I love this score. its perfect for moment of wonder or awe. For me its a great start to some of the holiday weekends like Memorial Day. But a its been out of print for a while. 2010 really needs a reissue or even better an expanded release.
The 1984 CD has the same 9 tracks as the LP. It hits most of the high notes but even given David Shire's sometimes sparse scores, I would think there would be enough for an extended release.
I think we have nearly the whole thing already. If memory serves, the music that was left off was several repetitions of the "Earth" music in the opening scenes with Roy Schneider's family. Most of Shire's score wasn't even used, so although I would welcome a reissue, it would be more to improve the sound - which was rather pinched and thin - than to expand the music.
You'll probably be surprised to hear ME (Mr. SciFi/Synth Guy) say that I think 2010's Synclavier based score sounds a bit dated and cliched to my ear nowadays. That said, I would buy any remaster/expansion for a few tracks. It always bugged me that the wrong Ligeti cue was used for the monolith scenes.
There's also Tony Banks recorded cues before they switched composers.
And while the movie may not have much, there's no telling until you get to the tapes and paper work, what amount may have actually been done for Shire's score.
Hopes for an expansion without even knowing if there's anything to expand?
From memory, there are a few short "Earth" cues and the seque from Earth to Space is a lot softer. Not sure if that's due to an alternate mix or a whole different recording.
I would love to hear an expanded version of the soundtrack. Lesser soundtrack albums have gotten expanded versions.
From what I've noticed from watching the movie:
"Earth/Space" is actually two tracks;
The film version of "Reactivating Discovery" drops the Blaster Beam ending;
"Space Linkup" and "Earth Fallout" are separate tracks;
"Countdown" drops the DX/Synclavier brass for Synclavier cellos, and the final cue where Chandra is trapped between the Leonov and the Discovery seems to be a different take;
And, of course, "Nova" is expanded with Synclavier bells.
And maybe a re-released "2010" might convince Time Warner to give us a better Blu-Ray copy,,,
I've always wanted and hoped for an expanded release of this score. I hope it happens someday.
I've seen this film a number of times since the day it opened and it's pretty lightly scored.
What exactly is missing?
Ford A. Thaxton
"Earth/Space" is actually two separate tracks;
the film version of "Reactivating Discovery" omits the Blaster Beam ending;
"Probe" doesn't appear in the movie at all;
"Space Linkup" and "Earth Fallout" are also separated, due to when they appear;
Bowman's entrance cue at the beginning of "Countdown" ("Visitation") is a separate cue and it appears to be an alternate take (a lot of the DX and/or Synclavier work is removed);
The first couple minutes of "Countdown" is completely different from the soundtrack version;
and, of course, "Nova" seems to have inherited the DX/Synclavier stuff that was taken out of "Visitation."
And. most importantly, Andy Summers' "2010" is nowhere to be heard!
Shire has thoughts much as my reaction when I got the CD. I thought it was somewhat atmospheric and interesting, but not really a great score, not a terrific composition at all.
I think the legend of the score has grown because it is so hard to locate, rather high priced now. But really neither the film nor the score are very good.
There are some cool effects in there, and some good actors though.
Thanks for the link Ford. Reading what is written at the end makes me want to hear the score as heard in the film and also anything else he recorded that was not used. I have always loved this score and would buy it in a heartbeat. Is it tremendous? Not at all. However, I feel like it was never really given the chance to shine....and deserves one.
Just giving this thread a needed bump. I was wondering if there was a way to find out if any of the current score labels had or has been considering 2010 for a future release. Even without much more stuff to throw on there, the sheer fact that it has been out of print for 25-30 years might make it worthwhile.
I've always liked this score. It took me ages before I realized is was mostly/all synthesis.
I value and greatly enjoy my Shire produced CD, but I suppose there is also an album to be made of the music as it appears in the movie, a la The Dark Crystal.
