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Posted: |
May 14, 2014 - 2:58 AM
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By: |
bondo321
(Member)
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In preparation for McNeely's upcoming A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST, I've been going back and listening to all of his major scores. One such score is SOLDIER (1998), a Kurt Russell scifi action movie that was pretty much a flop. I always enjoyed the hell out of the brutally aggressive score though, and it still holds up well today!
After a little internet digging, I came upon an interview with McNeely that said:
"The story behind here was that for Varèse's production reasons the CD needed to be mastered before the score was finished. We actually had another two weeks of recording beyond when the CD was mastered. So, most of the best music in the score hadn't been recorded yet.
When it came time to put together the CD for the score it was not what I wanted at all, and it wound up being not a very good listen, kind of aggressive and unpleasant. There was some really more beautiful and intimate sweeping music. So, that was pity for all of us. I wish I could take these things back.
There's also the fact that re-issue fees were very high at the time and they had to keep it under half an hour. Anyhow, I'm sure that Bob would have worked that out had we had that extra music. There's an end credits suite that's the best thing of the score and, unfortunately, it's not on the record. Actually, in my opinion all of the best score is not on the record. So, yes, it's very frustrating."
(http://www.bsospirit.com/entrevistas/joelmcneely_e.php)
This is one of those 90s Varese titles that severely needs a deluxe release! Thankfully McNeely was awesome enough to post several unreleased tracks on his website (http://joelmcneely.com/filmography/soldier) including his previously-mentioned End Credits. I recommend checking this score out if you are a fan of Air Force One, The Avengers, Virus, or Terminal Velocity.
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The producers clearly wanted but could not afford Goldsmith at the time.
Maybe, but McNeely's score is pure dynamite, just as good as any 90s Goldsmith action score if you ask me (and there are few - if any - bigger fans of 90s Goldsmith action scores than me).
It's a fantastic album, too, so if there was even better music that didn't make it (it's been so long since I watched the terrible film, I don't remember) then a deluxe edition could be spectacular.
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