhile (1:59)
Source Music Time: 17:39

CD 2 Total Time: 39:50

 

 

 

 

https://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12614/.f

[Naïve Old Fart 9,552]

This is quintessential '60s Jerry.

An essential purchase, and make no mistake.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Very happy for those who don't have the previous release and will discover this classic Goldsmith score.

[Jay 37,373]

This is a slightly updated version of their 2011 release, with two tracks moved in location and technical issues addressed.  Further info from Roger:

 

"Sand Pebbles will be back in stock. For those astute observers, everything will look the same except the volume number. Since the album was initially released so long ago we're in a better position to address some anomalies in the recording we couldn't previously. So there's wow removed among other things. Nothing to rush out an repurchase unless you were bothered by it. Perfection is a journey, not a destination"

 

&

 

"Also to let you know the Sand Pebbles will be back in stock this afternoon. We did a slight bit of resequencing as well. Since Goldsmith preferred his original version of the Overture (which is how he opened the LP program and now with the wow removed we moved that to the opening of the album."

 

http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8888

[Bellosh 3,419]

while i won't be grabbing this, all these Goldsmith expansions with this type of artwork from those films/era are almost a reason to collect them all!

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,433]

Great news. I hadn't picked this one before but it was on my to do list

[Tom Guernsey 2,287]

Not sure if I'm being dim (don't answer that) but the initial blurb of it being "newly re-mixed, re-mastered from original multi-track stereo elements vaulted at 20th Century Fox" suggests a pretty decent upgrade. However, the follow up information suggests a slightly more marginal improvement so kinda torn as to whether it's worth a double dip in this case... can't say the source music interests me at all (in the pantheon of bonus tracks, source music is usually the stuff I'm least interested in). Might be a wait and see situation...

[Jay 37,373]

The press release is the same one from 2011, the forum posts by Roger reveal it's more than just a straight reissue

[Tom Guernsey 2,287]

14 minutes ago, Jay said:

The press release is the same one from 2011, the forum posts by Roger reveal it's more than just a straight reissue

Indeed, but makes it harder to decide whether it get it*

 

 

*spoiler alert, I'll probably get it.

[Yavar Moradi 2,600]

The previous Intrada 2CD release came out over a decade ago and the software to remove wow (as applied so dramatically by Chris Malone on everything from Goldsmith's Take Her, She's Mine to Newman's The Diary of Anne Frank) simply wasn't in use at the time. So I'm in for this double dip, both for that and because they've properly swapped the film version of the overture with Jerry's superior original version (which featured the wonderful Chinese Love Theme instead of the "main" love theme...which I've always kinda disliked).

 

Yavar

[Jay 37,373]

It's not just swapped;

 

On the 2011 edition, the "Overture" opened disc 1 while the "Overture (Film Version)" opened disc 2

 

Here, the "Overture (Film Version)" opens disc 1, but the "Overture" does not open Disc 2 - it's now in the middle of the main program on disc 1, after the Entr'acte

[Yavar Moradi 2,600]

Huh, that's kinda weird IMO.

 

Yavar

[Jurassic Shark 12,088]

I don't like sand. 

[Tom Guernsey 2,287]

2 hours ago, Yavar Moradi said:

The previous Intrada 2CD release came out over a decade ago and the software to remove wow (as applied so dramatically by Chris Malone on everything from Goldsmith's Take Her, She's Mine to Newman's The Diary of Anne Frank) simply wasn't in use at the time. So I'm in for this double dip, both for that and because they've properly swapped the film version of the overture with Jerry's superior original version (which featured the wonderful Chinese Love Theme instead of the "main" love theme...which I've always kinda disliked).

 

Yavar

I'm sure there's a decent upgrade in sound, it was just a bit more mixed on the messaging than usual! Usually it's either "this is a massive improvement" (Wrath of Kahn - buy) or "this is basically the same" (TMP - happy with 3CD set) but 11 years of software improvements are enough to convince me. The reordering of the overtures seems a bit odd, but I guess putting it in the middle should as a kind of Entr'acte like Patton. I really feel I ought to be better acquainted with The Sand Pebbles. I've listened to it enough times but I don't really feel I know it at all, although I was glad to pick up the RSNO re-recording a few months ago (random second hand shop purchase) which makes a nice companion.

[Jay 37,373]

4 minutes ago, Tom Guernsey said:

I guess putting it in the middle should as a kind of Entr'acte like Patton

 

Except that this score already has an entr'acte cue...

[Jurassic Shark 12,088]

Troisième acte then.

[Tom Guernsey 2,287]

19 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

Except that this score already has an entr'acte cue...

Hah yes, maybe it just fits there or perhaps they just didn't want it lost in the bonus tracks. Should have put it at the start so you get two Overtures, like a HTTYD expansion ;-)

[Jay 37,373]

Ha!

[Jay 37,373]

Doug's Corner provides the explanation for why the other Overture is in the middle of CD1:

 

"Recently made available again is Jerry Goldsmith’s sensational 1966 epic, The Sand Pebbles. Our previous 2-CD set has been given a revisit with some modest tweaks to the audio and a re-sequencing that places Goldsmith’s (and our) favorite “Overture” at the start with the other version playing as an overture to the second half of the score - and now on the same disc, allowing listeners to enjoy both magnificent pieces without having to flip the discs. Golly!"

 

http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8893