Search - Richard [1] Strauss, John [Film Composer] Williams, Recorded Sound :: The Science Fiction Album, Vol. 1

"Silva takes film-score-buffs to the far reaches of space"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 05/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just in time for the latest George Lucas "Star Wars-Episode II:Attack Of The Clones"(5/16)(John Williams) ~ Silva America and James Fitzpatrick have gathered eight cues from previous Star Wars films to thrill us again. Get ready for another chapter in the ongoing saga of inner planetary tales, all collected for your listening pleasure in Silva's latest release ~ "The Science Fiction Album Volume 1" with 34 tracks on a futuristic 2-CD-Set(with a 3-D cover insert), much like the science fiction pulp covers from the '40s, inticing the reader to purchase, read and dive into another world of aliens and creatures from far reaches of space and planets. This collection features the best of the best composers and film scores ~ David Arnold(INDEPENDENCE DAY)~ John Barry(THE BLACK HOLE)~ Bruce Broughton(LOST IN SPACE)~ Bill Conti(THE RIGHT STUFF MAIN THEMES)~ Danny Elfman(MARS ATTACKS)~ Jerry Goldsmith(CAPRICORN ONE/ALIEN)~ James Horner(APOLLO 13 MAIN TITLE)~ Glen Larson & Stu Phillips(BATTLESTAR GALACTICA MAIN THEMES)~ Henry Mancini(LIFEFORCE)~ Basil Poledouris(STARSHIP TROOPERS)~ Trevor Rabin(ARMAGEDDON)~ Alan Silvestri(BACK TO THE FUTURE/PEDATOR)~ Leith Stevens(WAR OF THE WORLDS/WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE)~ Dimitri Tiomkin(THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD)~ John Williams(STAR WARS MAIN TITLE/HAN SOLO AND THE PRINCESS/THE IMPERIAL MARCH/FOREST BATTLE/THE FLAG PARADE/ANAKIN'S THEME/ADVENTURES OF JAR JAR/DUEL OF THE FATES/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/E.T.-THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL/CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND). No doubt the above composers excel in the world of film music, notice how many John Williams scores appear in this collection. Williams is without a doubt one of the major players in this genre, but there are many other composers who can stand up to his high marks when it comes to bringing the full force of a story through music. One such composer is Henry Mancini, if you ever had any doubts about this mans ability to score any film, whether it be drama, comedy, action or sci-fi...this question is answered here with "LIFEFORCE", gives the audience a cinematic education tightly coiled around directors Tobe Hooper's story of outer space vampires. Within each cue of the film, Mancini's score takes over and we are pleasantly surprised with the results. If you're a "film-score-buff", like I am...then this collection from the '50s', '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s is an absolute must. As an added bonus we feature the world renowned ~ The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra with conductors Paul Bateman, Nicholas Dodd and Nic Raine, plus, yes plus the Crouch End Festival Chorus and one of my favorite sopranos Charlotte Kinder. When it comes to releasing compilations of this magnitude, most labels tend to become much safer in their choices, afraid to make a mistake. Silva America takes the risk and it always pays off, this is one of those times ~ looking forward to "The Science Fiction Album Volume 2", gotta love it! Total: Disc One 62:45 on 17 Tracks & Disc Two 66:10 on 17 Tracks ~ Silva America
SSD-1139 ~ (2002)"

Its not that the material is bad, it is simply repeated

tjguitar | 05/17/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The entire first disc is available on other Silva America CDs, (at the time the star wars tracks were the first release, but now they are on Music from the Star Wars saga), the rest on "Space and Beyond" "Space and Beyond 2: Alien Invasion", "The Cult Files" and "Battlestar Galactica A-Z of SciFi/Fantasy TV Themes". The re-recordings are cool but this is mainly a rehash of other cd's, as I said, the entire first cd is available on other Silva collections, and only 9 of the 15 tracks on cd 2 are not available on any other cd i own from Silva. (I don't have Cult Files re-opened or Space and beyond 3, who knows they might be on there)





Obviously, when this album was originally released, the main appeal was the newly recorded star wars tracks, this cd has become more or less obsolete, its still a nice collection, but if you own the other Silva cd's. you don't really need this."