Your 10 Favorite John Williams tracks.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

With the John Williams catalog about to expand by 2 score in the next 6 or 7 weeks, I though it might be a good time to see what peoples current favorite JW tracks are. There are so many to chose from

Now I have no interest in doing an "official top 10" track list, I just wanted to know what it is now, because it could change in the next 2 months or so. Will there be more new, or old?

I asked that you limit it to 10, because its a much easier figure to view than 11, 15, etc.

I personally have to give this some thought, though I know what is #1 and has been for 26 years.

Joe, who thought this might be a nice change of pace, and liven up the board a bit before May 25th.

[Morlock 11]

I think it's hard with all the concert tracks. The matter requires thought.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

In random order:

Adventure On Earth (E.T.- The Exta Terrestial)

Journey To The Island (Jurassic Park)

The Desert Chase (Indiana Jones & The Raiders Of The Lost Ark)

The Asteroid Field (Star Wars: Episode V- The Empire Strikes Back)

Visitor In San Diego (The Lost World: Jurassic Park)

Harry's Wondrous World (Harry Potter And The Philosophers Stone)

The Enterprise (Star Trek The Motion Picture)

Bug Tunnel And Death Trap (Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom)

End Credits (Raiders March) (Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade)

The Breaking Of The Fellowship (The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring)

The Dark Side Beckons (Star Wars: Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi)

Building The Cage (Jaws)

[Hector J. Guzman 1]

In no particular order:

*Theme from Jurassic Park

*Theme from Jaws

*Theme from Star Wars

*Theme from Superman

*Love Theme from Superman

*"Flying" from E.T.

*The Raiders March

*Theme from A.I.

*"Remembrances" from Schindler's List

*"Flight to Neverland" from Hook

[Morlock 11]

Sorry, but I couldn't possibly get it bellow 13 (And that was a great challenge). The are 19 other Williams tracks that could potentialy be on this list IMO.

Not in order of preference:

The Devil's Dance (Witches of Eastwick)

Duel of The Fates (TPM)

Imperial March (TESB)

Rememberances (Schindler's List)

Journey to the Island (Jurassic Park)

Fighting for Dough (Far and Away)

Prologue (Hook)

Presenting the Hook (Hook)

End Credits (Presumed Innocent)

Setting the Trap (Home Alone)

Scherzo For Motorcyle and Orchestra (The Last Crusade)

Adventure on Earth (E.T.)

Theme (Superman)

[Morlock 11]

The Enterprise (Star Trek The Motion Picture)  

The Breaking Of The Fellowship (The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring)

I know you may think that Williams is the only one capable of writing such great tracks, but those were in fact written by someone else. One is named Howard Shore, the other is Jerry Goldsmith. Jerry Goldsmith actualy is pretty famous.

[King Mark 3,631]

Good topic but you should edit it to top 20,or what could more or less could fit on 1 c.d. if the end of the world came and you could only take 1 c.d. to planet Genesis

K.M.

[Hector J. Guzman 1]

The Enterprise (Star Trek The Motion Picture)  

The Breaking Of The Fellowship (The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring)

I know you may think that Williams is the only one capable of writing such great tracks, but those were in fact written by someone else. One is named Howard Shore, the other is Jerry Goldsmith. Jerry Goldsmith actualy is pretty famous.

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

[Morlock 11]

I know, I'm a font of usefull and little known information.

[Hector J. Guzman 1]

Your stock just went up.

Okay, my favorite tracks that are not descriptive themes, instead music for specific scenes:

No particular order:

* "Out to Sea and the Shark Cage Fugue" from Jaws

* "Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

* "The Asteroid Field" from The Empire Strikes Back

* "Flying Sequence" from Superman

* "Battle of Yavin" from Star Wars

* Finale music from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

* "Cadillac of the Skies" from Empire of the Sun

* "Adventures on Earth" from E.T.

* "T-Rex Rescue and Finale" from Jurassic Park

* "Remembering Childhood/You Are the Pan" from Hook

[HPFAN_2 0]

In no particular order.

The Float

Fawkes the Phoenix

Hedwig's Theme

Seven Years in Tibet

Asteroid Field

Flight to Neverland.

Imperial March

Across the Stars

Duel of The Fates

Ultimate War.

[King Mark 3,631]

1-Adventures on Earth,E.T.Original Album

2-The Visitors/Bye/End Title/The Special Edition(Close Encounters Collector Edition)

3-Jonathan Begins to Draw/The Landing(Amazing Stories,The Mission)

4-Finale/End Credits.The Empire Strikes Back

5-The Battle of Hoth.The Empire Strikes Back S.E.

6-The Final Duel.Return of the Jedi.SW Trilogy Box Set

7-Theme From Jurassic Park-JP OST

8-Harry's Wondrous World-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

9-The Helicopter Sequence-Superman

10-Buckbeak's Flight.Hopefully

K.M.

[Rogue_Leader 2]

I am gonna take non-concert theme tracks.

1) Battle of Hoth (ESB)

2) Battle of Yavin (ANH)

3) Sail Barge Assault (ROTJ)

4) Flying Music (Superman)

5) Truck Chase (Raiders)

6) Mine Cart Chase (ToD)

7) Keeping Up With the Jones' (TLC)

8) You are the Pan (Hook)

10) Welcome to Jurrasic Park (JP)

I guess that is pretty good!

[Docteur Qui 1,544]

Hahaha, won't it be grand if Buckbeak's Flight turns out to be random synthesised noises. I know it won't, but all this speculation is amusing. *kicks self over to "Are we hoping for too much" thread*

[Audax 0]

- Raiders March

- Fawkes is Reborn

- Love Pledge and the Arena

- Hedwig's Theme

- Cadillac of the Skies

- The Search for the Blue Fairy

- Leaving Hogwarts

- Hogwarts Forever! (first part)

- Duel of the Fates

- Imperial March

If I had the SW OT soundtracks my list would probably be different, but I don't so this is it.

[Many 0]

In random order:

The Motorcade (JFK)

The Float (Catch Me if You Can)

Journey to the Island (Jurassic Park)

In the Idol's Temple (Raiders of the Lost Ark)

The Planet Krypton (Superman)

The Battle of Hoth (Empire Strikes Back)

Fawkes the Phoenix (Chamber of Secrets)

Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant (Attack of the Clones)

Arrival in New York (Home Alone 2)

Freedom Train (Rosewood)

When these tracks (and a few others that didn't quite make the list) come up on my CD player, I will repeat them two, three sometimes four times. They are the tracks that I just can't get enough of.

Anthony

[Audax 0]

Can you listen multiple times in a row to Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant!?!?! I can't even listen to it once. That track really works on my nerves!

Audax - who admires people with strong nerves

[Many 0]

LOL

I knew someone would call me on this one. Yes, I really do. I've loved it from the moment I first heard it, while riding my bike between work and school. One of my greatest disappointments in AOTC (and certainly not the only one) was that this cue got so terribly butchered in the film.

Anthony, waiting to hear what others have to say.

[metaphor123 0]

Since concert versions and re-arrangements are allowed:

Prelude and Main Title March - Superman

Across the Stars - Attack of the Clones

Parade of the Slave Children - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Theme from Schindler's List - Schindler's List

Welcome to Jurassic Park - Jurassic Park

Escape/Chase/Saying Goodbye - E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

Throne Room/End Title - Star Wars

Harry's Wondrous World - Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone

Fawkes the Phoenix - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Duel of the Fates - The Phantom Menace

[Justin 2]

01 - Desert Chase

02 - Preparing the Cage

03 - Chasing Rockets

04 - The Asteroid Field

05 - Gillian's Escape

06 - The Battle of Yavin

07 - Scherzo For Motorcyle and Orchestra

08 - Duel of The Fates

09 - Journey to The Island

10 - Into The Trap

Justin -Who thinks the first six are in a class of their own.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

Here is mine.

1. Love Theme from Superman, (untouchable, his absolute best)

2. Parade of the Slave Children

3. Journey to the Island

4. Ben's Death and the Tie Fighter Attack

5. Cadillac of the Skies

6. Hedwig's Theme

7. Theme from the Lost World

8. Out to Sea(Jaws)

9. E.T.'s Adventures on Earth

10. Princess Leia's Theme

Its interesting to see the varied lists, seeing how they are different. Honestly some of you have things I don't listen to, and some I absolutely won't listen to, while others have things I must go back and relive.

[John Crichton 4]

List modified, see later post.

[Rogue_Leader 2]

Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant (Attack of the Clones)  

JESUS MAN!

That horrible track is on your top 10 best?

That would be on my top 10 worst.

[Justin 2]

Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant (Attack of the Clones)  

That horrible track is on your top 10 best?

That would be on my top 10 worst.

That's why it's his list and not yours.

Justin -Who would put the track on neither.

[BigKenLittle 6]

Good question... This one has required some thought. (Actually, you've given me an idea for a new compiation CD.)

Not actually in order, but I like to number things, so here goes

1. Theme from Superman (this is actually numero uno)

2. Love theme from Superman

3. Princess Leia's theme

4. Imperial March

5. The Big Rescue from Superman

6. Cantina Band from Star Wars

7. Tractor Beam and Chasm Crossfire from Star Wars

8. Exultate Justi from Empire of the Sun

9. German Sub/To the Nazi Hideout from Raiders of the Lost Ark

10. Adventures on Earth from ET (specifically, the version on the original MCA 8 cut release)

Honourable mention goes to the last 40 seconds of the end titles from The Empire Strikes Back. Though not an actual theme in itself, I wish that this was the version that JW had included in the concert version of the Star Wars theme.

BK: Dance of the Witches from Witches of Eastwick

[HPFAN_2 0]

Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant (Attack of the Clones)  

JESUS MAN!

That horrible track is on your top 10 best?

That would be on my top 10 worst.

Why don't you like it?

HPFAN_2-Who loves that track.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

because its sucks is why he doesn't like it.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

It's a good action cue, but it lacks structure and any kind of reconizable theme.

With GREAT Williams action cues there is always a strong narrative flow.

If i hear a random 5 second clip from a cue like Desert Chase, E.T's Adventure's On Earth, The Asteroid Field of Visitor in San Diego i instantly know were in that piece those 5 seconds come from, what came directly before and what comes after.

With the themeless bombast Williams seems to be passing as his action writing these days, i often haven't got a clue.

[Morlock 11]

Minority Report's action scenes may not be theme based (though some are), but are very melodic, and IMO great. I think you should give the cd another shot one of these days.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

I think you should give the cd another shot one of these days.

Really, how interesting.

[Ren 75]

i have to do this. . . i'll be back in a bit

[Trumpeteer 302]

In descending order:

"Clash of the Lightsabers" (The Empire Strikes Back)

"The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)" (The Empire Strikes Back)

"Adventures on Earth" (ET)

"Main Title" (Star Wars: Episode 4)

"Battle of Endor II" (Return of the Jedi)

"Hedwig's Theme" (Sorcerer's Stone)

"The Quidditch Match" (Sorcerer's Stone)

"The Mecha World" (AI)

"Olympic Fanfare" (1984)

"Fortress of Solitude" (Superman)

[King Mark 3,631]

i have to do this. . . i'll be back in a bit

Yes,you must pick out tracks within the 5 John Williams c.d.'s that you own

K.M.

[Ren 75]

hey now stop that, just because i don't collect as many as you folks, doesn't mean i don't have access to these cds!

[Ollie 1,059]

10 is not enough for me to list my favorite cues but I'll give it a shot. I've tried to avoid using main titles (except for one), end titles or themes.

I could easily think of 10 more that could take the place of these but these are the ten that come to mind.

1. Battle of Yavin

2. The Asteroid Field

3. E.T.'s Adventure on Earth (Original MCA E.T. Release)

4. Sea Attack #1 (Original MCA Jaws CD)

5. Stealing Back the Herd (From The Cowboys)

6. To Scarborough (From Dracula)

7. T-Rex Rescue & Finale

8. The Mountain (CE3K Special Edition CD)

9. Desert Chase (Raiders of the Lost Ark)

10. Main Titles from The Towering Inferno

[HPFAN_2 0]

I love that track like all his action cues, music is my muse and when i listen to Zam the assassin i think of all the great sequence i could film. Things just start formulating in my head when i listen to JW's music and this is one of those tracks that just get me flowing with ideas. So i guess that's why I love it.

[pixie_twinkle 48]

Well here goes.

1 Arlington (JFK I'm surprised this isn't on more lists)

2 Trip to Earth (Superman)

3 The Asteroid Field (ESB)

4 Poseidon Adventure Main Title (I love the surging ostinato, and it takes me back!)

5 I Can't Believe It's Real (CEOT3K)

6 For Gillian (Fury)

7 Battle in the Snow (ESB)

8 The Ballroom Sequence (Witches of Eastwick)

9 First 5 minutes of ET (Far from Home or whatever it's called)

10 The Map Room, Dawn

Those are just the few of my favourites that I recalled while making this list. There are plenty of others!

[pixie_twinkle 48]

I HATE Zam the Assassin by the way. Just when it can't possibly get any worse, an electric guitar comes in...

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

Well for what it's worth, I like Zam all right, though it's not among my favorites.

2 Trip to Earth (Superman)  

3 The Asteroid Field (ESB)  

Actually these count as one.

Ray Barnsbury - who will painstakingly create his list before long

[Yoda Longbottom 0]

These merciless lists (picking ten cues out of cca 1000) are hard to do but fun to have as reference at some point.

I hope someone will turn the individual lists into one top ten list, I'd like to know the winning track. I see original E.T.'s Adventure cue has some good chances... which I'm pleased to see.

[Damien F 1,742]

These are my top 10 favoutite JW tracks, off the top pf my head and in no particular order.

1. Journey to the island (JP)

2. The Battle of Hoth (TESB)

3. The Asteroid Field (TESB)

4. Rememberances (SL)

5. Blown to Pieces (Jaws)

6. The Desert Chase (Raiders)

7. Raiders End Titles

8. The Bicycle Chase (ET)

9. Fawkes the Phoenix (COS)

10. Han Solo and the Princess (TESB)

Well that was very difficult, I'm leaving out loads of brilliant tracks. THere is also quite a lot from TESB as well.

[SeekUYoda 0]

In no particular order except for #1 which is and will always be #1....

1. Hologram/Binary Sunset - Star Wars: A New Hope

2. Arrival at Tatooine and Flag Parade - Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

3. Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale - Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (go Dave Pyatt!!!!!)

4. Magic of Halloween - E.T.

5. The Asteroid Field - Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

6. Han Solo and the Princess - Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

7. Smee's Plan - Hook

8. Journey to the Island - Jurassic Park

9. The Basket Chase - Raiders of the Lost Ark

10. Pastorale - Concerto for Horn & Orchestra (someday it will be recorded!)

I know someone's going to shoot me down for the AOTC track, but I love the tam-tam hit as it goes into the love theme, and the "new" rhythm under the Imperial March.

I was surprised to see DOTF on here so much - I hear it and all I can think is "Bach rip-off!" It's exciting and all, but just doesn't do it for me. Zam the Assassin, on the other hand.... I've listened to that one a lot and I still like it, despite the electric guitar. (Come on, how often do you hear an electric guitar used like that in a Williams score? He's branching out!)

VERY difficult to narrow this down to ten. A fun difficult, though. Makes you think about things you haven't listened to in a while.

I second that. And I'm sure that if I owned the JFK CD, some of it would be on the list too!

[John Crichton 4]

I know someone's going to shoot me down for the AOTC track, but I love the tam-tam hit as it goes into the love theme, and the "new" rhythm under the Imperial March.

Actually, I'll back you up on this (since it was in my top 10 too 8O ).

This was my fav AOTC cue from day 1. The statement of the Imperial March was possibly the most intense written yet, and the huge statement of the love theme is awesome.

By the way, anyone else notice that the last few notes before the end credits crash in is a statement of Luke and Leia's Theme from Jedi? Very nice touch.

[SeekUYoda 0]

No, I didn't notice that! Now I'll have to listen as soon as I get home!!!!!! Which instrument has it?

[King Mark 3,631]

Pastorale - Concerto for Horn & Orchestra (someday it will be recorded!)

Thank you for rubbing it in 8O

K.M.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

By the way, anyone else notice that the last few notes before the end credits crash in is a statement of Luke and Leia's Theme from Jedi? Very nice touch.

Are you referring to those dramatic horns right before the end credits music, as Anakin and Padme look over the lake? If so, that seems to be quite a stretch.

Ray Barnsbury

[QMM 4]

Oh god this'll take me a while

[John Crichton 4]

Are you referring to those dramatic horns right before the end credits music, as Anakin and Padme look over the lake?  If so, that seems to be quite a stretch.

That's exactly what I'm referring to. Listen to the concert piece Luke and Leia, then listen to that section. The rythym's been altered slightly, but it's there. I'm sorry I can't put it better than that. Maybe someone who speaks music that hears what I hear can give a more satisfactory explanation.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

That's exactly what I'm referring to. Listen to the concert piece Luke and Leia, then listen to that section. The rythym's been altered slightly, but it's there. I'm sorry I can't put it better than that. Maybe someone who speaks music that hears what I hear can give a more satisfactory explanation.

I'll have to listen again, but from what I'm hearing in my head, it's not even the same notes. The first sequence of notes in Luke and Leia goes up up up down down, while the AoTC part goes up up down up down. But like I said, I'll give it a listen!

Ray Barnsbury

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

My Top Ten John Williams Pieces:

1.) End Credits from Far and Away

2.) Adventures on Earth

3.) Somewhere in My Memory

4.) Journey to the Island

5.) Harry?s Wondrous World

6.) Flight to Neverland

7.) Fawkes the Phoenix

8.) Jane Eyre Theme

9.) Love Theme from Superman

10.) The Ballroom Scene

Gosh, was this hard. There are several cues I wish could be there, but I'm satisfied with the final results. Hopefully in the next several weeks we'll get new possible inclusions for our lists.

Ray Barnsbury