Search - Various Artists :: How The West Was Won: Classic Western Film Scores I (Soundtrack Anthology)

"The Professionals...The Wild Bunch...Wild Rovers...Silva"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 12/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The "Classic Western" is never-ending...always at the forefront of the Film Industry---whenever our film-makers run out of projects, they bring back "The Western", fresh and never wandering far from the camera's eye or the composers pen---Silva Screen has been a leader in the "Compilation Department", so is it any wonder they release some hard-to-find scores...never fear my trail pardners...here they are!Let me begin this review by stating the opening track "THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN"(1960-Elmer Bernstein), is without a doubt, one of the most recognizable Western Themes ever composed---the same for "HOW THE WEST WAS WON"(1962-Alfred Newman), two outstanding composers with unforgettable film scores---but the score for "GETTYSBURG"(1993-Randy Edelman), just about steals the show...over fifteen minutes in length, covers the Main Title right up to the Reunion and Finale, with a special arrangement for a Suite, highlighting our freedom and liberty for ALL!But let's get to the hard-to-find scores---"THE PROFESSIONALS"(1966-Maurice Jarre), starring Burt Lancaster and Lee Marvin, great score with Jack Palance as the villian...Jarre's first attempt of scoring an American Western, captures the mood perfectly---"WILD BUNCH"(1969-Jerry Fielding), the classic Sam Packinpah film has been re-issued on DVD in it's entire uncut length, and composer Fielding completes the picture with this outstanding score---"WILD ROVERS"(1971-Jerry Goldsmith), this Blake Edwards film sets the wheels in motion for our composer to write a gripping score of the West, and how it was coming to the end of the trail, as civilization was closing in.There you have it Buckaroo's...as we drive our herd to Abilene with Nic Raine(conductor) and The City Of Prague Philharmonic riding point, making sure no stragglers are left behind, we must meet our deadline at the rail head...James Fitzpatrick(producer) and Reynold da Silva(executive producer) giving us a fair price for our beef, this is how the West was, and through the recordings of Silva Screen Records is again...so "film-score-buffs", lean back in the saddle and watch the sun come up over the prairie skies...we're back when our country was just coming of age, gotta love it!Total Time: 77:59 on 13 Tracks ~ Silva Screen Records SSD-1058 ~ (1996)"