HOOK (1991) - NEW! 2023 3-CD Ultimate Edition Produced, Edited, and Mastered by Mike Matessino featuring all Williams/Bricusse songs

[blondheim 1,157]

16 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

This is honestly the path I think everybody should take.

 

Listen first.  You only have one opportunity for that first listen.

 

Discuss the hell out of it later

If only this could be my first listen of Hook… instead it’s my 28547068745636786579th.

 

But I am not listening to it again until it gets here. No Hook unless it’s Ultimate! I am only allowed its neighbors: John Fitzgerald Kennedy, one of the two Home Alones or Far and Away. 

[JTN 2,030]

This will feel like listening to it for the first time. 

[blondheim 1,157]

That’s what I am hoping.

 

Hook is one of the scores that got me into collecting. I used to watch the movie just for the score. I was a child, mind you. Sometimes I’d just skip to keys scenes like The Face of Pan or the Never Feast or The Ultimate War. I finally got the OST as a gift right around 2001 or maybe a little earlier. I loved it but immediately noticed how much was missing. (At that time “The Stories are True” was one of my most wanted cues! Early Grail.) Then the hunt for its bootlegs in the early days of the internet was a quest I shared with multiple friends. I can still remember the excitement of reading track lists of bootlegs I hadn’t yet been able to find and wringing my little hands in frustrated glee. One of my friends and I met over him telling me he could get me a 4-disc complete Hook. I can remember the disappointment of finding out how many sound effects there still were… and that the extra tracks on the 4-disc bootleg were mostly the tracks from the Williams on Williams album. I can also remember spending hours editing together a version of the Ultimate War that was all one track… just to find a better one right after.

 

These new memories will slot right in and I can’t wait. I really love this score. I’ve been craving some Yuppie Sounds.

[Faleel 5,355]

1 minute ago, blondheim said:

 I can still remember... wringing my little hands in frustrated glee.  I’ve been craving some Yuppie Sounds.

[Jay 37,369]

It's real. It exists.

 

 

Pictures courtesy Mike Matessino, who shares them with this message

 

Once again it didn't feel real until I actually saw and held it as a three dimensional object. So much work went into this with so many people involved. It's taken years but here it is!

I can't emphasize strongly enough that listeners should enjoy the crafted album experience of Disc 3 as we've presented it. I'm so thrilled this can finally be shared.

[Dr. Rick 1,157]

It’s been a good couple days for MM with physical versions of Hook and Sound of Music arriving at his home!

[Brando 1,864]

I LOVE the pictures of Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman opposite of each other in the last picture! And the blue design is very lovely.

[Dr. Rick 1,157]

So he got 2 copies, one to stock and one to rock!  😂 

[Brando 1,864]

Just noticed his copy of The Lost World in the background in front of the Funko Pops.

[Jay 37,369]

I don't even have one of those yet!

[Groovygoth666 670]

23 hours ago, Brando said:

Tbf, as soon as my copy reaches the mailbox, it'll be intercepted by Santa and held hostage for 20ish days so it'll even out

Oh dang that sucks, if you manage to grab it before santa you should listen through it once, just to make sure there's no problems 😉. 

 

But also mine has shipped 

[ZackR 95]

I cannot wait for this. Easily the most excited I've been about any release in YEARS. Order is Awaiting Shipment and the suspense is killing me. Normally, I'd have had this as a Christmas gift but zero chance I'm waiting that long. Plus, Hook has always been a wintry/Christmassy score to me anyways. So excited for this and grateful you got to be part of it @Jay!

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

I had a feeling Disc 3 was intended to play as its own "album" of sorts. I'm very eager to check it out!

[bruckhorn 105]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

I don't even have one of those yet!

They're just trying to keep you humble and help you maintain your fanboy cred.

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

I see they've uploaded the alternate cover art for this album here, but it only has a resolution of 600x600. Is there any way to get a higher resolution version of the image off the LLL website? Didn't @Chewy know a way to do this with some images?

[harryfrishberg 37]

Love to see your name alongside filmscore soundtrack royalty on those liner notes, @Jay!  

[Holko 9,529]

2 hours ago, Brando said:

in front of the Funko Pops.

Ah. Respect for MM: gone. Never buying a release of his again!

[Faleel 5,355]

7 minutes ago, Holko said:

Ah. Respect for MM: gone. Never buying a release of his again!

Wait until you see the ones JW has.....

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

It's probably just one for Daisy Ridley.

[Faleel 5,355]

3 minutes ago, A. A. Ron said:

It's probably just one for Daisy Ridley.

And one for himself, faces super close together....

[Jay 37,369]

2 hours ago, A. A. Ron said:

I had a feeling Disc 3 was intended to play as its own "album" of sorts. I'm very eager to check it out!

 

Uh oh, maybe we failed at press release writing if that wasn't obvious.

 

Yes, this is not just a new main program followed by a long bonus track collection.

 

This is two albums in one. First a new 2-disc album of the complete score that includes the film's three finished songs.

 

Then Disc 3 is a carefully curated and arranged album that takes you through the story in a whole new way. Every track is carefully placed to not only create a strong narrative, but to showcase the musical that almost was in the best way possible.

 

Mike, John (Takis), Deniz and I all really hope people will listen to the main program of Disc 3 as it is when their set arrives, as opposed to cherry picking tracks and jumping around to start. You'll have the rest of your life to listen to all this music in any manner you like, but only one chance to introduce yourself to the songs the way they are presented here, which was in full consultation with Williams and Bricusse.

 

It's amazing how the songs strengthen the score and the score strengthens the songs. It's like a continually rewarding experience for a long while after you get it. I've never experienced anything quite like it in all my years of film music collecting. I hope everyone finds it as rewarding as I do.

 

Oh, and the extra space at the end of discs 2 and 3 was a great place to be able make the overall release complete, while still maintaining the integrity of the two new albums within it. Everything worked out beautifully!

[Datameister 2,044]

I didn't really pick up on that intent for disc 3, but it makes total sense, and makes me all the more excited!

[Smaug The Iron 516]

Mine has shipped!

[rough cut 1,714]

The ambition for disc 3 was also lost on me, but it sounds great. I’m looking forward to it!

[Laserschwert 475]

5 hours ago, Brando said:

I LOVE the pictures of Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman opposite of each other in the last picture! And the blue design is very lovely.

I also noticed that it's the Robin Williams photo Drew Struzan used as reference for his poster painting. It's so crazy how much he can make it look both the same AND different at the same time. He just changes the pose and expression ever so slightly, which adds that magical Hollywood sparkle to all his portraits, I wish today's movie posters would still have that.

[QuartalHarmony 543]

3 hours ago, Jay said:

in full consultation with Williams and Bricusse

 

...which, since it's now over two years since Leslie so sadly went to the great recording studio in the sky, gives another sign as to how long this release has been in the works!

 

As to the pictures of the physical copy, you gotta love an old-school Fatboy CD case. Definitely a sign of a serious release that is not to be trifled with.

 

Mark

[bollemanneke 3,349]

I'll absolutely listen to this album as it has been produced. My days of re-ordering are long gone. Might delete some tracks afterwards though.

[Richard Penna 3,694]

I don't generally go for reordering but I'd almost never keep a bonus section that spans a whole disc 'as is'. This case may be different in that the 'musical' concept is unique to this score of course, and it's nice that a curation could be made.

 

I'm afraid I'm a cherry picker though ... when I receive a release that's in any way important to me, I'm heading directly for the crucial tracks to see how they sound before I listen to the entire thing.

 

And I may be alone, but I think there's an attractiveness in having commentary (ie. podcast) alongside your first exploration, like a personal guide to show you where things are in a museum. I've never really empathised with the need to experience first and be guided after discovery. (I mean in a conceptual sense of course... recording podcasts is very much a practical effort and they happen when they can)

[rough cut 1,714]

I’m a little bit curious to hear more about the three bonus tracks that end disc 3. Why are they on their own and not in the “songs & alternates” segment - there doesn’t seem to be any overlap?

 

Am I missing something or did they simply not the narrative that Williams,  Bricusse and the team tried to create ie “Disc 3 = Hook The Musical”?

[John Takis 206]

49 minutes ago, Richard Penna said:

And I may be alone, but I think there's an attractiveness in having commentary (ie. podcast) alongside your first exploration, like a personal guide to show you where things are in a museum. I've never really empathised with the need to experience first and be guided after discovery. (I mean in a conceptual sense of course... recording podcasts is very much a practical effort and they happen when they can)

 

You should (I hope) enjoy reading the liner notes, then!

[fommes 153]

7 hours ago, Jay said:

It's amazing how the songs strengthen the score and the score strengthens the songs. It's like a continually rewarding experience for a long while after you get it. I've never experienced anything quite like it in all my years of film music collecting. I hope everyone finds it as rewarding as I do.

Not even when you first heard Thomas and the King???

[Richard Penna 3,694]

1 hour ago, John Takis said:

 

You should (I hope) enjoy reading the liner notes, then!

 

If I buy this (the OST is largely enough for me) the I'm sure the liners will indeed be an excellent companion.

 

I was more referring to my stance whereby I don't think there needs to be a deliberate delay between receiving/listening, and analysis/discussion. I've never been one for listening to a score in its entirety so I'd listen to one particular track and then start raving about it and dissecting it, before I've finished the entire thing. Just my way of things  

[Jay 37,369]

Boy, I can be wordy sometimes.  Mike has shared the same sentiment far more elegantly on Facebook

 

This pretty much stands as the last collaboration between John Williams and Leslie Bricusse, who both contributed to crafting the program as a listening experience rather than letting it just be a pile of bonus tracks. (Yes, it's been basically finished that long.) There was a totally unexpected cumulative impact when it all came together for everyone who worked on it, and listeners deserve that same opportunity, which can only come once

[Mr. Breathmask 555]

Sounds amazing!

 

But... hold up. I just read the description again. The track listing alone is its own 12-page booklet? Wait, what?

[Jay 37,369]

The 12-page booklet has the tracklist, the credits, the special thanks, the AFM musicians listing, and a little something special.

 

The 48 page booklet is all liner notes.

 

Well, both booklets are full of Jim Titus art design and photos, of course.

[Holko 9,529]

Does it have the lyrics? I always think it's a bit of a miss when they don't include them, especially in less clearly sung recordings.

[Luke Skywalker 1,795]

Even Mattessino gets CD cases without CD holding pins….

 

 

 

[Smeltington 1,440]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

rather than letting it just be a pile of bonus tracks

 

Mike wouldn't have let that happen! He should give himself some credit

 

15 minutes ago, Luke Skywalker said:

Even Mattessino gets CD cases without CD holding pins….

 

 

He's just like us!

[That_Bloke 115]

49 minutes ago, Jay said:

Boy, I can be wordy sometimes.  Mike has shared the same sentiment far more elegantly on Facebook

 

This pretty much stands as the last collaboration between John Williams and Leslie Bricusse, who both contributed to crafting the program as a listening experience rather than letting it just be a pile of bonus tracks. (Yes, it's been basically finished that long.) There was a totally unexpected cumulative impact when it all came together for everyone who worked on it, and listeners deserve that same opportunity, which can only come once

 

Ahem... Ex-CUZE- eh moi! I do believe it was me(!) to whom Mr Matessino was replying.  

 

(sniffs indignantly, assumes Miss Piggy Attitude, and tosses back metaphorical hair over bald head)

 

Get ya own quote, buster!   

 

[BB-8 3,479]

14 hours ago, Jay said:

It's real. It exists.

 

 

Pictures courtesy Mike Matessino, who shares them with this message

 

Once again it didn't feel real until I actually saw and held it as a three dimensional object. So much work went into this with so many people involved. It's taken years but here it is!

I can't emphasize strongly enough that listeners should enjoy the crafted album experience of Disc 3 as we've presented it. I'm so thrilled this can finally be shared.

BANGERANG !!!

[Demondm810 399]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

Boy, I can be wordy sometimes.  Mike has shared the same sentiment far more elegantly on Facebook

 

This pretty much stands as the last collaboration between John Williams and Leslie Bricusse, who both contributed to crafting the program as a listening experience rather than letting it just be a pile of bonus tracks. (Yes, it's been basically finished that long.) There was a totally unexpected cumulative impact when it all came together for everyone who worked on it, and listeners deserve that same opportunity, which can only come once

Wow, knowing Bricusse worked along Williams on this release makes it that much more special.  Very very excited to listen to this on it's own. 

[Edmilson 7,466]

Anyone would like to guess how many pages the booklet for The Complete John Williams Star Wars Collection is going to have? 

[bollemanneke 3,349]

1 hour ago, BB-8 said:

BANGERANG !!!

I HATE that word so much.

[blondheim 1,157]

6 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

I HATE that word so much.

I still say it all the time

[Luke Skywalker 1,795]

43 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

Anyone would like to guess how many pages the booklet for The Complete John Williams Star Wars Collection is going to have? 

It should be hard bound and stitched….

[Demondm810 399]

21 minutes ago, Luke Skywalker said:

It should be hard bound and stitched….

Bound in calfskin leather

[Amer 2,110]

This release and JWFAN.NET comes full circle!!
 

its like Destiny or something. This mammoth score and its fandom all belong here..

[Chewy 2,391]

13 hours ago, A. A. Ron said:

I see they've uploaded the alternate cover art for this album here, but it only has a resolution of 600x600. Is there any way to get a higher resolution version of the image off the LLL website? Didn't @Chewy know a way to do this with some images?

LLL updated the website page and provided a high resolution link: https://johndadlez.com/pix/Hook_Environmental.jpg

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

2 minutes ago, Chewy said:

LLL updated the website page and provided a high resolution link: https://johndadlez.com/pix/Hook_Environmental.jpg

 

Fantastic!

[BrotherSound 2,242]

14 hours ago, A. A. Ron said:

I see they've uploaded the alternate cover art for this album here, but it only has a resolution of 600x600. Is there any way to get a higher resolution version of the image off the LLL website? Didn't @Chewy know a way to do this with some images?

Update: nevermind