NEW - THE DARK CRYSTAL: EXPANDED LIMITED EDITION (3-CD SET) - LLL

[Holko 11,383]

https://lalalandrecords.com/the-dark-crystal-expanded-limited-edition-3-cd-set/

 

 

La-La Land Records and The Jim Henson Company present an expanded 3-CD soundtrack set of renowned composer Trevor Jones’ (CLIFFHANGER) original motion picture score to the 1982 landmark fantasy feature film THE DARK CRYSTAL, directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz.

THE DARK CRYSTAL was a boundary-exploding feat of puppetry and cinema, re-inventing what had been previously thought possible and resulting in a breathtaking achievement of immersive world-building that still retains its power and wonder to this day. A vital part of this endeavor’s success is composer Trevor Jones’ outstanding original music score – a tremendous accomplishment that has also stood the test of time.

Now, for the first time ever, this deluxe 3-CD release, conceived, assembled and produced by Trevor Jones himself, features the bounty of music the maestro composed for the initial, longer cut of THE DARK CRYSTAL, in its original intended order. Copies of the master tapes recorded at CTS Wembley were digitized along with the composer’s entire body of work, which is now archived at the University of Leeds. Jones personally reassembled and remastered the audio at Abbey Road for this special presentation.

Produced by Trevor Jones and Tim Greiving, and mastered by Andrew Walter under the composer’s sole supervision and approval, this release includes a wealth of previously unreleased music within its newly Expanded Score Soundtrack presentation, which is spread across two discs, while the original 1982 soundtrack program is featured on Disc 3. Limited to 5000 units, this deluxe set includes a 32-page booklet containing exclusive, in-depth liner notes by Greiving (featuring new interviews with Trevor Jones and Frank Oz) and rare artwork and photos from the Henson Archive. The sharp art design is by Dan Goldwasser.

 

 

DISC 1 (46:58)

1. Power Ceremony And Main Title 4:35

2. Jen Plays Pipes And Mystic Master Dies 3:02

3. Skeksis Funeral Ceremony 2:06

4. Mystics Funeral Ceremony 3:25

5. Jen’s Journey And Council Chamber 2:04

6. Skeksis Fight Duel 3:29

7. Chamberlain Is Disrobed And Garthim Pursues Jen 3:53

8. Jen Encounters Aughra 1:29

9. Mystics 9-Tone Chant And The Observatory At Night 3:15

0. Garthim Attack Observatory And Mystics Leave Valley 4:08

11. Jen And Kira In Forest 2:29

12. Mindspeech, Nebrie And Mystics Journey 3:56

13. Skeksis Celebratory Banquet 3:03

14. Jen & Kira Duet 2:24

15. Introduction And Pod Dance 3:38

DISC 2 (48:54)

1. Kira Brings Down The Bat-Bird And Garthim Attack Pod Village 2:12

2. Jen & Kira Love Theme 4:12

3. In The Ruins Of The Gelfling Village 3:56

4. Landstriders Introduction And Journey 1:49

5. Chamber Of Life 3:29

6. Landstriders Battle With Garthim And The Second Mystics Journey 3:25

7. In The Sewer Of The Castle 1:55

8. Kira Removed To The Council Chamber 2:07

9. Kira In The Chamber Of Life 3:47

0. Kira Is Freed And Jen In The Garthim Lair 2:13

11. Jen And Aughra In The Chamber Of Life 1:48

12. Skeksis Panicked By Gelfling And Jen In The Crystal Chamber 4:25

13. The Great Conjunction And The Arrival Of The Mystics 4:53

14. The Mystics And Skeksis Fuse To Become The UrSkeks 5:22

15. Pod Dance (Reprise) And Finale 3:18

DISC 3 (41:04)

1. Overture 3:13

2. The Power Ceremony 3:54

3. The Storm 1:03

4. The Mystic Master Dies :51

5. The Funerals; Jen’s Journey 5:27

6. The Skeksis’ Duel 2:44

7. The Pod Dance 3:12

8. Love Theme 3:18

9. Gelfling Song 2:20

10. The Gelfling Ruins 2:45

11. The Landstrider Journey :43

12. The Great Conjunction 4:14

13. Finale 7:19

Total Album Time: 136:56

[Davis 3,949]

Don’t know the score, but this looks great. You can’t go wrong with Richard Amsel.

 

January is shaping up to be a “hard” month between this and The Patriot. 

[Holko 11,383]

This is a lovely score that fits right into the early 80s fantasy boom. Well overdue, the previous expansion was just the film stems.

[Davis 3,949]

I’ve seen the film but didn’t make too much of an impression on me - I missed it in the 80s when I was a kid -, maybe I need to revisit it now. Looking forward to listening to the score. 

[crocodile 9,183]

The score is great. I play the original album quite often. The film itself didn't make much of an impression though.

 

Great to see this release, definitely will add this to my collection. Given that it is assembled by the composer himself, how does it fare in terms of presentation?

 

Karol

[Holko 11,383]

 

4 hours ago, crocodile said:

Given that it is assembled by the composer himself, how does it fare in terms of presentation?

This sounds good to me: "features the bounty of music the maestro composed for the initial, longer cut of THE DARK CRYSTAL, in its original intended order."

Thankfully at least Tim was there to keep him in line

[crocodile 9,183]

I am a bit surprised to see this release given how Jones is supposedly notoriously difficult to work with? I seem to remember someone from LLL making some sort of strongly worded comment in the past.

 

Regardless, it is an essential score to have and Trevor Jones' career achievement. With both Kamen and Williams coming, I am getting quite a treat for my birthday. 😀

 

Karol

[GerateWohl 5,937]

If I wouldn't own the previous release of this this would be a no-brainer.

One of my favourite scores from the 80s.

And yes, I believe the expansion and the sound improvements are significant.

But... I have to pull my stuff together somehow.

The OST is fantstic.

I'll go with The Patriot this January.

 

For everyone, who doesn't own this yet in any form; You will be very happy with this.

 

 

[Holko 11,383]

1 minute ago, crocodile said:

I am a bit surprised to see this release given how Jones is supposedly notoriously difficult to work with? I seem to remember someone from LLL making some sort of strongly worded comment in the past.

Well the digitisation of his entire library and letting him do it himself probably helped. Maybe he doesn't trust other producers to work on his scores if he can help it?

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,858]

The previous LLL release was fine. Pass.

[crocodile 9,183]

7 minutes ago, The Train Station said:

The previous LLL release was fine. Pass.

It is a fantastic album, no question there. In fact I'd say one of the best 80s soundtrack albums out there.

 

9 minutes ago, Holko said:

Well the digitisation of his entire library and letting him do it himself probably helped. Maybe he doesn't trust other producers to work on his scores if he can help it?

As long as it is competently done, I don't care who assembles it.

 

Karol

[paleo 78]

I might get this, as I never bought the previous albums. But 3 CDs for 136 minutes of music? 

[Holko 11,383]

Yeah that's not very good.

[Richard P 4,763]

I recall suggestions in the past of Jones wanting to handle expansions himself. As croc says though, if he can do a competent job, great.

 

I can see him wanting the OST to be on a dedicated disc, but yes in terms of material, it's a double CD.

[Naïve Old Fart 11,627]

1 hour ago, Davis said:

January is shaping up to be a “hard” month between this and The Patriot. 

Nah, it's not. Given the choice, THE PATRIOT gets a delivery from Interflora 

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,576]

Fantastic news!!! Even though it arrives one month after I purchased a $50 copy of the 25th anniversary set . Still an instant purchase for me

[bollemanneke 4,010]

What will Thor think of the composer being so involved in an expansion?

[Thor 9,308]

40 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

What will Thor think of the composer being so involved in an expansion?

 

Actually, that happens quite often. The involvement ranges from just signing off on a project to being deeply involved with the content.

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,858]

A composer should be more involved in these CDs like GoldenEye was with Batman Forever.

[Tallguy 5,653]

Mine mine mine mine mine!

 

3 hours ago, Holko said:

assembled and produced by Trevor Jones himself

 

That's kind of jaw dropping, given the conventional "wisdom" / rumors.

[Steffromuk 584]

Oh my oh my!!!! One of my holly grails!! 
I wish they asked me for the cover...
 

 

[crocodile 9,183]

2 hours ago, Raiders of the SoundtrArk said:

Fantastic news!!! Even though it arrives one month after I purchased a $50 copy of the 25th anniversary set . Still an instant purchase for me

I also paid something around that for that one. It was a couple if years ago.

 

Katol

[Marian Schedenig 10,140]

Nice. I've never had this score in any form - I've never even heard it.

[Tallguy 5,653]

I bought my last one (the 2CD one with the score and the album) around 20 years ago. So as far as double dips go, it's not too bad.

 

This is one of my inner @Thor CDs where I usually listen to the album presentation. I'm hoping for a Close Encounters situation where this new presentation is tweaked in some nearly undefinable way that makes me like the larger selection way better than I did before.

[CGCJ 551]

This will definitely have to be my first expanded score purchase!
Having never ordered from Lalaland, any idea whether I should wait for Screen Archives or whatever it's called to order it as I'm outside of America?
Seen posts about the high shipping on other releases so just want to make sure if I can at-least mitigate that.

[Holko 11,383]

Where are you located? The EU for example has multiple stores that raise the price by various amounts but then it's guaranteed that you won't have to deal with customs procedures and pay bullshit extra fees on top.

[CGCJ 551]

2 minutes ago, Holko said:

Where are you located? The EU for example has multiple stores that raise the price by various amounts but then it's guaranteed that you won't have to deal with customs procedures and pay bullshit extra fees on top.

UK.

[Steffromuk 584]

The price on MusicBox website is insanely expensive.

I ordered it but man! 57€ not including shipping...

[A. A. Ron 2,261]

Nice album, Trevor! Now go assemble an expanded Last of the Mohicans.

[OneBuckFilms 449]

I had the Numenorian release from the OST and the film stems, and greatly enjoyed the score back then.

 

I have since downscaled my collection, and this score was sold on.

 

Given that this will obviously sound better than the Numenorian release for the complete score I think it was an easy purchase last night.

 

Really looking forward to this one.

[WampaRat 1,795]

6 hours ago, Steffromuk said:

Oh my oh my!!!! One of my holly grails!! 
I wish they asked me for the cover...
 

 

Oh man! Richard Amsel vs. Bob Peak! Throw in Struzan and John Alvin and those art directors really had the cream of the crop to work with in the 80s!

 

Beautiful job. Im going to vote Bob Peak in this round.

[Naïve Old Fart 11,627]

I agree. I've been so used to Amstel's artwork that Peak's came as a bit of a surprise.

[Tallguy 5,653]

I run really hot and cold on Peak. And this one is cold. So I'm good with Amsel.

[Andy 5,986]

Heresy. Peak is a God along with Amsel and Struzan.  John Alvin to a lesser extent. 

9 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

Nice. I've never had this score in any form - I've never even heard it.

I don’t want to oversell it, but I think you’re in for a treat.   I was pleasantly surprised. 

14 hours ago, Davis said:

I’ve seen the film but didn’t make too much of an impression on me - 

 

13 hours ago, crocodile said:

The film itself didn't make much of an impression though.

 

Give it another look. The mastery of puppetry in display is unparalleled. They don’t make em like this anymore.  It’s so subtle but probably mind boggling to achieve.  The movie does however have a weak narrative, mostly because to my understanding they sort of made it up as they went without a strong script.  But visually, it’s jaw dropping cinematic Art. 

[Tom Guernsey 3,264]

32 minutes ago, Andy said:

Heresy. Peak is a God along with Amsel and Struzan.  John Alvin to a lesser extent. 

 

10 hours ago, Steffromuk said:

Oh my oh my!!!! One of my holly grails!! 
I wish they asked me for the cover...
 

 

These are the two I already use in my iTunes library for the different versions of this score and now I'll be happy to (hopefully) upgrade the quality of the audio on the complete score to match the excellence of the covers!

 

Quite the random coincidence that LLL release LTK on the same day as The Dark Crystal and LTK had rejected artwork by Peak. I have to admit that his LTK artwork didn't quite work for me... It's a cool image, but maybe a bit too noir-ish and the photographic streaky lights effect he often used doesn't quite work there. The red and black colour palette is maybe a bit too intense. Still, it's still better than the *insert name of relevant photo editing software of the period here* produced poster we did get for LTK, although I'm sure someone will use the Peak artwork to create an excellent alternate cover which I will make a fine cover for the bonus tracks.

 

38 minutes ago, Andy said:

Give it another look. The mastery of puppetry in display is unparalleled. They don’t make em like this anymore.  It’s so subtle but probably mind boggling to achieve.  The movie does however have a weak narrative, mostly because to my understanding they sort of made it up as they went without a strong script.  But visually, it’s jaw dropping cinematic Art. 

 

I rewatched the film ahead of the excellent TV series from a few years ago. It looks amazing but it has to be said that the Gelflings in the film are so wet and insipid that they are like a character void where the heroes should be. They needed the perkiness of a character like Willow so you root for them rather than wishing they'd just fuck off will for them to be drained by the Skeksis. It's a crying shame the Age of Resistance TV series was cancelled as I thought it was leagues ahead of the movie in terms of character, story and drama, and genuinely sad when the Skeksis absorbed their souls. On top of that, the production was every bit as astonishing (if not more-so) than the movie. The music isn't a patch on Jones' work (although they did use his themes here and there) but still very effective in context.

[WampaRat 1,795]

Man. Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance was flat-out astonishing. Amazing the leaps and bounds in puppetry that have been developed over the years since the original Dark Crystal came out. But Hollywood just wanted more and more CGi. All the while puppetry was quietly making advancements too. I think Jim Henson would have been particularly proud of that show.

Pemberton's score was decent. Wish it would have had more of a classic orchestral feel like Trevor Jone's score. But it got the job done.

[Thor 9,308]

11 hours ago, Andy said:

Give it another look. The mastery of puppetry in display is unparalleled. They don’t make em like this anymore.  It’s so subtle but probably mind boggling to achieve.  The movie does however have a weak narrative, mostly because to my understanding they sort of made it up as they went without a strong script.  But visually, it’s jaw dropping cinematic Art. 

 

Definitely! I saw the film for the first time just a few years ago, and was absolutely blown away. A 5-star masterpiece! Also, story isn't that important to me, but tactile, absorbing universes are, and this had all of that. It was doing sophisticated world building decades before AVATAR. Everything is basically alive here; you never know which creature you step on next.

 

Meanwhile, I've sampled the score many times over the years. It never quite grabbed me; something about the half notes in that main theme that are kinda aggravating, a bit like Williams' "Skull theme" in KOTCS. So I sold off my old OST years ago. But maybe it's ripe for another chance -- the third disc of this set is maybe my way in again, if it's been remastered and everything.

[Jurassic Shark 14,976]

Why not go for all the discs. 

[Tallguy 5,653]

5 hours ago, WampaRat said:

But Hollywood just wanted more and more CGi.

 

 

(15:57)

 

39 minutes ago, Thor said:

Also, story isn't that important to me, but tactile, absorbing universes are, and this had all of that.

 

Then the Dark Crystal is your gold mine. The Dark Crystal is a movie I have wanted to like WAY more than I do because of the obvious artistry in the whole film. Imagine if that much artistry had been applied to the script? (Labyrinth is 10/10 for me OTOH.)

[paleo 78]

Hm, I really wanted to buy this, but the European store I usually utilize charges 56 € (!) for this set of three half-empty CDs (and 46 for the new Bond double CD sets 😱). Plus really expensive shipping costs. I guess I'll wait for a sale.

[Holko 11,383]

Unfortunately these stores don't really have sales. I assume you're looking at MBR (that's where I see these prices), there you can collect loyalty points, takes a couple hundred euros spent to collect a couple free euros. intermezzomedia.com sometimes has some releases for a few euros cheaper and doesn't default to expensive express shipping, they both get releases at the same time from the US (2-3 weeks after release which is insane).

[GerateWohl 5,937]

What I like about the Dark Crystal score is, that about 15 years before The Fellowship of the Ring we had a fantasy score with a similar DNA like all the themes of all the places and creatures being related to eachother. Like e.g. the main theme in the Overture basically being a combination of the Skekse's and the Uru's theme.

So, the world building is already wonderfully reflected in the music.

[Jurassic Shark 14,976]

3 hours ago, paleo said:

this set of three half-full CDs

 

Stay positive.

[paleo 78]

5 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

Stay positive.

Ha, I actually thought about putting it that way, but my negative nature won 😆

[Tallguy 5,653]

I haven't done the math. Could the music fit on two discs?

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,858]

Stop cramming 79 minutes into a standard CD. It can make ripping the last few tracks a pain in the arse.

[Holko 11,383]

36 minutes ago, Tallguy said:

I haven't done the math. Could the music fit on two discs?

Easily. 68 minutes per disc. In The Ruins Of The Gelfling Village or Landstriders Introduction And Journey would be a great disc 1 finisher at 57 or 59 minutes, with act 3 and the OST on disc 2 at 79 or 77 minutes.

[Tallguy 5,653]

2 minutes ago, Holko said:

Easily.

 

Now assuming that it was stipulated that the original album had to stay on it's own disc, could the score be put on a single disc of its own?

[Holko 11,383]

No, 96 minutes.

I'm still pissed about the price increase but I'm willing to be more forgiving here than with The Patriot because there we have years of backlog with dozens of titles that made sense and had no such superfluous inclusions, but here the composer used to be hard to work with and now did it himself, if he wanted it this way, fuck, let him have it, better than a burned bridge and no release.

[crocodile 9,183]

The original album is great and remains very elusive. I do own it (and it wasn’t cheap) but its inclusion is a actually most welcome. Especially that you can't find it on any digital platforms.

 

Karol